Summers' Shadow (Hunters Trilogy Book 2)

by Sara J. Bernhardt

  “Please?”

  I sighed. “Rudy won’t have it. He’s persistent about helping me save Ethan, and you have to promise me to just do as I say.” That was mostly true, wasn’t it?

  She nodded. “Fine, but if he wants to stay with me, I would feel much better.”

  “Okay,” I answered, reluctantly.

  “I’m sorry for being so difficult.” She sighed.

  “It isn’t your fault at all. I’m so mad at myself,” I whispered. “I was mad at myself for getting you involved. Now I have gotten you, Rudy, Becky, Aaron, and Ethan all involved as well. I wish I would have never come to this town.”

  “Please don’t say that,” she said sweetly. “Hey, maybe it’s about time for something interesting to happen.”

  I half smiled. I loved the way she tried to lighten things up.

  “You aren’t frightened easily, are you?”

  “I don’t know—maybe not.”

  Saving Jane and her friends was the only way I had left to redeem myself.

  “This is my last chance to do something good. I’m going to save you all. I swear to it. You are my last chance, Jane.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  For the next hour of walking, Jane hadn’t said much of anything.

  “Aidan, where are we going?” she asked, sighing with impatience.

  “We need a car. Unless you want to walk the entire way.”

  “So…?”

  “So…how do you feel about grand theft auto?”

  “I’m sorry?”

  I laughed, easily being able to tell she was not amused. “Would credit card fraud suit you better?”

  She groaned and covered her face with her hands. “Aidan…”

  “There’s no way we’re walking all the way to Walter’s,” I continued before she could say anything sarcastic. “We need a car.”

  “Aidan, I’m sore and tired, yes, but that doesn’t mean I want to commit a crime.”

  I instantly felt offended. “Though you don’t seem to object when it serves you,” I spat.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Abraham, the Mustang…” I meant to continue but realized that insulting her was not going to get us where we needed to be. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be such a grouch. Just let me do what I need to do.”

  Trusting me was the only option she had at that point. I was the only one who could clean up this mess, ironically enough, considering I was the one who made it.

  I shuffled through my credit cards and IDs and stumbled across Michael London. I had never used that name before and decided it was acceptable for the time being. I settled for something discreet, something that nobody would take notice of or remember. It was a white, Toyota pickup truck. There were enough of those on the road. Who would take notice of mine?

  “What about the stolen Mustang?” Jane questioned accusingly.

  I shrugged. “Eh…don’t worry about it. I have to go back and cover my tracks after everything is settled anyway.” Damn. I had almost gotten used to telling her the truth already that things were starting to slip out.

  “Cover your tracks how?”

  “I’d rather not tell you,” I said, truthfully.

  “Why?”

  “Just because.”

  “Because I won’t like it?”

  I hesitated. “Yes.”

  “At this point, Aidan, I don’t think there is anything I can’t handle.”

  “Aidan Summers can go back to not existing just as easily as Michael London rented this car.”

  Her eyebrows furrowed.

  “I told you you wouldn’t like it.”

  “So, by covering your tracks I’d never see you again?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  “You’re right. I don’t like that at all.”

  I got in the car and put the key in the ignition. Jane still had that saddened look on her face, so I decided to change the subject.

  “So,” I started, keeping my tone even and relaxed, “are you hungry?”

  “Hungry?” She hesitated for a moment. “I don’t know.”

  “Hmm, well, I know I am, and you have to eat something,” I answered. “There are coffee shops open twenty-four hours. At least eat some soup or something.”

  She nodded.

  I drove slowly, fighting the urge to speed down the road like I was used to. I made my way to a tiny 50s style café that was dimly lit by lamps hanging from the ceiling. I tried to keep my eyes on Jane and ignore the restaurant. It brought memories of my parents and Walter rushing back to me. It was so much like Richard’s old place where I had worked. It seemed like ten years ago I had met Vivian and Luna. My body was almost quivering with discomfort.

