Page 27 of The Union
“Take that, Webb,” I mumbled to myself. “I am aware of my surroundings.” My dad had taught us girls that very thing when hunting.
“Search high, low, and everywhere around you,” he’d said many times. “Never let your guard down.” As hunters, we couldn’t. We always had to be on high alert. And when faced with a life-and-death situation, we didn’t have time to think. If we did, we died.
Maybe Webb was right. Maybe I’d been reckless when I tried to save Sam. Maybe I should’ve been more aware of the valet. Maybe I was too hasty in my decision to come here. I could second-guess myself all day long. But the only way to move forward was to get answers. I knew the SEALs had their rules and regulations. They did things by the book—or rather, by the vampire book. I was more than certain human Navy SEALs didn’t follow some of the regulations that the Vampire Navy SEALs did. Where the supernatural was involved, rules tended to be different. But I wasn’t military and didn’t work for Webb. Above that, I wanted answers from my family. Whether they owed me any was a different story. But I would try like a hellion to force them to talk.
The security guard had the phone to his ear. “Yes, sir. I will.” Once he lowered the phone, he said, “Ma’am, you’re in luck. Carly is in the building. Head to elevator three. Someone will be down in a moment to escort you.”
Again, I thanked Mr. Johnson for his help, my pulse beating like a racehorse galloping around a track. That eerie feeling in the pit of my stomach grew by leaps and bounds as I strolled over to elevator three. Suddenly, I had a craving followed by that burn stinging my throat. I slipped my hand into my coat pocket and had my fingers wrapped around the small vial of blood when the elevator dinged.Damn it. No time to fuel my thirst.
The rotund security guard with Treadway engraved on his gray uniformed shirt held the door open until I entered.
Smiling, I brushed past him, squeezing the vial as though it would give me a shot of courage.
Silence ticked by one floor at a time until we were exiting onto the third level. Treadway strutted out. Theswish, swish, swishof his black pants rubbing against his legs scraped along my already frayed nerves. For the next several minutes, we traveled one hallway after another without encountering any doors, offices, or even sounds. I swore he was escorting me into the belly of the beast—or maybe he was taking me to hell.
As I trailed behind him, I hurriedly downed the blood. The initial jolt of power warmed my insides, and I sighed heavily.
Treadway looked over his shoulder. “Are you okay?”
I nodded quickly, licking my lips when he stopped at an ominous solid wood door.
I glanced over my shoulder, debating whether to run or confront my demons.
You got this girl. Go forth and conquer.A wild laugh broke free in my head.You’re not facing a gang of vampires in the dark woods on a foggy night.Maybe not, but whoever is on the other side of that door isn’t a vampire, which in my mind meant I couldn’t kill them.
“You know, I think I need to use the bathroom.” I held my stomach. Coupled with the shot of Sam’s blood and my pulse dancing to a fast tune, I was dizzy.
“There isn’t a bathroom nearby, and they’re waiting for you.” He grabbed the handle.
“They?” I asked.
He ignored me and opened the door.
Instantly, a whoosh of perfumed air floated out, and I stiffened. If I had any doubts that the woman I’d seen climbing out of the taxi was my grandmother, I didn’t anymore. Her rosewater scent gave her away. The pungent fragrance that had embedded in my nostrils since I was five years old was a smell that always made me wrinkle my nose.
“Go,” Treadway said.
It took me a second for my eyes to adjust to the muted light since the room wasn’t as bright as the hallway. On my last blink, the eight theater-style chairs facing closed curtains that traveled the length of the rectangular room came into view. Whatever was behind the ugly paisley drapes jabbed a sharp blade of fear into my chest.
That fear morphed into terror when I laid eyes on three men seated and waiting for the show to begin. My attention rounded on Lester Worthington. Next to him was a man with thick wavy brown hair who I didn’t recognize, and Jack Jr. I had no time to process Junior’s involvement when Rianne stepped out from the shadows. She looked like a Viking ready to fight—black sweater, black leggings, and military boots with daggers secured to the belt around her waist. She glared at me, hatred swimming in her brown eyes.
My heart fell to my feet. I couldn’t understand how in an instant, our sisterly relationship went to shit.Stop trying to figure that out,my inner voice supplied.You have bigger problems.The understatement of the century.
Rianne got in my face, breathing fire. “Where’s Noah? What did your bloodsuckers do with him?”
Noah? I was surprised she didn’t ask about Uncle Ray. Nonetheless, I cocked an eyebrow, snarling at the woman who had been everything to me. “How would I know?” I pushed her, and she flew back as though I had the strength of the Hulk. “I didn’t do anything to asshole Noah.”
She landed against the wall of curtains. As quickly as she fell, she was on her feet and lunging for me.
“Bring it, Rianne. I’m in no mood for your childish rage.” She had a temper, but so did I. When we’d fought as kids, fists flew.
“Now, girls,” a sugary voice warned.
The hairs on my neck sprang to attention. That syrupy tone had a way of scoring my skin like a serrated blade. She was the type who could destroy a person with her kindness.
I swung my head to my left, and my grandmother glided out of a dark corner. Leave it to my family to hide and only show themselves at just the right moment.
Adjusting her black silk scarf that brought out her blue eyes, Harriet Aberdeen scrutinized me. She hadn’t aged a day since I’d last seen her at my father’s funeral over two years ago. A foolish thought breached through my confusion.Had she found a way to turn into a vampire? Or maybe she was a guinea pig for Intech, which was why she was here.
