With my standard fight or flight response about to kick in under the stress, I wanted to flee, but, once again, I needed to draw a line. I'd made a choice not to run anymore, and I was going to try my hardest to stick to the new game plan.
Like it or not.
Easy or painful.
“I'm scared of more things than we have time to go over, Sean,” I started, with my typical edge of hostility. I was going to have to work on watering that down when applying the new game plan. “Right now, I'm scared of loving you.”
“But you said yourself that you've loved me for a long time,” he countered, looking confused.
“Exactly,” I replied, “that's the whole problem. I may have loved you, but I didn't get to have you. Loving someone and actually getting to apply that love are two totally different things, Sean. I'm scared that if I truly get to have you on every level imaginable, that somehow the universe―which seems to delight in lifting me up only to throw me back down―will once again spank me down into a pile of shit.”
“I thought you said you weren't afraid of that fallout last night?”
“I'm pretty certain I was talking out of my ass at that point, Sean. I've been known to do that when angered. Besides, the fallout has more to do with those around us—the PC, Ronnie, Cooper, Peyta...,” I said trailing off.
Peyta.
I'd forgotten all about the Rev's promise. He'd said he wasn't going to leave me alone at the bottom of the sea. He was going back for someone, and, given that she had rejected him just as Scarlet had, my money was on Peyta. “Fuck!” I screamed.
“What?” he asked, sensing that my outburst had little to do with our current conversation.
“The Rev,” I snarled, staring up at him. “We have to go, now!”
I was running for the door alone, but I could hear him throwing clothes on with lightning speed. He was beside me by the time I got to the door. He asked no questions, just followed me down the stairs as I mumbled hateful comments to myself. I'd been so selfish. In my lustful epiphany, I'd forgotten all about the psycho still loose—still after my friends.
“I'll never forgive myself if something happens to them,” I said as we jumped into his BMW and took off in a flash. It was still quite early, so Peyta would still be at home. At least I hoped so, that way Jay would be with both of them, but I knew that he was no match for the Rev alone, and I wasn't certain that the help of the other brothers there would tip the scales either. The Rev was a force to be reckoned with.
Sean wound easily through town at speeds in excess of sixty miles per hour, which was impressive for the narrow and wandering New Hampshire roads.
“What exactly did he say to you?” Sean asked, his business face taking over. It was as striking and beautiful as the one I'd just seen in his bed moments earlier, but it had edge and tone, and it gave off a “fuck with me and you'll meet your end” energy that still gave me the shivers when I saw it. I hoped that energy would deliver on the promise.
“It's complicated,” I said, knowing that Sean still had no clue what had happened before I showed up at his place that evening. “But when he let me sink down to the bottom of the bay, he told me not to worry, that I wouldn't be alone. He's after Peyta, Sean. I know it.”
“But he loves her, in his own twisted way,” he protested. “Why would he kill her?”
“He loves Scarlet too. He kept calling her 'his love', and he sank her ass with concrete and iron anklets to the bottom of the ocean. He knew Scarlet wouldn't have him, and he knows Peyta won't either. Not after the stand she took against him. He'll kill Ronnie and he'll plant Peyta next to where I'm supposed to be.”
“Fuck,” he whispered, digging in his pocket for his phone. “Jay? Jay, where are the girls?”
Silence…
Growling…
“I'll be there in five.” He chucked the phone on the passenger floor.
“What's going on? Are they okay? What did Jay say?” I badgered, my heart sinking into my stomach with every second he said nothing. “SEAN! Tell me what's going on!”
He looked over at me, his jaw clenched so tightly that the tendons and veins in his neck bulged violently. His silence continued until I couldn't take any more. I snatched his phone off of the floor and redialed the number. As I waited for Jay to answer, sweat dripped down my face and back. My panic had reached a fever pitch and my self-loathing kicked into high gear. Something was wrong and I knew it―felt it. After the fourth ring and no answer, the tears that were building spilled down my cheek. I pulled the phone away slowly, looking for the “end” key. As my thumb grazed it, a voice came through the receiver.
