Redemption of Fate (Fate Series Book 2) (10 page)

Shaking off the memory, Kaleb closed the steel door and tried to pull his thoughts back to his duties. Each day, it had been growing more and more difficult for him to block out the guilt; the pain and remorse growing and festering inside him like a cancer.

Kaleb returned to collect Alexa’s body and felt his sharp hunger for vengeance dull slightly at the sight of her. David had been serving their father, intent on forcing Ethan into his service to win favor when he’d been killed. Ethan had been defending himself. Perhaps he could have escaped without killing David and his men, but if he had let them live, how could he know they wouldn’t come for him again? Ethan did what was necessary for his own freedom; something Kaleb was beginning to understand. Reluctantly, he pushed aside the pain of the loss of his brother and, for the first time, acknowledged that perhaps for all those years, his anger was misdirected.

CHAPTER 8 -
Molly's Hunt

Molly carefully spread the ruby-red lipstick over her lips before smearing them together and blowing a kiss at her own reflection. She had been on her way to see Lucias but, after seeing Kaleb carrying those bodies, she went back to her room and got dressed instead, feeling an overwhelming need to hunt. She scribbled a quick note and tucked it into her bra before she walked out the door.

A she climbed into the car, she passed the note to the vampire holding the door.

“Be a doll and give this to Lucias when you get back, will you?” she said; batting her eyelashes as he took it from her hand.

The red-eyed vampire nodded silently and closed the door.

Twenty-five minutes later, the car pulled up to one of her favorite pick-up spots downtown.
 

“I won’t need a ride back tonight,” she said; taking the vampire’s offered hand as she climbed out and stepped on to the curb. “Be sure you deliver that note; I’d hate for Lucias to be worried about me. Lord knows what he might do,” she drawled, her words a veiled threat to ensure that the man did what she wanted. The truth was that she was just as worried about what Lucias would do to her for failing to pay him the respect of telling him what she was up to. Of course, she would be easily forgiven if she brought home an adequate gift.
 

Molly watched the car pull away before she strolled into the club known for its free-spirited and sexually-adventurous clientele. She was happy to find that her favorite seat at the end of the long bar was vacant. The stool provided a view of the entire place, while putting her on display for any interested parties, and she most definitely wanted to be seen in the get-up she had on. The tight black leather miniskirt, blood-red halter top, red fuck-me heels, and leather choker would attract just the kind of people she was interested in spending some time with.
 

Before meeting Lucias, she’d come to the club often; looking for men and women who were into the same hardcore kinky shit she was. Of course, no one she’d ever come across there could hold a candle to the fucked up shit Lucias and, as it turned out, she were into. She wasn’t quite sure what it was about watching the light go out in someone’s eyes, but every time she saw it happen she came like a fucking volcano.

Getting wet just from the thought, Molly shifted on the stool and shivered at the friction the motion caused on the hood piercing between her legs.
 

She wasn’t sure if she actually loved Lucias; in all probability she wasn’t capable of such a complex human emotion, but what she felt for him was likely the closest she would ever get. One day he would make her like him. She would be a vampire, his queen, and she spent most nights dreaming of all the possibilities her new life would afford.
 

“Hey, sweetie, haven’t seen you around here in a while,” the burly bartender said as he set Molly’s favorite drink down on the bar in front of her. “Lookin’ good tonight. This is from that couple down at the end; you can’t miss the redhead,” he said pointing in the direction of the smiling couple.

“Thanks, Drake; guess I better shimmy on over and thank them,” she drawled with a wink.
 

She slung her tiny black purse over her shoulder and hopped down off the stool. Even with the four-inch heels, she was barely five-foot-five. The bag she carried was barely big enough to hold a cell phone, let alone a wallet; neither of which she carried. She had no intention of buying her own drinks and she certainly didn’t want to be identified or risk losing a phone which could lead back to her or Lucias in any way. The bartender knew her face, but she never gave anyone there her real name.
 

