Now that Nikki was safe, it was time to start enjoying her vacation. Her bags were packed, and she was ready for the relaxing drive to her cabin. While it wasn’t a long journey, she hoped that the stunning greenery and sounds of nature would offer her the peace her mind needed to relieve some of the built-up tension, compliments of Jeffrey. Maybe if that worked, then nature could start cleansing her of thoughts and dreams of Devil as well. He was another man who had no place in her life.
As soon as she drove out of the city, her shoulders relaxed, her mind cleared, and Jeffrey had become a lesson learned. If only she could say the same about Devil. The man kept popping into her head, his dark eyes heating her body with his imaginary stare. Her pussy leaked, and her nipples pebbled as she moved restlessly in the driver’s seat. Damn that man!
As she neared the cabin, her mind moved toward another need, her stomach reminding her that she hadn’t eaten all day. Stopping in at the roadhouse less than ten minutes away from her final destination, she ordered two burgers and fries to go. At least that way she wouldn’t have to worry about dinner tonight.
The food aromas filled her car as she drove the short distance to the cabin. Her stomach demanded that she ignore the provisions that required unpacking and just eat, but she couldn’t allow herself to do that. Her nurse’s training demanded that she do everything correctly, and in the right order.
She ran into the cabin, through the large open room that contained the lounge, dining area, and kitchen, separated only by furniture and a breakfast bar. She opened all the windows and back door off of the kitchen, allowing fresh air to flow through. After placing her bag and lunch on the kitchen top, she began making several trips to and from the car. She was staying at the cabin for the full two weeks, and she had no intentions of leaving the land if she could help it.
Of course life had other ideas. On one of her journeys out to the car, she heard a shuffling noise coming from the direction of the main bedroom. She knew she should have called for help, but she’d had enough of people controlling her actions. Instead she grabbed the poker from the fireplace, firmed her hold on the makeshift weapon, and crept as quietly as the wooden floor would allow. As she reached the bedroom door, she took a deep breath in and held it for a few seconds before slowly releasing it.
Now that she was at the door, she had no idea how to proceed. Did she jump into the room, making as much noise as possible, and hope to scare the intruder off? Or did she attempt to take a quick peek around the doorframe, trying to get a fix on who was there? For all she knew, it could have been an animal. That thought didn’t have her relaxing too much, considering the type of animals found in this area. Coyotes and mountain lions she would happily face—it was the snakes that had her wanting to run back to her car and hightail it home.
A soft sniffle drew her attention. It was followed by a small voice saying, “Please don’t hurt me. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
This had Gabby dropping the poker where she stood. Slowly, she walked into the bedroom. There in the corner, curled up in a tight ball, was a boy that Gabby aged between eight and twelve. His clothing was filthy, his face carried bruises, and the poor thing was shaking in fear.
Crouching down, she asked, “What’s your name?”
“Bobby,” came the mumbled reply.
“Where are your parents?”
Her question had him lifting his eyes to her before he replied, “My mum dumped me here. She told me I could find my dad around these parts and then drove off.”
“How long ago was this, Bobby?” A small shrug was all the response she got. It was followed by his stomach rumbling. “I’ve got a couple of burgers and fries out in the kitchen if you want to share them with me?”
Interest brightened his eyes, but still they held mistrust. She couldn’t blame him, if what he had said were true. What kind of mother would leave her child out in the middle of nowhere? She could have at least given Bobby a fighting chance by dropping him on his father’s doorstep.
Instead of forcing him out of the room, Gabby decided to move back toward the kitchen and eat her lunch. She left the other burger and fries next to the only other stool in the hope that Bobby would see her offer was a genuine one. After three bites, she sensed movement behind her. She knew if Bobby wanted to attack her then that would have been his perfect opportunity, but she had to show him the same level of trust she hoped to build in him. She continued eating. The stool beside her scraped over the wooden floor and there he was.
Before he was completely seated he was scoffing down the burger. It broke her heart, watching this young child devouring a meal many would take for granted. He had polished off both his burger and fries before she was even halfway through her burger. She could see him eyeing her fries, and no matter how hungry she was, she couldn’t deny this child.
Pushing her fries toward him, she warned, “Just don’t make yourself sick, okay?”
She received a nod, which was probably all she was going to get from him at the moment. His mouth was too full of her fries. Deciding they both needed a drink to wash down their meal, Gabby moved to get off the stool. The simple movement had Bobby off his, and he was backing away, his hands still trying to grab some fries.
“It’s okay, Bobby, I was just getting us a drink. Would you like that?” Seeming to relax slightly, he moved back to the stool as Gabby went to the fridge which still hadn’t been completely stocked. She realized that the milk and juice were in her car. Grabbing the car keys off the top of the fridge, she headed for the front door.
“Where are you going?” Bobby asked before whimpering, “Please don’t leave me.”
She moved straight to his side. “Oh, honey, I’m not going to leave you, I promise. I just need to get the rest of the food out of the car, including our drinks,” she cajoled, but still didn’t touch him. “Do you want to help me?”
