Chapter Fourteen
Xander
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”
- Maya Angelou
I reluctantly turned to rejoin the board meeting, but I didn’t want to leave her. Everything about Alexandra appealed to me. Her scent, her beautiful face and body, even the sound of her voice called to me. I wanted to stay and say more but only got out, “We will be leaving shortly.”
I was already walking through the massive oak doors when Alexandra muttered, “God, I hate his holier-than-thou attitude.”
I knew she was having a hard time with this. She had to give up everything to fit into this new normal. I would give anything to ensure she had a life as close to normal as possible.
We were winding down to the last item on the agenda when Owen sent me a telepathic message.
“Alexandra has left the building.”
What the fuck?!I immediately stood and growled at Drako and Tristan, “We have to go.”
I wanted to be angry with her, but I was angrier with myself. I knew she was not dealing well with any of this, and yet I bullied her. If Malachi hurt her, I would never forgive myself.
We arrived at the hospital within seconds, but it was still too late to save Alexandra. There was no trace of her or Malachi anywhere. The wolves, who were guarding the occupants of the hospital, hadn’t seen Alexandra or Malachi. My mate-link with Alexandra was too weak for me to track her mentally. She was probably unconscious; otherwise, I reasoned, the link would be stronger. And so far, the tracker I had on her phone was no longer visible. Its last location was here at the hospital.
We combed the hospital for clues for ten agonizing minutes, but we found nothing to tell us where Malachi could have taken Alexandra. And then I felt it. Our link. It was still faint, but she must be conscious and trying to reach me. I could locate her, but I couldn’t reach her telepathically.
I hated asking anyone for help, but if I had any hope of getting Alexandra back alive, I needed help. My ability to freeze time would not work where that bastard, Malachi, had taken Alexandra.
I knew that prison well. It was located in a powerful demon’s replica of Satan’s underworld hundreds of years ago called the Iron Chamber. The residents there were the worst of the worst of the immortal world. They were the most violent, the most demonic, and most devoid of any form of humanity. It was a completely lawless place where rules and humanity were nonexistent. Men survived on pure violence. It was either kill or be killed down there.
The Chamber consisted of normal businesses like restaurants, bars, and grocery stores. It also had gambling and whore houses, tattoo parlors, and, most importantly, weapons shops. The occupants got around in golf carts and motorcycles, so there were one or two gas stations, which also sported convenience stores. It was better to not have transportation however, because it made you less of a target on the cobbled streets and smooth rock tunnels if you were on foot. Being on foot made it easier to disappear into the numerous nooks between the tunnels.
While all immortals were aware of the existence of the Iron Chamber, no one wanted to end up there. Powers and gifts were muted there, and you were at the mercy of human weapons. We couldn’t teleport into the Chamber, only to the above-ground entrance, which we did immediately. Mate and blood links were one of the only paranormal powers that worked in the Chamber. However, for my brothers and me, our impenetrable shield also worked in the Chamber because it was part of our physical makeup, while none of our other powers worked.
Along with Tristan and Owen, who had expertise with human weapons and their combat training, Drako and I entered the underground Chamber. While Drako and I were not experts like Tristan and Owen, we were not novices either. Petrov Enterprises was one of largest weapons manufacturers in the world. We knew our way around guns, explosives, and knives. And although we rarely used weapons, we were always armed.
It also helped that I knew the Chamber. I had spent weeks trapped here and had come down here over the years, usually hiding who I was to try to find those who had tortured me. I hadn’t encountered Malachi or the red-headed witch during any of my visits. They probably thought that my family and I would hunt them. There was no way they could have known that I didn’t tell my family what they had done to me.
Anyone else would have hunted them, but my shame forced my silence and kept them safe.
The Chamber was a network of hundreds of tunnels and caves, run by gangs who all happened to be immortals above ground but were mortals in the Chamber. They were violent, brutal beings that lived like savages, but they could be bribed like anyone else. And it seemed that Malachi had bribed them well, only his currency seemed to be fear and money.
