Hurricane (23 page)

“Don’t give me that look.” Wesley returned his attention to the road.

He had swung by Pan’s—one of his business partners—house to get Newton on his way out of town. He was grateful that Pan was out of town, too, or he would never have got away without questions. At least this time, they would know where he was. He had sent them all emails.

Newton barked.

“I’m not a coward. It is better not to talk to them right now,” Wesley defended.

Until he could figure out what was going on, it was best he went somewhere he could think and not have too many questions. He glanced at Newton.

She whined, as if sensing his distress. She curled against his leg and put her foot on his thigh. Newton whined again.

He glanced at her, running his hand over her thick coat. “It’s okay. We’ll figure out what’s happening.”

Wesley glanced back at the road.

A man stepped in front of the car.

Wesley hit the brake. The seatbelt jerked him. The car hit the man and he went flying, landing a distance away.

“Oh, God.” Shaking, Wesley unhooked his seatbelt.

He glanced at Newton. She barked. His hands pulled open the door and he quickly got out. He ran to the man.

“Are you okay?” Wesley asked as he skidded to a stop beside him. He leaned over to help him, and the man’s hand flashed out.

The man turned to him, mirrored glasses hiding his eyes. His strong jaw and features seemed familiar, as did the long raven hair that shifted around his face as he turned his head and tightened his hold on Wesley’s arm.

Wesley brought up his other hand, but the man blocked it effortlessly. A small, cruel grin curved his lips.

An image of eyes almost translucent grey flashed in Wesley’s mind, and a sting on his arm made him jerk back. The man released his hold. Wesley’s head swam. A growl sounded behind him. He turned. Newton flew across the road towards them. He saw her stumble and fall.

“No!” Wesley screamed.

It came out instead as a weak murmur. He stumbled to Newton, but his knees buckled. Nausea swamped him. Blackness clouded his vision.

The man walked into his line of sight and knelt next to Newton. He ran his hand, seemingly gently, across her fur then looked at Wesley, a malevolent smile on his face. Then darkness swallowed Wesley, and everything went black.

Wesley jerked awake and looked around frantically, his heart pounding. The room he was in was unfamiliar. He swung his legs out of bed, and his foot touched fur. He looked down and saw Newton by the bed. She barked weakly and tried to stand, but couldn’t. Shifting his legs, he got down by her side and searched her for marks. He felt none. She licked his hand then laid her head back on her paws.

Cautiously, he got up and walked to the windows by the door. He stood to one side and looked out. His dark red SUV was parked in front of the door. He tested the door and it opened. Quickly, he stepped outside onto the porch and glanced around.

A little distance away he saw a house. He continued to glance around and realised there were a bunch of them. Confused, he turned and went back inside. A paper on the table caught his attention. Going over to it, he picked it up.

Blackstone Bungalows. Check in February first at 8:15 p.m.

His legs wobbled as he saw the date and his signature on the bottom. Wesley reached for a chair, pulled it out, and sat.

“Three weeks. I’ve lost almost three weeks.” Wesley stopped, considering. “Or have I? What is real? What’s happening to me? I was in my house, and I went for Newton to get out of town. We were driving, then—”

He stopped, trying to remember how he had got here, but couldn’t.

Fear coated his skin, and he breathed rapidly. “Did any of it happen? Is any of this real? It has to be. I’m here. Newton is with me. How did we get here?”

A weak bark grabbed his attention. Newton was dragging herself on the floor towards him. Getting up, he ran to her.

“Newton, what’s wrong with you?” He leaned over her and felt her pulse. It was weak and thready. Her eyes were unfocused. Quickly, he stood, lifting her in his arms. Frantic, he looked around the room for his keys. Spotting them on the table by the bed, he went and grabbed them. Slipping his feet into his loafers, he ran out the door to his car. He put her on the passenger seat, then ran around to the driver’s side and got in.

“Hold on, Newt.” Wesley turned on the car and drove down the road.

He tapped a key in his dash, and his computer slid out from its compartment. Silently, he thanked Pan for insisting they all have their cars outfitted with the special computers so they could work from anywhere. He rapidly punched in a request for the nearest veterinarian. Within seconds, the screen displayed the address with directions.

