Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
K ane sat in the corner of a dimly lit pub, nursing a beer that had long since lost its chill. The amber liquid barely moved in the bottle, his fingers loose around the bottle. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd, darting from face to face. The place was buzzing with chatter with an occasional burst of laughter, but Kane’s focus was singular. He was looking for one specific person.
Duncan had sent him a hand-sketched image of the woman based on a nurse’s description that Jill had drawn. He glanced at his phone, where the sketch illuminated the screen. Jill’s talent never ceased to amaze him; the drawing was so precise and lifelike as if he were holding a photograph. The detail in the lines, from the curve of her jaw to the slight tilt of her eyes, was incredibly realistic. Whoever this woman was, she was very attractive for a sketch.
He had shown the picture to a few key people in the area, knowing full well how this game worked. No one would admit to recognizing her outright, not in a place like this. Kane had spent enough of his life hunting people to know how these things went. Fear, loyalty, or greed were a few reasons people kept quiet.
He lifted his bottle to his lips, taking a slow sip as he felt the shift in the air. That prickle of awareness that came when someone was watching. His instincts flared, his muscles tensing beneath his leather jacket, but his expression remained calm. He didn’t look up immediately, letting the moment linger as he scrolled idly on his phone, pretending to be engrossed.
A slight grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. He didn’t need to look to know she was there looking straight at him.
Word of mouth had worked faster than he’d expected. It always did. People loved to gossip, and a stranger asking questions with a detailed sketch in hand was bound to make waves. Kane leaned back in his chair, letting the shadow of the dim light cloak his face. He knew when she was moving because he sensed it as well as heard her footsteps coming forward. Being a vampire gave him the advantage of pinpointing sounds in a crowded pub.
The chair across from him scraped against the wooden floor, its sound cutting through the low hum of bar chatter. Kane didn’t look up, keeping his focus on his phone, though he was acutely aware of the figure now sitting opposite him.
“Heard you were looking for me.” Her voice was a smoky, rich, and layered melody, carrying a gravelly edge hinting at sleepless nights and secrets she wasn’t keen to share. “Glad I could help you find me.”
Kane allowed a small, deliberate smile to curl at the corner of his mouth before finally looking up. His gaze swept over her, taking in every detail. She wasn’t just attractive but stunning, with a fierce, weathered beauty that told a story of resilience and survival.
He lifted his beer and took a slow sip, setting the bottle back down with a deliberate clink that seemed louder than it should have been. The noise around them faded into the background as he leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. His steady gaze locked onto hers, testing her resolve.
Her eyes darted briefly to the door before returning to him, a flicker of calculation in her expression. Kane smirked, catching the subtle movement. Wise , he thought. She’s already planning her exit.
“If you’re thinking about running, don’t,” Kane said, his voice low and smooth, carrying an unspoken threat beneath the surface. “I will catch you.”
A flicker of fear danced across her dark eyes for a fraction of a second before it vanished, replaced by a steely glare.
“Listen,” she said, her tone sharp and impatient, “I did you a favor by showing up. I don’t need anyone flashing sketches of me all over town, asking questions. I’m here. So tell me what you want, and let’s get this over with.”
Kane watched her closely, noticing how her gaze flicked toward the shadows, her wariness palpable.
“You made my job easier,” he admitted, his lips curving into a faint grin. “But don’t think for a second I wouldn’t have found you eventually.”
“Who are you?” she asked, her voice laced with irritation and a trace of unease.
Kane leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms in a casual yet commanding stance. “Funny,” he replied. “I was just about to ask you the same thing.”
She scoffed, her brow furrowing in frustration. “Obviously, you know more about me than I know about you.”
“True,” Kane said with a teasing edge, enjoying the verbal sparring. His calm confidence was disarming, and he knew it.
“Fuck you,” she hissed, pushing her chair back abruptly as if to leave.
Kane didn’t flinch. His voice was firm, cutting through the air like a blade. “Sit down.”
Her glare intensified, but she sank back into the chair with a defiant huff after a moment's hesitation. “Fine. But the least you can do is buy me a damn beer.”
Kane chuckled, amused by her fire. He caught the waitress’s attention with a subtle motion and signaled for another drink. When the beer arrived, he slid it across the table toward her.
“Thanks,” she muttered, taking a long swig before narrowing her eyes at him.
Kane placed his phone on the table, turning it toward her. “This you?”
She glanced at the sketch displayed on the screen, her expression unreadable as she leaned in for a closer look. After a moment, she leaned back, her lips curling into a faint smirk. “Nice sketch. Uncanny resemblance.”
“Isn’t it?” Kane replied, his tone measured, as he slid the phone back into his pocket.
Her fingers drummed on the table as she studied him, her gaze sharp and calculating. “So, what’s this about? You’ve got your sketch, and I’m sitting right here. Spit it out.”
“You brought a boy to the hospital,” Kane said, his voice steady, watching her reaction like a hawk.
“Is that a question?” she shot back, her eyes narrowing slightly as she lifted the beer to her lips again.
“No,” Kane said, his tone calm but heavy with implication.
“I did,” she finally answered but offered nothing else.
“What happened to him?” Kane knew she was playing a game, but he was good at ending games quickly as she was about to learn.
“I don’t know.” She said with a frown. “I found him like that.”
“Who did this to him?” Kane didn’t let up; his eyes narrowed because he knew for a fact that this woman knew more than what she was saying.
“I just said I found him like that,” she snapped, her tone defensive, but her eyes gave her away. There was a flicker of fear before she masked it with defiance.
“Bullshit,” Kane said, leaning forward so quickly that she flinched. Her eyes went wide, but she held her ground. “You know exactly what happened to him and who did it. What are you afraid of?”
