Kade's Dark Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans) (26 page)

No, Goddammit. Kade knew that she wasn’t shopping or sightseeing. His woman was running, running from her feelings, running from him. Sydney Willows could run, but she could not hide. He would find her any place on the face of the Earth. What exactly did the woman not get about them being bonded?

“That woman is going to be the death of me. Seriously, Luca. I ask her to stay here and move in with me and she takes off? What the hell? Get Tristan on the damn phone, and then call the airport and gas up the jet. We, my friend, are going to Philadelphia tonight. She is mine, and it is damn well time she starts to understand precisely what that means.”

Sydney felt sick as soon as she got in the cab. She kept telling herself she just needed time to think, time to work things out. She would call Kade as soon as she got to Philadelphia; tell him that she loved him, and that she just needed space. If she called him before she got on the plane, she would fold and return to him. If she just had some time to make a decision without Kade tempting her with his sex-on-a-stick, gorgeous body, and demanding presence, then she’d know she was making the right choice. She couldn’t trust herself to think clearly around him. Her libido had officially taken over in New Orleans. She had lost the capability to make intelligent decisions with her brain when she was thinking with her wanton, aching loins.

Sydney called Tristan before boarding the plane. There was no way she was staying in her condo after the attempted rape. She’d needed to repaint and decorate it since the place got trashed anyhow. Finally, Tristan picked up the phone. “Tristan, it’s Sydney. Listen, I need to talk. Um...I mean I need a favor.”

Tristan was suspicious. “Syd, uh...what’s going on? What do you mean how’s it going? How about...’how are you healing after the big fight’? And why do I hear airplanes? Where’s Kade?”

Sydney sighed heavily.
Damn Alpha wolf.
She couldn’t keep secrets from him on a good day. “Please, Tristan, just hear me out. Okay, here it is. I ran out of Kade’s house, hopped a cab to the airport, and I’m about to board a flight to Philly.” She silently cringed guessing what Tristan’s response would be.

“Sydney dearest, excuse me for saying so, but are you fucking crazy? Kade is going to go ballistic when he discovers you just left without telling him. Hell, even if you told him, he’d freak out. You do get that he claimed you? And then there is the whole completing of the blood bond, not to mention he keeps telling everyone that you are freakin’ his! My God, woman, have you lost your ever-lovin’ mind?”

“Thanks for the lecture, Dad. Seriously, I know. He is going to be mad. And yes, I get everything...blah, blah, blah...blood bond...yadda, yadda, yadda. I love him too, more than life itself. But I need time to think. I need to get back to my job, the kids. I just need...fresh air...to think. Things are too intense down here. I need to make sure that I'm making the right decisions.”

“Fresh air in Philly? Okay, you have definitely lost it, girl,” he teased. “Sydney, seriously though, what is there to think about? No, forget it. You human women are irrational...unreasonable...whatever. I just want you to know that when this all goes down, I reserve the right to tell you ‘I told ya so.’ Now what do you need?” When push came to shove, Tristan would always be there for her. She was part of his pack...wolf or no wolf.

“My condo. The vampire. You know what happened.” She didn’t want to even say the words. “I need some time to get the place back together. I’m going to sell it...especially given the fact I might, and that is a big might, move to New Orleans. So, can I stay at your place for a while?”

“Mon Chaton, you are truly trying to get me killed, aren’t you? Since I do not have a death wish, I will politely refuse to let you stay at my house, but I have several rental properties. I have an empty, furnished apartment available in a safe part of town, okay? You're welcome to stay there. When are you getting in? Do you need a ride from the airport?”

“Thanks, Tristan. You're a lifesaver. And no, I don’t need a ride. Tony's picking me up and taking me to the Hilton. If you could get the keys and address to the station by tomorrow, I’d be forever grateful.”

“Yeah, you better be, girl. Kade is going to be supremely pissed when he finds out you're gone. I love you like family, but I'm not going to lie when he comes a knockin’. And he
so
will, just warning you.”

Sydney slumped in her chair knowing he was right, too late now. She already took off...might as well see this thing through. “Fair enough, Tris. And hey...thanks for saving my ass the other night.”

“And what a fine ass you have Syd. I should be the one thanking you though. If that vamp bitch had stabbed me one more time, it could have been the last howl for the wolf. You were pretty badass with that sword, girl. Call me when you get settled, Syd. I’m worried about you. Can I give you a bit of advice? You know, from a wise, old Alpha?”

