Bad Blood (Rock Goddess Reverse Harem Book 5)

by Romy Lockhart

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Nick

  My first thought when I awaken is how much damn tequila did I drink last night? The second is, hold up a fucking minute. I wasn’t even drinking last night. I was at the hospital waiting for a friend to wake up. With an opportunistic bitch I stupidly believed wouldn’t use such a screwed up chance to dig her claws in to my skin.

  I sit up, my head pounding. The bed I’m in isn’t mine, and it’s not the hotel suite, either. Shit. Should have hung up on Tanya last night. Shouldn’t have given her the chance to drag me into... whatever this is.

  The room is dark, and the bed is hard. My back hurts almost as much as my throbbing head. What the hell did Tanya do to me last night? And why the fuck am I naked?

  Oh no. Please, no. I get up, feel my stomach heave, and sit right back down again. She must have drugged me. We had coffee, but I bought it. I don’t understand.

  “He’s awake,” an unfamiliar voice drags my attention to the bedroom door.

  The girl looks like an emo-band groupie. All dark clothes and make-up and her hair in bunches. Her age is questionable under that make-up. I pull the covers over my crotch when I realise she’s staring.

  I clear my throat to ask, “Where the fuck am I?”

  Haven’t had an honest-to-God blackout in years. I shake a little as I try to stand again. I can’t yet. I’ll puke if I try and that’ll make it feel worse. Whatever she dosed me with, it had to be strong.

  She doesn’t answer me. She just continues to stare.

  “Who did you just speak to?”

  “I like your tattoos,” she tells me.

  I sigh. She sounds like a kid. Maybe sixteen at a push. She’s not going to help me get the hell out of here. Wherever here is. I wouldn’t ask her to. Especially not when I’m completely fucking naked.

  “Get out of the way, Laney.” The brash command comes from a vaguely familiar voice. It’s one I haven’t heard in a damn long time, but I know it well all the same.

  “Raven Whiteclaw,” I mutter, as she pulls the girl out the doorway and walks in, closing it in the girl’s face. The woman came to the club a lot when the Hellcats were new on the scene and had to be photographed out on the town together, painting it red. I don’t understand what interest she could possibly have in me.

  “Nick Levine. Long time, no see,” she comments, leaning against the wall opposite me. “How are you feeling?”

  “What in the name of fuck is going on here?” I need answers and someone’s going to give me them. I don’t care who.

  She laughs. “Oh, me and your little sister go way back.”

  Little sister? “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “Elise and I have the same dealer. It wasn’t that hard to make sure she got a bigger dose of her favorite medication than usual. Worked perfectly to send her to hospital, though I did plan on it killing her. Since it didn’t, I have a fresh plan for tonight.”

  “Why?” Elise is a sweetheart. The only person she ever hurts is herself. What possible vendetta could this bitch have against her?

  “You’ll find out tonight. Just a few hours to go.”

  I try to move and she pushes me back. I fight, but she’s too quick to trap my right wrist. I’m chained to the bed a second later, and cursing my weakened state to hell and back.

  “Now, are you going to be patient for me, or do I need to send Tanya in to have her fun with you before the main event?”

  “Why are you doing this? I’ve done nothing to you.”

  She smiles sweetly. “That’s right. This isn’t about you. If you shut up now, I’ll let you lie here alone for a bit. Otherwise... Did you know Tanya talks about getting just one more night with you, and putting holes in the condom so she can get pregnant without you knowing? One more word, and she won’t need the pretence.”

  I clamp my jaw shut and stare her out. She just made my skin crawl. I wouldn’t normally take threats lying down but that one... No choice.

  She smiles. “Good boy. See you in a few hours.”

  She leaves, closing the door behind her fully. I pull against the restraints but they don’t appear to be shitty sex-cuffs. They’re heavy, and nothing budges when I pull my wrists forward.

  I’m fucking trapped. I can only hope Eden and the guys realise I’m in trouble and figure out where I am. I laugh when I think of that. I lied about where I went. Their chances of finding me are slim to none. I need to work this out on my own.

