Bound by Darkness (37 page)

“Hey, how about Isaac? I've always liked that name.”

Her lover didn't hesitate. “Isaac would be perfect.”

In fact, Larem looked as pleased as his elderly friend did. The vet snipped one last thread and winked at Sasha as he applied a bandage to cover the wound. “You might want to hold off on that decision until you get my bill.”

She tried to laugh—she really did—but instead, tears started streaming down her face as the combination of terror and fear for what might happen next broke through her last bit of control. Nothing like big gulping sobs to panic two grown men.

Larem jumped to his feet and pulled Sasha into his arms while Dr. Isaac pressed his handkerchief into her hand.

The vet then stammered, “Look, I'll leave you two alone and go see if Chance needs food or water or something.”

Nodding to his friend, Larem rubbed his hand up and down Sasha's back in soothing strokes. “Let it all out, Sasha, but remember that I'm all right, you're all right, and Chance is out there happily pigging out.”

The storm was intense but brief. Already the tears were slowing down. Still, he held her close as if needing the comfort as much as she did. Finally, she sighed and wiped her face dry.

“Sorry. I swear, I've never cried as much as I have in the past few days.” She even mustered up a brave smile. “So what do we do next?”

“We call Devlin.”

He fumbled for his cell phone, wincing a bit as he kept his good arm around Sasha and used his injured one. He punched in Devlin's number.

The Paladin answered on the first ring. “Where the hell are you?”

“Safe for now. Send Lonzo to pick us up where I do volunteer work. He'll know.”

Thank the gods that the Paladin leader was the sort to remain calm, at least until the battle was over. There was more he should know.

“Devlin, the two who attacked the condo had to be guards. The one that I left alive said all my kind were dead even if we didn't know it yet. I want only men I can trust to protect Sasha and Mr. Willis while we deal with this. Warn Barak and Cullen. Get Lacey, Lusahn, and the kids someplace safe.”

“What the fuck's this world coming to?” Devlin obviously didn't expect an answer because he kept right on talking. “I'll have the guys round up all the guards here at headquarters and throw the bastards in a locked room until we have time to sort them out.”

Larem liked the way Devlin thought. “On our way in we'll stop and pick up Sasha's father. He should be in on what happens.”

“Good idea. I'll call and give him a heads-up, but hurry. As long as you two are out there, you're both targets.”

When Larem hung up, Sasha looked bewildered. “They were guards? Why would they attack you?”

“They obviously hate all Kalith, but that doesn't explain why they waited to come after me at your place.
They could've killed me anytime without drawing so much attention to themselves or risking injury to the daughter of a Regent.”

“So you're thinking I'm the real target? Something I've done has set them off.”

The explanation felt right. “I'd guess it's a combination of things. From what I've been told, once Kincade took over, there was always tension between the guards and the Paladins here in Seattle. It all started when one of them went rogue and tried to kill Laurel after Barak crossed over into this world. Then Cullen compounded the problem when he returned with Lusahn and her children.”

“And you.”

He nodded. “And me. Most likely the guards feel betrayed that the Paladins have accepted us as friends but not them.”

Sasha sighed. “And then here I come, making it clear that my first priority is making things better for the Paladins, to correct the wrongs committed by Colonel Kincade. Despite how he treated the Paladins, he obviously still has loyal followers among the guards.”

Dr. Isaac stuck his head back in. “Larem, come quick. Someone is at the back door.”

Larem drew his gun. “It's probably my roommate, but just in case, you two stay here. I'll be right back.”

Chance trailed along behind him, obviously thinking Larem needed backup. Rather than risk opening the door for the wrong person, Larem shouted, “Who is it?”

“It's the damned Tooth Fairy and his sidekick, the Easter Bunny. Now let us in.”

Larem didn't know who the Tooth Fairy was, but he did know his roommate's voice and opened the door. Lonzo hadn't come alone, either. Hunter was right behind him, and both were heavily armed.

Larem stood back and motioned for them to come inside. “Thanks for coming.”

