Battle Scars (12 page)

“Fanatical enough to send Eddie after you.” I pointed out.

“That’s because he’s afraid he’ll lose face with the family if he lets me go, especially without putting up a fight.”

I had to give it to Lisa. I hadn’t even thought of that.

“How did he take it when he figured out who your new boyfriend was?”

Lisa rolled her eyes. “He ranted and raved, stomped around and told me I was to never see him again. As if he could really enforce that.”

I didn’t think it was the right time to point out her father could, with ease, make it happen.

We fell silent. It wasn’t an uneasy silence but the type that goes before a fight when you remember all those old prayers from your youth.

“I know ’bout you,” Evan whispered as we crouched low on the branches. “Your mate is a human, right?”

“Yep.” I sniffed the air. The hunters were out there but keeping their distance. Bran’s scent was louder, stronger as he paced around the base of the tree. The enforcers were waiting for the right time to charge us and that could be soon.

I scented other kids around us, hiding in the trees or huddled in the bushes. Bran was keeping any other couples from attempting to climb into the tree, something I made a mental note to thank him graciously for later. Last thing we needed was more potential victims added into the mix.

“So,” Lisa paused, “what’s it like with a human?”

I licked my lips before answering. “Fun.”

She frowned and looked at Evan before looking back at me. “Fun? But he’s not, you know—” She rocked from side to side, suddenly shy. “One of us. Family.”

“He is. To me.” I put a finger to my lips as a car horn bleated.

A few minutes later it was answered by a whoop and a yell from nearby.

My cell phone beeped.

CAVALRY COMING BE READY TO FLY GO FOR BLACK SUV AT FRONT OF PARK.

Thank God for texting—with the Felis having enhanced hearing it’d be almost impossible for us to discuss a plan over the phone. As it was I still didn’t know his entire plan but it beat hanging out here until dawn or the inevitable attack.

“Get ready,” I said. “We may have to get down and out of here in a hurry.”

Lisa tightened the straps on her pack. Evan looked a little green as he glanced down, the neck of his guitar smacking the back of his head.

A rush of feet, booted and otherwise, pounded along the concrete paths. The trees wavered with an invisible wind.

Something was happening. Something big.

“What’s going on?” Lisa whispered.

It started as a trickle, a scattering of young people coming in the front gate, the same way Bran and I had entered. They waved bright neon fluorescent tubes in the air, turning the night into a multi-colored spectacle.

It was as if the stars had fallen from the sky and smashed into the park, exploding on contact. The trickle grew as more car doors opened and shut and I swore, even a school bus.

The park burst into a shuddering sea of activity, young people dashing in from all possible entrances in wave after wave of giddy joy. They swept over the fountain, over the empty grass field and spilled out to circle all the trees, including ours.

A chorus of raised voices surrounded us—singing, clapping and yelling. A haze spread out, covering the ground and I caught the smell of alcohol and certain illegal substances.

Lit sparklers passed from hand to hand as the crowd grew and got merrier, the bright lights screwing up my vision and, I was sure, the Felis enforcers as well. I spotted Bran in the middle of the mob, directing the impromptu partiers to put most of their energy around our specific tree.

They were a mixed lot of street kids and young adults, all enjoying the impromptu rave. Music poured out of someone’s portable stereo and it wouldn’t be long before the cops were called to clean out the park and get the kids to move along.

It was a perfect time to get out.

My phone beeped.

GO GOGOGOGO

I stood up. “Let’s go. Follow me and don’t stop for anyone or anything. Head for a black SUV at the front of the park and don’t look back.”

I dropped from branch to branch without waiting for a response, hoping the kids were following me. I wasn’t in any shape to drag their asses down the tree. My muscles ached and I felt my left leg threatening to cramp up on me.

Bran stood at the base of the tree, glancing around as the mayhem grew. He looked up just as I swung down from the lowest branch and stretched out his arms to catch me.

I fell into his embrace with a huff, feeling my spine complain.

“Hey,” I gasped.

“Hey yourself.” Bran nodded at the two kids, both dropping to the ground in silence. They stood up together and looked around, wide-eyed at the chaos surrounding us.

He pointed at the pair. “It’s go time.” He took my hand and charged through the mob, not hesitating to push a happy reveler out of our way.

The crowd flowed around us, enthusiastic dancers moving with the beat mixed in with laughing teenagers. It was a street party to the nth degree, an organized group of chaos.

It was a perfect storm to escape through.