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  Eden

  My mind swirls as Eli takes me through what did, and where he went, looking for Nick. I only know one thing for sure. Nick lied to them both when he said where he was going. What would he have lied about? Had to be something important. I don’t understand.

  “We need to find him,” I say, trying to work out how. I was able to locate Sky the way Lawson showed me. I might be able to do the same for Nick. I hope to hell I can. If I can’t manage alone, Sky owes me her boyfriend until I find him.

  “I looked everywhere,” Eli says. “And his apartment felt wrong. There were women’s clothes in the bedroom, and make-up in the bathroom.”

  Asher raises his eyebrows. “Did it look like someone broke in?”

  “It looked like she was crashing there, whoever she is.”

  “He isn’t in town much,” Asher says. “It’s possible he lets one of the girls he works with stay there when he’s gone.”

  “I need quiet,” I tell them both, going into the bedroom and closing the door.

  I sit on the edge of the bed furthest from the door and close my eyes. I need to concentrate. I take a few slow, deep breaths, and begin by thinking of Nick. Getting his always smiling face with the high cheekbones and shimmering green eyes in my head. His dark hair and tanned skin. The thick black bands of tattoos on his arms. The rippling muscles of his chest and stomach. The playful suggestions he makes, the joking around, and the serious statements of devotion when I least expect them.

  I gasp when the vision I’ve painted of him changes to the image of a dark bedroom. I can see his upper body is naked, his arms are stretched up behind his head. Sheets cover his lower half. I try to concentrate on the details of the room, but I’m in shock right now, afraid of what this vision means.

  Who would want to tie him up like this? Why did he lie about where he was going last night?

  The vision begins to fade. I look frantically through his gaze, hoping to see something useful. All I get are black furniture and a room that looks dark and drab. It’s not much to go on at all.

  I get up and walk to the bedroom door. I can’t believe I’m going to have to concentrate all night just to see Nick stuck on that bed. But I have to. It’s the only way I might pick up a real clue to where he is, to who took him.

  My stomach lurches suddenly. What if I don’t know the person if they walk into the room? What then?

  Eli and Asher come my way when I open the door.

  “What is it?”

  “Are you okay?”

  I nod slowly. “I can lock onto Nick, like I did before with Skyler, but I don’t know where he is. I haven’t worked it out yet. I’m going to have to keep trying. If I get something, I’ll yell. You need to touch me if I do so you can see it as well. Is Logan coming over?”

  Asher nods. “He’s on his way.”

  “I need to concentrate to see Nick, but if he tells you anything I don’t know. Anything that might help me, you can come and tell me.” I kiss each of them on the cheek and retreat back into the bedroom. I’m going to find out where Nick is, even if it takes all night.

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Eli

  This whole damn thing is getting crazier and crazier. The simplest answer is usually the one that turns out to be true, but I don’t think that’s how it’s going down this time. It’s both reassuring and horrifying. Eden closes the bedroom door and I look at Asher.

  “At first I was worried Nick was with another woman, but this is much deadlier
than that,” I say, knowing I’m right. Someone got to Nick, somehow. As Eden’s lover, he can’t be compelled, but he could have any number of other tortures visited upon him.

  “It’s much deadlier, and I don’t care what it looks like. Nick wouldn’t do that.” Asher’s riled up, and he doesn’t make any move to cover up his irritation.

  “I didn’t think so, not really. My cop brain is trained to look for the obvious answer and work from there. It’s just hard to ignore that instinct.” I blow out a breath. “Another Goddess?”

  “Seems the most likely idea. Especially considering Nick has been made public as her lover. None of the rest of us have. Would have made him a target. We should have realised.”

  He’s right, we really should have. “We’re going to need to be more careful from now on.”

  Asher nods. “We have two problems right now. Nick’s only one of them.”