“Jay!” I yelled, putting the phone back to my ear, “what's going on?”
“Well, well, well…,” a horrifying voice replied. “This is a surprise. This may change everything.”
The Rev howled and laughed creepier than all the villains I'd encountered combined, which was no small feat. My hair stood on end while my eyes bled to red. I felt the transition this time—slow and deliberate. Scarlet and I hated him equally, our emotions on par. She growled so low and deep that the entire car’s interior shook.
“See you soon,” she purred, hanging up the phone. We were only a block away.
When we pulled into the driveway, everything appeared normal. I wasn't sure if that was a good sign or a bad one. I'd mentally prepared myself to pull up to a bloody crime scene, but the absence of it was even more off-putting.
“Are you going to tell me what's going on?” Scarlet asked, her voice tense and anger-filled.
“It's a hostage situation.”
“And?”
“It's a lose/lose one.”
“Mmmmm, my favorite kind,” she replied. “I like my back against the wall.”
She looked at him across the car with raw heat in her eyes. Danger made her extremely horny, judging by the vibes she was thrusting his way. He caught her double entendre with no trouble and his already dark eyes went black. Danger apparently did it for him too.
“Let's take this fucker out quickly,” she said as they jumped out of the car and ran to the house. “I’d like to spend my day doing something else.”
He roared while they flew up the driveway in seconds, crashing in the front door to a highly unexpected scene. The great room in the back of the house was filled with PC, Jay, Ronnie, and a very pissed off and frightened Peyta. The Rev, though putting on a good front, was frightened too. He was caught up in a shitstorm of individuals ready and willing to go medieval on him. But as Sean had said, the situation was of the hostage variety, centering around Peyta. The Rev was virtually surrounded by PC boys on all sides, with no real means of escape. The exception was his daughter, with whom he covered the front of his body, his teeth hovering over her neck. She was his ticket out.
Scarlet's surge of déjà vu tore a howl from deep within, rattling the light fixture high above until it plummeted to the floor directly in front of the Rev. It was a battle cry. They had unfinished business, and she wanted to end it once and for all. She lunged towards him only to be caught by multiple hands. Sean and the PC seemed to be far more wary of the standoff than she.
“If you're not going to let me finish this, then I highly suggest one of you get to it. My patience for this one is wearing painfully thin,” she said, jerking her head towards the Rev.
“Now, now, love, you sound so angry with me. I showed you such reverence, and yet you still love me not,” the Rev called to her, his teeth still grazing Peyta's neck.
“What's the lose/lose, Sean?” she growled, staring the Rev down across the room, still restrained by those around her.
“We have to let him go with Ronnie or he'll bite Peyta,” Sean replied, his gaze affixed on the Rev as well. “If she's bitten, we'll have to take her out. There's no one to heal her as she healed Ronnie, and letting her Change is not an option.”
“So either way, we lose one of them?”
“Yes,” he said, grinding the word out.
&nbs
p; Scarlet looked over to Ronnie whose tear-stained face was barely visible amid the bodies of men that held her back. It took nearly as many as it did to hold Scarlet.
“I said he can take me,” Ronnie cried. “Let me go!”
“No,” Scarlet barked. “He has no honor. He won't keep his word, Ronnie. As soon as he has you, he'll bite her anyway. He may die, but he'll have gotten what he wanted. Hence the lose/lose.”
“My love, you insult me. Did I not honor you just last night?” he said, his wicked eyes flaring. “An honor which you have rejected, I see.”
“I don't do water,” she purred. “I'm a fighter, not a swimmer. If you wish to honor me, let the girl go and we'll end this for good. Just you and me.”
“Interesting. A trade? You would trade yourself for Peyta?”
“I would do what's necessary to get her away from you, yes.”
