Mine to Claim (Shadow Shifters: Damaged Hearts) (11 page)

“What can I get you to drink?” I asked, hoping that would speed up this little visit. I needed them to leave like right now so I could think about what I was seeing presently versus what I knew I’d witnessed in the past.

“I don’t want a drink,” Chris admitted.

He looked a little different today. His hair was dry, not sweaty and disheveled and he wore a polo shirt that was neatly tucked into the waistband of his pants. As he appeared completely sober today, his eyes could now be called a hazel brown, his tone level and just a bit cheery.

“I want you to come from around that counter so I can see all of you,” he continued.

My instinctive reply to that would have been a “hell no,” but I didn’t really want to agitate these guys. Something told me what I’d seen of them over the past couple of weeks was only a teaser as to the trouble they could really start.

“She’s not going to come willingly, we learned that before,” Brett added. “We’re gonna have to go over there and get her.”

I backed up then until I hit the shelves behind me. A couple boxes of coffee that I’d just restacked fell, dropping to the floor. I never even looked down to see them. I kept my eyes on the threesome that I knew now were here for me. I also figured that I didn’t have a lot of options toward fighting them off. Especially since the two guys that had been sitting in the dining area had quickly gotten up to leave as the threesome had approached the counter. Now there were only three girls in the place, plus me, which made us outnumbered by the whole male-being-stronger-than-female thing. Plus, I wasn’t convinced the girls would be of any help since they were still typing on their computers or talking on their cell phones. That was just great, now this entire scene would undoubtedly be tweeted and re-tweeted a million times in the next few minutes.

“Why don’t you just go?” I tried even though I was almost positive it wasn’t going to work.

“Did you tell Aidan to just go?” Rafe asked.

He’d been quiet while the other two had taunted me, but he’d never taken his eyes off me. I could feel his gaze slithering over me as creepy as the skin of a snake and wanted to scream. But I refused to show them the fear coursing through my body, refused to go down like that.

“I don’t have to serve you in here. I can call the manager. He’s right in the back and he’ll take care of you,” I said even though Todd had run to the supermarket to get more 2 percent milk for the low-cal lattes.

“Oh, you’re gonna serve me,” Rafe said, leaning forward. “In fact, you’re gonna serve all of us. One at a time, and then again and again. And guess what? Your little boy toy Aidan won’t be able to help you this time because he’ll be in jail.”

“Aidan’s innocent,” I spat impulsively. “He’s not going to jail!”

Rafe tossed his head back and laughed. “Oh, yes, he is. I made sure of that.”

He reached out to me then, the top half of his body flattening over the counter, his long arms stretching toward me. I tried to back up more, but couldn’t. The only other way to go would be around the side but that would lead me right into their path. I looked from side to side, was about to scream for help but the sound died in my throat.

“Come here, bitch!” Rafe yelled, reaching out, his fingers wiggling as he signaled for me to come to him.

I saw his fingers, heartbeat thumping wildly in my chest. My teeth almost chattered, tears immediately springing to my eyes. That’s when I saw it. On Rafe’s left arm was a brown leather bracelet, one that looked strangely like Aidan’s.

All remnants of fear shifted to rage as I took one slow step forward. I grabbed his wrist before he could pull it back. “What the hell is this? Where did you get this?” I yelled in his face.

His only reply he was to grab my arms, pulling me over the counter as he moved back.

To say that was a painful experience would be putting it mildly. The front of my body slammed against the counter only to be dragged, knocking over the stand of bonus cards that I’d just restacked and a display of to-go cups. One of the cups caught me beneath my chin and I gasped while beside Rafe, Chris and Brett cheered.

“Shut the fuck up!” Rafe yelled at them. “Get the cans so we can get on with this!”

By this time the three girls that had been left in the coffee shop had closed their laptops and were hustling out of the shop. I wanted to scream for them to help me or to call them names for not helping me. Unfortunately, they were already long gone.

Rafe was holding me so tight I could barely breathe. His chest heaved as he glared down at me. He leaned in closer, rubbing his nose along the line of my neck and I almost threw up the bagel and cream cheese I’d gulped down during my last fifteen-minute break. I craned my neck, hoping to move out of his reach but that was to no avail. His nostrils continued touching my skin, a rumbling beginning in his chest.