  It was quiet and empty. We took a seat at the bar, and I avoided eye contact with the waitress who was clearly trying to flirt. I smiled at Jane, reminding her where my attention was.

  “Do you realize the effect you have on people?” she whispered.

  I chuckled. “Sometimes. The reaction I’m used to people having at seeing me isn’t normally as positive.”

  She smiled. “Well, maybe that means there’s no threat.”

  I tried to contain my laughter. She really had no clue. “Like there would be anyway, Jane.”

  “Well, she was...nice.”

  She meant attractive. “Was she?”

  “Yes!”

  I shrugged my shoulders. I hadn’t taken notice.

  “Ah, come on, Aidan. You don’t have to be that nice.”

  I smiled at her and shook my head.

  She smiled back, but her eyes still looked far away. I couldn’t tell what she was actually feeling.

  “Are you okay?” I murmured.

  “I’m fine. Why?”

  “You seem distracted.”

  She shook her head.

  “Come on. What’s on your mind?”

  She sighed. “How far is Walter’s house?”

  “It’s not far. Don’t worry.”

  I could see she had tried to smile. It was a weak attempt. I hated how reluctant she was to trust me. If she only knew how much I needed her. If she only knew what I was willing to do to keep her safe.

  The drive was mostly silent. The coffee hadn’t sat well with my stomach. It took less than ten minutes to realize it wasn’t the coffee; it was my nerves acting up. My senses were being tugged at again, and tremors grew into my chest.

  When we finally arrived, the sun was already peeking through the trees. I let myself in to see Walter sitting at the desk in the front room, writing by the light of a yellow lamp.

  “You’re late,” he sputtered.

  “I usually am.” I chuckled.

  He embraced me then immediately looked to Jane. “You must be Jane.”

  She nodded and shook his hand.

  “A great pleasure to meet you,” he started. “Walter Redline, as I’m assuming you know.”

  “Good to finally meet you, Mr. Redline.”

  “Ah, this isn’t a classroom,” he sputtered in laughter again. “Call me Walter.”

  “Walter.”

  “Clem, you mind giving me a hand?” he asked, directing his gaze back at me. Did he have to call me Clem?

  “Sure. What do you need?”

  “To rearrange the guest room. It’s become my storage unit.” He let out that familiar chuckle again.

  “Sure.”

  I gave Jane a wink and followed Walter into the spare bedroom.

  “Luna’s at her place?” I asked.

  “Yeah, she’s there,” he whispered back. “When are you taking Jane there?”

  “Not until morning. Dorian…came to her house.”

  “What?”

  I nodded. “I think he came there for me. I think he’s waiting for Jane. He wants me to kill her. I don’t think he’s after her right now.”

  “He’ll kill you both!” he hissed. “Once he realizes he can’t make you do it…he’ll do it…to you both.”

  “I know!” I spat through clen
ched teeth. “Just let me do this my way.”

  He sighed. “I always do.”

  I walked back into the living room to see Jane staring at the horse painting beside the door. She looked distant and tired.

  “You must be exhausted,” I said. “Come on.”

  I took her hand and led her down the narrow hallway lined with bookshelves to the spare room. There was a queen-sized bed against the wall with an old-fashioned floral comforter, courtesy of Luna.

  “I shouldn’t sleep,” she said.

  “It’s late.”

  “What if Dorian finds us?”

  “He won’t. I’ll take care of any problems. I’ll stand guard.”

  She shook her head.

  I sighed, annoyed, but had this guilt gnawing at me. “I’ll lie beside you.”

  She nodded and brought herself into my arms. The warmth of her skin against my own could easily have driven me mad. I almost regretted refusing her the day she kissed Rudy. Would I ever get that chance again?

  I slept lightly, holding firmly to Jane, feeling the need to keep her secure. I thought I was beginning to slip into a dream when I heard familiar voices in my head. I realized it was my name.