I looked around trying to find the enforcers. Kidnapping Evan and Lisa in public was exactly what they didn’t want; it’d bring the authorities down on them full force with plenty of witnesses to start the social media tongues a-wagging.

That was the last thing the Pride would want or need. I suspected both enforcers had strict orders to keep this all as quiet as possible.

We went through a tight cluster of partiers, the dancing kids slipping between us and threatening to break our connection. I took hold of Lisa’s backpack and saw Evan latch onto her hand, completing the link. We couldn’t afford to get split up, not if we wanted to do this successfully.

Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Eddie Longstrand charging from our right on an intercept course. Sweaty and red-faced he shoved one dancing teenager to the ground, her annoyed screech shattering the group bliss. He ignored her and kept heading for us, his lips pulled back in a snarl.

“Get to the black car,” Bran shouted. Evan and Lisa didn’t falter, picking up the pace and passing us.

“You too.” He pushed me ahead. “I’ll see you in a second.”

I almost stopped moving, my instinct to stay at his side. But I couldn’t leave the two kids alone, not right now. I kept running and looked back, cursing under my breath.

Bran roared as he bore down on the surprised enforcer, startling the middle-aged Felis with his ferocity. He slammed sideways into Eddie, his head tucked down like a NFL linebacker.

Eddie flew back and fell to the ground, the shocked expression on his face saying volumes. He hadn’t expected to be stopped by anyone, much less a human.

Bran didn’t continue the attack but turned and ran. He’d gotten lucky with Eddie focused on the three of us and ignoring the mere human in his way, figuring no man would be mad enough to meddle with an enforcer on the hunt.

It wouldn’t happen twice.

I panted as my feet hit the concrete path, the sudden shift in texture sending shockwaves up my aching legs. We spun around a small group of skateboarders and through the crowd onto the outer sidewalk. A black SUV sat there with the front and back doors open.

Sirens split the air, growing louder with every second.

The party was about to be broken up.

“You waiting for a personal invite?” Angie yelled from the driver’s seat. “Get the fuck in.”

Evan didn’t need to be told twice. He leaped into the back, pulling Lisa in beside him. The backpack frames smacked and cracked against the doorframe as they piled in, his guitar almost shattering as it banged against the roof of the car.

I dove in the front, almost ending up in Angie’s lap. Bran slid in beside me with a panted laugh and pulled the door shut.

A fast glance back into the crowd showed Nathan McCallister fighting his way through a belligerent group of young men who didn’t appreciate their party being disturbed by an angry thug. He swung at one fellow and landed a full punch on his jaw.

The kid fell like a stone.

Instead of backing off, the rest of his buddies leaped in and McCallister disappeared under a pile of bodies. I doubted he’d get hurt too badly and he wouldn’t Change and risk discovery.

Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.

The door locks engaged before we pulled away from the curb with a screech of the tires.

“Fuck yeah,” Angie laughed and banged on the steering wheel, her long, blond hair flying around her face. “That was great.”

Bran grinned, sandwiched between me and Angie. “Told you I had an idea.”

“What was that?” I wheezed, my head spinning from the sprint to the car. I leaned on Bran, hoping he wouldn’t pick up on my exhaustion and drag me back to the hospital.

“Party central.” Angie turned down one alley and then another, zipping through side streets barely wide enough for the SUV to navigate. “Bran told me you needed a quick mob scene. I supplied the peeps and he paid for the toys. Didn’t take too much encouragement to pass the word for a free party in the park.”

I scowled at Bran. “How much?”

“Let’s just say that your advance from Middleston is pretty well gone,” he replied. “But I got you out of there, didn’t I?”

I couldn’t dispute the results.

“Okay, we’re out of the danger zone. Where to?” Angie asked as we spun around a corner and out onto Queen Street.

I looked behind me. It was unlikely either McCallister or Longstrand had been able to get to their cars in time to follow us.

But they didn’t have to. I’d eventually pop up somewhere and the chase would start again. I had to figure out a way to take this out of their hands and let me start calling the shots.

“Head for the lake,” I said.

Bran frowned. “What’s down there?”

I turned and looked at the pair in the back seat. “Sanctuary.”

* * *

It took a few extra twists and turns to get close to where Red lived, not so much about us being lost than me being sure that no one was following us. I was sure that the enforcers wouldn’t be on our tail but I couldn’t lay bets they were working alone. I wouldn’t put it past Eddie or Nathan to hedge their bets with backup.

Angie didn’t say anything as I directed her down and up the streets, doubling back a few times. Angie was smart and fast at the wheel but the less she knew about what we were doing the better. Thankfully she kept her mouth shut and I suspected she figured she’d get the truth out of Bran later.

