Craving

by Sofia Grey

  13.13 Katherine

  I stared at Dante and Josh, and tried to think clearly, past the insistent buzzing in my head. A glint of metal caught my eye. Alistair held a thin, curved blade. He raised the knife, and Dante locked onto it. If I’d thought he looked furious earlier, when he dragged Nash from me, that was nothing in comparison.

  He took another step toward Alistair. His voice harsh, his jaw so tight I’m surprised he could speak. “She’s not making a deal with you. Leave her out of this.” The two bouncers inched closer, one either side of him.

  “You cannot give her what she most desires. But I can.”

  “I know what you can do.” Dante’s eyes darkened as he took another step. He lifted his right hand and held out the palm. “Make your deals with me, Alistair. Bring Nanette down here, and then we’ll deal.”

  They stood in a little tableau: Dante in the center, a bouncer on each side; Josh by the door, a tiny Asian woman beside him, and Alistair, standing next to me. For a long moment, nobody moved.

  Dante didn’t take his eyes off Alistair.

  My heart thumped viciously, and my lungs were still struggling to inflate. Even if I hadn’t been tied to the chair, I would have been useless. A bump at the door made everyone turn.

  Nanette burst into the room, carried over the shoulder of another massive bouncer. She thumped at his back with her fists, the sound muted, and I was briefly surprised that she was making no other noise, until I saw the bright red gag. The bouncer set her on the floor and whipped the cloth free of her mouth, but stood behind her, holding her securely.

  She coughed and spat then looked around the room, recoiled from Alistair and started crying when she saw Dante. “Chuckles,” she sobbed, “oh my God, you came for me.”

  I saw relief in his eyes, but his focus zeroed back on to Alistair.

  “Let them go.”

  “I will give you a choice.” He drew out the last word. It sounded like a snake hissing. “Katherine or Nanette. Which are you going to save?”

  Nanette’s broken sobs were the only sound in the room. Dante stood firm. “They both go free. One for Raphael, one for me.”

  “No. Raphael was a separate deal. Give yourself to me, and one girl goes free. Make your choice.”

  13.14 Josh

  How much did I trust Dante?

  Did I trust him at all?

  So this was Alistair. It had to be the same guy that attacked Dante outside. I hadn’t been imagining the mist swirling around his body, obscuring his face. What the hell was he? Everything about him set my nerves on edge. All my instincts told me to run. I tried to listen to Dante, while weighing my prospects of taking out the little woman standing guard on the door. Even if she was out of action, that still left three enormous bouncers and Alistair to contend with.

  Hearing him call me Raphael was a shock. Hearing that Dante had agreed to hand me over was worrying. Had I been set up? Or was it all part of some elaborate ruse to free Katherine and the other girl? I couldn’t be sure.

  Deep inside my pocket, my phone vibrated. Everyone stared at Dante, facing up to Alistair. I eased out the phone and glanced at the screen. A text from Suki. Shit. I looked up, but nobody paid me any attention. I moved my thumb over the touch screen and read the message:

  You ok? Not in the club are u? Pls call me. Urgent! Sxxx

  Chapter

  ~14~

  14.1 Dante

  I forced a cocky smile to my face. “I know you want the Talismans, it’s no secret. But,” I paused and drew out the word, “if you don’t let both girls go free, you won’t get mine or Raphael’s.”

  Alistair chuckled. More mist drifted across his face. “You think you can deny me?”

  Show time. I squared my shoulders and stuck out my chin. “Josh?” I held out a hand and he handed over the ciggy packet. Please God, don’t let me screw up here. “This,” I held it up high, “holds them both. They’re soaked in lighter fluid. One flick of this,” I pulled out the Zippo, “and they’ll both burn to ash. Do you want to take that chance?”

  The mist thickened around Alistair’s head. “You won’t gamble their lives.”

  I moved the lighter closer to the crumpled ciggy packet. Years of winning at poker had taught me when to push and when to back off. “Wanna bet?”

  In my peripheral vision, I caught a glimpse of Eve sidling up to stand next to me. I kept my focus on Alistair. The mist had thickened and now looked almost solid, as though it had real substance. I inched the Zippo nearer to the Talismans and flicked open the cap of the lighter. “Let them go.”