Her lips parted, but she hesitated. Her eyes darted to the crowd, scanning for eavesdroppers. Finally, her shoulders sagged slightly, and she lowered her voice to a whisper. “These people...you don’t want to mess with them.”
Kane tilted his head, his smirk sharp and humorless. “I’m sure I’ve messed with worse,” he said coldly. “Now, tell me. Who the fuck did this to him?”
Her hands tightened around the bottle, her knuckles white. She stared at him, her lips pressing into a thin line before finally speaking. “You don’t understand. If I tell you, it’s not just me they’ll come for.”
Kane’s voice softened, though the steel behind it remained. “Then you better hope you’re under my protection when they do. Start talking.”
Confusion rushed across her face. “Who are you?” She whispered, and then her eyes widened in realization and then fear. “Warrior.”
“Fuck no,” Kane spat, then a smirk curved the corner of his mouth. “Dark Guardian.”
“No, no, no, no...” She cringed as her whole badass facade completely vanished. “I can’t be seen talking to you. Please, I didn’t do anything to the kid except take him to get help. Just let it go.”
“Can’t do that,” Kane said, realizing there was much more to the story here, and went deeper than any of them realized. His gaze went to the others in the pub, stopping on one man looking their way. He let his gaze drop to his phone. “Give me your number.”
“What?” She frowned, shaking her head. “Ah, I don’t think so.”
“Listen to me and listen very carefully.” Kane smiled at her as if they were having a casual conversation, knowing the man was still watching them. “We have eyes on us right now. I don’t know what you are involved in, but you better fucking answer your phone when I call or text you. If you don’t believe me when I tell you that I, along with every fucking Dark Guardian, will be searching for you, and I always find what I’m searching for.”
Cursing, she quickly rattled off her phone number. “Are we done?”
He noticed her hand shaking almost uncontrollably as she brought the beer to her lips, draining the rest of the bottle. She was terrified of someone or something, maybe him, and he was okay with that. He scared a lot of people, but he also got what he wanted, and he wanted fucking answers. He quickly pulled out his phone and called the number she gave him. “Depends.”
“On?” She set the bottle down.
“Whether you gave me the correct phone number.” He countered, watching her closely.
The woman’s expression didn’t shift much, but her movements betrayed a flicker of tension. She took her phone from her pocket, glanced at the screen, and then placed it face-up on the table so Kane could see his missed call.
“Happy now?” she asked, her voice clipped but steady.
Kane’s smile widened, though his eyes betrayed a darker intent. “Not until I find the bastards responsible for hurting a kid.” His smile faded, his gaze sharpening like the edge of a blade. He studied her face, watching for any sign of guilt, hoping she wasn’t involved.
She tensed slightly but kept her gaze steady, her jaw tightening as if holding back words.
Kane leaned back in his chair, his voice low and deliberate. “You best go. I’ll be in touch.” He paused, his eyes flicking briefly past her to a figure in the crowd. “This isn’t the place to have this conversation. Your watcher just made a phone call.”
Her expression faltered, and she instinctively glanced toward the shadows of the room. Fear flashed in her eyes before she quickly masked it, but Kane caught it.
He tilted his head, his voice soft but laced with warning. “Word of advice—watch your back.”
“I can take care of myself.” She stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the wooden floor. Without another word, she turned but stopped, looking at Kane over her shoulder. “The kid...is he okay?”
“He’s alive.” Was all Kane said, not missing the brief flash of relief in her eyes. She nodded, then turned and walked out of the pub, her shoulders stiff as if bracing for whatever storm lay ahead.
Kane’s gaze followed her until she disappeared through the door, then shifted to the man who’d made the call. He’d seen this game play out too many times before. This woman was playing a dangerous one, caught up in something with no way out. At least that is what Kane read into it, and he was usually right about this shit. Quietly, Kane rose, tossing a few bills onto the table before slipping out the side exit.
Hearing a car door slam, Kane turned the corner, keeping to the shadows. His sharp gaze landed on the dark-haired woman sitting in the driver’s seat of her car. Her face was illuminated faintly by the glow of the streetlights, and he could see her clearly, even from a distance. She leaned her head back against the seat, eyes closed for a long, quiet moment before she opened them again. Kane frowned as she wiped tears from her cheeks.
He didn’t like it. She looked strong, like someone who wouldn’t break easily, yet here she was, clearly shaken. Whatever she was caught up in, it was weighing on her more than she let on.
The hum of her engine pulled him from his thoughts as the car came to life, headlights cut through the dim parking lot. Instinctively, Kane stepped deeper into the shadows, watching as she pulled out. His eyes flicked to the license plate, memorizing it in an instant. Pulling out his phone, he quickly texted Jinx the plate number: “Run this. I need everything.”
As he tucked his phone away, movement caught his eye. A second car rolled slowly around the side of the building. The driver’s face was unmistakable; the same man had made the call in the pub earlier. Kane’s jaw tightened as he watched the car creep through the lot before turning onto the road, heading in the opposite direction of the woman. He also memorized that license plate number and sent it to Jinx.
Kane’s frown deepened. If this guy wasn’t tailing her, then what was his game? Filing the detail away, he moved quickly to his motorcycle, the tension in his chest morphing into a familiar, sharp-edged focus.
Sliding onto the bike, Kane revved the engine, the low growl vibrating through the night. He thrived on this part, picking apart the pieces and following the threads until they revealed the truth. With the woman’s tears and the man’s movements both fresh in his mind, Kane knew one thing for sure...things were about to get very interesting, and he’d be ready for whatever came next.