  Right. We need to work out what to do to help Logan. He’s been compelled, and the only person who could break that is missing. Coincidence? “Is it kind of weird that Nick’s out of the picture while he’s the one who needs to accept Logan as Eden’s fourth?”

  Asher frowns. “It would be easy to think of that as coincidental, but I’m not sure I really believe in coincidences anymore.”

  Yeah, I don’t believe in them when it has anything to do with Eden either. We can’t afford to make that kind of assumption. So what does that leave? “Maybe Raven planned this?”

  “Maybe.” Asher seems deep in thought, so I go over to the door when the bodyguard knocks.

  “What is it?” I call out.

  “Logan’s here to see you.”

  “Let him in.”

  I step back as the door opens. Logan enters, but seems hesitant. He looks back and frowns when the door closes. Something’s bothering him.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He shakes his head, his jaw tight before he talks. “It was hard to come here, that’s all. Raven didn’t specify what time to meet her, but her compulsion is working hard on me. My head feels like it’s going to burst. I can’t wait much longer to obey her command.”

  “Where do you need to go?” I glance over at Asher and wonder if he’s thinking the same thing I am.

  “This is the address,” he says, passing me a card. “I have it memorised already.”

  “One of us needs to go with you,” Asher says, coming out of his thoughts to say it. He doesn’t sound happy about it.

  “She shouldn’t have any influence on either of us, right?” I ask, wanting to make sure.

  “She shouldn’t,” Asher agrees. “I’d feel better if I was here with Eden in case this whole thing is a ruse to allow Raven access to Eden when she’s vulnerable.”

  Asher’s made his choice. It’s probably better this way. I know how to use a gun, he hasn’t handled one before. I lock eyes with Logan.

  “I’m going with you, but I’ll hang back when we’re close. You go inside and I’ll follow.” The element of surprise may not work too well with all-knowing Goddess types, but I could shoot faster than she could command. That had to be worth something.

  “Let’s go,” Logan says, opening the door.

  I watch him move quickly toward the elevator. His grimace tightens every few steps, like it’s hurting him to walk. Is this what it’s like to be under the thrall of a Dark Forces Goddess? To be in almost constant pain, knowing it won’t stop until you meet her command? Sounds like hell. I don’t envy Logan.

  He steps into the elevator as the doors open. I follow and hit the button for the lobby. He leans against the wall, rubbing at his temple, as the lift begins to descend.

  “I can’t wait for this day to be over,” Logan tells me.

  “Hang in there,” I say, giving him a smile.

  He snorts. “It’s all I know how to do anymore.”

  “Listen, how well do you know this Goddess?”

  “Not very. She’s in Sky’s band but she isn’t sociable. I’d never spoken a word to her before today.”

  “So you don’t know if she knows Nick?”

  He frowns at me. “What does that matter?”

  “Nick’s missing right now. We think she might have gotten to him.”

  “How? She can’t compel another Goddesses lovers.”

  “We don’t know. But there are less savoury ways to make someone do something you want, and I doubt someone closely acquainted with their dark side would make any bones about harming a mortal man to get what she wants.”

  “Damn.” Logan blows out a breath as the elevator doors open.

  I get out and check he’s following me as we leave the building. I’m not overly familiar with L.A. so I’ll let Logan lead the way. I’ll just make sure I know where we are before he goes inside the building ahead of me.

  “Know where you’re going?” I have to check.

  He nods. “It’s a few streets away from here. I’ll point out the building once we’re close.”

  Chapter Sixty

  Nick

  Escape via dislocating a wrist is out. The cuffs are too tight. My hands are too big. Even scraping the hell out of my hand wouldn’t do anything other than create pain I’d have to suffer through while I’m stuck here.

  “Come on, Eden,” I murmur, wishing she could just hear me or something. I mean, she has otherworldly powers, right? Surely one of those powers should be the ability to track down her lovers.

  I wince as I realise she doesn’t have any idea where I’ve been for almost a day. I lied to Asher about where I was going, didn’t think I’d be calling that a mistake so quickly after making it. They probably don’t even think anything’s wrong. There’s no rescue party en-route. I’m on my own here.