“We’ll be there in ten minutes, Newt. Hold on.” He touched Newton.

Her breathing was laboured. Wesley pressed down on the gas and roared past the office where a sign read
Blackstone Bungalows
. In minutes, he spotted what he was looking for. He screeched to a halt and jumped out of the car, going to the passenger side. Picking up Newton, he ran to the door, pushing it open with his hip and continuing inside.

“I need some help!” Wesley called.

He looked around the empty waiting area frantically. Spotting a door, he headed for it.

The door opened, and a woman stepped out. She looked at him, then at Newton. A frown filled her café au lait face, while her amber coloured eyes blazed with anger.

“What have you done to that dog?”

The fierceness of her question made Wesley’s fear increase.

“Please, help me. I don’t know what’s wrong with her.”

“Give her to me,” the woman demanded.

Wesley tightened his grip on Newton. The woman’s eyes narrowed as she sensed he wasn’t letting her go. She held open the door, then gestured.

“Fine. Bring her back here.”

Wesley walked through the door and waited for the woman to pass him. He followed her down a long hallway and into a room. Putting Newton down on the table, he watched her every move closely. The woman quickly hooked Newton up to a machine to monitor her pulse, then took a blood sample.

The woman looked at him. “Wait here while I check this.”

Wesley nodded. The woman left. He leaned over Newton. She opened her eyes and barked weakly. Tears burned Wesley’s eyes.

“I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to you.” He touched her muzzle.

Newton butted his hand and licked his arm. Wesley hugged her. Newton sighed and snuggled into him. He listened to her breathing as she slept. A sound made him look back.

The woman stood in the doorway looking at him. “It’s as I suspected. Your dog has been drugged.”

“
Drugged
?”

“Drugged. Now we need to know, Mr McCarty, is how.”

The fierce tone she used captured his attention. Then it registered what she had said.

Wesley stood slowly. “How do you know my name?”

The woman arched an eyebrow at his question. Wesley moved subtly and waited to see what she would do.

“We knew the moment you arrived in Blackstone, Mr McCarty.”

Wesley tensed at her statement.

The woman continued. “Besides, my sister owns Blackstone Bungalows.”

Wesley tried to remember how they had ended up there. Nothing came to him. He didn’t even remember checking in.

“My sister mentioned that your dog looked sick. I was on my way to check on her.”

“Why would you come to check on my dog? You don’t even know me.” Wesley frowned.

“All animals in these parts are my responsibility.” The woman got an unfathomable look on her face.

Wesley didn’t understand what was going on.

The woman put out her hand. “I’m Dr Grayson.”

Wesley took her hand and shook it. A weird look came over her face, then was gone. He blinked, wondering if he imagined it.

Dr Grayson walked over to Newton and hung the bag she held. Wesley hadn’t seen it in her hand. A feeling of unease filled him as he watched the doctor.

“What’s that?”

“Saline to help flush the chemicals out of her system. There is nothing else we can do. She’ll have to sleep it off. How did she get drugged, Mr McCarty?”

She slipped in the question so easily, Wesley answered automatically.

“I don’t know. I don’t even kn—” He cut himself off, realising what he had almost said.

“You ‘don’t even know’ what?” Dr Grayson turned and looked at him, her eyes intense.

Wesley tried to pull himself out of her compelling gaze.

Dr. Grayson gasped, then stumbled back.

Wesley reached for her.

She put up a shaking hand and waved away his help. “I’m fine. Focus on Newton.”

Newton barked and he looked at her. He glanced up and saw Dr Grayson was gone.

“Let that run for a few hours then you can take Newton and go.” Dr Grayson said.

He looked at the door and saw her standing there watching him. Wesley narrowed his eyes. “That’s it? What kind of vet are you? You don’t even know if I was the one who hurt her, and you’re letting me take her.”

“You’re not the one who drugged her.” Dr Grayson got the same fathomless look on her face then turned to leave.

“How do you know that?” Wesley took a step towards her.

She turned, a serene look on her face, and gestured at Newton. “She would have told me.” Her face went cold. “And if you had been the one, then you would answer to me.”

Speechless, Wesley watched her leave. Newton barked, and he went over to her. He patted her and looked at the empty doorway.