The density of resistance we encountered was testament to Malachi’s planning and his success in recruiting the inhabitants of the Chamber to assist in his schemes.
Tristan and I took the lead. Given the time constraint and urgency to reach Alexandra, we moved fast and with absolute brutality. Tristan, with his myriad of knives and guns, and I, with my sword, hacked through the men in our way, while Drako and Owen brought up our rear, protecting our backs. We made it to Malachi’s cave in under twenty minutes despite it being five miles from the entrance of the Chamber. Without our immortal powers, the journey was arduous and seemed to take forever.
As we got closer to Malachi’s cave, I got a clearer sense of Alexandra’s state. I felt through our link how weak, pissed, and terrified she was. I was just fucking glad she was still alive.
Malachi’s cave was well guarded by men pouring out at us like fucking ants. I didn’t care what the asshole threw at us. We were going to get Alexandra out of there.
We methodically cut down the bastards in our path. As soon as we entered the cave, it opened into a wide-open hall of smooth rock walls, torture machines that I remembered well, and a massive custom black boardroom table that had Alexandra strapped to it. The table could have held a seven-foot man. I knew because I had occupied that table once.
“Come any farther, and the bitch gets it.” I held the gaze of the fucker who spoke and who held a gun to Alexandra’s head. There were at least five of them with their guns trained on Alexandra. Malachi was nowhere in sight.
“Tristan,” I calmly instructed and pulled the trigger of my gun.
Tristan had also started shooting as well. Together, we eliminated the men surrounding Alexandra in milliseconds.
“That fucker, Malachi, isn’t here,” Drako muttered.
I ignored him as I unstrapped Alexandra from the table. She stared dully back at me as though she didn’t recognize me, but then she whispered with a shaky rasp, “I knew you would come for me.”
I lifted her from the table and placed her on her feet. She immediately collapsed against me as her legs gave way under her. I lifted her again.
“Make a pathway and get us the fuck out of here,” I told the guys.
Owen, Tristan, and Drako formed a wall around us as we made our way out of the cave and back into the tunnels. It seemed as though there were twice as many men in our way as when we were coming in.
Tristan and Owen were complete badasses, ducking and weaving, making impossible shots with their guns, rifles, knives, or whatever the fuck they were carrying as arsenal. They kicked ass and created a path for us. Without them, we would have been overrun. And then Owen took a bullet to the gut two miles away from the exit.
“Fuck!” Owen growled. If he was above ground, a gunshot would have been like a papercut. However, down in the Chamber, a bullet wound was deadly.
Drako immediately draped Owen’s arm around his shoulder as Tristan took the lead, and we continued toward the Chamber entrance. We were being relentlessly pursued, and the bullets coming at us were constant. No matter how many we killed, more came pouring out of those damn tunnels. Malachi had picked the perfect location to lure us to kill us. We couldn’t even call for reinforcements.
Two minutes later, we knew that there was no way we would all make it out because we were exposed on too many sides.
“We can’t make it out of here with two wounded,” I rasped out.
Tristan threw out a few canisters of tear gas to give us cover as we ducked into the entrance of an alcove for a temporary reprieve from the constant barrage of bullets coming our way.
Owen was losing blood fast, and Alexandra was pale and sweating from thirst. She must have used her last reserve of strength to reach out to me. There were no cuts or bruises on her, so the bastards hadn’t started torturing her yet. Accessing our mental link would have weakened her.
“We have to try,” Drako muttered.
“You and Tristan get Owen out. Once he is above ground, he will heal himself.” I looked down at Alexandra, who was breathing in short, shallow breaths. “I have a contact close by where we can stay for a few hours. As soon as Alexandra regains her strength, we will make our way above ground.”
“I can’t leave you down here,” Drako argued. The older brother’s protective vibe was heavy in his voice.
“I have survived down here before. Don’t argue. Just get Owen above ground.”
“No way, man,” Tristan drawled. “We’re not leaving you down here.”