Then there was a noise. I could have sworn I’d heard it before. It was like a loud hiss, louder than any cat I’d ever heard. Again, I wanted to close my eyes and scream loud enough that the citizens of heaven might actually hear me. But I just couldn’t. Instead I kept my eyes open, saw Chris and Brett returning with big silver cans in their hands.

Rafe’s nostrils were then replaced by his tongue and I panicked. It was beyond gross, the feel of his disgustingly wet tongue moving over my skin.

“You smell like that animal,” Rafe murmured. “Just like that stupid pussy cat!”

“Let me go!” I yelled, my voice finally deciding to make an appearance.

“We’re done back here,” I heard Chris say just before there was a crashing, like maybe he’d thrown down that can he was carrying.

I couldn’t see him or Brett anymore. My view was blocked by Rafe’s wide arms wrapped around me, his hot breath on my skin as he talked.

“She smells like him!” he said with disgust once more. “I’m trying to clean her up. She can’t go with us smelling like him.”

I didn’t know who I smelled like and didn’t really care, I just wanted him to let me go. So I squirmed. I tried to loosen his grip on me enough so that I could at least lift my knee and deliver a shocking blow to his balls. But he was so much stronger than me, tears welled in my eyes as I felt like he was actually going to crush my bones.

“Forget her, man, she’s not worth it,” Brett said. “We can get another one.”

“No!” Rafe roared.

And yes, it was a roar. Like one of the big animals at the zoo. It was loud and I thought maybe some of the glass in the shop may have shattered. I knew I needed to get the hell away from him now. If I didn’t I wasn’t sure I’d be alive much longer.

“She goes with me! But he has to think she’s dead. He has to believe she’s dead, now that his scent’s all over her, or he’ll follow, like a lost pet,” Rafe said.

There was another sound and then a strong odor permeated the air.

“It’s done! Let’s go if we’re going!” Chris shouted, coming beside Rafe and clapping him on the back. “I’ll take her.”

Chris pulled on one of my arms but Rafe instantly pulled back. “No, she stays with me!” he yelled.

“I saw her first,” Chris replied, his fingers still wrapped tightly around my other arm.

“I’m in charge!” Rafe countered.

“You’re bat-shit crazy!” Chris continued. “Look at your eyes, you’re about to shift right now and have us all in deep trouble. Just let her go!”

“I said no!” Rafe yelled and everything around us did shake at that point.

That was just before I felt the heat and out of the corner of my eyes saw the huge wall of fire as it spread throughout the side of the coffee shop. I screamed at that point, right in Rafe’s ear. The sound must have startled him because he released his grip just a bit. Just enough so that I could take a partial step back and deliver that knee like I’d wanted to for the last few minutes.

Rafe yelled once more, backing up in pain. Chris reached for me again, his grip had also loosened with my scream. I wish I’d known that simple act would have gained my freedom, I would have done it much sooner. I knew Brett would be headed my way so I jumped over a chair that had fallen on its side and backed into one of the tables. The fire was all around the perimeter of the coffee shop and Rafe and Chris were blocking the door. Brett opened his mouth and yelled and I could see sharp teeth that I knew instinctively were not human. With that thought I reached for the closest chair. Lifting it over my head I hurled it through the window and jumped right behind it. I figured I could land on the sidewalk and break a few bones but at least I’d be away from these goons, and the fire they’d apparently started. With that in mind I felt myself moving through the air, not sure how this was going to end up but praying, still praying that Aidan wasn’t in jail. I know, crazy, right?

CHAPTER 11

Aidan

I’d run for I don’t know how long before the inevitable truth hit me and I ended up heading back to the apartment building where I grabbed my clothes and my bike and headed to the motel.

By then it was well after midnight and all I really wanted to do was to go back to that dorm and get Grace. I contemplated putting her on the back of my bike and the two of us riding off into the sunset, or sunrise, whichever, as long as we were together. But that would have been wrong, it would have been introducing her to a world she could never understand and one that would ultimately turn on her. I wouldn’t do that to her, couldn’t. So I returned alone and gathered the rest of my things. With one large duffle bag and my helmet I walked out of the motel room. The manager had been paid in cash and while my classes hadn’t been completed I’d had such a high grade-point average in the first weeks that skipping the exam wasn’t going to put me in the failing category. I’d still obtain my degree. What I would do with it at Havenway and as a part of the Stateside Shadow Shifters, I had no idea. At least I would know that I’d achieved one of my goals in life, one that I’d set for myself.

