Captive (Igniting the Flame Book 1)

by Dani Matthews

  Without hesitation, I climb inside the bin and grab the lid. I wish there was a way to secure it, but I’m going to have to let it rest on top and hope for the best. After the lid is closed, I settle as comfortably as I can with my knees scrunched up to my chest. I keep the knife out and clutched in my hand—ready to use.

  Now, I simply have to wait.

  As time passes by, I listen intently for any sounds of movement on the third floor. I’m perfectly aware that there’s a lot that could go wrong. Cassius might look inside the garbage before he secures the latch on the lid. Or he might empty the bins in here, but I think that would just be more work. What if he’s not alone? What if I freeze and miss the opportunity to use the knife?

  I blow out a breath and calm my anxiety. I have to believe that this is going to work, because if it doesn’t…

  Lethe’s impassive expression flickers in my mind. If I’m caught, I’m certain that he won’t take my near escape lightly.

  I close my eyes and think of Andi and Brin. I don’t know what they look like. I can only recall their voices and their touch, and I miss them more than I could have ever imagined. I think having each other is the only reason the three of us didn’t lose our minds inside that cell.

  Someday, I am going to find them, and I will do whatever I can to help them find their freedom. We deserve to have a choice in the way we live. We have every right to decide who we want to be and who we want to be around. Nobody should be telling us who we sleep with and when we have kids.

  Longing courses through me as I think of the freedom I’d had with Nany. After twenty years of making my own decisions, I can’t willingly accept this fate of captivity. Nany was adamant that I always had a choice in all that I did. She taught me so much about independence and not to expect anyone to understand my need to be free.

  Tears sting my eyes. God, I miss her so much. It’s not fair that they killed her when she hadn’t been capable of holding a weapon or anything else without her hands shaking. She wasn’t a threat to anyone.

  I think I hear movement, and I tense.

  Shit.

  I can’t afford to be distracted.

  I listen intently, and I can hear someone moving around the kitchen. I’m not certain how much time has passed, but since no one is opening the pantry door, I’m assuming it’s Tenley. She likes to drink coffee in the morning before making breakfast.

  This waiting is nerve-racking.

  I hear the pantry door open, and I stop breathing as I wait to see if it’s Tenley or Cassius. I’m screwed if Tenley opens my bin to throw something away. The sound of the light switching on has my grip tightening on the knife. I have no intention of hurting Tenley if she does happen across me, but Cassius… I’m not sure what I’ll do if he finds me before I can complete my escape.

  As I strain to listen, I hear movement across the room, and it sounds like someone is rummaging through one of the many shelves. A second later, footsteps walkaway as they head to the door, and the light switches off.

  I release a silent sigh of relief. That was close.

  Once again, I sit and wait. My legs are starting to feel crampy from holding them to my chest, and my butt grew numb quite some time ago. If my plan works, I sure as hell hope that I’m going to be able to run when I need to.

  The pantry door reopens, and I stiffen.

  I hear two distinctly male voices, and I mentally begin cursing. I’d been hoping for only Cassius. Two of them are going to be much harder to incapacitate. I think I recognize Cassius, but I don’t recognize the other voice. I’m not really listening to what they’re saying, because I am trying to listen to what they are doing.

  It sounds like one of the bins is being rolled out the pantry door.

  The lid on my bin suddenly clamps down, and I bite back a startled yelp as I hear the latches being secured in place. When I realize I’m about to go for a ride, I quickly put the knife between my lips and press my hands on each side of the bin.

  The garbage bin tilts, and I brace myself the best I can without toppling over. If any kind of thud comes from within here, someone’s going to open the bin to see what’s making the sound.

  “What the fuck do these women eat?” the unfamiliar male voice asks as he grunts and rolls my bin out of the pantry and likely through the kitchen.

  “Beats me. They order what they want, and I make sure they get it,” Cassius replies.