At his nod, she moved back toward the door, confident that Bobby was behind her. In silence they carried the remaining bags in. Each trip back out of the kitchen saw Bobby grabbing another handful of fries, which were gone by the time they had reached the car. As soon as her car was empty and they were back in the cabin, Gabby didn’t know whether she wanted to laugh or cry. Bobby had taken it upon himself, in between fries, to empty the shopping bags. To see his eyes light up at many of the products had her wondering exactly how long he had been fending for himself. He began rummaging through the cupboards, presumably looking for glasses for the juice he held in one hand.
“You won’t find anything in them. I bring my picnic setup every time I come. It’s a lot cleaner that way,” she informed him. “It’s in that box behind you, with the pots and pans.”
Immediately he had the box lid off, and its contents scattered over the sink and cooker. Once he had what he was looking for, he poured them both some juice before putting it away in the fridge. His actions had her feeling hopeful. This boy wasn’t the same one who only minutes earlier retreated from her in fear. The Bobby that now stood in front of her offering her a drink appeared like any other boy of his age. Gone was the stiff front, and in its place a more relaxed young man. It had her questioning once again his mother’s actions, as well as making her more determined to reunite him with his father. It was the least he deserved. But to achieve this she needed a lot more information.
Chapter Three
Once her drink was finished, Gabby went around getting the cabin prepared to be lived in. She pulled the sheets off the furniture, checked her gas bottles for cooking, and ensured that the wood store was full. She already knew the electricity was turned on, so that was one less problem to worry about. The only thing left was for her to make her bed. It was usually the last thing she did before going to sleep. But this trip she decided to make it earlier.
Bobby had followed her everywhere, including into the bathroom as she put her toiletries away. She took the opportunity to prove to him that she was to be trusted. After making her own bed, she moved to the other bedroom and m
ade up a bed for him. When she returned to her bedroom, she picked up the duffel bag that sat in the corner where she had found him. She was carrying it through to the spare room when Bobby relieved her of it. She stopped in her tracks, watching to see what he would do next. To her relief, he placed it into the room she had made up for him and began to unpack.
Deciding to give him some space, she headed back to the kitchen. She was in desperate need of a refreshing cup of tea. As she sat contemplating what that poor boy had been through in his short life, the subject of her thoughts reappeared.
“Um, do you mind if I have another juice?” he asked shyly.
“Honey, help yourself to anything you want, okay?” Her comment was answered with a nod. “Until we find your father, think of this as your home.”
“You mean you’ll help me?”
“Of course. But you do need to tell me everything.”
Gabby watched as Bobby’s shoulders stiffened. After several seconds they slumped, followed by him once again nodding. He disappeared into the kitchen before returning with his juice and plonking himself down on the sofa beside her. She waited. This was a big step she was asking him to take in trusting her. She didn’t want to destroy what little he had already developed by rushing him.
Looking over at him, her heart went out to him. At such a young age, he seemed to have the weight of the world upon his small shoulders. She could see his downturned eyes moving. His gaze seemed to be darting in her direction before once again falling upon the glass in his hand. Taking a sip, he let out a heavy sigh before he began his strange story.
“A couple of weeks ago, just before my ninth birthday, something weird happened to me. I felt pain all over, but nobody was near me. My eyes did funny things before everything went black. When I woke up, my mum was looking at me, kinda scared. I didn’t understand it ’cos I’ve always been scared of her.” Bobby paused, took another sip of his drink and put it on the table before continuing. “She was never nice to me, always hitting me, but she was my mum. I still loved her. I blacked out again two days later, only this time mum told me what happened. She said I turned into a mountain lion.”
Gabby would have laughed at this point had Bobby not sounded so serious. She decided that dumping him was probably the best that woman could have done for her son if she was going to fill his head with such delusions. Instead of laughing or asking the many questions she wanted to, she remained quiet, allowing Bobby to continue.
“She told me that all sorts of shifters lived in the U.S. She said that they hid from those who would want to experiment on them. She grew up around them. That’s how she met my dad, but she was hoping that I wouldn’t be like them. Anyway, I didn’t believe her until the pain came again. I was at school in the locker room. Only this time I didn’t blackout. I saw with my own eyes what I had become. It’s a good thing nobody was around. When I got home and told mum what had happened, she told me to pack my clothes. She drove me here, told me to get out of the car. When I did, she locked the car doors. Through the small gap in the open window, she told me to find my dad. Then she just drove off. She left me.” Finally, the tears that Bobby had been holding at bay, fell.
Gabby could only hold her arms open, offering this young boy the comfort he deserved. Thankfully, he didn’t hesitate. He curled himself up into her side and allowed her to rock him gently. She pulled him close to her body, held him tightly, and cooed nonsensical words.
She had heard many crazy things from patients, including the existence of shape shifters and vampires. All of which she had previously dismissed. But now that those stories were coming from Bobby, she couldn’t bring herself to do that. He believed in every word he spoke, of that she had no doubt. The question was, was what he said plausible? The answer came when he fell asleep. Still in her arms, his body began to sprout golden hair, similar color to that on his head. Sharpened claws dug into her where his hands lay and, if she was hearing correctly, Bobby was purring.
