Catch

Chapter Twenty-Two

Sunset was only a few hours away and I had nothing else to do except lie in bed and wait for Rurik to wake. I’d had a quiet, uncomfortable lunch with Gwen on Tane’s deck, both of us doing our best to avoid talking about the morning’s activities.

My betrayal of Colby to the vampires sat heavy on my chest as I stared at the bedroom ceiling. It’s not as if we were friends who went out to lunch or exchanged Christmas gifts, but in theory he saved me. Colby introduced me to a whole new world where I could make a small difference and offered me a second chance, which led me away from drowning my sorrows.

Didn’t he deserve a second chance too?

When the hell did I develop a conscience? I glanced at my unmoving lover and blamed him.

Groaning as I rolled off the soft bed, I gave up on waiting and dressed in a yellow t-shirt and jean shorts, then went to find where they imprisoned my ex-boss. I needed to hear his side of the story before Tane and his brothers got their hands on him.

Colby had actually appeared shocked when I asked him why he tried to kill me.

Instead of running, he hesitated to ask me how?

Opening my bedroom door, I came face to shoulder with Gwen. She blocked my exit.

“Where are you going?” She placed her hands on her hips. All five-foot-eleven of her werewolf frame loomed over my six-inch shorter, frail human body. My brain got stuck in neutral as I gazed into her angry chocolate brown eyes.

“I—I—” I cleared my throat. “Don’t you ever sleep?”

“There’s no one to replace me. House security is busy watching the remaining guests, Tane’s personal guards are stuck at the hotel until sunset, and every time I leave you alone you cause trouble.” Dark circles marred her beautiful features and I was almost tempted to retreat in my room for her sake, but the image of her letting Colby go, of the split second intimate moment I’d witnessed between them, wouldn’t let me. She was my only hope and maybe Colby’s only salvation.

“Can you take me to see Colby?”

“Why?” Her eyebrows rose and she jerked her head back as if I’d slapped her.

I glanced in both directions down the hallway and gestured for her to come inside my room.

The door closed behind her as she came in.

“I’m not sure he’s guilty.”

“It doesn’t matter what you think. Tane will be judge, jury and executioner on this m—matter.” She closed her eyes and her shoulders slumped a bit. A tear slipped out.

“Gwen, what the hell is going on? Do you know Colby?”

She shook her head and stayed silent.

“You think he’s innocent too.”

Her facial expression went blank as if she applied a mask. “Doesn’t matter what I think or feel. My loyalty remains with the pack.” It sounded as if she tried to convince herself more than me. “I had a moment of personal weakness at the hotel and almost betrayed all my beliefs. It won’t happen again.” She turned to leave the room, but I grabbed her elbow.

“Doing something right is not weak, ignoring your instincts is.” I came around to watch her face. “What do they tell you?”

“They tell me confusing things and I can’t make heads or tails of them.” She hung her head.

“Sounds as if you have some questions of your own for Colby.”

She nodded. “My brother is guarding him.” She heaved a heavy sigh. “He’ll let us in.

Follow me.” Leading me out of the mansion, through the gardens and back into the wild jungle to the side of the mountain not far from where we’d found the body, Gwen brought me to a cave.

“You have got to be kidding me.” I peered into the dark entrance, imagining large spiders and slithering creepy crawlers.

“This place is very old. My father told me this was Tane’s original home.”

“Why am I not shocked?” My skin itched at the thought of going in there. “How deep do we have to go?”

Gwen lifted a flashlight from her belt and turned it on. “A ways.” Without waiting, she went inside, ducking to avoid the low ceiling.

For once, being short paid off. I fit better in these tight quarters than my werewolf guard.

She slowed her pace to allow me to catch up. “Stay close. The path is clear, but not marked. I don’t want you to make a wrong turn.”

Pressed to Gwen’s back, I whispered. “How many other secrets do you know?”

Glancing over her shoulder, she gave me a small smile. “Many. Now, be quiet.” Her cryptic statement only confirmed how little I knew about my new life with Rurik…and Tane.

One day would I be leading some naïve girl through these caves answering similar questions? My future held endless possibilities and loomed ahead like a map drawn by a blind man. It made no sense.

Gwen brought us to a metal door set into the stone and used a skeleton key to unlock it.

A furred monstrous head popped out.

A shrill, high-pitched scream split the still air in the cave until I ran out of breath. It echoed as I sucked in a lung of air.

Both the beast and Gwen stared at me as if I’d lost my mind.

It stepped through the doorway to crowd the cave as it stooped against the stone roof.

Long, sharp claws extended from its fingers and toes, which clicked on the floor. Brown thick fur covered its bipedal body. Leaning forward its blue eyes regarded me with intelligence.

Every muscle seized in terror and I couldn’t move.

“For something so small you sure can make a big noise.” The beast spoke clear English.

Gwen chuckled behind him and it was definitely a him. He didn’t wear any clothes to hide the fact. “You’re her first werewolf in beast form.”

“A virgin, my favorite kind of snack.” His tongue lolled to the side of his mouth as he gave a wolfish grin. “Is this Tane’s Rabbit?”

“Yes.” She smacked him on the haunch. “This scruffy dog is my brother, Kam. He’s guarding the prisoner.” Her smile faded as she regarded me. “You can stick your eyes back in their sockets now.”

Blood returned to my head and rushed to my cheeks. I couldn’t help my initial reaction. No one had prepared me.

Gwen faced her brother. “Who’s with you?”

“We’re spread pretty thin, sis. I’m by myself. Why do you think I’m in this form?

Heard he kicked your ass and almost killed Jacob.”

I found my voice, but it sounded a couple octaves too high. “Who’s Jacob?”