  My arms are beginning to shake from the strain of holding my body upright in the tilted bin. If I lean my weight against one side, it’ll throw off the weight of the bin and cause suspicion. Dang. I need to do push-ups or something to build some muscle. Sweat breaks out across my forehead, and I hear the elevator chime.

  Then, the bin is rolled over the crack between the floor and elevator shaft, and my butt takes the brunt of it until the bin is set upright. Thank God, because it gives me a brief moment to rest my arms. I feel the elevator going downwards, and I begin to mentally plan how to take out two grown men.

  “Yes?” I hear Cassius ask.

  Who’s he talking to?

  “Yeah, I’ll be right there.” I hear the sound of one of the buttons being pressed on the elevator panel. “Can you finish this up?” he asks.

  “Yeah,” the male voice beside my bin replies.

  The elevator slows to a stop, and I hear the doors open. My bin doesn’t move, and I realize that Cassius has been called away for something. Somehow, luck is on my side after all, and the elevator begins its decent once more.

  When it stops, I hear the doors slide open, and then my bin is being rolled again. I strain to keep myself balanced, and I inwardly wince when the bin rolls over a crack. It’s too quiet out there, so I’m thinking that we’re still inside the warehouse.

  I listen intently, and I hear what sounds like a heavy door being opened, and as the bin rolls, I hear the door slam shut. The bin is still rolling along on smooth flooring, and another door opens. Then I’m jolted as I’m rolled over something that seems to be a few inches higher than floor. The smooth floor then promptly turns into numerous little bumps, and I realize that the bin is being rolled over gravel.

  We’re outside!

  Freedom is so close…

  I prepare to make my move, knowing that once the bin stops, I have to be ready with the knife. I warn myself not to hesitate. This is the world that I am living in; you either kill or be killed. Whoever this man is, he’s willingly holding me captive. It’s his own fault that he’s in the way of my freedom.

  The bin comes to a stop, and I take the knife from my lips and hold it tightly.

  The lid opens.

  Fresh air greets me, but I ignore it as I launch to my feet and slam the knife into the man’s neck. Shit! I didn’t mean to strike at his neck. Too late now.

  His green eyes widen as his blood spills onto my hand, and I quickly release the knife and scramble out of the bin, nearly falling over in my haste. When I look at him again, he’s dropping to his knees, his handsome face grimacing with pain as he yanks the knife out of his neck. More blood gushes from the wound, and he quickly covers it with his hand, his other hand fumbling for his pocket.

  His cell phone!

  I’m wasting precious seconds, but I still rush forward and use my body to slam into him. As my momentum topples him over, I manage to yank the phone from his jeans pocket. Before he can try to make a grab for me, I dart away from him.

  I see that a few strands of blond hair have escaped his short ponytail, and he’s struggling to breathe. His green eyes narrow on me, and he lifts his free hand and gives me the finger.

  I return the gesture, and then I take off running with his phone clutched in my hand.

  I’m astonished to find that I’m outside a large, rundown warehouse—which is completely unexpected. I thought the stronghold was a mansion or something ridiculous of the sort. I take a moment to heave the cell phone as far away as I can before racing for the nearest street. Judging by the neglected buildings surrounding the a
rea, I can tell that this is a bad area of the city.

  As I run as fast as I can away from the immediate area, I spy an abandoned bike. Okay, that’ll do. It’s not chained to anything and the tires look full, which means someone left it briefly and had likely planned on coming back for it. Too bad for them. I grab the bike and hop on, knowing that it’ll be faster than running.

  Now I just need to find a real ride. Preferably one that runs on gas.

  Seven

  Lethe

  “Christ, he’s dead already,” I hear Soren say as I repeatedly slam the knife into the chest that had been breathing just moments ago.

  It’s hard to contain the bloodlust that’s coursing through my veins, and it’s times like this that I fucking savor. To have someone’s life in your hands, and to watch it drain away in rivulets of blood…

  It’s a sight I enjoy—probably too much, but I came to terms with who I am a long time ago. Unfortunately, Soren doesn’t have that killer instinct. The man’s a pussy when it comes to death, and I’m annoyed that he’s interrupting me.