  Alistair made a sighing noise, and the mist flew outwards in two thick streams, one wrapping around Kitten’s throat, the other around Nan’s.

  I gaped. I heard Josh gasp, and then Kitten coughed and wheezed, her eyes wide with fear. Nan tore at her throat, her hands scrabbling at the white strands wrapping tighter.

  “You still want to gamble, Dante?”

  Kitten’s agonized face and Nan’s moan were more than I could bear. With a sense of impending doom, I recapped the Zippo and shoved it back in my pocket. “Let go.” The shimmering threads continued to squeeze their throats. Kitten’s eyelids fluttered. She was losing consciousness. “Let them the fuck go!” I yelled.

  “Choose, Dante. I am losing patience. Choose, or lose them both.”

  14.2 Katherine

  The room grayed out in front of me, black spots dancing before my eyes. Somewhere in the distance I heard Dante yelling. The pressure on my throat was immense but just as full blown panic set in, it eased. I sucked in a small breath, then a huge one, my lungs wheezing and hurting, as though I had a hot knife in my ribs.

  Dante looked agonized. His focus darted back and forth. To me, to Nanette, to Alistair, and then to me again.

  “No,” he murmured. His eyes locked on to me. I love you, he mouthed. And then he dragged his gaze back to Alistair.

  “I’m choosing Nanette.”

  14.3 Josh

  I felt totally useless. There had to be something I could do. My phone vibrated, and I glanced at the screen. Another text from Suki.

  Police are raiding the club tonight. They expect trouble. Stay away. Ring me, babe, Sxxx

  It took seconds to access and read the text. My attention was not diverted for long, but in that short space of time everything changed. Again.

  Nanette stumbled forward, her tears continuous. “Chuckles, oh baby.” She bent over at the waist and coughed. Her voice was feeble when she spoke next. “Let me see your Talisman. What have you done to it?”

  I looked up, puzzled.

  Katherine’s mobile face had stilled, her eyes huge and frightened, her lips wobbling. “D-Dante,” she stammered.

  He ignored her. Taking a step forward, he held out his free hand, moving the Talismans securely behind him. I guessed he was keeping them away from Alistair. I stashed my phone and stretched out, taking the bracelets back and holding them tight in my fist.

  “Come here, Nan.” Dante spoke softly but the girl didn’t move.

  “Let me see the Talisman, Chuckles.”

  “You don’t need it, Nan, and you’re not having it. Come here.”

  Her head whipped up. In her right hand she held a gleaming blade—a butterfly knife. Where the fuck had that come from?

  “Just give me the fucking Talisman.” She closed one hand around Katherine’s chin and held the knife to her throat.

  14.4 Dante

  From the moment Eve reappeared, she hadn’t shut up. “Nanette,” she warned, “choose Nanette.” While I tried to bargain with Alistair, she bounced up and down on her toes, and began to chant. “Nanette. Nanette.” Her voice dug into my brain, relentless and insistent. “Dante, you have to choose Nanette. It’s the only way you can get out of this in one piece.” When Alistair demonstrated how powerful he was, and I watched Kitten choking, Eve yelled. “It’s your only chance to free Katherine.”

  I flicked her the briefest glance. “No.” I couldn’t choose. I
would find another way.

  She stood right in front of me, nose to nose. “For your grandmother, you have to trust me, Dante. Choose Nanette.”

  I swallowed. If Eve was wrong… if this was the last time I ever saw Kitten. I love you, I mouthed to her.

  There was a long moment of confusion when Nan pulled a knife on Kitten—my fucking knife—and then my brain ticked over, and the cogs slipped into place, smacking me hard on the way. Nan had been behaving strangely since the messed up séance. She’d asked me about my Talisman. She’d almost certainly spiked my drink at the poker night and planted the dud notes on me. She had my knife. An icy chill flew down my spine. Had she stabbed Ash?

  A cold hand slapped my cheek. Eve. “Get your head back in the game, boy.” She must have seen my confusion. “You need to touch her. You need to make contact with Nanette. Go and ask her for the knife.”

