Chapter Twenty
Sherese
Every head is turned my way, and there’s an obvious tension in the room.
“Why not?” I can tell Garrett didn’t enjoy asking that question.
I push past the tension and the discomfort in this moment.
“You already infiltrated their compound once. It’s not going to happen again.
They will have changed the wards and set up new security.
Shoot, they could have moved to another location by now.
The point is, they will be ready. Rizo will never allow that to happen again.
There’s no way you’re all getting back in again. ”
“So, there’s no way to get to Ajax?” That comes from Liam.
Paul joins our group, and Garrett’s attention is directed away.
They must have a private conversation because Garrett nods and then turns back to us.
I choose my words very carefully. “I’m just saying that getting a group inside is going to be impossible.
They will be waiting for you. It worked once; it won’t work again.
” I can feel the tension in the room rise, and I don’t forget for a moment that these are powerful wolves that I’m making angry.
I take a breath and then say the words I’m probably going to regret.
“I’ll go.” It’s absolutely silent in the room.
“I’ll go back to the vampires. They’ll let me in.
I already alluded to Rizo that I was just biding my time and that I’d return.
He thinks they’re keeping me captive in Phoenix.
” I shrug, portraying a carelessness I certainly don’t feel.
“No, Sherese,” Ava says, and I don’t dare look over at her.
“We got you out; you can’t go back.” There’s such a desperation in her voice that it almost makes me crack.
But I don’t. I keep an expressionless mask on my face.
“I can get you Ajax. It will just take some time. I have to find out what they’ve changed, where the weaknesses are, and how we can get you in.
It will take time, though,” I reiterate.
“The vampires are cruel, but they’re not stupid, especially Rizo. ”
It’s so quiet in the room, I don’t know what to do with myself. Garrett finally turns to Bryce. “She’s in your pack; it will ultimately be your call.”
I frown. “I’m not part of his pack.”
Bryce turns to me. “Yes, you are.” His words aren’t aggressive, but there’s a finality to them.
I stare at him. “I’m a vampire.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Then how can I be a part of your pack?”
He glances at Ava and then back at me. “You protected my mate when I couldn’t. You will always be pack to me because of that.” I swallow but don’t say anything. I don’t think I could if I had to.
“And you’re my friend,” Ava adds. “You’re pack.” The way she says it sounds like she’s daring someone to argue with her.
“Won’t it be dangerous for you to go back?” Liam asks.
I shrug. “They can’t kill me. If they do, it kills Rizo, the head vampire. They won’t, obviously.”
Liam whistles. “You’re tied to that guy?” I nod, and he shakes his head. “It’s a good thing we didn’t take him out then.”
I blink and then blink again. I wait for someone to laugh or correct him, but nobody does. When I look at Ava, she frowns, like she can’t figure out what is so confusing. “Why?” I can’t keep the question to myself.
“Why what?” Liam asks, obviously confused by my question.
“Why is it a good thing you didn’t take out Rizo? Don’t you know how much easier your lives would be right now if you had?”
“Sherese,” Ava responds sharply.
I look over at her, not really surprised to see the anger on her face. “I mean, obviously I’m glad you didn’t, but still.”
“I think I speak for everybody when I say this,” Raechel starts. “We appreciate what you’re willing to do, but is it a wise idea for you to return? You’ll be all alone. If something goes wrong—”
“She won’t be alone. I’ll go with her.”
My head whips towards Hunter so fast. “No, you won’t.”
His dark gaze meets mine. “Yes, I will.”
“You can’t. They will never let you come with me.”
“Then you’d better find a way to convince them.”
I stare at him. “No. You’re not going with me.”
He doesn’t look away. “Then you’re not going.”
I turn to Bryce in exasperation, but he’s no help. “Sorry, Sherese. I’m siding with Hunter on this one. You’re not going in alone.”
“Not going in alone? She shouldn’t be going at all,” Ava says, glaring daggers at me.
“I’ll go with you, Sherese,” Raechel calls out. “We can kick some vampire—”
“Angel,” Max rumbles, cutting off her words. She looks up at him hopefully. “No.”
“You’re no fun,” she pouts.
My gaze darts between Hunter and Bryce. “This is a terrible idea. It will never work. They’ll kill you the moment you cross over, if you manage to cross into their territory.”
“Then you’d better figure out a way to keep me alive,” he retorts.
I stare at him as anger and frustration build in my chest. “You can’t return.”
“But you can?” he asks, arching an eyebrow.
“Yes! I’m a vampire. I’m connected to Rizo; they won’t kill me. What don’t you get about that?”
He pushes off from the wall, straightening to his full height. “I’m going with Sherese. Better start figuring out a plan to keep us both alive.”
“You’re infuriating.”
He smirks. “Good to know.”
Bryce interrupts our stand-off. “Is there a way to keep him alive, Sherese? He is infuriating, but I’ve grown somewhat attached to him.”
Hunter’s smirk grows, but I look from him to Bryce. “Yes, I can keep him alive.”
Bryce waits a moment. “How?”
“By leaving him behind and going without him.”