To her, it didn’t matter what Bobby was. He needed her help, and she planned on giving it to him. He was a sweet boy who deserved some happiness in his life. She had to wonder though, if his father even knew he existed. The way he spoke suggested that he had never met him, though she suspected his mother told him the man’s name. She would get that name from Bobby when he awoke, and she would then check the man out before she allowed Bobby to go anywhere near him.
She had experienced the more negative aspect of coming into a parent’s life late. She was just lucky that she was already an adult when she had met Jeffrey. She didn’t have to live with them. Bobby was another matter. If his father showed any signs of being anything like Jeffrey, or Bobby’s mother, she wasn’t sure she would be able to allow the meeting to take place. Her need to protect this young boy was overwhelming, yet it felt right. She would do everything within her power to ensure that he was safe and happy.
****
“Mr. Torments, I’m from the florist downstairs. I’m ringing to give you an update on the flowers you sent to a Miss Winters.”
Devil sat forward, eager to hear what the woman was about to say. He had already sent a bunch of flowers to Gabriella’s home in apology, only for them to be returned. The delivery man informed him that the woman at the house claimed there was no such person living there. He decided to try her work instead.
“I’m sorry, sir, but the flowers have once again been returned.”
He was no longer feeling guilty about spanking the innocent Gabriella Winters. When he had first discovered that he was Gabriella’s first experience with a male, he wished he had done it differently. Including introducing her to a spanking more gently. His reaction surprised him. Never in all of his long life had he second-guessed his actions with a woman. Not even when he lost his own virginity. But something about Gabriella had him wanting to be a better man for her. Now he wanted to reintroduce her to his hand. He was trying to apologize, and it would seem she was intent on avoiding his genuine sentiments.
“What was the excuse this time? You can’t tell me she doesn’t work at the hospital.”
“No, sir, it seems she’s on leave.”
“For how long?”
“They refused to say, sir. I’m sorry.”
“Fuck!” he yelled, throwing the phone across the room. He gained little satisfaction when it shattered into tiny pieces.
“Troubles?” Viper asked as he closed his laptop and stood up from behind his desk.
Devil went on to explain to Viper what had happened.
“Why are you wasting your time on her? Come out to the club tonight and find yourself a nice bit of fluff. That’s guaranteed to take your mind off of her.”
Logically he knew what Viper had said made sense, but still something within him wouldn’t allow him to even consider it. Not until he had made amends with Gabriella and ensured that she was all right.
“Not tonight, Viper,” he said to his brother’s retreating back.
“Wow, she must have been something. Maybe I should try her out when you find her,” Viper said, laughing as he exited the office.
It was a good thing Viper was no longer in the room, otherwise he would have questioned Devil’s reaction to his last statement. They would be questions that Devil didn’t have the answers to. He had never reacted to anyone the way he was with Gabriella. He gave little of himself and his time to anyone outside of his family. A family that included only his three brothers and adopted sister, Jewel. Yet here he was, spending every minute thinking about Gabriella Winters. It just wasn’t healthy.
Maybe Viper was right. He probably just needed to get laid. Decisively, Devil stood. He headed out of his office and pressed the button to call the private lift. It led up to the private quarters he shared with his brothers on the top floors of the hotel. Each of them had a floor to themselves, though Devil had to concede it was unnecessary. If any of them wished to entertain a female, they also had a hotel room permanently booked in each of their names. Outside of the cleaning crew
, and their sister, no woman had entered their private quarters.
Chaos was the only one that had no hotel room reserved. He had a mate instead. A mate that he hadn’t claimed. According to Chaos, she was still too young. They each had a theory of who she may be, but none of them pushed their brother for the truth. When the time was right, Chaos would claim his mate, and Devil was positive he would win the bet he had going with Viper and Judge.
He had often wondered to himself what it would be like to have a mate. Chaos, though he had yet to claim her, knew where his future lay. It hadn’t quite been ten years since Chaos had discovered who his mate was. Up until then, the four of them had all but given up on finding the one soul that complimented each of them. Now Devil wondered if his own soul mate was out there somewhere. To find her would mean he would no longer need to rely on others for their blood. Whether a mate was human or vampire, once the claiming took place she would be all Devil needed to survive.
Shaking off his whimsical thoughts, Devil threw some fresh clothes on and headed back down to the lobby. He then needed to take another lift down to the underground nightclub housed in the hotel. It was there that he went in search of Viper. He didn’t doubt that Viper had already scoped out the prey and decided which woman he had plans of bedding that night.
As soon as his gaze fell on Viper, Devil conceded that his brother hadn’t let him down. He had two women on his arms, walking toward the VIP area. Taking a shortcut, Devil beat the three of them up the stairs and sat at the table reserved for the owners. He would have laughed at the surprise in his brother’s eyes, had he not been trying to play it cool.
Devil Takes His Innocent Page 3