  I yank the knife out of the man’s chest and search for a dry area on his shirt to wipe the blade. Once the knife is clean, I rise to my feet and look over my handiwork. The man’s eyes are still wide open with fear, his mouth slack with a drop of blood in the corner. His chest is a mass of bloody wounds, and crimson puddles have spread on the dirty pavement around him.

  “Was that really necessary?” Soren asks.

  I turn my head and give him a cool look. “He stole from me.”

  “It was five hundred.” He clears his throat and motions towards the vicinity of my face. “You have some…blood...”

  I reach up and run my hand over my face, wiping away the red droplets. “Five hundred worth of crank. And yes, I had to kill him. It sends a message to the others in case they get any stupid ideas.”

  Soren grimaces. “I just think—”

  I give him a cutting look, daring him to continue that train of thought. There are only two people that are allowed to question me, and Soren’s not one of them.

  “I’ll go grab the car,” he mutters.

  I don’t bother watching as he walks away. Instead, I look down at the man. A part of me wishes I could do it over and experience the high once more.

  I’m a killer.

  There’s lots of it going around these days, and it’s in my blood. Drakons are born with tendencies towards violence. We like it, we act on it, and that’s just the way we are. It’s normal for us. How the fuck did Soren survive all these years without that thirst for violence? I’m going to have to find a way to toughen him up. Not that he can’t hold his own in a fight, because he can—and he’s good. But killing outside of fighting just isn’t in his nature. I’ll have to speak with Kai about him.

  My thoughts shift to another matter. Now that I’ve killed, I’m ready to fuck someone. Literally. It’s earlier than I prefer, but I’d wanted to corner Chez while he was still sleeping in this abandoned shithole. I’m certain there’s a few others skulking around the area, and I’m sure they’d witnessed the entire scene. Word will spread that even five hundred worth of crank will get you killed. I won’t tolerate my men stealing product from me. They want it, they pay for it just like everyone else.

  I turn and begin walking towards the door, ignoring the dust that stirs in the stale air as I leave the building and breathe in fresh air. I’ll have to inform Soren that we’re detouring to the club. I’m confident one of the women there will want to satisfy me since they all seem interested in my dick—not that I mind.

  My phone rings in my pocket, distracting me from my thoughts. I pull the phone out and put it to my ear as Soren pulls up outside the doorway. “Yeah?”

  “We have a bit of a problem,” Kai states.

  “I’m listening.” I walk to the passenger door of the black SUV and open it, climbing into the seat. “Go to the club,” I tell Soren before concentrating on my conversation with Kai, my second in command within the clan.

  Kai sighs. “Arista’s escaped.”

  That insolent, little smirk of hers flashes in my mind, and I’m not all that surprised by the news. “The warehouse is like Fort Knox,” I say with amusement as Soren drives us away from the building. “Go play hide and seek with her, and then drag her back up to the women’s quarters.”

  “She’s outside the perimeter. King says she was hiding in one of the garbage bins. She knifed him in the neck pretty good and ran off,” Kai grimly informs.

  My eyes narrow at this unwelcoming news. “You’re telling me that she hid in a fucking garbage bin, and now she’s loose somewhere in the city?” I see Soren look at me sharply as he slows for a red light.

  “Yeah, that sums it up.”

  I can feel my irritation building. “I’m assuming you already sent out a retrieval team?”

  “They’re prepping as we speak.”

  “She cost me a fortune,” I bite out. “Bring her back immediately.” I turn my head and look at Soren. “Head back to the warehouse.”

  He nods and turns left at the intersection instead of going straight, and an angry driver shouts obscenities out his open window as we cut him off.

  “We’re heading out,” Kai informs me.

  “Keep me updated.” I end the conversation and promptly call Maverick. The second he picks up, I demand, “How the hell did this happen?” Maverick is a genius when it comes to computers and anything tech. He’s also the head of security, and I want to know how the fuck a little slip of the woman got the best of him.