“But how could I trust you, love?” he said, pulling ever so slightly away from Peyta. “No, I think the terms of the bargain will stand as they are.”
Let me out!
“It's not a good time for that,” Scarlet whispered, lowering her head. The attempt at privacy was completely in vain given her current company. Only two people in the room wouldn't hear her.
“Not a good time for what, love?” the Rev asked curiously.
“Ruby would like a word with you.”
I have an idea...
Scarlet sighed for dramatic effect or out of annoyance; I didn't care either way. I had a scheme that was just crazy enough to potentially work. If it did, Peyta would be safe and the Rev would be dead. If it didn't, then either the stalemate would stand, or I would be toast.
“Do I even want to know?” she drawled, making me realize that I was an irritation to her in that moment. She was too focused on killing the Rev to enjoy my interjections.
I just need to get some space between Peyta and the Rev. If I can manage that, then you can shoot to the forefront and kill him before he ever catches onto my plan.
“I think not, Ruby.”
You need to trust me...
“Let her speak,” barked the Rev, clearly feeling a little left out.
“I'm not inclined to let her do so,” Scarlet replied, staring him down.
“Perhaps she has something helpful to add to this situation.”
“That's what I'm afraid of,” she muttered under her breath, before letting out a growl to let me know exactly what she thought of me and my idea.
“Do not,” she whispered low and warning, “let me down in this, Ruby, or I will never trust you or your judgment again.”
It was never comforting when I knew those around me didn't have faith, but when my internal roommate didn't, it was especially disheartening. Begrudgingly, she relinquished control, leaving me to make good on my word.
I prayed I could.
“What about a trade for me? Me for Peyta,” I propositioned, meeting his devious eyes. “Let her go and you can have me.”
The hands that restrained me slowly let go, dropping one at a time—except for Sean's. I turned to see a flash of emerald in those raven eyes, and I squeezed his hand gently, signaling him to let me go too.
“I love you,” I whispered to him as I walked slowly towards the Rev, “but I have to do this. There's no other way.”
He said nothing in response—he didn’t have to. His actions only hours ago said everything there was to say. He was a private man and would not have shared his sentiments in that venue, but the pain on his face was an image I'd never forget, and I knew if my plan failed, his grief would be unbearable.
All eyes of the PC were on me: some stunned, others confused, a few still hateful. You just couldn't win with some people. The Rev, however, was looking at me with a deep curiosity. I imagined he was trying to figure out what angle I was playing—how I was going to trick him. He was right to be concerned, but I had my own reservations with the plan. I'd only once influenced another werewolf, and I had no idea how I'd done it.
I knew my empathic powers had allowed me to speed Cooper's healing back in Utah, during a glitch in our escape plan, but I didn't know if I could influence the conscious mind. It was a big limb I was going out on, and I desperately hoped that it could hold me. If not, the situation was going to get a whole lot more complicated in a hurry. My ace in the hole was the connection that Scarlet and I already had with him. I had no idea how it worked, but I was betting my life that it had something to do with my gifts, and was hell-bent on showing the Rev that turnabout was fair play.
“You for Peyta?” he asked, face still hovering over her neck.
“Yes. Doesn't that seem fair?” I asked, throwing every ounce of agreeable energy I could his way. I was determined to sweet talk my way out of there come hell or high water.
For the first time since we'd arrived at the house, he completely raised his head and stood upright, pulling away from Peyta.
“Perhaps it does. But it's not you that I want,” he said, a look of consternation taking over his face.
“Isn't it?” I asked, radiating sex and power until his face flushed with the rush of it. “Scarlet and I are trapped in the same body, but who do you think is in charge?” I asked, sashaying towards him. “Scarlet? Better think again.” I watched as his grip on Peyta lessened ever so slightly. The boys saw it too. He was coming over to my side, but I needed to sweeten the pot further. “You know what that means, don't you?” I asked, baiting him. “It means I'm the only one that can give you what you want.”