“No problem.”

As both men crossed the threshold, they came face-to-face with Chance. The dog eyed the two Paladins and woofed softly.

Larem patted the dog on the head. “They're okay, boy.”

Chance immediately wagged his tail and sniffed the hand Lonzo held out. “Damn, Larem, he's huge.”

“And a helluva guard dog. He not only gave us enough warning to stop those guys from killing us, but he took one out himself.” He dropped his voice, not wanting Sasha to hear any more bad news. “How are the Paladins Devlin had watching the condo?”

“Drugged and a little roughed up. They'll be okay, so no problem there.” Hunter looked around. “How's Sasha?”

“Shaken up. Scared.”

“And able to answer for herself.” The woman in question walked up beside him and held out a clean shirt. “Dr. Isaac said this probably won't fit, but it's the best he could come up with.

“Thanks for coming, guys,” Sasha added as she matter-of-factly helped Larem ease the shirtsleeve up over his wound.

“No problem.” Lonzo eyed the bandage. “Looks like you took one for the team. You okay?”

“I will be when we catch the bastards behind these attacks.”

Larem rolled his shoulders and lifted his arm, testing its mobility. The pain was already starting to fade as his healing ability kicked in.

“Devlin has Cullen and D.J. tracking the guards through their e-mail accounts to see if we can pick out the culprits. Penn and Craig are manning the alley so we can get you and Sasha into the building safely.”

“Good.”

While they were talking, Sasha looped her arm through Larem's and rested her head against him. Lonzo's eyebrows shot up, but then he grinned.

She smiled back at him and then asked, “How about my father?”

“I told Devlin we'd pick him up on the way. Speaking of which, we'd better get a move on.” Then Larem gave her a quick hug. “Sasha, can you tell Doc we're leaving?”

“Sure.”

All three men watched until she'd disappeared into one of the exam rooms. Hunter punched Larem lightly on his good arm.

“So, you and the boss lady?”

“Yeah, me and her.” Then softly he added, “And a baby.”

“Holy shit!” Lonzo stumbled back a step. “Okay, I
so
didn't see that one coming. How in the world did that happen?” He slapped his forehead. “Wait, forget I asked that.”

Hunter just grinned. “Congratulations!”

Then his eyes flicked past Larem in warning that
Sasha was on her way back. “I guess now's not the time to talk about this.”

“No, but if anything happens to me . . .”

The good-humored Paladins disappeared, replaced by two of the deadliest warriors on the planet. Hunter's voice thickened with emotion, making it sound even rougher than normal. “You know we will. Now let's go get the bastards.”

U
nder other circumstances, Sasha might have opted for more discretion when it came to the nature of her relationship with Larem, especially in front of his buddies. Things would've been too new, too unsettled for her to be completely comfortable with their openly acting like a couple in front of the rest of the Seattle contingent.

However, there was something about almost dying three times in the past few weeks that shattered all need for caution. She might not know how things would play out for the two of them, but not for one second did she want Larem to doubt that he was important to her.

She watched as he quickly checked his gun. Lonzo and Hunter did the same, the motions clearly second nature to all three of them. Just as they were about to leave the examination room, Larem's cell rang. Everyone froze and waited, the tension in the room immediately ratcheting up.

“Yeah, what's up?” He listened for several seconds without saying a word. “We'll check it out.”

When he hung up, Sasha asked, “Larem, what's wrong?”

His expression was grim. “That was Devlin. He hasn't been able to reach your father. He's not answering his cell or the phone in his hotel room.”

Sasha dug her nails into her palms, trying to stay calm. “Do you think they've taken him? And don't lie to me.”

“Probably.” Larem's answer was terrifying in its stark simplicity.

They started toward the door again, only to have their plans interrupted again with the sound of a phone ringing, this time Sasha's. She checked the number on the screen and should've been relieved. She wasn't.

“It's my father's number.”

Larem caught her hand before she could answer. “Put it on speakerphone.”