  I was torn out of my relaxed state and into alertness. I moved away from Jane slowly, being careful not to disturb her. I tiptoed through the hallway and into the living room. I could hear Walter softly snoring from the other bedroom. I walked outside, feeling the chill from the fog.

  I opened the front door, immediately irritated by what I saw. Mike was frantic. “James,” he stuttered, “you gotta go.”

  “What?”

  “You gotta go. You have to leave here—now. You have to…”

  His voice was trembling, and he kept looking over his shoulder. Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. His hair was down, loose over his shoulders and messily hanging in his face.

  “Do you hear me?” he spat. “Leave!”

  “I…I have…”

  “What?” he hissed. “James, you idiot. Do you have the girl?”

  I nodded.

  “Then you’d better pray to God that you also have a plan. Dorian beat me to the point of unconsciousness.”

  It was then that I noticed the bruise on his cheek, and his left eye was black.

  “He threatened my life. I had to, James.”

  “Mike! What did you tell him?”

  “Nothing about the—about her,” he said. “I swear. I only confessed that I knew where you were. He will be here before mid-day. You have to get out.”

  I sighed and turned away.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I never meant to betray you. I—”

  “No, it’s all right. It’s all right, Mike. Go. Get out of here before someone sees you.”

  He nodded and bowed formerly as if thanking me for not being angry and ran off. I turned away when I heard my name again. Great. Another.

  “James, what are you doing?”

  David. Just perfect. “What I am doing is none of your concern,” I spat.

  “I can’t tell Dorian,” he growled. “Do you understand that?”

  “Why?”

  He threw his arms up and huffed. “Because then he will know I’ve been keeping things from him, and it will be on me. Me, James.”

  “So…don’t tell him.”

  “Yeah, obviously!” he almost yelled. “But whatever the hell you are doing, you are endangering everything we have fought to protect.”

  “You have fought to protect,” I said. “Don’t you even dare include me in that!”

  He sighed again, and before I had time to react, his fist struck me hard across my face, and I stumbled backward. My pain transformed into fury, and I crushed his cheek with my fist and hit him again in the jaw, feeling warm blood splatter onto my cheek.

  “Sorry, David,” I said, leaving him unconscious in the grass. Hopefully for him, he would wake up in enough time to get away before Dorian showed up.

  Crawling back into bed, I put my arms back around Jane’s waist.

  “Jane?”

  “Hmm?” she murmured, clearly not fully awake.

  “Jane,” I called, increasing the tension in my voice. “Wake up…now.”

  She rolled over and groaned before waking up enough to respond. “Aidan, what is it?”

  Even groggy, I could hear the fear in her voice.

  “We can’t stay here,” I said bluntly.

  “What?” she whispered. “What’s going on? You said we’d be safe here until morning.”

  I nodded. “Yes, but something has come to my attention, something I was a fool to ignore. We should leave for Luna’s now and not later.”

  She sat up and switched on the lamp. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand, noticing the blood on my face—David’s blood.

  “Jane, I’m all right. I’ve been betrayed. We need to leave here.”

  “Betrayed? By who?”

  “To be honest…you’ve met him before.”

  “What? Aidan, what happened?”

  I looked away from her, dropping my head in my hands. “I heard something, a voice coming from outside. When I recognized it was my name, I went out to see who it was. I found a friend of mine who is a member of The Sevren. He’s of lower rank than myself, so he has always listened to me. That’s why I believed he would never betray me. He told me Dorian threatened his life, so he confessed that he knew where I lived. He came here to warn me of this.”

  “Who?”

  “Do you remember that night at the bookstore—with the wolf?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “So you remember Mike.”

  “Mike?” she yelled. “He’s one of them?”

  I nodded. “Mike and I were enrolled in school here—sort of like an undercover thing.”

  “Oh my God,” she muttered. “This keeps getting weirder!”

  “Come on. I’ll make sure Rudy gets to Luna’s safely, unless I decide I really need his help.”