“This is not up for debate. Owen will die if you don’t get him the hell out of here. Trying to guard Alexandra and me is slowing you down,” I told them urgently. “And I can’t chance anything happening to Alexandra because we don’t have enough protection around her. Now go!” I slipped away deeper into the alcove with Alexandra held securely against me and dove into the opening I knew was hidden there.
Whether my brother and Tristan liked it or not, they would not be able to follow me. Only someone who knew these tunnels the way I did would be able to find my path.
Moving stealthily and fast, less than five yards away, I entered my contact’s establishment through a back entrance.
Mick would be in another part of his cave peddling his wares, which were weapons of varying varieties. He had found me when I had escaped Malachi all those years ago and had watched over me while I healed. Of course, he hadn’t done it out of the goodness of his heart. As an arms dealer, he had negotiated a monthly shipment of weapons from our warehouses for a decade.
He had also helped me learn and navigate the network of tunnels over the years. I had no doubt that, given the right incentive, Mick would help me now. However, I never forgot that I would be trying to strike a deal with a criminal, a cheat, and damn good liar. And given Malachi’s vested interest in our demise, trusting Mick would be a mistake. I wouldn’t gamble Alexandra’s safety for anyone.
I stood in the shadows of Mick’s backroom, leaning with my back on the smooth wall and Alexandra held flush against me while we waited for Mick’s appearance. Mick had several customers out front. It seemed like a steady stream.
Alexandra wrapped her arms around my neck, but her movements were sluggish and uncoordinated. I wrapped an arm around her waist to hold her steady. She snuzzled her face into the warm cavity of my neck. She has been so weak she hadn’t said a word since I picked her up.
Despite the shitty situation we were in, I couldn’t help but appreciate how well her six-foot, curvy frame fit against me. She was all woman, her skin soft and fragrant with her light floral scent that was so distinctly her. I breathed her scent in and wished that I hadn’t, as I grew instantly hard.
Totally inappropriate.
And then I felt sharp teeth sinking into the side of my neck and then the erotic pull of her soft lips and sweet tongue.
Fuck! I might have been hard before, but now I was pure granite.
She rolled her hips slowly against mine in an involuntary sensual response to the taste of my blood on her tongue, which was an aphrodisiac for my mate.
My entire body trembled with unbridled lust.
She moaned passionately as my blood flowed over her tongue and down her throat.
I felt every shudder of her body and every ripple of need that pulsed through her.
I groaned and dug my fingers into the taut flesh of her round bottom.
Her grip on me was tighter as she grew stronger, as my blood flowed through her body. She shivered against me as her nipples became rock hard and the pulsing at the apex of her thighs intensified.
I felt it all, and my cock pulsed and hardened in rhythm with her taut, quivering clit.
She tightened her arms around my neck even as she climbed my body and wrapped her long legs around my hips, aligned her aching center to my hard length, and undulated her hips in a sexy roll as she continued to drink from me greedily.
Every roll of her hips, every suction of her lips spiked my lust further. I had never been so hard in my life. I trembled and shook uncontrollably. An intense tingle started in my spine then moved to my belly, my hips, and my legs. “Fuck!” I growled low and deep as I came so hard my vision blanked and all strength left my legs. I slid down the wall at my back and was on my ass in seconds, with Alexandra slumped lethargically in my lap.
When I was finally able to breathe again and came to my senses, I realized that Alexandra had finished feeding and she was still in the throes of her recent orgasm.
I had never felt anything like that. As a vampire, Anya had fed from me often. While I had sometimes gotten aroused, I had never lost control like that, much less come in my damn pants. I was a fucking mess.
“I don’t know how that happened,” Alexandra whispered, sounding as stunned as I was. “I’m so sorry.”
I grunted, still not sure if I could speak.
“Is that normal?” Alexandra asked softly.
“I have no idea,” I answered finally in what felt like minutes later. I didn’t want to have any conversation about this, but it seemed that Alexandra was expecting one. The feelings coursing through me scared the crap out of me, and the last thing I wanted was to dissect this shit.