She nodded and did as he said. “Dad?”

“Sasha, run! Get the hell out of there!”

There were horrifying sounds of a struggle followed by a brief silence and then a different voice came on the line.

“Miss Willis, listen and listen carefully if you want to see your father again. Especially if you want to see him alive.”

Fear and fury had her gripping the phone hard enough to break it. She forced her hand to relax, wishing she had the same control over her emotions.

“I don't know who you are, but if you hurt my father, you're dead. The Regents will authorize whatever it takes to hunt you down, along with anyone stupid
enough to follow your orders. There isn't a place in this world or any other one where you'll be safe.”

“Tsk, tsk, Miss Willis. Threats will get you nowhere. I want Kincade's account numbers, and I want the money you've stolen from him.”

“That money wasn't his to begin with, and it definitely isn't yours.”

Okay, that wasn't the smartest thing she could've said, but Lonzo was making circles in the air, telling her to keep talking. Was he having the call traced?

“You can't seriously think I give a rat's ass where he got the money. Kincade owes me for a couple of jobs I did for him and I have a rule about that. People who don't pay me end up dead, just like the targets they sent me after.”

The cold pride in his voice was nauseating. “I get paid top dollar for what I do. I suspect you don't approve, but I'm really just a businessman with a specific skill set, one that happens to be in big demand lately. If it makes you feel better, I'm planning to retire as soon as I collect my pay, although I plan to do the world a favor before I disappear. Free of charge, too.”

She hated encouraging the bastard, but keeping him on the line might help rescue her father. “And what favor would that be?”

“I plan to rid our world of that pale-eyed monstrosity who's probably standing right next to you. Just the thought of him walking the streets of Seattle as if he owns the place, passing for one of us and screwing human women, makes me sick. Who knows, if I get lucky, I might even take out a few of his mutant buddies, too—preferably while you watch.”

Then he laughed. “Oops! Sorry, Miss Willis, I'm guessing from your father's reaction he just now realized your boyfriend is Kalith. I don't think he's happy to learn his daughter has been fucking an alien. Sorry if I let the cat out of the bag.”

The humor in his voice disappeared. “You've got five minutes to get the account numbers for me.”

Then the line went dead.

Hunter looked at Lonzo. “Tell me D.J. was able to track the bastard?”

Lonzo nodded and started cussing. “Damn it, he's right outside!”

Before she had time to absorb the implications, a ruckus broke out at both ends of the cavernous warehouse that housed the clinic. All three men immediately pointed their weapons at the examination room door.

Then the phone rang again. Larem took it from her hand. “I'm listening.”

“Put the woman back on.”

“You'll have to deal with me if you want those numbers.”

There was another nasty laugh. “Fine. It's your funeral—literally. Come out unarmed or Willis and the vet die. You've got three minutes until I start shooting. Understand?”

“Yes.”

Larem disconnected the call and then gently pushed Sasha back toward Hunter. “This guy doesn't know you and Lonzo are here. Keep her safe while I distract him. Tell Devlin to send backup.”

Lonzo held up his phone. “Already did. ETA is ten minutes. They may not make it in time.”

Sasha broke free from Hunter's grasp. “Larem, wait! Can't we hold them off that long?”

He backed away, shaking his head. “I'll try to buy enough time for reinforcements to arrive. They already have your father. I won't let them hurt him or Dr. Isaac because of me.”

“I know, but—”

She gave up trying to explain and settled for throwing herself into his arms. Larem held her close and kissed her. Then she cupped his handsome face with her hands, memorizing the moment.

“Go, but be careful. I need you. We need you.”

Before he could back away, she added, “I love you.”

He brushed his lips across hers one last time. “Sasha Willis, you hold my heart. Make sure our child knows I loved—”

Sasha covered his mouth with her fingers. “I have faith in you. We're going to get through this, Larem q'Jones.”

He nodded, but the regret in his eyes made it clear he had his doubts. He handed his gun to Lonzo and started for the door.