“And what do you think that is?”
“Scarlet, of course.”
“How?” he asked, licking his parted lips ever so slightly.
“Like I said, I run the show. She eventually gets on board with whatever it is I want, and I want Peyta and Ronnie safe at any cost,” I offered, sprinkling the obvious into my offer to make him suspect my motives less. “You want a mate. I want them alive. It's a fair trade.”
He was visibly torn. His hands shook with the possibility of Scarlet's power being tied to him. It scared the shit out of me, but I reminded myself that wasn't going to be the outcome of my stunt. Not if it went well, anyway.
“What about them?” he asked, eying the PC. “They won't let us leave. You're expendable. They'll kill you to get to me.”
“Not a chance,” Sean boomed over my shoulder. “Anyone harms her and they die. That includes you, Rev.”
“Interesting,” he purred. “You seem to have quite a way of charming the men around you.”
“I tend to get my way,” I replied coyly. “Do we have a deal?”
“Yes,” he said, loosening his grip on Peyta. “I believe we do.”
“Then let her go,” I ordered, thrusting my authority at him. I was only a step or two away from him, and I wanted Peyta on the other side of me. The safe side. Everything was coming together perfectly. Scarlet paced wildly inside me, while Peyta stumbled a few steps to get beyond me. I closed my eyes just as Scarlet surged to take over. She would finally get to end it all.
But she never got the chance.
14
Just as she was about to come out and play, a pain shot through my head.
He snatched her hand, yanking her towards him as she fell to the ground. He cradled her head in his lap, threatening to rip it off if anyone came near him. Improvisation was his new game plan.
He rummaged for something in his coat, keeping a tight watch on the men that surrounded him―he was smug, but wary. He knew that without leverage he didn't stand a chance. His hand emerged with something small from his pocket, and he smiled down at his palm as he admired it. Arrogance permeated the air as he lifted her hand and slid the tiny platinum band onto it. He smiled with self-satisfaction; she'd never even known he'd taken it that first night he'd come to her.
Her complacency would now bind her to him forever.
There was a snarling in the background that finally got his attention. One man dared to approach, screaming his love's name. He would enjoy tormenti
ng that one, and brought his mouth to her throat, surrounding the tissue that housed her left carotid artery.
“She is mine now,” he told the bold man. “You will let us leave or she dies. If you follow us, she dies.”
He enveloped her hand in his, securing the ring, and scooped her up into his arms before leaning into her ear and whispering, “You are mine forever.”
“NO!” I screamed as I scrambled to get out of his iron grip. I'd seen Sean lunge for the Rev, just as I faded from the vision that held me captive. In a fraction of a second, he was on us, throwing me aside, out of harm's way—or so he thought. The PC was in a frenzy, and I struggled to avoid being trampled in the melee.
My efforts were to no avail.
A familiar set of hands dragged me out from the mob and pulled me to safety.
“Ronnie,” I tried to say, but it came out garbled and wet sounding.
That's what happens when you're choking on your own blood.
I felt no pain. That should have been the first sign that there was a big, big problem—that and the look on Ronnie's face. The pallor of her skin and the shaking of her hands finally alerted me to the severity of the situation. I was apparently in bad shape.
Sean had violently thrown me from the Rev, landing me on the coffee table and more specifically, the glass pyramid-shaped adornment sitting on it. It punctured my back right through the spine before I rolled off of it onto the floor, where I lay helpless until Ronnie pulled me out of harm's way.
“Ruby,” Peyta sniffled as she knelt beside me, “I'll fix it. I promise.”
I tried to grab her hand to comfort her. My arm didn't move. I tried to turn my head to see her better. It didn't move either. I couldn't get my ring off myself, or tell them to take it off. Neither Ronnie nor Peyta knew anything about its Scarlet-binding powers, and right about then I needed her to come out and do some serious self-healing.
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