Wanted: Undead or Alive

Chapter Nineteen

Nightshade. Phineas struggled to make his body follow orders, but it lay attached to his active mind like a sack of dead meat. Too ironic. The former drug dealer taken down by a drug. And not just any drug, but the same damned drug that had inspired his death and transformation. The Malcontents had murdered him and made him a vampire so he could get them the ingredients to make Nightshade.

Karma was a bitch. It had come back to kick him in the butt. Or the ribs. He winced inwardly as Kyle rammed another pointed cowboy boot into his side. The creep had done the same thing earlier to his brother.

Shit kicker, Phineas wanted to yell at Kyle, but then that made him the shit. And rightly so. He should have called Jack before coming. He should have managed to teleport Brynley away before succumbing to the drug. Now she was in danger. Her eyes met his, and he cringed inwardly at the fear he saw there.

Be strong. You’re a survivor. As long as you’re alive, you can fight.

A rebellious spark lit in her eyes, as if she’d heard him.

“You haven’t answered me, Miss Jones.” Rhett Bleddyn strode toward her. “Have you agreed to marry me?”

She narrowed her eyes. “I’ll consider it if you leave these men alone.”

“You’ll agree or the vampires will die.” He motioned to Phineas. “That one first. His scent is all over you.” He stepped closer, his face twisted in a sneer. “You reek of sex with him. It disgusts me.”

She lifted her chin and glared back. “Frankly, Rhett, I don’t give a damn.”

He slapped her hard enough to make her eyes water.

Rage burst inside Phineas, but with nowhere for it to go, it felt like his head would explode. Stay strong, sweetheart. Don’t give up hope.

“I have heard of your disobedience to your father,” Rhett growled at her. “With me, you will learn to submit.”

She avoided looking at him and focused on Phineas, her cheek aflame with a red handprint. “I will marry you a week from today.”

Hope flared in Phineas’s chest. She was looking at him, making the promise to him.

“Three days,” Rhett countered. “On the first night after the three nights of the full moon.”

It was a strategic maneuver, Phineas realized. Any werewolf could shift on the three-night period of the full moon, but only an Alpha like Rhett could shift the following night. He wanted the ability to defeat any ordinary werewolf that might object to a forced marriage. Brynley’s father was an Alpha, too, but he was obviously for the marriage.

But this was a mistake on Rhett’s part. It gave Phineas and his friends three nights to gather their troops and rescue Brynley. Unless, of course, Rhett intended to kill him and Jack tonight.

Brynley inclined her head. “I want the ceremony to be at my father’s ranch in Montana.”

“Of course. We’ll be going there shortly. I suggest you dress appropriately and wash that vampire’s stench off you.” Rhett motioned to Dimitri. “Make sure that restroom is secure.”

Dimitri peered inside. “No windows, no doors. She can’t escape here.”

She picked up the clothes she’d discarded earlier and with a worried glance at Phineas, she went inside the bathroom and shut the door.

Rhett sneered down at him. “She will do everything I ask. Kyle will remain here with his stakes, and if she gives me any trouble, I’ll call him, and he’ll turn you to dust.”

“He deserves to die,” Corky hissed as she moved toward them. “He is the one who betrayed me and tried to capture me.”

“There, there, love.” Rhett pulled her close and kissed her brow. “I was happy you came to see me again.”

She gave him a sly smile. “Our plans are going well.” She glanced down at Phineas. “Dimitri found the formula and ingredients to make Nightshade hidden in a safe at the Coven House in Brooklyn. He cooked us up a batch and brought it here.”

She nudged Phineas with her foot. “We have plenty more. You and your traitorous companions will not be able to stop us.”

Phineas wondered what Corky and Rhett were up to. They appeared to be lovers, even though Rhett was forcing Brynley to marry him. His motivation for marriage was clearly not love, but most probably wealth and power. Just as Brynley had said, she was more of a pawn than a princess.

She emerged from the bathroom, dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt. She ignored Rhett as she walked past him, and aimed a look of love at Phineas. He tried to return it. She sat nearby at the kitchen table and pulled on her socks and boots.

“Your father will be pleased that I’ve returned you to the pack,” Rhett boasted. “And he will be impressed by how well you obey me.”

She shot him an annoyed look as she tugged on the last boot.

“You will obey,” Rhett reminded her. “Or I’ll call Kyle, and he’ll stake the vampires.”

Her gaze shifted to Phineas and Jack, then to Kyle. “If you hurt them, the entire Vamp world will come after you. Including your brother.”

Kyle snorted. “Nate’s dead.”

“Undead.”

Kyle turned pale. “What?” He gave Rhett a frantic look. “You said he would die, that the ranch would be mine.”

