Force of Nature (6 page)

“Then stay. I don’t give a shit. I’m tired and I’m going to go to bed. When you leave, lock up.” She was nearly to the hall when she felt hands wrap around her waist. “Put me down, you moron. I didn’t invite you here and neither one of you are on my buddy list tonight.”

Austin sat her in the kitchen chair and Phil put his hand on hers when she made to move.

“Don’t,” was all he said before Austin sat too. “We need to have a conversation with you and you’ll do much better sitting down.” Phil looked over at Austin before he continued. “I think it’s time we both come clean with her. She needs to hear it from us so that she’ll better understand what we want from her.”

Austin nodded. “All right. But I haven’t a clue what to say or even how to start this. It’s going to be one hell of a shock for her to—”

“Hello, right here,” CJ snarled at them. “If you’re going to talk around me then I don’t need to be here for it. If you don’t mind, as I was saying, I’m going to—”

“I’m a vampire. He’s a werewolf.” She looked at Phil as he made his statement then over at Austin who nodded at her. “We need to make you understand what we are because it’s going to become important that you know. Especially now.”

“Especially now. Now why? No, don’t tell me,” she told him when he started to speak. “It’s because of the zombies and they won’t touch me because of you two. Or I know, I have to know now because…you’re pregnant and having Austin’s baby. No, that doesn’t work either. Let me think.”

CJ felt her mind race. She had heard of people believing they were vampires and werewolves, but she’d never actually met one. The other day she had been reading something about dentists who were implanting teeth in the mouths of their patients to make them appear to have canines or fangs. There were even contacts that made their eyes turn to a golden hue or glow.

“He’s not lying, CJ. He’s really a vampire, though he’s a day walker because he’s a half breed, no offense meant,” Austin said to Phil. “He didn’t tell me how old he is, but I would say…well, nearly three hundred give or take.”

“Very good. I’m nearly three hundred and twenty-six. And none taken. I think I look good for my age, don’t you?” Phil looked at her and winked. “How you doing, kid?”

“Peachy.” CJ got up to pace. “So you’ve been my friend for nearly ten years and I’m just now finding out you have an alter ego? Is that what you call it? I’m not sure.”

“Hummm, a little tense yet. You’ll work it out.” Phil got up and refreshed her tea as he explained. “I don’t have an alter ego, love. I’m just me.”

“So, do you turn into a bat? And you.” She pointed to Austin. “Do you turn into a dog or something once a month?”

“I’m a wolf, not a dog. And yes, I turn once a month with the pull of the moon. But I can shift when I want.” His tone made her mad.

“Look, buster, you two just told me a wild tale of mythical creatures and I’m supposed to buy it. Back off.” She started pacing more. “You guys really believe this crap and you want me to go along with you. I should be locked up. All of us. I think I need a drink.” She started for the stairs when she suddenly turned around and looked at the men. “You both should go home. I’m going to be awhile.”

She went to the bar and went around to the business side of it. The liquor had been delivered yesterday. She had planned to open tomorrow night with the televisions on to all the games and serve drinks all night. But when she had sat down and tried to tell herself she was going to make it, she felt an overwhelming need to run. And then Phil showed up. And not ten minutes later, Austin. She grabbed the first bottle she saw and started to read the label. She knew the moment Austin entered the bar.

“I asked you to go away. The going away part is out the door upstairs. Not down here where I am.” She turned to see Phil come through the door as well. “Now I know I said leave. I’m reasonably sure that you both are smart enough to figure that one out.”

She set the bottle of
Wild Turkey
on the bar. Seemed appropriate enough since it was turkey day tomorrow. The glasses were all cleaned and ready to go so she grabbed one and filled it to the rim. She didn’t think a full glass would do what she had in mind, but was willing to give it her best shot. When the glass disappeared, she glared at the two men.

“Put it back. I don’t know how you did that, but put it back. I’m going to get drunk and you two need to get the fuck out of my life.”

Phil moved closer as Austin circled around to her side. “No. You’re not getting drunk. I’m going to touch you, love, and when I do, you’re going to go to sleep. When you wake in the morning, we’ll work on this again. All right?” Phil’s voice was soft and she could feel herself being pulled under some sort of spell when suddenly, she snapped out of it.