“She’s one spooky lady.”

Newton barked in agreement.

Wesley glanced at her and frowned. “Am I losing my mind? What’s happening to me?” There was anguish in his tone.

Newton licked his hand and whined.

Wesley gripped her fur. “First we take care of you. Then we head over to Ian’s.”

He pulled his chair closer and watched her.

Newton watched him in return.

“Let her sleep it off and she should be fine.”

Wesley looked at the nurse who had unhooked Newton and brought him the bill for her care. She smiled at him.

“Where’s Dr Grayson?”

Surprise filled her eyes, and she replied, “She was called away on a case.”

Wesley frowned. Her statement seemed false.

The nurse patted Newton and left.

He picked up Newton and walked down the hall where the nurse held the door open for him. “Thanks.” Wesley mumbled as he went out.

“You’re welcome, Mr McCarty, and welcome to Blackstone Haven. We hope you enjoy your stay,” the nurse replied.

There was a twinkle in her eye he didn’t understand. She closed the door.

He walked across the waiting area and pushed open the outer door. Wesley stopped and looked up at the clear night sky. The full moon was partially obstructed by a dark cloud. The cloud funnelled and was gone.

Wesley shook his head. He had to have imagined it. Striding to his SUV, he hit the switch to unlock it, then opened the door and placed Newton on the seat. He patted her. She sighed and went back to sleep. Wesley went and got into the car. He tapped in Ian’s address into the computer for directions. Reading them, he pulled out. A little over two hours later, he continued driving up the winding roads. He had passed the road that led to Ian’s house a while back, but continued driving. The crisp air of the mountains soothed him.

He pulled the car over to the side of the road. The wheels bumped along the rough ground. Stopping, he turned off the car. He knew it was foolish to stop. He glanced at the sleeping Newton then got out. Wesley stood and looked at the area before him, awash in moonlight. The moon cast an eerie glow around the trees and flowers. He could hear the sound of water somewhere. He took a deep breath. A sense of anticipation filled him. With a laugh, he walked towards the wood.

Reaching the trees, he started to run. Effortlessly, he shifted on the path, avoiding logs, rocks, or anything that might stop him.

How am I doing this
? he wondered.

The sense of exhilaration washed away all the questions forming in his mind. The wind rushed past him as he picked up speed.

Suddenly, he stopped then cocked his head to listen. The sweet, sensual sound came again. The laughter was husky and made his cock harden. Drawn to it, Wesley padded on silent feet towards the sound.

Standing in the shadow of the trees, he stared at the beautiful ebony nymph. She twirled under the moon. Her laughter spilled over the clearing, drawing him. Wesley took a step towards her. The woman turned and looked at him.

A sense of urgency filled Peyton Blackstone. She didn’t notice the lengthening shadows coming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. In a movement she had done millions of times before, she moved the flying shuttle along the cloth and used her other hand to comb it down. Jazz, her favourite music, played softly in the background. Her hands flew over the task. The sound of the shunt along the cloth didn’t give her the sense of calmness it usually did. There was a feeling in the pit of her stomach she couldn’t define.

Suddenly, she stopped and stilled. Peyton turned to look blindly out of the window. She closed her eyes and tilted her head to the side. After a few moments, she felt it; a sense of expectation was in the air. In a fluid, graceful motion, she stood. She didn’t look at Zuri, her favourite loom, as she usually did after working on a tapestry. With quick steps, she went across the massive room, never sparing a glance for her huge variety of looms. She continued without pause out the door, then down the three staircases to the ground floor. Unerringly, she went through her darkened, generous living room, down the hall, and to the front door.

At the door, she took a breath before opening it. The feeling she had upstairs came at her with a power that almost made her stagger. Peyton locked her knees so she wouldn’t fall. She murmured softly, and the feeling lessened. She rushed outside, then down the stairs. With a turn to the left, she continued on, past her house and around the corner. The sense of urgency spurred her on. Although her thoughts urged caution, Peyton couldn’t seem to stop or slow down. She hadn’t felt a sense of evil when she opened the door, but even so, she would usually be more cautious. No matter how safe they felt in their hometown of Blackstone Haven, she and her family had learned to always be on guard.