by Mary Abshire
"Go ahead and get in the truck, honey," Mr. Plaid said with a tilt of his head.
Anxious to get away from Ben, I hopped into the back seat of the oversized pickup. The aroma of leather and cigarettes made my nose twitch. The driver, another older-looking man with hair covering his face, glanced over his shoulder.
"Are you all right, miss?"
I nodded my head. "Yeah, you picked a good time to show up." Another minute longer and I might not have been able to escape Ben.
Mr. Plaid settled into the front passenger seat after he shut his door. "Damn werewolf cop," he grumbled. "They always think they're better because they got a badge and a gun."
I stared out the window as the driver steered the vehicle away from the scene. The younger man in my car turned the lights on while Ben got in his cruiser.
"They can think they're better than us, but we make three times as much as they do and get laid more," the driver said.
Mr. Plaid laughed. "You got that right, Dan." He turned on the overhead light, then held up his cell.
"Calling Alan?" Dan asked.
Mr. Plaid put the phone to his ear. "Not yet. I'm calling Henry to let him know we found her."
I leaned forward between the seats. "Who is Henry?"
"He drove in with us from up north. He's waiting at your house," Dan replied.
I sat back, trying to relax. Alan had acted fast finding people to guard me. The man was a hero in my book.
While Mr. Plaid spoke on the phone, I glanced out the rear window. The lights from Drake's SUV followed us. I couldn't see if a car trailed behind it.
The phone in my pocket vibrated, startling me. Shit! It had to be Drake. I stretched my leg and dug the phone out. Lifting it up, I recognized Drake's number. My pulse raced as I considered what to do.
"You going to answer that?" Dan asked.
If I answered, Drake would get mad and hurry back home. I didn't want him to worry about me. "No, it's my boyfriend."
Dan gave me a quizzical look in the rearview mirror. "You're not going to talk to your boyfriend and let him know you're all right?"
"He's away, doing a favor for me. If I answer it, he'll hear your friend's voice and know I broke a promise to him. I don't want to make him angry right now."
Dan scratched his hairy cheek. "Ah, smart woman."
No, not smart enough, since Ben almost got away with me. I should've stayed at home instead of breaking my promise. Drake was going to be royally pissed, especially if I didn't call him soon.
Mr. Plaid set his phone down. "Henry said the house is quiet. He hadn't seen any living creature near it."
Dan looked up into the mirror again. "Shall we head to your house, or did you have something else in mind?"
Good question. Drake's house was the safest place to stay since property records showed it belonged to Anthony. Ben wouldn't be able to find us, unless he was following, which, given my luck, he probably was. I glanced at the phone in my hand and considered where we could go. Gail and Donnie lived with their parents. Aside from them, Anthony and Paul were the only other two people that I knew in Alaska. If I had to stay in their homes, I'd puke my guts out all day and night. But maybe they could help me. I scrolled through the last few calls until I found Paul's number. I hated to bother him, but I had no other options.
"Hello? Jessie?" Paul asked, his voice hoarse.
"Yeah, it's me. Remember how you said if I need anything—"
He made a throaty sound, clearing his throat. "What can I help you with?"
"I need a place to stay, and I'm not alone. I have a couple of guards with me."
"Demon?"
"No, werewolf."
"One of the churches has a basement with several spare beds. It's not the Comfort Inn, but if you need to rest and hide for a while, it's safe."
A church? Could I handle staying in a church? Did I have a choice? If I prayed hard enough, maybe it would be for one night until Drake returned.
"Tell me where to go," I said.
After Paul gave me the directions, he said he'd meet us in ten minutes. I ended the call, then relayed the information to Dan.
Promptly, Dan turned the car around. Though I didn't see another vehicle behind Drake's SUV, I couldn't be certain a patrol car wasn't around somewhere, watching.
"We can stay there until we know it's safe to go back to the house," Mr. Plaid said.
I nodded. The plan sounded good to me.
By the time Dan pulled into the church parking lot, my eyelids were heavy and ready to close. I perked up as he stopped the vehicle near the curb. The guy driving Drake's car parked behind us.
