Chapter 44
Kayla
I stare up through the sheets, wanting to be able to see if somebody comes for us.
“They came in here. Find them.” My body stiffens at the sound of Alicia’s voice, and I wonder if I’ll never not have that reaction.
Jackson’s already tense body stiffens, and I feel him ready to pounce.
Neither of us moves a muscle. I can hear them getting closer to us.
I hear them moving the other carts, opening and closing washer and dryer doors.
Just when somebody is right beside us, an alarm goes off. “Breach!” someone shouts.
“Go!” Alicia shouts.
I hear the sound of running feet, but I still don’t move.
Don’t move a muscle, Jackson says through our link.
She’s still in here, trying to wait us out.
I don’t have to question who the she is; I know he’s talking about Alicia.
I squeeze my eyes shut and try to keep my heart from racing.
Then Jackson’s voice is in my head once again.
I’ll keep you safe, Kayla. If I need to, I’ll incapacitate her.
But I want to see if we can keep this hiding place for a little bit.
Lay low until we can find a time to escape.
The alarm keeps shrieking, and I have a hard time focusing on Jackson’s words.
“Alicia!” A male voice bellows.
Then there’s nothing. I stay perfectly still and try to slow my thundering heart. Is she gone? I ask.
She is. He doesn’t say anything else, but I know what he’s thinking because it’s the same thing I’m thinking. She may be gone, but for how long.
Do we stay here, or try somewhere else? I ask.
He doesn’t say anything at first. It’s a risk either way whether we stay and they find us, or we run and they see us. Let’s wait it out for now.
I take a small breath. Okay.
It’s quiet between us, and I try to calm my still racing heart. I’m sorry I didn’t get to you sooner.
It’s okay—I start.
It’s not okay, he says fiercely. I’m sorry for what you went through these past few days; I’m sorry I didn’t get free sooner.
I don’t know what to say; I’m afraid he’ll argue with anything I say that takes the blame from him. Can you tell me how we got here? I ask after a few minutes of tense silence.
What’s the last thing you remember?
I think back. I remember Garrett and Emma coming to our room to talk to us; I don’t really remember anything after that.
He doesn’t respond at first, and I feel him shift, probably trying to get more comfortable. It's pretty much impossible. You went to the bathroom. How is that? Are you good now, or are you still bleeding?
I don’t allow myself to get embarrassed; we’ve got bigger problems. Whatever they did to me must have made it stop.
He takes that in; we both know that’s probably not a good thing.
But I’m just grateful I didn’t have to worry about my period on top of everything else the last few days.
Emma dropped, and I realized Noah had as well.
I came into the bathroom, and you were facedown on the floor.
Scared me to death, he admits. We got you all out to fresh air, and then Alicia showed up.
His contempt for her translates through our link.
She gave us an ultimatum. You all would die within twenty-four hours if we didn’t get you here for the antidote.
I take in everything he’s saying. I talked Alicia into a deal.
You would come here, but I would come with.
I knew nobody would threaten your life because it’s tied to Alicia’s.
I still at that. What?
He turns, so that our eyes meet. That shot Alicia gave you was a vampire serum of some sorts, and it tied your life to hers. She said it’s similar to siring a vampire.
I swallow hard and try not to panic. So, you and I came here.
The other females and Noah had to come with too to get the antidote. As soon as they had the antidote, Alicia took them and delivered them to a drop-off location.
How do you know they actually got there? I question.
I talked to Garrett; it was part of the deal. I had to confirm.
My head is spinning. So, they’re all okay; it’s just you and me here.
Yes. Garrett confirmed. Ransom and Lucien originally were going to come with; Alicia agreed to that. But then somebody higher up than her said no, so they stayed behind.
What about the other humans in the hotel? I ask.
I don’t know, he offers.
I squeeze my eyes shut a minute and try to process everything he’s telling me. Was I unconscious for all this?
Yes I don’t know when you actually woke up. His voice is harsher now.
I almost don’t ask him, but I need to know. What did they do to you, Jackson?
Nothing I didn’t expect them to do.
Please tell me, I push.
I’ll make a deal. I’ll tell you what they did to me if you do the same for me.
Okay.
He waits only a moment. After the others left, they took me to the room where they do their science, if you want to call it that. They took me to one of those small rooms and hooked me up.