She laughed softly. “Sure Tris.”

“You think too much. Open your heart to him, Syd. You deserve love. You get me? Stop thinking. Start living. Okay? Safe travels.”

She hung up the phone; Tristan’s words resonated throughout her very being.
You deserve love.
She loved Kade with every cell of her body. And he loved her. Maybe Tristan was right. Maybe she did think too much. As she boarded the plane, tears welled in her eyes.
A mistake.
She shouldn’t have left Kade’s house. Taking a deep breath, she held the emotion back. She just needed to think a little to get her life in order, and if she still felt like she did today, then she’d return to Kade, the love of her life.

Tony glanced over at Sydney who silently stared out the window, looking a million miles away. Something seemed off with his partner. “So, Syd, I’m glad you’re back. The cases are piling up, and it sure will be good to have you back here.” Sydney continued gazing out the window oblivious to his words. “Hello? Sydney Willows? What’s up, Syd? You seem really out of it. Are you sure you’re ready to come back to work?”

Sydney sighed, “Sorry. I just...was thinking that’s all. Work. Yeah well, I want to finish up the paperwork on the Death Doll case...even if it officially belongs to P-CAP. Just want to clean it up a little, tie up loose ends.” She rubbed her eyes. What next? She was supposed to be clearing her head, but thoughts of Kade consumed her. “I think I am going to take a few days off after that. My condo is a mess, so I’ve got to get it cleaned up. I think I am going to sell it. I don’t know. Anyway, I’ll spend tonight at the hotel and then go over and get my stuff in the morning...pack a bag. My friend Tristan is letting me stay for a while in one of his rental properties.”

Tony rolled his eyes. He knew she wasn’t telling him everything, but they’d been partners long enough that he knew when to push her and when to just let it go. He could tell she was on edge, that she’d been crying recently. Pulling the car into the hotel entrance, he put the car in park. “Okay, Syd, you and I. We’ve been partners a long time. I know something’s going on, and if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s okay. But I’m just a phone call away. If you need me, just call and I’ll come running. You sure you don’t want to stay in my guest room? I feel kind of bad just dropping you off at a hotel.” He placed his hand on her shoulder trying to comfort her.

Sydney put her hand on the car door handle ready to bolt when she turned to him. “I’m okay, Tony. Really. I just need some time to myself. A lot went down in New Orleans. Now, get going. I’ll see you at the station tomorrow afternoon. Thanks.” She reached over and quickly hugged him. Then, she popped the car door open and headed into the hotel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sydney felt even worse the next day. She was in misery knowing she’d left Kade. What had she been thinking? She would have given anything to wake up in his arms this morning. Instead, she awoke to strange voices talking though the paper-thin walls and an air conditioner on the fritz. She checked her cell phone for the hundredth time hoping Kade would call or text her, nothing.

Dammit to hell. She left New Orleans in order to think clearly, but all she could think about was Kade. She almost took a cab back to the airport, but reason won out, and she landed back at her condo. She breathed in deeply as she laid a hand against her door. Memories of the attempted rape flooded her thoughts, but she let a small smirk grow knowing that she’d won out in the end. She was the one still alive and kicking, and that asshole vampire was nothing more than ash. Her thoughts drifted back to Kade thinking of how he saved her butt...waking up on a jet?
What kind of a world did that guy live in?
Certainly not the gritty, very real, paycheck earning world she lived in.

With a shove, the door squeaked open. Thank God, Luca and Kade thought to lock the place up when they left. Not that she had too many valuables, but one couldn’t be too careful in the city. Scanning the room, she felt nauseated.
What a freaking mess.
She really didn’t feel like straightening up today. The station offered to pick up crime scene cleaning expenses since the incident occurred while working a case. Not having the emotional strength to pick up even one broken vase, she decided right then and there that she’d hire a service to do it.

Ignoring the overthrown furniture, blood on the floor, and bits of glass, Sydney strode down the hallway into the guest room, lugging out the largest travel bag she owned. She emptied her drawers full of underwear, sweatpants, and t-shirts. Nothing like summing your life up into a suitcase. Instead of folding up clothes that were hanging in her closet, she grabbed them by the hangers and threw them onto the bed. Scooping up several pairs of shoes, she dumped them haphazardly into a duffel bag.

