Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
It took the better part of the night and some of the morning to iron out the details.
Marcus and Andrei called in a few of the Guardians, so they don’t have to repeat themselves a million times.
I sat there stunned, finally realizing how big their operations were.
Marcus was right when he said I thought it was just the three of them playing heroes so they could chase out the boredom of immortality.
Calls were made on laptops, and men and women from around the world stared at us through the screens.
They all looked human if I didn’t stare into their eyes for too long.
No matter how nice they were dressed or how sincere their smiles were, nothing could hide the predator lurking in their gazes.
When everyone was present, and they were told who I was, my hands were fisted under the table while they gawked at me like they were looking at a unicorn.
Not even bothering to remember their names, I stayed quiet, listening to every word.
They had infiltrated the Council so deeply I wouldn’t be surprised if they knew how many times each of the members blinked.
For two weeks, whispers about me had been going around, sending me in a tailspin of panic again.
I had no idea anyone was aware of me. Also, it was nice to know that the Council was having a party tomorrow night.
Apparently, when you decided to stuff someone in a coffin, tied up in chains, it called for a celebration.
Who knew? No matter how messed up the situation was, it gave us a way in.
When all was said and done, everyone left to sleep or went on with their day, cutting off the connection. I was placed in Sebastian’s room.
That’s where I am now, tangled in his sheets, trying very hard not to breathe in his scent.
It’s like he is everywhere. Sleep doesn’t come, leaving me to stare at the ceiling, going over every detail again and again in my mind.
Everything should go smoothly if we all stick to our plans.
From my experience hiding and trying to stay ahead of those who want me dead, plans rarely work as you expect them to.
So, I come up with a few things on my own, in case something goes south.
Satisfied with everything, I lay still, waiting for the seconds to pass by.
It feels like a lifetime later when the soft knock on the door announces that it’s time .
Jumping off the bed, I yank the door open to see Andrei with his knuckles raised. “You are awake.”
“I couldn’t sleep.” Shrugging a shoulder, I push past him, heading for the living room.
“You need to be alert, April. Any mistake can cost all our lives.” Grumbling behind me, I can feel his scowl between my shoulder blades. “We can call it off and do it tomorrow.”
“No!” Bumping off his chest when I abruptly turn around, I run my palm over my nose. “We are doing this now.” Or I’ll change my mind, a part I leave unspoken.
His jaw clenches so tightly I can hear his teeth grinding. After staring at me for long moments, he nods jerkily once. Assured I won’t have to sneak out of here to do what I’m planning to do, I turn my back on him again.
Marcus is standing in the middle of the living room when I reach it.
No emotion shows on his face when he scans me from head to toe and back up.
He must be satisfied with his assessment because no words come from him.
After Andrei fixes my hair and does my make up again, I don’t even bother looking at myself in the mirror.
At least the silky white dress I’m wearing is pooling at my feet.
No boob, or butt, flashing in the Council Towers.
“It’s time,” Andrei says so gravely you would think his dog died.
Speaking of a dog, I twist around, looking for mutt.
He wasn’t allowed to come inside the room for some stupid reason so he must’ve slept in the living room.
When I don’t see him, I open my mouth to ask, but Marcus, the mind reader, simply points at the front door.
Leaning to the side, I look through the long hallway.
There, sitting like a statue, is a dog with shining black fur, with light brown patch circles around his nose and over his chest and underbelly.
The words get stuck in my throat when I’m about to ask whose dog it is.
Intelligent brown eyes that I know so well watch me with excitement.
It’s almost as if he waits to see my reaction.
“Mutt?” As soon as my breathless words pass my lips, he bolts from the door, almost knocking me over. “Look at you, buddy.” Hugging him to my chest while he licks my face, I can’t stop running my hands over him. “I knew you were beautiful under all that grime and dirt.”
“Yeah, in this city, lots of beauty is hidden under grime and dirt.” Smiling softly, Marcus nudges mutt off me. “No time for playing, though. We have to go.”
A look passes again between the two vampires, but I choose to ignore it.
If they are not willing to share their thoughts, they can keep them.
I have enough things going through my head at the moment.
You are crazy for doing this, is the loudest. Straightening up, I head for the door.
Mutt joins me straight away, his silky fur brushing under my fingers.
The elevator opens as soon as I reach it and we all pile inside.
Tension rides with us like an invisible passenger.
With a ping, the doors open and we are met by a sea of Guardians all dressed in black, only their faces and the color of their hair allowing me to tell the difference between them.
They part, and we walk through them. I can feel their curiosity like a loaded gun in my temple.
Keeping my eyes locked in front of me, I ignore everything.
Touching mutt with my fingers helps me stay calm in the middle of so many vampires.
A long, black car with dark windows and the back door opened is waiting when we exit the hotel.
Flanked on one side by Marcus and on the other by Andrei, I’m guided to the vehicle.
Mutt jumps inside, and bending down, I follow behind him.
No one talks, while I’m pressed between two large bodies with mutt between my legs, on our short drive to the Council Towers.
Everything is a blur, and before I know it, the car stops moving.
“Are you ready?” My body jerks when Andrei speaks.
What the hell are you doing, April? Are you insane? my mind screams. “I’m ready,” is what I calmly say out loud.
“Remember, we are right there with you. Unless they kill us, we will not leave your side.” Marcus twists my body towards him, gripping my shoulders in his large hands.
“Just do your part and leave the rest to us. When I tell you to run, you run. Do you understand?” He waits until I nod like a good little doggie.
“We have people inside that will take you to safety, to another country if need be. You’ll be safe no matter what.
” Reaching up, he ties a half mask over my face.
“I know, Mother. Can we go now?” My voice is anything but the hot mess that I feel inside.
Marcus smiles momentarily before the stony expression returns to his face.
Andrei chuckles and swings the door open on his side.
After he is out, I slide my butt on the soft leather and come face to face with the open doors of the Council Towers.
The idiots didn’t even give me enough room between the car and the stairs to run if I changed my mind last minute.
Mutt comes next to me, and I feel the warmth of Marcus’s body when he comes to stand at my back.
In a lapse of judgment, I lean back, soaking up his strength.
His hand wraps around my hip, squeezing reassuringly.
Everything is so not going to be all right, but I don’t point that out.
Pushing away from him, squaring my shoulders I climb the stairs like the queen of England visiting for a cup of tea, praying I don’t twist an ankle or break a leg in the damn shoes.