"Doesn't look like he's here yet," Mr. Plaid said, his head turned sideways toward Dan.
"He'll show." I leaned between the seats and met Mr. Plaid's gaze. "I don't mean to sound rude, but what's your name?"
He laughed. "My wife would kill me for showing such terrible manners. I'm sorry. My name's Frank." He reached over, huffing slightly because of his wide arms. "And you're Jessie Garrett, right? You match the description Alan gave us, well, close to it."
I smiled as I shook his plump, warm hand. "Jessie Murphy now. I had to change my name."
"Alan called us and said if we dropped what we were doing to come take care of you for a few days, he'd make it worth our while," Dan said.
"When the boss calls, I'm always willing to drop what I'm doing for him. He's a good man," Frank said, nodding. "I've been with the company for almost thirty years. My paycheck never shrank and my stocks have always paid good dividends."
Dan laughed. "Yeah, he's done a wonderful job with the company."
I didn't doubt their compliments. In the short time I'd known Alan, he'd always regarded me with kindness and respect. The Alpha had manners, brains, and knew how to treat people. I wondered if he knew just how much his employees valued him.
"Who's the man driving my car?" I asked.
"Oh, that's Tom," Dan said. "He's been with the company for about seven years now. Just got married a year ago and his wife is expecting in a few months."
My phone buzzed again. Looking down at it in my hand, I saw Drake's number. Shit! I needed to answer it.
"Boyfriend again?" Dan asked.
"Yeah. I'm going to call him once we get inside." If we ever did.
I twisted around, then stared out the backside. In the distance, I saw two lights approaching. Please let it be Paul.
The old Ford truck I'd seen Paul driving earlier passed us, then stopped near the curb. Once I informed Frank and Dan the vehicle belonged to Paul, we stepped out into the cold air. Tom left Drake's SUV and met us near the door on the side of the church.
Paul glanced at each werewolf before meeting my eyes. "Are you going to be okay staying here?"
"Yeah, they're fine," I said with a slight wave of my hand. "Alan sent them."
"Staying in the church?" Paul asked.
"Oh," I said, realizing he meant me staying in the church. "I can survive."
Paul unlocked the door, then we strode into the dark building. My stomach churned and rumbled while I began to feel feverish. Gritting my teeth and clenching my fists, I forced the nausea aside, though I couldn't ignore it.
Once Paul relocked the door, he led us through the empty building. Small lights plugged into the outlets guided our path. Reaching another door, he stopped and faced us.
"We'll take the stairs to the basement. There is an elevator down the hall if you need it," Paul said with his hand on the doorknob.
"No, thanks," Dan said.
"We're good," Frank said, and Tom nodded.
Paul pushed the door open and a light flickered on. "It's motion sensitive."
We followed Paul down the concrete stairs until we reached the bottom. We passed another door, then walked down a hall with more small lights. The smell of mildew and cleaning chemicals drifted in the air, but I wasn't about to complain. Besides, I had enough to worry about with my churning stomach.
After we reache
d the last door at the end of the hall, Paul tugged on the handle. "You'll find all of the rooms have beds." He pointed to the open doors. "Some have two beds to a room. The bathroom is on the other side."
Frank and Dan strolled past Paul, investigating.
"Thank you for letting us stay here. I really appreciate it," I said.
"Are you sure? You look a bit pale," Paul said.
"I will be fine," I replied with a lazy blink of my eyelids. "I just need to lie down for a while." After I call Drake.
Paul moved closer to me. A roll in my stomach nearly had me puking. Hand over my mouth, I took a few steps back.
"There's a kitchen upstairs with food and water you're welcome to," Paul said, keeping his distance from me. "Call me if you need anything else. I'll let Anthony know what's going on and I'll stop by later in the morning."
Nodding, I said, "Thanks, Paul."
"Is someone going to show up later?" Frank asked. "We don't want to spook anyone."
"We have a few volunteers who will stop in. I'll leave messages for them so they know you're here," Paul replied.
Frank smacked his hands together, creating a loud clap that echoed. "Tom, call all your friends. We're having a party."