“Stop that. What are you doing?” She put her hand up when he came close. “Don’t touch me.”

Phil grinned at Austin. “She threw me off. She’s always been too smart for her own good. I used a hard dose of compulsion and she simply threw me off. I’m sorry, love, but this is going to hurt in the morning.” He was so quick she had no time to move.

She didn’t know what his plans were, but suddenly she felt him in her mind. The pain wasn’t so bad at first then there was a bright light. Before she slipped away, she heard Austin cussing at someone. Good, she thought, maybe he’ll be mad enough to leave me alone.

~Chapter Six~

Austin paced the room. He’d been doing that since he’d brought her up here after Phil put her to sleep. Damn blood sucker was going to pay if he hurt her. He looked over at the man and glared again.

“You know you’re quite good at that. CJ does it better, but you’re pretty close.” Phil stretched out his legs before he continued. “She will have a slight headache, no worse than the one she would have had if we’d let her drink that glass of
Wild Turkey
and you know it.”

“You didn’t have to put her under so deep, you ass. We still have a lot to talk about and her sleeping isn’t going to fix this.” Austin paced some more. “You know as well as I do that she no more believes us than if we’d told her we were going to the moon and back. Now what?”

“We show her. Or you do. I’m reasonably sure you don’t want me to bite her to prove I’m a vampire.” Austin growled. “I didn’t think so. You should just hop into bed with her and when she wakes, mark her and then claim her.”

“It’s not that easy. She is going to be pissed enough as it is when she figures this out. Me claiming her is only going to make it seem more surreal for her.” Austin didn’t even try to correct the vamp on the fact that he wasn’t sure he was going to claim her. “She won’t be happy with either of us when she figures this out. Especially you.”

“Why do you think I told her like I did? If she’s mad at me then you’re off the hook. Well, a little anyway. You should just shift when she brings it up again. I’m sure that’ll make a believer out of her.”

Austin wasn’t sure it was a good idea or not. It did have its merits, but to shift with her alone…he was actually afraid she’d shoot him. But he stopped suddenly and looked at the other man. “You told her so she’d be pissed at you and not me? Why would you do that? I mean, you’ve been her friend for a long time, right?”

“Yes, I’m hoping because of that, she will forgive me. If she doesn’t forgive you, well then you’re shit out of luck. She might make a good vampire, though. She would have to change to a full blooded one, though. If I changed her, she’d be less than me and—”

“You go near her with your fangs and I’ll stake you myself. She’s mine.” The words hit him hard. “Fuck. I don’t need this, or her. She’s going to be a major pain in my ass for a long, long time I just know it.”

“Austin, you should—”

“No. You don’t understand. I don’t need a mate. Especially one that’s related to Webber.

The bastard should have just died earlier, then none of this would be a problem. I wish that—”

“Austin, shut up.”

He glanced at Phil. Austin closed his eyes when he noticed that Phil was looking at the bed.

Fuck, he just knew she was going to be awake. Turning slowly, he saw that not only was she awake, but she was crying.

“Get out.” He started toward her when she spoke, but stopped when she raised her gun. “I said to get out. Both of you.”

When neither of them moved, she fired the gun between his feet. He jumped back and looked at her. “What the fuck are you trying to do, kill me? Put that thing away before you hurt someone.”

The gun went off again, this time only an inch from his foot. “I said to get out. The next one is going to be in your head. And I’m a great shot.” When the gun lifted higher, he backed up.

“CJ, you’re upset and you might have heard some things that were said that—”

The next bullet hit him in the thigh. He nearly fell to the floor, but Phil grabbed him. He was dragging him to the door even as he heard her screaming at them both to leave. Austin wanted to take the gun from her and beat her ass, but was sure if he didn’t get moving, he’d be one dead wolf.

He was out the door and to his car before he could think. He looked at Phil and wondered if he should thank him or murder him.

“You could have told me she was awake.” He was sitting in his car and his keys were being put into his hand.

“I tried. When you get on a roll, you don’t know when to shut up. The bullet went through.

If you shift, will it heal? It’s not silver.” Phil held his hand over the wound and looked at him.