“The other guard set in your hotel room last night.” She petted Kam’s fur. “Why don’t you go stretch your legs, I’ll keep an eye on him.”

He glanced from her to me and back again. “I want him in the same condition when I get back. No missing appendages or anything.”

“Just a few questions.” She smiled sweetly.

“Did you notice he smells funny?” The werewolf stepped around me. My body still hadn’t recovered from the shock. It couldn’t move yet.

“Yes.” Gwen twisted to enter the room.

The beast stepped closer and smelled my hair. “You smell like prey, Rabbit.” Then snapped his jaws.

I bound through the doorway in a massive adrenaline induced leap, running Gwen over.

She spun around. “Kam, behave.”

His echoing laughter answered her.

“He won’t hurt you. He’s just an ass.” She stepped next to me, her words barely registering.

I stood in the middle of a small cavern. The walls decorated with empty manacles and stained with old blood. Torches burnt in scions, their smoke clouding the ceiling.

Chained to the far wall hung Colby. His wrists and ankles bound by thick metal. The firelight flickered in his glare.

It took a moment or two before my thoughts cohered into something intelligent.

What should I start with? How ya doing? Didn’t sound right. A purple bruise covered his left cheek where Tane had punched him. The swelling reached his eye and lips.

I took a few steps closer before Gwen stopped me with a hand to my shoulder.

Conflicting emotions warred inside. I wanted to hit and hug him at the same time.

“Dumbass.” The insult blurted out. I didn’t know if I meant him or me.

Colby’s green eyes flared and he strained at his restraints. “Bitch!”

The cold, calculating person I associated with my ex-boss wasn’t present. I’d never seen Colby lose his cool before.

That’s not true…on Tane’s yacht he had flipped out. He’d been chained to a wall then too, also under Tane’s care. A shiver coursed down my spine as I remembered how ruthless the Nosferatu could be.

Would I be any less crazed if Luckard caught and chained me again?

I had reasons for hating Tane. They’d faded over the past few days, but this resurfaced some of them.

“I never asked you to come to my hotel room.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I strengthened my resolve to confront him without caving into tears.

Colby growled from deep inside his chest.

I sensed Gwen tense next to me.

“How can you be helping them, Connie?” The frustration in his voice ebbed.

“You’re human and working for the wrong team.”

“You tried to kill me.” I stomped my foot like a five year old, his accusation hit close to my own thoughts, and all my resolved vanished. Tears welled in my eyes.

My statement stopped him. His stunned expression told me all I needed to know. “It wasn’t him, Gwen.”

“How?” He repeated the same question from the hotel room.

“An assassin shot wooden cross bolts from a tree while Tane and I were outside two nights ago. The same night you came to the mansion with the team. One of the cross bolts almost shot me. If Tane hadn’t taken it for me, I’d be dead as a doornail.” I watched his eyes for any signs of guilt and only saw confusion. “Tane saw you running in the jungle with the weapon in your hands.”

“A crossbow? I tripped over it and picked it up.” His brow furrowed.

“Then why run?”

“We weren’t supposed to stay on the property after examining the body, I remained behind. We needed more intel. The killer is on the estate. I can smell it. When Tane came chasing after me, instinct kicked in and I ran.” He stared at me. “You have got to believe me. I’d never kill one of my own.”

“You’ve made it very clear I’m not part of the team anymore.” I wanted to believe him but—but what stopped me? Colby didn’t even kill vampires without proof they were murdering people. Yet, he did have a good reason to hate Tane on a personal level.

“I never betrayed the contract I have with the vampire nation. Each one I slayed was proven guilty prior to execution. Why would I kill the one vampire Lord who is upholding the laws?”

“Budapest.”

He flinched when I said the city’s name. “I’ve survived worse. Tane and I will never be friends, but I can tolerate him.” His admission drew a soft whine from Gwen.

I glanced at her and gave her a ‘ what the hell is wrong with you?’ look.

She couldn’t meet my gaze. Too many secrets, she needed to tell me what was going on between the two of them.

When I turned to Colby, he too stared at Gwen. “Do I know you?”

She snorted. “Nice to know I’m that remarkable.”

“Before last night. You seem…familiar.”

“No, we never met.” She spun and waited by the door.

“Colby, have you ever heard of a blood bond?”

“It’s what you and Rurik have. It’s how he saved you from Dragos and enslaved you.”

Touche. “Yeah, well, apparently it’s not with Rurik but with Tane. If you kill him I’ll die too.” I placed my hands on my hips and listened to my gut, not my brain.

Colby hung his head.

The whole time I’d been alone with Rurik I never felt like a traitor to my race.

Imprisoning Colby changed that. Guilt grew. What would Laurent think of my new life?

Far from the picket-fenced house with the two point five kids he wanted to give me.

It was the only future I couldn’t have. Fate had different plans for me.

I couldn’t chance setting Colby free until sunset and I knew Tane was safe. Like it or not, this bond meant more than a marriage since death do us part was taken literally.

Tane might be an asshole, but he was my asshole. It killed me to admit this, yet he was growing on me. Where Rurik was suave and sexy, Tane was cunning and deadly. I admired all these traits.

“Let me clear the waters for you, Colby. When the sun sets, the sharks will begin to circle. If I let you go and they catch you again, they’ll bite first and ask questions later.

Maybe too much later.”

A clicking of claws announced Kam’s return. “There are no sharks around here.”

Gwen rolled her eyes and left the room. “My brother, the genius.”

I followed her at a quick trot to not lose her in the dark.

“I didn’t try to kill him.” Colby’s shout followed us before Kam slammed the heavy metal door shut.