Paul's stunned eyes turned to me.
"He's kidding. Go home and get some sleep," I said.
Paul let out a heavy sigh before he nodded and left.
Dan stood next to me. "The lady gets first choice, gentlemen."
"Gentlemen?" Frank chuckled. "I'm old enough to be your dad."
My phone vibrated in my hand. Knowing who it was, I said, "Guys, can you hush for a bit?" I held the phone up, showing them the blinking display.
"Boyfriend alert," Dan said loudly.
Frank nodded, his long beard jiggling. "Right. Right."
I pressed the phone to my ear, then strolled down the hall. "Drake?"
"Jessie, what's going on?" he asked in a stern tone.
"I'm fine." I peered into one of the small rooms and found a twin-sized bed against the wall.
"You're avoiding my question. I will take the next flight out of here if you don't tell me what is going on." The anger in his voice sent a chill down my spine.
I had to come clean. If I didn't, he would leave, even if it meant exposing himself to sunlight. He deserved an explanation.
I strolled into the room, then sat on the bed while I explained my situation to him. For the next several minutes, I informed him of my outing with Paul, including the body I'd seen and the photographs. He didn't say much. Then I told him about Ben stopping me. Drake actually said a curse word.
"It's okay now. Alan sent some men to help us."
"Alan? You called Alan?"
Oops, I forgot to mention that detail. And for another few minutes, I updated him about my contact with the Alpha from Phoenix.
"We're safe for now," I said. "We're staying in Paul's church."
"I should take the next plane back to Alaska."
"You're there. Get Dani and come home. It's only a day."
"I should never have left."
"I'm sorry. Really, I am. I thought I was helping Paul. I didn't think—"
"I am not mad at you, Jessie. I am mad at myself for leaving you. I should have listened to my instinct instead of my heart."
Okay, why did his words make me feel worse? I leaned over my knees and pressed my hand to my forehead. A pain in the back of my skull throbbed slightly, warning me of an approaching headache.
"I will be fine," I said, voice dreary.
"With Alan's men protecting you, I believe you. After we hang up, I will call him and find out what his plan is for handling Gabe."
"I didn't want you to go after Gabe by yourself. If something would happen to you…"
Drake chuckled. "Darling, have you forgotten what you are dealing with? I've survived over eight centuries. I know how to eliminate the enemy, regardless of what they are."
His words gave me chills. How easily I'd forgotten about the centuries he'd spent walking the earth, hunting others of his kind. In my eyes, I saw a kind and loving man, not a vampire with superhuman strength and fangs that could rip one to shreds.
"Get Dani and come home. I will be waiting for you," I said.
"Keep the phone near you. I will call you in a few hours. If you don't answer, I am on the next flight. I promise you."
I held my breath. Unlike me, Drake kept his promises. "I love you."
"And I adore every inch of you, even when you scare me. I give you my word, I will not leave you again, no matter how much you beg me."
"Understood." What more could I say?
When the line became silent, I laid sideways on the bed, keeping the phone in my hand. A sharp pain pulsed in my head while my stomach cramped tight. Yeah, I should've kept my promise to Drake and just said no to Paul. Anything that would happen to Drake, or me, would rest on my shoulders. Did I really want to hurt him?
I needed to change my outlook and stop running out the door when someone called. I needed to make amends with Drake. First, I needed sleep.
Chapter Sixteen
The sun shone bright, bringing forth a new day and a new chance for bad things to happen. On the bright side, Drake and Dani would be home in less than twenty-four hours. My spirit lifted every time I thought about them. I couldn't wait to wrap my arms around my lover and embrace him in a deep kiss.
A white glare from the snow blinded me and revived the ache in my head as I looked out the window of Drake's car. I closed my eyes for a few seconds. Thankfully, neither Ben nor any other werewolves were around when we left the church. We were safe to return to Drake's house. I couldn't wait to get home so I could pop a couple aspirin in my mouth.
"Are you feeling all right?" Tom asked. He hadn't spoken much to me since we arrived at the church in the early morning hours.
"Headache from the sun."