  “I’d rather him stay with me,” she said, taking my hand and crawling out of bed.

  I nodded. “I would too,” I whispered, “but he wants to help, and to be honest, I may need it.”

  She didn’t respond. I could see the fear hidden in her eyes.

  “Walter will take you to Luna’s, but don’t worry. I’ll be right behind you with Rudy, okay? I need to get you out of here first.”

  She hesitated for a moment. “Okay.”

  I opened the cell phone and dialed Luna’s number.

  “Jane’s on her way there,” I said as soon as she picked up.

  I heard her sigh. “And where are you?”

  “I’m with Rudy. On my way to save Ethan.”

  Rudy mumbled something I couldn’t identify at the moment. I glanced at him and noticed he was clearly anxious.

  “Be careful,” Luna said. “And come back as soon as you can.”

  I nodded though she couldn’t see. “I will.”

  I hung up the phone. “Are you okay, Rudy?”

  He jolted his head toward me and cleared his throat. He nodded. “I think so, but”—he swallowed—“I don’t know how to fight.”

  I chuckled. “That is exactly why I didn’t want you involved. But I know you, and I knew you would do the same thing you did the first time I told you not to come.” I raised my eyebrows at him.

  “I know,” he answered, nodding, “but I want to help Jane. If this is all I can do for her, then I have to do it. I know you hate it, Summers, but I love her.”

  I smiled. “I know.”

  “So what do I do?”

  “Stay in the car,” I answered.

  “What?” he bellowed. “I am not staying in the goddamn car!”

  “All right,” I retorted, putting my hand up. I definitely expected that reaction. “Just do as I say.”

  “Unless you say I stay in the car,” he argued curtly.

  I just laughed. “Fine, but if you are so worried about not knowing how to fight, then if staying i
n the car is how you are going to stay alive, I hope you will be wise enough to realize it.”

  “I’m no coward,” he mumbled.

  “I know. I can clearly see that. There is no shame in hiding, Rudy. I have been hiding for months now. Sometimes it’s the best thing you can do.”

  The drive was tense, considering I wasn’t exactly sure where I was going. Should I look for Dorian and Ethan at Abraham’s place where Jane was taken, or should I check the clearing first to make sure I wasn’t too late? I decided it was better safe than sorry and spun the car around.

  “Hey, take it easy,” Rudy spat.

  “Oh, relax,” I mused.

  I rushed down the road, being thankful I was in the truck, away from the rain that had ceased and been replaced with a thick sheath of humidity. I knew the weather should have meant something to me. I was always one to take everything into consideration, but my senses weren’t yelling at me, and my nerves weren’t being yanked at. I couldn’t decide why my odd “danger radar” wasn’t going off like a broken alarm clock. I stepped harder on the gas pedal from irritation and could feel the frustration creeping into my features, pulling my face into a look of anger.

  “Please!” Rudy hissed at me. “Slow down.”

  “Shut up,” I muttered. “We need to get there quickly anyway. You shouldn’t even be here, so the last thing you need to be doing is telling me what to do.”

  “Didn’t you say they wait for Abraham’s call?”

  I nodded. “They know of his death by now. They must. If Ethan is already…” I broke off then took a breath and started over. “If I am unable to save Ethan, I need you to let Jane believe I am dead.”

  “What?”

  “You have to promise me, Rudy,” I demanded. “If we are too late, I will never again be able to face her. I will still do what I can to keep her safe, but I will do so at a distance. Can you promise me?”

  He nodded. “I…I promise.”

  “You do know that I was supposed to bring you in exchange for Ethan. You remember that, right?”

  He nodded.

  “Then why the hell are you trusting me not to turn you over to them?”

  “I’m not,” he answered. “I just figured that either way…I would be helping Jane.”

  “You’re hopeless,” I mumbled.

  His love for her was more like a teenage obsession. It had stopped being amusing and soon became irritating. His logic was completely clouded by his “love.” I can’t say Jane was wrong.