  I hear something outside the door, a creak. It makes me press my lips together tightly. One more word, Raven had warned me. I’m going to have to be quiet. I can’t risk whoever’s out there hearing me and tattling to their grand leader or whatever the hell Raven is to them.

  I shiver and lay back. My legs aren’t secured to anything, but I can’t work out a way to use that to my advantage. So far all I’ve managed to do is push the sheet lower down my stomach. I can see the dark trail of hair above my groin now. That’s the kind of sight Tanya would find too tempting to resist. I try to move the sheets back up but it doesn’t work.

  Fuck. I’m so fucking screwed. I hope not literally, but who the hell knows?

  That crazy bitch from Skyler’s band might have just been trying to freak me out, but I doubted it. She went to extremes to get me here. Right now, I don’t know what else she’s capable of, but this is bad enough.

  The creak from the other side of the door comes again and I still as the doorknob turns with a swift click. My breath catches in my throat. Then the emo girl appears at the foot of my bed.

  “Raven told me not to talk to you,” the girl says.

  The instinct to tell her she’d better do as Raven says comes and goes. This could be a trap. The moment I speak, she could call on Raven, to tell her I broke the rules. I can’t do it. So I hold my tongue and shake my head at her.

  She cocks her head to one side. “What’s the matter with you?”

  I bite back laughter. She’s definitely here to trip me up. I won’t let her do it. I gaze past her, as if I’m bored. She left the door open. The dimly lit hallway looks empty, but it’s no good as an escape while I’m all chained up. I pull on the chains and she frowns at me.

  “Are you hurt?”

  She moves around to the side of the bed and checks my wrists. I’ve scraped the skin a little from straining, I can feel it. More irritating than painful, but I bet it’ll sting later.

  “You need to stop wriggling around,” she says, moving a hand to my side and quite thankfully pulling the sheets back up to my chest. She shakes her head at me. “Stay awake, though, or Raven will get mad.”

  A half dozen questions fill up my head, but I manage to keep them there. This is going to drive me crazy. I can’t keep it up. She
seriously needs to leave the room.

  Her bright eyes lock on to mine, her gaze curious. “Are you really married to Elise?”

  I tighten my smile. This is bad. She knows Elise. She does kind of look like she might be an addict. Raven’s probably using drugs to control her. She must be doing that to Elise too.

  The thought makes my blood boil. That evil witch is so dead the minute she cuts me loose. Hell, I’m pretty sure I could rip her throat out with my teeth if she only got close enough to bite. Give me a shot, Raven, and I’ll take it.

  “You can talk, can’t you?” She raises her eyebrows and folds her arms.

  I continue to ignore her and she tires of my lack of response after a while. She never touches me and she eventually shrugs her shoulders and leaves, but not before telling me, “I really wouldn’t want to be Elise tonight, that’s for sure.”

  I swallow the lump that rises in my throat. I want to scream out my frustration, to vent the anger at being helpless while someone waits to torture me more, by hurting someone who doesn’t deserve it.

  She was right when she called Elise my little sister. That’s how I’d thought of her. I’d tried to protect her, to do whatever I could to keep her on the straight and narrow. But eventually, I let her down. I didn’t go after her when she quit showing up to work. I just called her and left it at that, telling myself the ball was in her court. Feeling as if I’d done enough. That some people just couldn’t accept help when it was handed to them.

  I was wrong, and tonight I’m going to be punished for that error of judgement. Elise deserves better. She deserves a brother who’ll never give up on her. No matter how hard or inconvenient it gets. I have to step it up. But first, I need to find a way out of this damned trap.

  Chapter Sixty-One

  Eden

  The girl who steps into the room isn’t familiar. She has a sort of far-away look to her eyes, and she’s rail-thin. Shivering a little at times. She speaks to Nick, and he doesn’t answer. I don’t feel any restraints over his mouth. He’s ignoring her, then.