“I felt what you felt.” Again, the awe and disbelief spilled from her lips. She was clearly expecting an explanation that I was in no mood to explore. “How? Is that normal?”
Just then Mick entered the room, intent on searching for some item in his inventory before he spotted us.
“What the fuck?!” He jumped back in surprise.
“Hey, Mick.” I stood and lifted Alexandra along with me to her feet. “I need a place to crash until tomorrow.”
“What?! Man, Malachi is offering a king’s ransom for information on where you are. He is pissed that three of you got out and has everyone combing the tunnels for you two.”
“How much?” I asked without missing a beat.
“Five million,” Mick said just as quickly with a cold edge to his voice.
For him, this was business, pure and simple. Again, I consider that this asshole would think nothing of killing us and dragging our carcasses to Malachi for five million dollars without losing an ounce of sleep thinking about it.
“You find me a safe place with a decent shower, bed, and privacy for the night, I will give you ten million.”
Mick grinned, showing his gold grills that had replaced his teeth. “Man, I love working with rich assholes like you.”
“And we rich assholes know that when dealing with greedy motherfuckers like you that you can’t be trusted,” I told him coldly. “But what you need to know is that if you double cross me, I will ensure you die in the most painful, brutal way imaginable.”
Mick laughed nervously. “Look…”
“In the most painful, brutal way imaginable,” I reminded him through clench teeth.
Mick swallowed audibly before he mumbled, “Well, I think you should know that for one mile in every direction to the entrance, Malachi has every inch of the tunnels guarded. After it was reported that only three of you got out of the Chamber, Malachi has redoubled his efforts. He is determined to kill you. He even posted an army of immortals at the entrance to ensure your family cannot come back for you.”
I kept my face expressionless and stared back at Mick stonily. “Thanks for the information, but we are prepared for Malachi and his bullshit. We need a place to lay low for a few hours.”
“Business is booming tonight because everyone is joining in the hunt for you,” Mick said, unable to hide the greedy gleam in his eyes and tone. “I won’t be needing my place for another five or six hours. It has just turned dusk above ground, so some powerful immortals are at the entrance. You might want to wait at least twelve hours to leave.”
“I know the way to your place. I will send you the funds once we’re safely out.”
“Shit! If you get killed, I won’t get my money,” Mick complained.
“Well, I guess you’d better make sure that I don’t get killed, because, in less than twenty-four hours, you will be ten million dollars richer if I make it.”
Mick grumbled as he went back to his storefront after grabbing the inventory he had come back here for.
“Do you think we can trust him?” Alexandra wanted to know.
“Hell no, we can’t trust that motherfucker. We will only need half the time I gave him for you to be ready to go.”
“I feel fine now. Your blood has restored me.”
“Good. I still need you to rest for a few hours before we can leave.” What I didn’t tell her was that not only was I going to give her my blood, but I also had to fully claim her. By claiming her, Alexandra would have the same impenetrable shield protecting her from any human weapons. That was the only way she would have a chance of getting out of here alive.
“I really don’t trust that guy,” Alexandra insisted. “I may not be able to read minds right now, but I can’t help but think that he is weighing the probability of us getting out of here alive and betting against us.”
“That’s why we won’t be here when he gives in to his greed. We have three to four hours before that happens.” I moved toward the hidden passage that I knew led into Mick’s home. “Come, let’s take a shower and get ready to run.”
I felt her reluctance as she followed me into the hidden pathway.
“Wow!” she exclaimed as she cleared the entrance and stepped into Mick’s home.
Yeah, I had also been surprised when I passed through a year ago at not just the space but the pure opulence of Mick’s living space. Mick’s ill-gotten gains had certainly paid well. It was one large room sectioned off into a bedroom dominated by a king-sized bed, a well-equipped kitchen with a dining area, and an entertainment den with a sixty-inch flat-screen television. The floor had several large hand-sewn rugs, and the wall had strategically placed large mirrors and expensive paintings. There was a door that led to his bathroom. From past experience, I knew that it was just as well-appointed as the rest of his place.