“It will be.” Rhett glowered at his minion. “You will obey me in all things and be rewarded. You will not question me again.”

Kyle inclined his head. “Yes, master.”

Rhett shifted his glare to Brynley. “You’re back in the Lycan world now. Adjust your loyalties.” He motioned to Corky and Dimitri. “Take us to the Jones ranch in Montana.”

Corky wrapped her arms around Rhett and cuddled up to him, then they vanished.

Brynley rushed toward Phineas, but before she could reach him, Dimitri zoomed to her and grabbed her. One last look, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and despair, and then she was gone.

Her emotions transferred straight from her eyes to his heart. Despair that she was gone, that he’d lost her, that she would suffer abuse and humiliation at the hands of Rhett Bleddyn and her father. And hope that he would find her, rescue her, and spend the rest of his life giving her the love she deserved.

“You’d better hope Rhett doesn’t call.” Kyle tapped him on the chest with the stake. “And I don’t care if you made Nate a vampire. I’m not afraid of him. I have plenty of these.” He stuffed the stake in his belt.

“Anything to eat around here?” He glanced toward the kitchen, then back down at Phineas. “Don’t run off.”

He chuckled at his own sorry joke and wandered out of Phineas’s view. If Phineas strained his eyes to the left, he could make out one of Jack’s shoes. No doubt Jack was just as frustrated as he was.

Noises came from the kitchen. Kyle was raiding the refrigerator, banging cabinet doors shut, and dropping utensils into the stainless steel sink with a clatter.

Brynley would be at her father’s ranch now. A prisoner. She’d run away before, so she would probably be watched and guarded.

Footsteps headed to the sofa, then a creak as Kyle settled down, and gulping noises as he wolfed down his food.

Time crept by. He thought about Brynley, recalled every detail of their lovemaking, and prayed he’d have a chance to love her again. He strained, trying so hard to make his body move that beads of sweat rolled down his temple.

Snores came from the couch. Kyle was sound asleep. He was a lousy guard, but then he knew they weren’t going anywhere.

More time passed. Phineas kept trying to budge, but to no avail. A phone buzzed on the kitchen table. One of the sat phones. Freemont, most probably, wanting to know why they hadn’t checked in. Luckily, it was set on vibrate, and Kyle was sleeping right through it.

Come on, Freemont. If his brother played it smart, he would report their lack of communication. As a mortal, he couldn’t teleport here to check on them, but he could ask Zoltan to drop by.

The minutes dragged by. Kyle kept snoring, and no one teleported in. No call from Rhett, so Brynley must be cooperating to keep Jack and him safe.

The sat phone buzzed again. Dammit, Freemont, send someone! Was it already dawn in New York? If the Vamps had all fallen into their death-sleep, there would be no rescue.

A terrible thought crept into his mind. If he and Jack were still on the floor at dawn, the sun would shine through the cabin windows.

And they would be toast.

She’d forgotten what an orgy of blood and guts occurred each month at her father’s house. Brynley had avoided the official hunt for five years now, ever since that night she’d become the prey. She’d started going to smaller hunts, hosted by friends she could trust, or she’d hunted with the Lost Boys at Phil’s cabin.

Dimitri had materialized with her, arriving next to Rhett and Corky in the woods bordering her father’s enormous backyard. It was there, in that grassy clearing, that the werewolves returned from their hunt, naked and bloody from gorging on their kills, many of them dragging dead carcasses behind them.

Each month, steel rods were erected down the length of the backyard, like rows of clothing rods in a closet, but with hooks instead of hangers. There, the elk and deer would be suspended and dressed. A row of fire pits were ready with spits for roasting.

Up on the hill, the giant ranch house sprawled. It had been purposely built on a hill, so her father could look down at anyone approaching.

Her father’s pride and joy was the covered back patio, equipped with an enormous outdoor kitchen and bar. Slabs of meat would be barbecued, bottles of beer guzzled down, and the party would continue for three nights. Gorging and hunting. Food and blood. Booze and sex. The Alphas who attended her father’s parties were allowed to take any women they wanted. Of course, the Supreme Pack Master’s daughters had always been off-limits, until that night five years ago.

She spotted her father on the patio, dressed in jeans and an unbuttoned shirt, talking to a female werewolf, still nude and smeared with blood across her breasts. Caddoc Jones didn’t look a day over forty-five, although he had to be four times that age. He fisted his hand in the woman’s long hair and pulled her close for a kiss.

Brynley looked away. She’d always suspected his infidelity and cruelty to Mom had incited the fight between him and Phil, resulting in her brother’s banishment.