  Kitten’s eyes pleaded with me. Stray hairs had escaped from her ponytail and stuck to her forehead. I wanted to smooth them back, to kiss away her fear. I wanted her to get out of this.

  I had to trust someone so I paid attention to Eve. I took a deep breath, gulped down the terrified lump in my throat, and stepped forward.

  “Nan,” I crooned. “Put down the knife. You can have the Talisman, no problem. But I’m scared you’re going to hurt someone with that thing.” I inched closer. The blade pressed to the base of Kitten’s throat. I could see little beads of blood along the skin, and I balled my fists to prevent swinging out with them.

  “Touch her, Dante.” Eve watched as I approached Nan.

  Why did I have to touch her? Would the spirit jump to me? Why couldn’t Eve just tell me what was happening here?

  “Don’t come any closer.” Nan’s fingers tightened around the knife, and Kitten whimpered. Another drop of blood erupted, a garish bright red in stark contrast to her pale skin.

  My gut clenched, but I gritted my teeth and lifted my right hand toward my one-time friend.

  “Now!” shrieked Eve.

  I snatched at Nan, catching her free arm.

  A surge of power shot through my body coming up from my toes and pouring out through my fingertips, channeling into Nanette as she lifted the knife and swung it in my direction.

  The last thing I saw was Eve, dissolving into a cloud of gray smoke. There was pain in my shoulder, a blinding flash of light and a boom to rival the loudest clap of thunder…

  And then Eve’s voice in my head. “Get rid of him, Dante.”

  14.5 Katherine

  I was scared to even breathe in case the knife slipped.

  Dante’s entire focus lay on Nanette. It looked as though he stumbled and Nanette whipped the blade away, to sink into his shoulder.

  I heard the crunching noise as it tore through his leather jacket, then a metallic clatter as it fell to the floor.

  A stream of smoke poured out of Nanette’s open mouth a moment before she collapsed.

  Dante turned to Alistair, and I saw a flash of metal, a struggle between them for his knife. It happened quicker than I could draw breath.

  I tried to shout to Dante, but a deafening crash shook the floor and a shower of dust drifted from the ceiling. I blinked as more dust began to rain down around me, covering my head and shoulders. I had dust in my mouth, in my throat. I struggled against the ropes that held me, twisting and turning, looking for the others. Dante lay near me, blood pouring from his shoulder, Nanette a crumpled heap with the bouncers, and there was Josh, face down next to the little Asian woman. I was the only one still conscious.

  Chapter

  ~15~

  15.1 Dante

  Soft hair tickled my nose, and I shifted my head a fraction. Kitten. She lay spooned against me, face in the pillow, fingers tangled with my own. I ran a cautious hand up her side, skimming the soft curves to cup around her breast. She murmured in her sleep, and I inched closer to press as much of my naked body to hers as I could.

  A wide stripe of daylight pierced the almost closed curtains to dissect our bed. I frowned and searched my memory. Where the fuck was I? This room looked familiar. I’d seen those curtains before. I recognized the gaudy pink flowers.

  I dug into my fractured brain. Alistair. Nan holding a knife to Kitten’s throat. My chest tightened. Eve. I trawled some more. Nan driving the knife into my shoulder. I stretched my back, rolled both shoulders, turned my neck. No pain. No twinges at all.

  No Talisman. My wrist lay bare.

  Kitten’s yawn hauled my attention back, and I took the opportunity to nuzzle her neck, kissing my way up to the sensitive spot behind her ear.

  “You’re feeling better today, Angel.” Her voice gravelly with sleep.

  “Feeling good,” I agreed. I flicked my thumb over her nipple, enjoying the shudder it produced. “You feel good too, babe.” My cock thought so as well. I flexed my hips and gave her a gentle nudge.

  She giggled, a musical sound that wrapped around me. “You’re insatiable. Don’t you ever want to sleep?” She rolled over to face me, her amber eyes wide and amused. “Not that I’m complaining.”