I’m almost afraid to ask, but I need to know. Did they hurt you?
His arm flexes. No. They started their work on me.
What did they do?
The vampires have been trying for years to recreate vampires without having to sire because siring only produces one vampire.
If they sire a vampire, their life is tied to the one they sired, which is dangerous and weakens them.
If you know anything about vampires, they’re all about strength and control.
So, they’ve been trying to find alternative ways to create them.
That's what they were doing to me. They gave me their vampire serum once they hooked me up to their machines.
I feel sucker punched. Is that why your eyes were all red?
I’m so sorry I scared you. Once they hooked me up, I spent the entire time in my wolf’s head, trying to purge the serum from our body quicker than they sent it in.
When you showed up, it startled me. I forgot how fast you move with that stuff coursing through your veins.
I just wanted to talk to you; I was desperate to check with you.
I just didn’t realize how fast I would move or how aggressive it would seem. I’m sorry.
It’s okay, I rush to assure him. So, do you have vampire serum in you now?
Probably, but my wolf will continue purging it from our system.
How did you know I needed you? I ask.
He's quiet a beat. I’d started losing consciousness for hours at a time.
During the times I was lucid, I would plan how to get free and find you.
But then consciousness would fade before I could do anything.
But when your panic slammed into me, my mind instantly became focused.
I freed myself and came to you. And now, we’re here. In a bucket.
Somehow, even in the midst of everything going on, I want to laugh.
I lean my head against his strong chest. I’m just glad I’m not alone anymore, laundry cart or not.
He shifts again, and this time he slides his arm under my body and pulls me towards him.
By the time he’s done, I’m half on top of him.
It’s definitely not uncomfortable; that’s for sure.
Is this okay? He asks at the same time I’m pretty sure he sniffs my hair.
I’m sure I stink.
Baby, you have no idea how good you smell.
Your scent is the most addictive thing on this planet.
The tension in my body releases, and I relax more fully against him.
He runs his hand up and down my spine in a soothing motion, and I’m pretty sure I could fall asleep just like this.
If everything we’ve been through led to this moment right now, I’d do it all over again.
He's so serious, and I bury my face in his chest. It feels good to just be held. Did they hurt you?
I tense at his question, and he runs a hand down my spine once again. I’m okay now.
Not my question, he growls.
They weakened me by taking my blood, but it wasn’t until last night and today that anybody actually tried to hurt me. And that guy...
Is dead, he finishes for me.
Yeah. Thank you.
He pulls me closer, and I relax more fully against him. Jackson, I realize that we’re hiding and currently in a very dangerous situation, and yet, I’ve never felt safer. I want you to know that. I’m also fairly certain that means there’s something wrong with me.
His hand on my back tightens. It doesn’t. I feel the same way. He pulls back and meets my eyes. I don’t know what the next few hours hold, but I will get us out of here. Because you and I have a life to get to.
I blink and stare into his eyes. Do you mean that?
He frowns. I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.
I want that, I tell him honestly with a certainty that’s straight from my heart. I know we’re still at the beginning stage of our relationship, but I’ve never felt this way about someone before. Well, except for Noah.
He cringes. Please tell me you don’t feel like I’m a brother to you. That’s really not what I was going for. My shoulders shake with my laugh, and I push my face into his chest. Kayla?
I finally pull back, but I’m still smiling. Believe me, I don’t feel the same way about you as I do about Noah.
Good, he growls.
I want a future with you, Jackson. I don’t think I’ve ever put my heart on the line like I am right now. But there’s something about being in the kind of danger we’re in that shows me exactly what’s real and really matters and what’s worth chasing after.
His arm around me tightens, pulling me closer to him, if that’s even possible. You and me and Noah...together. That’s the only future I see.
I blink back tears at his words because I didn’t want to ask. Noah? Are you sure?
Absolutely.
I settle more firmly against him. Can you tell me about you?
What do you want to know?
Everything. I want to know how you became the man you are today. I want to know your fears, what excites you, what dreams you have for the future...everything.
That’s a lot to share, he says in response.
I eye him. Do you have anywhere else to be right now?
A smirk pulls at his lips. No.
Well, what a coincidence because neither do I.