I wasn’t worried about that. I couldn’t afford to be worried about that, not right now.

“Trade with me.” I tugged at Bran’s arm. “I’ll need to get out.”

He frowned but allowed me to crawl over his lap, copping a gentle feel as I slid down beside him next to the passenger door.

“Okay. This is how it’s going to roll,” I said to the kids. “We’re going to slow down and we’re going to hop out—the three of us. Keep an eye on me and move quick.”

“Hey.” Bran poked my arm. “What about me?”

“You and Angie keep on driving. If anyone’s following us hopefully they’ll stay on your tail. Go north, east, whatever for about another hour before heading home.”

Angie nodded, her attention moving toward Bran. “Home?” It was a neutral statement without any intent in her voice.

Bran shot me a warning glare, just enough to allay any fears I might have had. “We’ll split up when we get near your place. I’ll head home on my own via taxi, transit, whatever.” He held up his cell. “Text me if you need anything.”

I turned my attention to the outside. The fence I’d discovered the hole in ran alongside us, rusted and broken in spots. A fast look behind showed no traffic around us in either direction.

“Let’s go.”

The car slowed down to a crawl. Without looking to see if Evan and Lisa were following I flung the passenger door open and jumped out.

Chapter Eight

It wasn’t my best landing. I lost my footing, spun around and slammed into the fence, my spine thwacking against the steel diamonds with enough force to rattle my fillings.

I scrambled to my feet and limped toward the hole in the fence. I could sense the two kids behind me, sliding into the darkness to join me in the makeshift camp.

We made it inside before the worst of the pain began. The pounding pressure behind my eyes expanded to shoot down my spine in a series of tiny painful explosions.

I needed a drink and a massage.

I was definitely in the wrong place for that.

We made our way into the maze of half-constructed shelters and barriers. I didn’t have to look back to see the confusion on the kids’ faces. We’d fallen down the rabbit hole even farther.

“Suz!” Red sprang out of the shadows to pull me into a deep hug. The tight squeeze choked the air from my lungs and boosted the daggerlike pain shooting up my back. “Good to see you again.”

Evan and Lisa jumped back but thankfully didn’t Change. They sensed Red was family but weren’t sure what to make of him.

I couldn’t blame them. I wasn’t sure myself.

It took a concentrated effort but I finally disentangled myself from his arms. “Glad you’re doing fine.” I took a step back, trying to casually grab some fresh air. Red was in desperate need of his own washing fountain. “We need a place to stay.”

The two teenagers stepped forward, both with unsure expressions. Evan held out his hand while Lisa hung back just a bit, moving a step behind him.

Red grabbed his hand and pumped it as if trying to draw water from an unseen well. The loose sloppy motion had me smiling despite the pain. “You play guitar? Good, good. I just made some fresh coffee. Come, come.” He released Evan’s hand and trotted off through the camp without looking back to see if we were following.

Lisa let out a nervous giggle and headed down the trail with Evan close behind her.

I brought up the rear of our little troupe, more out of exhaustion than trying to keep track of them. My left ankle ached and I suspected this was not acceptable behavior for someone with a concussion.

Every once in a while a head would pop out from a tent or from under a tarp or folded cardboard box, check us out and then disappear back inside. As long as we weren’t police or an imminent threat I figured we’d be fine.

I kept taking deep breathes for two reasons—first to try and attempt to stifle the screaming pain in my back and second to make sure we were the only family around.

Red led us to his little area. Lisa immediately sat down on the nearest piece of driftwood and reached out to warm her hands at the small campfire. It might be July but we’d just had one hell of an evening.

Evan pulled off his pack, wincing as he inspected his guitar. His fingers danced along the strings, bringing up slightly warped notes. A deep gouge on the back of the guitar neck had him shaking his head.

Putting it down he turned to Lisa and tugged at her knapsack, finally pulling it off and dropping it beside her. He went back to his own pack and dug in a side pocket, coming up with a packet of beef jerky.

Lisa shook her head when he offered it to her. Evan paused before offering it to Red and me. I refused but Red dug in, grabbing a handful of the stringy snack.

“These the ones you were looking for?” Red asked between bites.

“Please allow me to introduce Lisa Middleston and Evan Chandler.” I used as formal a tone as I could, racking my brains to remember if there was some vague Pride protocol I’d forgotten.

They nodded at Red in turn, still trying to figure out what was going on. I’d dragged them from sleeping in the trees to digging in the dirt within an hour and they were still in shock.

