Page 9 of Vipers and Vendettas
‘I won’t let them take you,’ I whisper.
I get into the shower and think of how I’m going to do this. I have time before I begin to show, but not three years’ worth. As soon as I leave, they’ll come after me now that I’m considered theirs, and I have no doubt they’ll find me if I can’t get a conjure on me the moment I get out of here.
Escape is my only option. Tears come to my eyes when I think about what else I’m going to have to do. Krase, Jayce, and Axel won’t believe I could have done this. I need to make them think this was a long con, that I only got close to steal from them again.
They’re going to hate me, but it’s for the best. Otherwise, I know they won’t stop looking for me once I’m gone. Like last time, they’ll try to find me and fail. They’ll move on if they think the worst of me. I won’t be worth it to them if they don’t care about me anymore.
Even the thought breaks my heart. I love Axel, Jayce, and Krase. I care about Iron, and even Maddox is worming his way in slowly somehow, even though he’s a snooty prick.
I won’t miss Daemon, but I sort of understand where his head is. He blames me for what he went through without the clan and with the vamps. I think it was bad for him. I wish I could fix my part in what happened, indirect though it was.
But the baby is more important than anything else.
I push my emotions away. I already know how I’m going to do this.
I get dressed in pants and a tank, putting on some sneakers and a sweatshirt like I’m going for a walk.
I know where the cameras are, so I leave my room and go downstairs. I pass the grandfather clock and frown. I know they keep a link key in the groove at the top for emergencies, and I was going to use that, but I can’t reach it without getting caught by the camera.
I grit my teeth, trying to think of another way as I smoothly make my way to the library. I pretend to take my time choosing a book and then go over to the last of the French doors where the camera can’t see me anymore. On the way past Maddox’s desk, I grab the cordless phone.
I stare out the French door as I huddle by it out of the camera’s view and call the number I memorized long ago.
Someone picks up. ‘Jack?’ I whisper.
I hear a snort. ‘Been a long time, Vicki-bear.’
‘I have a good haul. You want in … for old-time’s sake?’
‘You know I do, but no more freebies. You try to screw me this time, and I just know you’ll get picked up by the fae. I have that feeling.’
Same old Jack, but he’s all bluster, and he hates the fae. He’d never turn me in, not to them.
‘I understand. I’ll be there soon, and … I’ll need a conjure.’
‘Of course you will,’ he sighs. ‘Same old Vicki. Is that it?’
‘One more thing. Do you know the name Daemon Mackenzie?’
There’s silence on the other end. ‘Yes,’ he finally says. ‘Brother to Alex Mackenzie, leader of the Iron Incubi Motorcycle Club. Heard he got in deep with the vamps. They made him sign himself over to them. Guess he figured it would be enforcer-type stuff, but they chained him up in one of their brothels. They did the usual: starved him, sold him, kept him drugged, and used him to bliss out the clients for a ton of cash. He was in there for about eighteen months. Last I heard, he’d bartered for release, but he can’t pay his debt with them. They’re putting a bounty on him to be brought back sometime this week.’
I choke out a thank you, and I put down the phone. I move back across the room, putting the phone back in the cradle as I pass.
My hands are shaking. Holy shit. I hadn’t realized how bad it had been for him. No wonder he hates me. Because of me, the vamps locked him into sex slavery and whored him out. Despite how he’s treated me, guilt gnaws at my gut. I can’t just let them take him back to that. I’m not that much of an asshole, despite what he thinks of me.
I pick up my book and leave the room, going through the house to the kitchens and out the side door. I meander through the garden slowly before I go into the maze.
I feel it perk up at my presence and smile a little. ‘I think you’re going to be the only one who misses me when I go,’ I say quietly.
‘I have a favor to ask you,’ I say, settling on a bench. ‘Sometimes you give me presents, and I …’ I look at the hedge beside me, feeling a little dumb for talking to a bunch of leaves. ‘I wondered if I could make a request.’ I edge closer. ‘I need a link key,’ I whisper. ‘Would you be able to get me one?’
Nothing happens, and I let out a breath. It was a long shot, anyway. I’m just going to have to grab the loot and make it to the clock to get the link key before they can figure out what I’m doing. The other keys are in the library, too, but they’re in a separate safe, and I haven’t seen anyone unlock that one. I can’t get into both safes and get out of there before I’m caught because as soon as either one is opened, even with the code, Maddox’s phone will get pinged. There just won’t be enough time.
I sigh heavily. I’d rather have everything together by the time I open the safe to grab the diamonds, but I’ll make it work somehow.
I stand up to go, but as I do, something falls from my lap into the grass by my feet.
I bend down, heart hammering. No way.