  Maverick sighs. “I knew I’d be hearing from you. We quit watching surveillance of the women a few months ago, remember? It was a waste of time, and you signed off on it. Honestly, her plan was brilliant,” he adds with admiration.

  “Admirable or not, she’s a pain in the ass. We’ve grown lax with how amenable Evie and Tenley are. We should have prepared better for someone more…temperamental.”

  “You have to admit, what she did took balls. No one’s gotten the best of King in a long time, and he’s close to burning down the medical room over the fact that a little female took him down.”

  “Don’t even think about rewarding her for this foolishness she’s pulled,” I warn.

  Maverick chuckles before turning serious. “What do you want me to do?”

  “When they bring her back, I want her locked in her room immediately.”

  “That solves nothing,” he warns. “It’ll just enrage her. I doubt they’ll be back with her today anyway.”

  “Why wouldn’t they?” I ask with a frown.

  “Have you noticed her demeanor? Even Anton has remarked about it. She isn’t timid, Lethe. She doesn’t look for direction, and she’s definitely not easily frightened. There’s no way she grew up in a clan.”

  “I’m listening.” These are things that I hadn’t considered when I’d bought her.

  “It’s obvious she grew up on the streets. You’ve completely underestimated her since day one. She’s going to go underground and disappear. You’re not going to be able to snap your fingers and expect to get your way with this one,” Maverick tells me.

  “Kai’s the best. She won’t be able to elude him for very long.”

  “I never said she would. I said you’re not getting her back tonight, because that one’s going to lead them all over the fucking place first.”

  “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” I ask with irritation.

  “Just a little. I think she’s the first drakon female we’ve ever met that isn’t naturally submissive. It’s a little refreshing.”

  “I thought you were growing more interested in Tenley?”

  “I am. It’s refreshing to watch, but I never said that I wanted that hellion for my mate.”

  Eight

  Arista

  I’m taking a terrible chance by hitchhiking out of the state, but it’s not like I have much for options. It’s the fastest way out of the area if I don’t count flying, and I haven’t
had a chance to pawn Evie’s jewelry either. I’m penniless until I feel that it’s safe enough to stop somewhere to find a pawnshop.

  For the fifth time, I fight back a yawn. It’s dark, and I’ve been struggling to stay awake for the past hour. The clock on the dashboard says it’s one in the morning, and I’m relieved with each passing hour that I’m putting more distance between myself and Los Angeles. It was pure luck running into Aimee shortly after I took off on the bicycle. She’d been driving past and caught sight of me peddling the bike as furiously as I could. I guess I looked odd in my nice clothing while riding the heap of junk. She’d pulled over and asked if I needed a ride—which was pretty ballsy of her since she’s only eighteen and all alone. Evidently, my clothing gave her the impression that I’m harmless.

  I’d lied and claimed that I was running away from an abusive boyfriend, and she’d told me she was on her way out of town to visit a friend in Nebraska. She’d kindly offered to let me tag along, so here I am.

  Aimee yawns, and her voice breaks the silence as she runs a hand through her closely cropped, blonde hair. “I think we’re going to have to find a place to sleep,” she says tiredly.

  The very last thing I want is to stop. I’d like to think that Lethe won’t come after me, but I’m certain he will, and if he gets his hands on me, I’ll never see the light of day again. Nor will I ever have another chance to escape.

  “I can drive,” I offer.

  Aimee gives me a look. “You think I haven’t noticed your yawning? Every time you yawn, you make me yawn.”

  “Sorry.”

  “It’s fine, but really, we need to at least get a few hours of sleep. There’s an exit up ahead for a campground. I think we’ll just pull in there and camp in the car,” she says.

  “Sure, that’s fine,” I agree. I’m a little uneasy about stopping off at a campground since nighttime is when vampires like to hunt. The night also brings out shifters. Looks like there won’t be any sleep for me tonight. I’m going to have to stay alert so I can protect myself if the need arises.