Chapter 28
Answers
Rhyne hurried back to the house but not until he first stopped to buy another burner phone to replace the one he’d lost. Although he half expected this one to become his permanent phone, he wouldn’t be surprised if he never got the other one back.
He resisted the temptation to call Nash. Chances were, if the man was at the house and knew Rhyne was on his way there, he might try to skip out. That, or call Welsh to let him know.
No. He’d show up and confront the guy head-on.
“One way or another, I’m going to get the answers I need from him,” Rhyne muttered.
The one answer that he needed above all others was where Welsh and the others had taken Grace.
Every minute that passed made finding her that much more crucial and difficult.
He didn’t believe Welsh would drain her outright.
The man still had dreams of keeping her hostage and bleeding her like a farmer milked his cows in order to sell off her miracle blood.
But those dreams were tarnished now after the events at the hospital.
Welsh knew the police were looking for him, and he’d probably figured out that he couldn’t rely on Rhyne to cover his ass.
Just the opposite. Rhyne was looking for him, too, and the chances of one roommate finding the other were a lot better odds.
He slowed the car as he drew closer to the house. A vehicle he’d never seen before in the neighborhood sat parked against the curb several yards down the road. He knew the undercover cops sitting inside it were already on their radio inquiring about the vehicle pulling onto the driveway.
He was glad to see them doing surveillance.
It gave him an odd sense of safety knowing they were keeping watch for Welsh.
Even though he knew the men were no match for the vamp unless they used lethal force, at least their attempts to take him into custody would give Rhyne notice that the guy was nearby.
Instead of parking inside the garage like he normally did, Rhyne parked outside. He didn’t plan on staying long. Also, he wanted the guys watching the house and waiting for Welsh to get a good look-see at him so they’d know he wasn’t their target.
He also made sure to keep his actions casual and his movements slow. Not hurried, as if he wanted to get whatever done and leave as quickly as possible. Such actions would have heightened those men’s suspicions.
Dismissing the cops, Rhyne took special care when he entered the house. He’d noticed the lone bike sitting in the corner of the garage. The bike Welsh would have been using. However, Nash’s bicycle was noticeably absent.
Nash would be aware of someone entering the house. Grinning, Rhyne wondered how long it would take the man to realize it was him and not Welsh.
On the off chance it might still be there, he checked the vegetable bin in the refrigerator to see if that last blood bag had been taken.
“Welsh already drank it,” a voice wearily spoke from the living room.
Rhyne closed the door and went to join him.
Dropping onto the sofa, he studied the man seated in the rocker recliner.
That was Welsh’s personal chair. The man had put dibs on it the instant he spotted it when they initially moved in, and no one dared to sit in it, even if Welsh wasn’t home because Welsh would smell that person’s scent on it the instant he sat down.
The fact that Nash had taken possession of it and was slowly rocking forward and back spoke volumes to Rhyne.
Evidence of Nash’s collision with the police car was still visible on his face and hands.
The man’s clothing also bore signs with his torn and bloodstained jeans and shirt.
It would take Nash a little over a week, maybe two, for all those scrapes and scratches to heal completely.
Longer if he didn’t get the blood he needed to help speed his recovery.
Speaking of blood…
“You realize Welsh killed our supplier, don’t you?” Rhyne casually asked.
Nash nodded once.
Leaning his head back against the cushions, Rhyne confessed, “Welsh has screwed us over big time. And for the last time, if I have anything to do about it.”
Nash remained silent.
Sitting back up, he confronted the man he thought he could trust. “Why, Nash? Why did you do it?” He didn’t have to explain what he meant. The man understood. But when Nash continued to keep mum, he pressed the issue.
“Grace doesn’t have much time. You know that. We both know that. I have to get her away from those men, and I have to do it now. Are you going to help me? Or am I going to have to go it alone?”
He could tell Nash was thinking. Or remembering. Clear signs of distress flashed across the man’s face.
“Can I even trust you anymore? How can I ever trust you again after the stunt you pulled?”
Nash’s gaze remained fixed on the TV even though it wasn’t on. “Did you drink her blood? Can you see in color, too?”
“Yes. And yes.”
The man finally turned his head to look at him. “When were you going to tell me? Or were you ever going to tell me?”