I’d just stepped off the curb and secured the bag to the back of my bike when I heard the sirens. They’d obviously been lying in wait for me because lights flashed and the three police cars were on me within seconds. Still, I could have gotten away. I could have shifted.

They said something along the line of Miranda warnings and cuffed me. I didn’t argue, didn’t speak a word, just thought about Grace and about the shifters and how my capture would ultimately put them in danger. I could have cursed myself, cursed the decisions that I’d made, the warnings I’d ignored, but where would that have gotten me? I rode in silence to the police station not really knowing what would happen next and not caring except I remembered the scent that I’d picked up back at my apartment and then again in front of Grace’s dorm just a few hours ago. With a low growl I identified the scent and then I did curse my stupidity and irresponsibility.

There were rogues in Victory.

*   *   *

Roman Reynolds wasn’t your average attorney. Yeah, he walked with a sure stride, slow measured steps with his shoulders squared, the excellent cut of his designer suit catching everyone in this small quaint town’s attention. He surpassed six feet, probably by a few inches. His dark complexion, shiny designer tie-up shoes, and crisp leather briefcase were like a neon light flashing the word “different.” And yet, he wore it with great confidence, integrity dripping from every pore of his being, the hum of danger following him like a bad scent.

“Sheriff Griffin,” Rome said with a nod to the pudgy man who had stood at the sight of his arrival.

The sheriff looked Rome up and down, distaste clear in his every movement, even as he reluctantly accepted Rome’s outstretched hand and shook. “And you are?”

“I am Roman Reynolds, Mr. Sanchez’s attorney.” After releasing the sheriff’s hand, Rome set his briefcase on the table across from where I was seated and pulled out a chair.

He hadn’t looked at me yet, hadn’t said a word to me. I sat up straight in the chair, arms outstretched, hands flat on the wood-topped table.

Rome unsnapped his briefcase, pulling out a gold pen and a notepad. “I understand you are holding my client on suspicion of robbery in the first degree and possession of a firearm.” His voice wasn’t loud but it was dominant and vibrated throughout the small room I’d been sitting in for the last ten hours.

Later I would thank Rome for coming to Victory even after I told him I would meet him at Havenway. Right now, I needed him to get me out of here as soon as possible.

“We’ve got evidence that proves he robbed Pete Newman down at the gas station the night in question,” Sheriff Griffin said sternly. He’d taken a seat too, his short legs unable to close around the wide girth of his stomach, his scraggly mustache covering most of his lips.

“A bracelet that can be purchased at any one of these online retailers,” Rome stated, pulling out another stack of papers from his briefcase and sliding them across the table so that they rested directly in front of the sheriff. “You will also note from the sales logs that ten bracelets just like the one you found at your crime scene were delivered to this address. I took the liberty of finding that address when I arrived in your lovely town. Victory Gale University, where to date there are presently seven hundred students enrolled.”

Sheriff Griffin’s stumpy fingers flipped through the pages. By the fifth or sixth sheet I figured he’d picked up on where Rome was going with this conversation.

“That means you have nine other suspects in this robbery,” Rome continued. “Are they all under arrest as well or do you have some other reason for holding my client?”

“We have an eyewitness account of what happened,” Griffin claimed.

“Yes,” Rome said with a curt nod. “Rafael Newman and Christopher Giles, both of whose names you will see on that sales log.” He set the pen that he hadn’t even used down on his also unused notepad, folded his hands, and looked directly at the sheriff. “That means that two persons signed sworn statements that my client was the one who robbed this gas station. They also stated that they saw him commit this robbery and that he dropped his bracelet in the commission of this crime. What they did not state was where they were during this robbery. How was it that they came to witness this crime but did not report it until the next morning, exactly seven hours afterward? And why has my client not been identified by Mr. Peter Newman, the owner of this gas station, who also happens to be the uncle of Rafael Newman, one of your eyewitnesses? In fact, Mr. Newman hasn’t been seen or heard from since the morning before the robbery.”