  “Good.” I stole a kiss. “Sleep’s overrated anyway.” My fingertips traced the shape of her eyebrows, pushing back the heavy fall of hair. It tumbled forward again, and I curled a lock in the palm of my hand. It reminded me of something, and I frowned. It felt as though a giant door had been erected inside my head. One I didn’t have the key for. Kitten’s hair sticking to her damp forehead. I rubbed my eyes.

  Kitten gazed at me and smiled. “How is the headache today?”

  “Headache?” No pain there either.

  Her eyes searched my face. “Do you remember any of it yet?” She cupped my cheek when I didn’t reply. “Concussion can do that. It might be weeks before it all comes back.”

  Alistair drilling into Kitten’s skull.

  I blinked. “Concussion?” I pushed some more at the door in my brain. Nan holding my butterfly knife. Was it all over? Had Alistair released me? Or… God. Please don’t say I sacrificed Josh after all? I dragged in an unsteady breath and prepared to ask Kitten. She nestled into my arms and ran one finger along the length of my cock, from root to tip. I hissed at the delicious sensation and reached for her, hungry to take her mouth, needing to bury myself deep inside her. This was what I’d longed for, and by God, I was going to take it.

  15.2 Katherine

  If I rocked the chair hard enough, it would topple over, taking me with it. A knife lay on the floor somewhere close. Find the knife, cut the ties. I could do this.

  15.3 Josh

  The quiet buzz of chatter woke me. I lifted heavy eyelids to see Suki, phone held to her ear, walking up and down the bedroom. Yawning, I listened to her side of the conversation. Schedule details. I tuned out. I felt beyond comfortable, as though I lay in the most luxurious bed ever. My gaze fell onto the bookshelves by the window. I didn’t remember filling them. All of our books were still stacked in boxes, or so I thought. I rubbed my forehead and shifted my gaze to stare out of the window. Soft rain pattered onto the glass. Hmm. Warm and cozy in bed, or… what should I be doing today?

  Suki must have seen my movement because she turned to face me, a huge dimpled smile breaking across her face. A smile I hadn’t seen for some time.

  “Josh.” She sucked in a quick breath. “I’ll call you back, Eric,” she murmured into the phone, before disconnecting and shoving it into her back pocket. “You’re awake, baby.” She knelt on the bed next to me. “How do you feel today?”

  15.4 Katherine

  Smashing into the floor drove every molecule of air out of my lungs. It took several gasps and wheezing coughs before I could breathe again. More dust cascaded down from the ceiling and set off another coughing fit.

  The abandoned knife lay in a pile of rubble a few feet away. Come on, I yelled at myself. I jerked the chair as hard as I could. It moved a few inches. Dirt and hair fell into my eyes, but there was no way to wipe them clear. I took a deep breath and jerked the chair again. Slam
med into the floor again. My side would be covered in bruises. The knife lay tantalizingly close. If I stretched, I might reach it.

  I didn’t expect the lights to go out.

  15.5 Dante

  “Do you remember what happened to your Talisman, babe?” Kitten’s fingers danced over my naked wrist, pausing to draw tiny patterns over the snake tattoo. Sleepy, I watched the flash of her fingernails against the jewel colors of my ink.

  “Josh,” I mumbled. “Where’s Josh?”

  She stared up at me, her eyes darkening. I smiled at the sight of her lips, all lush and pink, and thoroughly well-kissed.

  “Does Josh have it, Angel?”

  Her tongue circled the snake’s head.

  “I think so,” I mumbled. My eyes were drawn back to the window, to the familiar curtains. “Kitten, where are we? I’ve seen those before.” I jerked my chin to the window.

  “Silly,” she giggled. “We’re at my place.” Her mouth closed over my thumb, sucking on it and distracting me. I tried to dig into my failing memories. Something was wrong with this picture.

  Kitten shifted in bed and knelt over me, her hot tongue tickling across each tat in turn. It felt like heaven. For some reason I stared at the curtains again—what was significant about them? She reached my piercing, and I groaned, pure bliss and burning lust pushing away every thought from my head.

  Every thought bar one.

  Those curtains had been in her bedroom at her father’s house. Last time I saw that room, it had been empty.

  15.6 Katherine