"My wife gets those a lot."
"I heard she's expecting. Congratulations."
He glanced at me with perplexed eyes.
"Dan mentioned it," I said.
"Oh. Yeah. She's due in a few months. Twins."
My eyes grew wide. "Wow. Are you ready?"
He smiled. "I don't know that anyone really is, but we'll work it out."
I chuckled. What an honest, yet positive answer from a man's perspective.
As we approached the house, I noticed a few extra vehicles parked in the driveway. I wondered how many people Alan had contacted. We hadn't spoken since I asked for his help, but I wasn't surprised. When I talked to Drake earlier, he'd said he'd contacted Alan. I simply assumed they'd communicated all plans between themselves and Drake would fill me in when he arrived home. Fair enough.
Tom steered the car onto the driveway. Two SUVs sat idle on the far side, leaving a path to the garage. Slowly, Tom passed them and came to a stop in front of the garage. His gaze lowered to the dash as if searching for something.
I pointed up. "The opener is above your head."
Finding the gray device, he pressed the button. After the door lifted, Tom drove the car into the garage. Relief flowed through me in one big wave. I was glad to be home where I could get some real rest without a sick stomach and pounding headache.
After Tom cut the engine, I hurried out of the car. I walked toward the tail end of the vehicle, squinting my eyes from the bright snow. Frank exited one of the vehicles, then approached me. Two men I hadn't met strode up the driveway not far behind him.
"You're welcome to come in. Anyone can. There are plenty of drinks and food in the pantry," I said.
Frank stomped his feet when he stepped into the garage. Snow slid across the concrete floor. "Thank you, but we're fine. Besides, Alan wouldn't be happy with us if we made a mess of your home."
Drake wouldn't be pleased either. He'd taken good care to keep it tidy during our short stay. Sometimes I wondered if the vamp had a little OCD within him.
"I'm not sure everyone needs to be here anyway. Maybe some can l
eave," I said.
"Are you kidding? No one wants to disappoint the boss," Frank said.
Loyal to the end. I noticed that trait was strong with werewolves.
"Feel free to come in at your leisure," I said, heading for the kitchen door.
Tom held the keys out for me, jingling them slightly. I took them from his grasp as I passed him. Stopping near the door, I slid off my shoes. Although I had socks on, I could still feel the cold concrete through the thin layer. A few feet from me, Tom and Frank started tugging off their boots. Their good manners never stopped impressing me. I drooped my shoes in the corner, out of the way, then unlocked the door.
I stepped inside and a strong feeling of warmth and hominess overwhelmed me. I loved it. Passing through the kitchen, I pictured Drake preparing a delicious meal for me. I missed his presence and his cooking.
I strolled into the living room with my head still aching fiercely. Not only that, my body felt drained. Maybe staying at the church for several hours had taken a toll on me. Or, maybe my lack of energy and wellness could be attributed to Drake waking me up every two hours to check on me. I needed to clean up and rest, mostly rest.
Frank and Tom stood in the kitchen, looking around. Their presence gave me a sense of security. I could probably get a couple of hours of good sleep if they hung around a while.
"I'm going to lie down for a bit. There's a restroom down the hall"—I pointed—"bedrooms upstairs, television, and another bathroom."
"Thanks, Jessie. We'll stay out of your way," Frank said.
A ringing in my ears intensified as the throb in my head became worse. Rubbing my temple, I left them to their own devices and descended the stairs.
After a quick shower, I changed into clean clothes. The bath had refreshed me, but it hadn't helped the ache in my head. I downed a couple of pills, then dragged my worn-out body to the bed. My hair dripped on my shirt, but I didn't care. If the men upstairs were eating everything in the cupboard, I didn't care. I had little strength or willpower to do anything besides fall asleep.
Sitting on the edge of the mattress, I checked my cell for any missed calls. Fortunately, I had none. I'd talked to Drake right before I'd left the church, so maybe he'd wait another hour or so before calling again. I hoped. Clutching the phone in my hand, I lay on my side and rested my head on the pillow. It didn't take long for my mind to shut down.