Red, for his part, looked as if he took in strays every day.

“Ah. The lost souls.” He ripped at the burgundy-colored stick. “So you’re the ones causing all this trouble, eh?”

Evan puffed his chest out. “We’re not doing anything. We just want to be left alone.”

Red waved his hand around. “So do I. So do all these people. But it don’t work that way all the time.” He took another bite, talking around the dried beef. “We need each other. Dave over there forgets sometimes to eat and his blood sugar goes all haywire. Steven is pretty good at scavenging food. He’s good looking and the ladies love to give him stale bread and rolls.” He eyed the couple. “Figure you’re going to avoid all the bad blood by getting married and turning your back on it all? You think they won’t care about you when you’re married, hmm?”

“I don’t care about my family.” Lisa’s tone said otherwise.

“Sure you do,” Red replied. “We all care ’bout family. You there.” He gestured at Evan, who now sat next to Lisa, one arm protectively draped across her shoulders. “Your grandma was responsible for her grandma dying. How do you feel about it?”

Evan shrugged. “Means nothing to me. Doesn’t affect my life.”

Red reached over and rapped the end of the beef stick on Evan’s nose. The kid jerked back, almost falling off the log.

I forced myself not to laugh.

“Everything affects your life, kit. Every day in every way affects who you are and what you are.” He pointed the stick at Lisa. “What if she wakes up one day and gets all pissy ’cause you forgot to make the bed and throws the frying pan at your head ’cause you got Chandler blood in your veins?”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Lisa answered, almost too quickly. “I love him.”

Red put the rest of the jerky in his mouth. He picked up one of the steel cups on the ground and blew in it, dislodging dust before reaching for the coffeepot. “You sure ’bout that? Sure enough to turn your back on your heritage? Say goodbye to your family and friends, everyone you knew up there?”

She nodded slowly.

Red smiled. “Good. It’s hard enough to love yourself some days, much less love someone else. If you can do that, you’re halfway to winning in this life.” He filled the cup halfway and passed it to me before turning to Evan. “Drink?”

“Yes please,” Evan answered, as polite as could be. He was still trying to figure out what Red was all about.

Red passed a mug to Evan and another to Lisa without asking. They both grimaced, sniffing the strong coffee, but said nothing.

“So what’s your plan?” Red looked at me. “I’m thinking you didn’t bring ’em here for me to tell stories to.” He winked at Lisa. “Not that I don’t got a few, mostly dealing with fishing and hunting.”

“I need them to stay safe while I work out something.” I sipped the coffee, thankful for the caffeinated rush through my system. “I don’t want them dragged off by their family enforcers. That’s not what I agreed to do.”

“You’re a funny one, Suz.” Red turned his head to the side and spat. “Most people would take the money and run, flip these kits for the cash.” He studied my face. “You’re trying to stop something that’s been going on long before you got birthed.”

“I’m not trying to stop it. I’m just trying to save these two from being caught up in it for another generation.” I handed him the half-empty cup. “Please keep them safe until I get back.” A smile tweaked my lips. “Maybe teach them a little about living off the grid here. If they want to stay on the streets they’ll need to know how to survive.”

Red gave me a knowing look. It was one thing for these kids to swing in the trees and play at being runaways, another to deal with the harsh truth. They’d done well for the few days so far but I wasn’t sure they were built for doing this long-term, staying under the radar and away from their hunters.

“You two. Please don’t leave this area.” I stood up. “Stay here until I come for you.”

“What about the enforcers?” Lisa got to her feet as well, rubbing her forearms. “Won’t they find us here?”

Red chuckled. “Little chance of that. No one comes here but old men. It’s an old man’s camp.” He eyed the couple. “You got cell phones?”

I mentally smacked myself in the forehead. If they had and they were GPS capable it’d be like sending up flares to announce our location.

Red had more smarts than he was letting on.

“No sir,” Evan answered. “Left all that at home when we split. Knew it’d be too tempting to call someone and tip our hand as to where we were. Made a clean break.”

The kid had smarts.

“Good. I hate those damned ring tones. If I wanna sing, I just sing.” Red gestured toward the tent set up to one side. “Girl gets the tent, you and I sit out here and enjoy the night air.” He took a deep breath. “Smell those diesel fumes.”

It was time for me to go and let them figure out the arrangements, although I was tempted to wait until he explained where the bathroom was.

“Don’t leave,” I repeated. “If I don’t come back in three days get to a phone and contact Jess Hammersmythe. Tell her everything that’s happened. She’ll know what to do.”