“Austin, did you hear me?”

“Yes, I’ll shift and I’ll be fine.” He looked up at the apartment. “She fucking shot me. Shot me in the fucking leg.”

“You’re just lucky she didn’t blow your brains out. She was really hurt, you know.”

Austin looked up again at Phil’s words. “Yes. Damn it, what the hell am I supposed to do now? If I go near her, I’m as good as dead.”

“No shit.” Austin laughed at the vamp’s snarled answer. “You know you might want to spend less time laughing at me and more time trying figure out a way to get her back. This is not going to get you a mate.”

Austin looked up at the window again. She was his, his mate, and he’d just given her every reason in the world not only not to trust him, but to also hate him. Pulling his body into his car, he started it up. He needed to get somewhere he could shift and heal. Looking at the vamp, he wondered if he was in with her better than he was right now.

“I’m not moving in on your mate, Austin. She’s my friend. And always will be. I love her, yes, but I’m not in love with her. I’m going to watch over her tonight.” When Austin looked at him sharply, Phil continued. “From here. She won’t do anything stupid to herself, but she may run. It’s her way of dealing. I’ll keep an eye on her. You get yourself fixed up. You’re going to need all the extra strength you can get.”

Austin thought the man was right. Pulling out of the lot, he wondered if he could have fucked this up any worse and thought maybe he’d try to keep from going that far. By the time he made it home, the bleeding had stopped. He was just trying to figure out what to tell his family when Dallas came outside.

“You hurt bad, big brother?” Austin shook his head and laughed. “Good, she called to tell us that she’d shot you and if you come around again, you’d be one dead dog.”

Austin watched his brother walking toward him. He decided he didn’t need this. He should just tell her he’d changed his mind and she was free to do whatever. But she’d shot him. And as far as he was concerned, this meant war.

~~~

CJ looked down at Phil as he sat in her parking lot. She’d never been so mad at anyone in her life as she was at him. And Austin. Damn it all to hell and back, they almost had her believing them. Then Austin had gone on about not wanting her. Well, she had news for him, she didn’t need him either. Going into the kitchen, she decided that she was done hiding out and got her coat.

“Going out, love?” She ignored both his question and the man. “CJ, I really need to clear things up with you. You’re my best friend and I don’t want to—”

“To what, Phil. Drain me dry? Turn me into a blood sucker? I don’t think so. Now if you don’t mind, I have things to do. I have…I have to go and get me a Thanksgiving dinner for tomorrow.”

She had no idea where she was going to get a turkey this late on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, but she was going to try. She opened her car door and slipped inside, thinking she’d just get her one of those turkey dinners. They couldn’t be all bad, they were everywhere.

She was just starting her car up when she looked over when the passenger side door opened.

“Get out. I’m not kidding, Phil. I’m in no mood to fuck with you tonight. I have a headache and I have a gun. Not a good combination, trust me.” She’d forgotten to pick up the gun again after shooting Austin, but she didn’t tell him that. “I have food to buy and…you eat food. How is that supposed to work with you being a vampire?”

She felt sort of smug for figuring that out on her own. He grinned at her then opened his mouth. She watched in dazed silence as teeth elongated and sharpened. She was just about to reach out and touch them when she jerked her hand back.

“Very funny. I’ve seen those on the television.” She turned to the steering wheel and started her car to get some control. “You really expect me to believe those are real?”

“Give me your arm, CJ. Let me drink from you and I’ll prove to you that they’re as real as the wolf is.” He put his hand out as if she were simply going to do it. “Give me your arm.”

This time, she felt the need to do so. Her arm wanted to give in and just let him. She tried to focus and after a few seconds, she could feel her need to do what he wanted lessen. Then more as she fought it. She looked up at him when he laughed.

“What? Why are you laughing at me?” With shaky hands, she started the car. “This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever known. You need help.” And so did she, she realized.

“You’ve heard of compulsion, haven’t you? Not the sort that stores use when they put those cheap things at the checkout to make you buy the crap, but compulsion.” He shifted in his seat as he continued. “I used it on you, just now and in the house earlier. You tossed me off. Not easy for a human to do. I think it has to do with the fact that the wolf is right.”