No; she had the only things she needed in that small pouch. Lipstick, enough cash for a taxi if she got desperate, and two syringes of M99, a tranquilizer she chose for its use by a lovable serial killer from her favorite television show.
 

Drink in hand, she walked the length of the bar to the anxiously waiting couple, twirling a piece of her short blonde hair around her finger as she went. As she drew closer, the couple swiveled around on the stools, giving her a better look at them.
 

The woman’s hair was flaming red, with a few touches of blonde highlights and she was dressed in a tight red mini-dress with cream and black stilettos. Her ample breasts were practically pouring out the top of the dress with several inches of cleavage visible. She smiled seductively as her eyes raked up and down Molly’s tight body.
 

The man was average; almost plain, with brown hair and a nondescript face. Slightly overweight and probably below average height, he didn’t appeal to Molly at all, but that was of little consequence, since she liked his companion more than enough to compensate.
 

“Hi y’all,” she said brightly. “I just wanted to come on down here and say ‘thank you’ for the drink. That was awful sweet of you.”

“You’re just about the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen, next to my lovely wife, of course,” the man said as he ogled Molly shamelessly, before taking her by the forearm and pulling her closer with just the right amount of force.
 

Mmmm, perhaps I misjudged him,
she thought as he tightened his grip.

Nestled closely between them, Molly took a sip of her drink and closed her eyes as she slowly licked her lips.

Lifting her lids, she regarded the woman who was watching her with lust-filled eyes. “What’s your name, sugar?” Molly asked, her voice low and sexy. “And please tell me where you got those shoes.”

“I’m Violet. This is my husband, Chuck,” she replied, lightly stroking Molly’s arm. “The shoes are Jimmy Choos; think I bought them at Saks.”

“Six-and-a-half, right?” Molly inquired as she ran her eyes down the woman’s bare legs.

“That’s right.”

“Perfect; same as me. I’m Amber, by the way,” Molly said as she turned to the man, and moved so that she was standing between his open thighs, his modest erection obvious through his khakis.
 

“So we could waste a bunch of time sitting here chit-chatting and drinking, pretending we’re interested in getting to know each other, or we could just cut the shit and go party at my place. I’ve got a lot of fun toys and plenty of um, refreshments, if y’all know what I mean,” she said tapping the side of her nose.

“Well, that sounds just about right to me. What do you say, Violet?” Chuck asked without looking at his wife.

“Mmm; sounds delicious. And you know, I think we might have a little bit of refreshment for the ride over,” Violet responded with a wink.

Chuck settled his tab and the trio abandoned their drinks, leaving arm- in-arm to take the short walk to the couple’s new Cadillac.
 

“Listen, Chuck. I was thinking, why don’t you drive and let me and Violet here sit in back and get better acquainted,” Molly suggested as she slid across the supple cream leather of the back seat, spreading her legs just enough to give them a peak at the silver piercings adorning her sex.
 

“Only if you let me get a little taste first,” Chuck replied as Violet opened the passenger door and lifted the hatch on the center console. She reached up and turned off the overhead light then pulled out a small square mirror and bag of coke, setting it on the lid after she closed it.

“Sounds like a fair deal to me, Chuck,” Molly replied sliding back further to make room for him as he climbed in, his eyes fixed on his prize as Molly slid her skirt up to her hips.
 

A fast snorting sound cut through the air as Violet did a line of coke. Sniffing repeatedly, she leaned over the seat to watch as Chuck inched closer to Molly; the streetlight outside casting just enough light for her to see clearly.
 

Chuck slid down onto his elbows and pushed his hands under Molly’s bare ass, lifting her up to meet his eager mouth. He slid his tongue up over her slick flesh, the motion tugging slightly on the thin silver chain attached to the two rings piercing her left lip.

Molly moaned and tossed her head back, as he gripped the chain between his teeth and tugged ever so slightly.
 

“Shit, baby; you taste even sweeter than you look,” Chuck groaned as he moved back, hesitantly.

“Mmm; my turn,” Violet said climbing into the backseat while Chuck rounded the car and hopped in the driver’s seat. She held up the mirror with four perfect white lines on top and offered it to Molly. She took it and quickly inhaled two of the lines while Violet closed the door and Chuck started the car.
 