Rhett noticed her discomfort and chuckled. “Wait here.” He strode into the clearing.

His stride and posture, clearly that of an arrogant Alpha wolf, made him stand out. Also the fact that he was neatly dressed while most of the returning hunters were nude and covered with blood, guts, and grime.

He marched down the center alley, framed on each side with rows of hanging carcasses. Blood dripped, staining the grass. Female Lycans reacted to his prowess, brushing their long hair over their shoulders to show off their breasts.

Brynley was suddenly immensely grateful that she’d fallen in love with a Vamp.

“Rhett!” Caddoc Jones strode to the edge of the patio and gazed down onto the backyard. “It’s about time you showed up. You’re late for the Hunt.”

Rhett stopped in the middle of the yard. “I’ve already been hunting tonight. And I’ve caught the most amazing prey.”

Caddoc lifted an eyebrow. “Indeed? Where is this prey of yours?”

Rhett glanced back, motioning to Dimitri. The Malcontent grabbed Brynley and zoomed forward, depositing her next to Rhett. He dashed back to the woods and Corky.

It seemed odd to Brynley that no one looked surprised that Rhett traveled with a few Malcontents. Apparently, they were accustomed to seeing him with vampires. But they were surprised by her appearance. Murmurs spread among the werewolves till everyone in the yard was staring at her.

She took a deep breath and looked up at her father.

He stared at her. At first she thought his face completely expressionless, but then she noticed the clenched jaw and eyes so intense he could probably kill a deer without touching it. He was pissed. Well, she supposed she had caused him some embarrassment by running away from the wedding he’d planned. That had been a rule drummed into her and Phil since infancy. Never, ever contradict or embarrass their father in front of his minions.

“I’ve brought her home,” Rhett boasted. “And she’s agreed to marry me in three days.”

Caddoc’s eyes narrowed. “Has she?”

He didn’t trust her. Well, he was right. She had no intention of marrying Rhett. Ever.

“Brynley!” a female voice squealed. A pretty young woman in a flowery cocktail dress ran across the patio, or attempted to. With a laugh, she kicked off her high-heeled sandals and sprinted barefoot across the yard.

Brynley’s heart expanded. “Glynis.” She grinned when her sister threw her arms around her with an exuberant hug.

They’d always hugged, especially after Mom had died and Phil had left. As the only females in the family, they’d clung to each other for support. They’d always understood there were no hugs to be had from their father or Glynis’s twin brother, Howell.

“Thank you, Rhett! I knew you could do it.” Glynis grinned at him, then at Brynley. “I’ve been begging him to bring you home.”

“Mission accomplished.” Rhett winked at her.

She giggled and pulled Brynley toward the patio. “Isn’t he dreamy?” she whispered.

More like a nightmare. “Glynis, we need to talk.”

“I know!” Glynis frowned at her. “I was so devastated when you ran away. If you had just stayed one more day, you would have met Rhett, and you would have seen how perfect he is for you.” She glanced toward their father and lowered her voice. “And you wouldn’t have upset you know who.”

Brynley stopped about six feet from the patio, where her father was still staring at her.

Glynis stepped between them, a wide grin plastered on her pretty face. “Brynley’s come home, Dad! Isn’t that wonderful?”

Bless her, Brynley thought. Glynis had always wanted to believe they were a happy family. This was the only world she knew, so she clung to the notion that it was a good one. Brynley had never had the heart to purposely burst the pretty bubble her sister lived in. She’d protected her over the years in hopes that her sister would escape by marrying a nice werewolf who would treat her well. Whenever a questionable guy had shown interest in her, Brynley had chased him off.

Caddoc glanced at Glynis, then back at Brynley. “I’m sure you two have a lot of catching up to do. Glynis, she will share your room until the wedding.”

Glynis clapped her hands together and grinned at Brynley. “We’ll have so much fun! It’ll be like summer camp.”

Poor Glynis. She didn’t realize she’d just been assigned twenty-four-hour guard duty.

Caddoc motioned to three of his minions, who were, thankfully, dressed. “See that my daughters are . . . comfortable.”

“Yes, master.” They bowed their heads.

Three more bodyguards. Her father was making sure she’d have no chance to escape.

One of the guards strode toward the house and opened the back door. “This way.”

Glynis linked her arm with Brynley’s. “I can’t wait to hear all about your adventures. I’m so glad you’re back home. I missed you terribly!”

“I missed you, too,” Brynley murmured, glancing back to find the other two guards behind them, steering them like cattle into a pen.

“And we have wedding plans to make!” Glynis pulled her inside. “I’m so excited!”

Brynley winced as the door slammed shut behind her. She was back home.

In prison.