Ava sighs. “Sherese, get it through your head. He’s going with. He said it; Bryce said it. It’s a done deal at this point. Now, what do we do to keep him alive? To keep both of you alive.”
I turn back to the rest of the room and see that everybody’s attention is on me. I’m so frustrated right now. I don’t like being backed into a corner. “I don’t know.”
“You’ll figure out something,” Hunter says smugly.
I don’t know what it is, but it just tips me over the edge.
I turn to him, wanting to wipe that smug look off his face.
He has no idea what he’s getting into. They will literally kill him on sight, and I won’t be able to do a single thing about it.
Unless...An idea hits me. “I have an idea,” I tell him. “But you’ll hate it.”
“Will it keep him alive?” Bryce asks.
“I think so.”
“You think so?” Hunter asks.
“Hey, you’re the one who keeps pushing to come. I’m the one who says you’re an idiot and should stay away.” For some reason, my words only cause his smirk to grow.
“If it will keep him alive, he’ll do it,” Bryce interjects.
“He doesn’t even know what it is,” I say, not looking away from Hunter.
“Doesn’t matter,” Bryce says.
“So, what’s the idea?” Raechel asks, breaking our staring contest.
I turn away from Hunter, not wanting to see his face when I say what I’m going to say. “He can be enthralled by me.” It’s absolutely silent in the room, and I don’t dare look at Hunter.
“I’m sorry. What?” Raechel asks in confusion.
I take a breath and keep my voice steady, emotionless.
“If a vampire drinks blood from someone several times, it creates a kind of...intimate connection between them.” I hate the words coming out of my mouth, but I continue.
“The person begins to crave it, and they sort of...lose their minds because they want to be with the vampire all the time. They develop a...like a...bond between them. That’s what it means to be enthralled. ”
Raechel stares at me and then, in a totally chill voice, says, “So, Hunter’s like your sex toy?”
“Oh my word.”
“Raechel!”
“Oh boy.”
I don’t look over at Hunter, and I wish I could just melt into the carpet.
But I own up to it. If I’m going to sell this to the vampires, might as well get used to it.
“Yes. That’s what it means to be enthralled by a vampire.
It’s the only way he’s getting in there.
I have to make them think I’ll return to them, but that I’ve made Hunter.
..that, and he won’t let me go, so I’m bringing him with. ”
“Huh. Really didn’t really peg you as the needy type, Hunter,” Raechel says, and I resist the urge to close my eyes.
“Oh, good grief.” That’s from Ava.
Raechel grins evilly, and I know whatever comes next is not going to be good. “Hey, big Guy, can I enthrall you?”
Talya snorts. “Like you haven't already?”
Raechel cocks her head to the side and looks up at her mate. “She makes a good point.” Max just shakes his head and wraps an arm around her, pulling her close.
“In all seriousness, you think that would work?” Talya asks me. “Because I’m not above putting my foot down and saying you can’t go.”
Liam’s eyebrows rise. “Really, Babe?”
“Well, Emma’s not here, so I feel like it falls on me by default to make sure our sisterhood is intact and protected.”
A slow grin fills Liam’s face. “Have I told you lately how sexy you are?” Madison and Raechel both groan, and I almost smile. If my future didn’t look so bleak, maybe I would.
Sage comes into the room, and Paul pulls her in close and wraps his arms around her front. “How’s Emma?” Talya asks.
“She’s good.” Sage glances at Garrett. “She’s sleeping; they both are.”
His face softens for the first time this morning. “Thank you.”
“So, what did I miss?” Sage asks.
“Oh, nothing much,” Raechel starts. “Just that vampy here and I are going to go at it in the ring on Friday night, and she’s going to return to the vampires in a covert operation. Oh, and she’s taking her sex toy with her as well.”
Sage wrinkles her nose. Sex toy? She mouths to Ava.
“Yep. Hunter.” Raechel finishes with a grin. Sage’s eyes widen, and I just shake my head.
“Maybe you could stop calling my head enforcer a sex toy,” Bryce says, looking pained.
Leo snorts from the kitchen. I'd forgotten he was even there. “It’s a good thing Cody’s not here,” he says in a quiet voice that still carries. “He’d never let you live it down.”
“Pretty sure he’ll find out,” Hunter says in a low voice.
I glance over at him to see if he’s mad.
His dark eyes meet mine and hold, and I don’t get the feeling that he’s mad.
Irritated, maybe, but not mad. I wonder how we’re going to be able to pull this off.
We’re never going to make it believable.
They’ll take one look at us and know we’re faking it.
There’s no way Hunter will be able to pull off looking enthralled.
He's too intense and angry all the time; that’s the furthest thing from being enthralled.
Maybe we’ll have to figure out another way in.
Maybe I can convince Hunter not to go with, or maybe just not tell him.
I feel my mood brighten at that. I could sneak out and go when he’s not expecting it and show up to the vampires by myself.
Once I’m there, he can’t come. It would be suicide.
A sense of peace and calm descends. This can work; this will work.
I just need to keep my plans close to the vest and act interested in the plan that Bryce and Hunter think we’re doing.
Garrett says a few more things, but I kind of tune him out.
My mind is making a plan to go back to the one place I said I’d never go back to.