“Pass that shit up here,” Chuck demanded.
 

Violet quickly obeyed. When she set the makeshift tray on the console, Chuck grabbed her chin in one hand as crashed his mouth to hers roughly. He released her just as roughly and pushed her so hard she fell back into the seat before he leaned over and snorted back the two remaining lines.
 

As the drugs slid down the back of his throat, Chuck hollered, “Whoo; this is going to be one hell of a night!”

“You have no fucking idea,” Molly responded with her voice low. She reached over and pulled the front of Violet’s dress down, setting her large breasts free. Leaning down, she took one hard pink nipple between her teeth while Chuck turned the rearview mirror for a better view.

Thirty minutes later the car turned into the long driveway and stopped in front of the gate as Molly instructed.

“Damn; this must be one hell of a nice place,” Chuck said as he put the car in park.
 

Violet she sat up and looked out her window while Molly pretended to rifle through her purse. Before the redhead could agree, she slumped down in the seat as the M99 Molly injected into her neck took effect.
 

“Well come on, sweetheart; let’s get this show on the road,” Chuck tossed over his shoulder, growing impatient to get on to the evening’s main event.

“Sure thing, sugar; but how about a little kiss first?” she requested sweetly leaning up between the seats. Chuck obliged and turned back, the sharp needle piercing his neck the moment their lips met. He fell over instantly and Molly wiped her lips with the back of her hand before she hopped out of the car and strolled up to the gate.

“Hey, Sean,” she said to one of the guards posted just inside the tall iron structure. “Can you boys give me a hand with the new toys I brought for the master? You can have the one in the front; just take the redhead to the playroom,” she said sweetly as if she had merely baked too many cookies and was giving them the extras.

Without a response, the gate slid open and the two red-eyed guards walked out and gathered up their unconscious guests.

CHAPTER 9 -
Training Time

Cami paused for a moment, her chest heaving from the exertion of the intense workout she had been punishing her body with for nearly an hour. She had been coming to the underground workout facility to work off her frustrations every day since she’d taken Chloe horseback riding.
 

The rest of her time was either spent in seemingly pointless strategic meetings or alone taking long rides on Pegasus. Although Chloe had asked to go riding again several times, Cami always made excuses, for fear of being forced to see Jared. Since that first day, Cami had managed to almost completely avoid him, only seeing him occasionally and from a safe distance.
 

She’d considered going for another ride that morning; riding had always been one of her favorite ways to pass the time, but right then she didn’t need a peaceful retreat. She needed pain.
 

It had been nearly a week since she’d returned from the refreshing ride with Chloe and was called into a meeting that changed everything. The civilian resource who’d been sent to Eleuthera had finally reported back, having discovered the bodies of the pilot and flight attended Ethan had hired. Beyond the two dead humans, there was no information to be found nor had anyone seen or heard from Ethan. Starting that night, Commander Claesson ordered Elite security patrols in every major city in which the group had a presence. It was a long shot, but they didn’t have anything else to go on.

Instead of joining those patrols, Cami was stuck on lockdown, along with the rest of her family, and it was driving her crazy. After decades of self-imposed separation, she had finally repaired things with her brother, only to have him ripped away again. The thing that infuriated her most was that while she was hopelessly worried about Ethan, her thoughts were almost constantly consumed by Jared. Knowing he was always nearby, thanks to his father’s mandate prohibiting anyone connected to Chloe from leaving the compound without express permission, her mind constantly wandered to him.
 

More than anything, she felt guilty for indulging in some silly school- girl infatuation when she should be out looking for her brother. When she went to Commander Claesson, practically begging him to speak to the High Commander on her behalf only to be told that he saw no reason to challenge the mandate, it took every ounce of her willpower to keep her insubordination in check and not tell him to fuck off. She couldn’t deny that his reasoning was solid, when he said she was too close to the situation and that her attachment could be a liability. Reasonable or not, it still pissed her off.