Rhyne had no choice but to be bluntly honest. “Remember that bag of AB negative from a few days ago? I didn’t know that was her blood.
I woke up the next morning and…it was like a miracle.
So I took the empty bag back to Norris and asked him if there was more.
Or to see if he could find out whose blood it was.
” He shook his head. “I didn’t find out it was Grace’s blood until after I met her.
By that time, Welsh had run across her and had a taste of her.
I couldn’t tell him I already knew her and what her blood could do.
” He braced himself. “Nash, I think I’ve fallen in love with her.
That’s the biggest reason why I have to get her away from Welsh and Cargill’s nest.”
“And do what? Skip town?”
“I haven’t thought that far ahead,” Rhyne admitted.
“Right now I’m focused on getting Grace back.
So make up your mind whether or not you’re sticking with me or with him.
” Still seeing the man’s hesitation, he asked, “Seriously, Nash. What’s going on between you two?
And don’t give me any bullshit that I’m imagining things.
You know I can smell a lie a mile away.”
Nash adjusted himself in the rocker. “Let’s just say I owe him big time, and he’s never let me forget it.”
“Or settled the score?”
A head shake was the answer.
“Well, I’d say this little escapade has wiped that slate clean.
Welsh has a price on his head now. He’s broken the number one rule of vamp law and brought himself to their attention.
Do you want to hang around and get caught up in his web?
You know as well as I do that if you don’t separate yourself from him, he’s going to end up throwing you under the bus.
He’s done it before, and he’ll keep doing it until he gets somebody else killed.
I just don’t want that somebody to be Grace. ”
Nash continued to stare at him.
Rhyne gave a sigh of defeat. “All right. Stay here. You’ve done your deed for the day, ramming into that cop car. By the way, how did you know which one Grace was in?”
“Cargill has one of those police band radios in his car.”
Well, that was a nice piece of the puzzle to have.
Getting to his feet, Rhyne gave the man one final look. “I don’t suppose you know where Welsh has taken her, do you? Is he coming back for you so you can join them? Or is he going to call you to let you know where to find them?”
“Welsh lost his phone somewhere out in the field near the hospital. That’s why he called you using mine,” Nash informed him. “He’s supposed to have one of Cargill’s men call me sometime this evening to let me know where I can meet up with them.”
Rhyne gave a bark of laughter. “You know damn well Welsh has written you off. He’s not about to call you because he knows you’ll just lead the police straight to him.
” He pointed to the front door. “There’s an undercover cop car watching this place right this minute, hoping Welsh will either show up, or one of us will leave and take them there to him.
” He slapped his chest. “Let me do that. Let me lead the cops to him. Help me get Grace.”
“And then what’ll you do?” Nash demanded, his face flushed.
It was then that Rhyne knew what his roommate feared. “What will she and I do? Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t even know if she’ll want to stay with me after all she’s been through. But if she’s willing to take the chance, I’ll gladly let her take the lead.”
“Would you leave town? Or stay?” Nash tried to clarify.
Rhyne shrugged. “I will do whatever will make her happy. Whatever I can do to keep her happy. And safe.”
“So you won’t be joining another nest?” Nash insisted.
It almost saddened Rhyne to realize the man feared having to go it alone, and he couldn’t blame him. It was a terrifying ordeal to put a single vampire through.
And then it hit him.
Smiling, Rhyne shook his head. “There won’t be any need to join another nest. Not when I can form one of my own.”
Nash’s eyes widened as Rhyne continued.
“Join us, Nash. Join me and Grace. Come be our third member. You have my solemn vow you’ll be treated fairly.
After all these years we’ve lived together, you know I’ve never broken my word.
Yes, I know Grace isn’t one of us, but there’s no law I know of that says everyone in a nest has to be a vamp.
Let Welsh suffer the consequences of what he’s done.
You no longer have to bow to his demands.
He no longer has any control over you. I need your help, my old friend.
Grace needs your help. What do you say?”
Nash ceased rocking and stood. “I overheard him and Cargill say they were going to take her back to Lockerby.”
“Fuck.” Rhyne knew the men had a good head start on their way back to that city, but he had an advantage those men didn’t. “Would you happen to know what kind of car they’re in?”
“A black Aspenall.”
“Come on.”
“Are you thinking of following them there?” Nash called out as Rhyne headed for the kitchen door.
“What other choice do I have?”