Rifling through her guest room chest, she gathered up any weapons Tristan had left and stowed them with her clothes...including her guns. Sydney’s skin pricked with discomfort being in this condo.
Goddamn vampires.
If she hadn’t insisted on working this case, nothing would have happened, and she could have gone about life not knowing all the evils that existed in the supernatural world. But, she also wouldn’t have known love...desire...ecstasy...Kade.

Sydney gathered a few treasured pictures of her family and friends, and looked around once again to see if there was anything else she wanted to take with her. She decided that maybe it was too soon to gather all her things. She would go back to the office, rest a few days and then come back to pack up her stuff.

After locking up the condo, she carefully laid her hanging clothes flat in the tiny trunk of her convertible and squeezed the large suitcase into the passenger seat. Tight fit, but it would have to work. Silently saying goodbye to her home of seven years, she took off toward the station.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The parking lot buzzed with activity as she parked her car. She checked twice to make sure it was locked, before she padded into the station. Waving hello to her fellow officers, she slumped into her chair and flipped on her laptop. Her plan was to bury herself in her work. Forget New Orleans for a little while; forget vampires and mages, forget the ache that was burning a hole like lightning throughout her gut, missing Kade.

Hours later, after a mountain of paperwork, she sighed in exhaustion. She was startled as Tony slammed a cheesesteak down on her desk. “Hey girl. What’s up? Thought you could use one of these. Now, I know they don’t have these babies down in the Big Easy,” he grinned.

Her mouth watered as the scent of fried onions and cheese teased her nostrils. “Oh. My. God. Thank you, Tony.” She couldn’t wait to tear into it.

“Yeah, I have been called a god by certain women. And funny you say so...women do usually like my ten inch...just not a steak sandwich,” he busted out laughing.

Sydney punched him in the arm. “Real nice, Tone. You're a smooth talker, you.” She bit down into the sandwich letting the grease, soft bread and steak entice her senses. “Okay, Tony. Did I ever tell you how much I love you?” she grinned, wiping her mouth.

“Yeah baby. I know you want it.” He smiled seeing that she was starting to get back to normal. “Hey, if I knew all you needed was a steak sandwich, I would have fed you last night.” He straightened in his chair, a serious expression washed over his face. “Seriously, Syd. You need something, I’m here. There's no going it alone. We all get pummeled down by this job every now and then. You and I both know it. I don’t know all what happened down there in New Orleans, but this is just a bump in the road. You’re tough. It’ll be all right.”

Sydney avoided the heavy conversation by nodding and stuffing her mouth full of steak and pickles. She wished lifting her spirits was as easy as eating a sandwich…although the cheesesteak was pretty damn good.

“Delivery!” The station secretary dropped a small Fed Ex envelope on her desk.
Kade?
She ripped open the package only to find a key and a small, engraved card.
Tristan. The key and address to the rental property.
Shoving away the rising disappointment, she fingered the black, shiny key, which was attached to a copper, Liberty Bell key chain. Only in Philly, she grinned to herself. What was she thinking...that Kade would call her? Text her? Send her a card? She was the one who up and left without saying goodbye...after making love, at that. Waves of guilt flooded her mind. Why did she do that to him? He said he loved her, wanted her to stay. Why wasn’t that enough for her? But he didn’t seem to really understand that she had responsibilities. She did recall him saying that they’d work out the details, but she’d been so freaking impatient as usual. She didn’t even try to talk to him. Nope, she just panicked, overwhelmed by emotions and ran back to Philly.
Shit.
She needed to call him tonight and set things right.

In the past twenty-four hours, she may not have cleared her mind entirely, but she knew one thing to be true, Kade was hers. She loved him. With each passing hour, her heart cried out for him as she yearned to be in his arms. Rubbing the key, she shut down her laptop deciding she couldn’t wait one more hour to call him. Once she got to her new place, she’d sit down, call him, apologize for leaving, and possibly beg for his forgiveness–okay, only if necessary–and figure out a way to make this work. Maybe they could work out some kind of long distance relationship. Face Time and Skype were wonderful technologies when it came to phone sex these days. If their relationship progressed, maybe she could get a job at the NOLA PD. Myriad thoughts and solutions swirled in her head. Before she lost her nerve, she needed to get out of the station and make the call.