Lisa drew a sharp breath. It was reassuring in a way to see their reaction—Jess’s reputation as a hard-nosed woman still had clout.

The unspoken assumption that I’d be dead or too injured to return hung in the air.

I turned and made my way back through the camp. A few sets of eyes followed me but no one said anything. It was obvious that Red had their respect and they wouldn’t be poking around his newest visitors.

* * *

It took me two hours to get back to the park, most of which was taken up doubling back on my tracks and making sure I wasn’t being followed. The cab drivers must have thought I was a little crazy, taking the ride for a block or two before hopping out. I wasn’t worried as much for myself as for the kids and Red—if Longstand or McCallister backtracked my route they’d find the camp and I had no doubt they’d plow through it to get to their charges, despite the possible consequences.

My Jeep sat where we’d parked it, ignored and alone on the street. I checked the car for any obvious tracking devices before getting in. The park was deserted and empty, the party dissolved away in the early morning leaving no sign anything had happened other than a few discarded streamers blowing down the street.

I made a mental note to give Hank a call and see if they’d actually arrested anyone or just chased them all out of the park. I’d feel guilty if a kid ended up in lockup because he’d gotten an invite to a wild party to inadvertently provide us with a diversion.

The Jeep grumbled but turned over on the second try, coughing as I yanked the wheels away from the curb. She and I weren’t morning folk.

I was delaying the inevitable confrontation. If the enforcers wanted to find me all they had to do was wait at my front door—it wasn’t like I had a secret Felis cave I worked out of. Since Bran had given up his condo there was no place for me to hide unless I went onto the streets the same as Evan and Lisa.

Besides, I’d never run from a fight in my life.

Heart of a warrior, mind of a fool.

Within the hour I pulled into the narrow driveway and parked behind my house, sliding the Jeep into the empty slot with practiced ease. The skyline was streaked with light blues and pinks and I felt quite old, which I put down to the aches and pains running through me.

Not to mention the growling in my belly. I should have taken the beef jerky.

With visions of tea and toast I walked around the rose bushes and opened the gate to my front yard.

Two angry Felis enforcers stared at each other, each man standing on opposite sides of my lawn.

Neither man spoke at first, too busy focused on each other in a classic macho standoff. I wondered for a brief second if I retraced my steps if they’d even notice my leaving.

Eddie’s head snapped to the side even as I pondered my chances. His eyes locked with mine and I knew I didn’t have a chance if I ran.

Instead I strolled up to the front door and worked the key in the lock, concentrating on not letting them see my hands shake.

At least the bastards hadn’t broken in.

“Can I offer you boys some tea?”

I didn’t turn around, knowing they’d follow.

McCallister slipped in behind me without saying a word, taking up a spot on the couch where he could watch the entire room.

I walked by him and tossed my coat on my desk chair. Jazz was nowhere in sight. She’d probably picked up on the negative vibes and was upstairs under the bed.

I considered joining her. Instead I decided to follow through with my original plan of tea and toast, letting the routine carry me along.

I couldn’t think of anything else to do.

Eddie followed me into the kitchen and watched while I filled the kettle halfway with water and plugged it in.

“Been waiting long?” I asked.

“A bit,” he answered. “Nathan figured this would be the best place to find you after that little stunt.” The restrained anger in his voice sent shivers down my aching back. “That human bastard of yours, he can hit hard. I’m luckier than Nathan—he got a black eye from one of those little punks.”

I turned and leaned against the counter, pressing my hands against the cool linoleum to keep them from shaking. Even if I could Change there was very little chance I could hold my own against two enforcers.

Felis didn’t kill Felis.

But we could beat up on each other something bad.

The scars on my back began to throb.

“Where are the kids?” Eddie asked. The unspoken threat lay under the surface of his words.

I smiled.

It was either that or scream and I didn’t have the energy for that. My legs were shaky enough, I couldn’t withstand a prolonged run or chase.

“Where are they?” Eddie repeated.

I said nothing.

He spread his hands with an answering grin. “Plenty of time for us to talk. We ain’t going nowhere.”

The kettle whistled for attention. I went back to making tea, filling the Brown Betty teapot to the top before adding three mugs and a small pourer of milk to the tray.

Common courtesy told me to be a good hostess and at least provide tea for my visitors.

I wasn’t making the bastards toast.

Nathan watched me as I brought the tray out and placed it on the table. My eyes strayed to the discolored patch of hardwood floor. I hadn’t gotten a throw rug to hide the bloodstains.