* * * * *
Jadee’s shoulders hurt and her eyes burned. It was from exhaustion. She’d spent almost four entire days driving with only a few hours of sleep for breaks. She reached over to take a sip of coffee. It wasn’t hot anymore but it helped her stay awake. She glanced at the top monitor on the dash. The GPS said she had nearly reached the town.
“I want to be there already!”
I thought leaving Alaska and driving home had been rough. She’d at least stopped for entire nights to sleep six to eight hours that first time. She’d also pulled over to stretch her legs at rest stops. But the return trip had just been brutal.
It hadn’t helped that she’d started her journey already tired. It wasn’t as if she’d gotten much sleep while she’d waited for dawn to come the night the Vamps had followed her home. She’d dozed off for a few minutes, only to be woken by noises. They had tried to get inside the RV all night but had given up right before the sun rose. She’d showered to wake up some, then hooked up the trailer to haul her car.
Jadee glanced at the dash to the second monitor, the one under the GPS. The sight of her little red car being pulled behind the RV was reassuring. She also checked out traffic. She’d been paranoid that someone would follow her but she felt secure it hadn’t happened. They would have tried to attack her at night already.
She tapped the volume control embedded in the steering wheel for the CD player, heavy metal music blaring from the speakers. It helped her stay awake too. Bone tiredness had hit about the time she’d left Canada and driven into Alaska. She was used to spending eight hours a day on her feet tending bar, not sixteen hours a day with her butt planted on a seat as she drove. Her entire body felt stiff.
Digger’s Auto Repair and Garage had been easy to locate. It was located in some tiny town she’d never heard of. She only hoped he knew how to get ahold of Lavos. She’d been certain Digger was a Werewolf too.
She flashed back to meeting the big mechanic. He’d been a bit cold and distant to her but seemed at ease with Lavos. She’d stayed inside the RV once he’d arrived but his nostrils had flared, as if he were sniffing around, when he’d come to start the engine. She’d noticed.
For at least the hundredth time, she reconsidered her actions. Would Lavos be annoyed that she’d sought him out for help? She just wasn’t sure what else to do. He might have answers, knowing a lot more about Vampires than she did. All the movie and book facts she’d learned seemed like bullshit. He could probably tell her if every nest of Vampires was looking for her or if she just had to avoid Washington. It was information she needed. Otherwise she’d never know if she was safe or not.
He could also clue her into whether Vampires would tell Werewolves about her. The latter could come at her during the daytime. That would shoot her plan to hell to just lock herself inside the RV when the sun went down. She’d be at risk during the day too, and she had no idea how to spot Werewolves.
She tapped the wheel to the beat of the music and glanced at the GPS again. She’d find out soon enough if Digger could relay a message and if Lavos would speak to her. He might be pissed.
Would he kill her? She softly cursed.
No. He won’t do that. He kept me alive before.
She also had to admit that seeing him again was something she longed to do. He wasn’t forgettable in any way. She’d had a hard time saying goodbye to him. He hadn’t seemed eager to let her drive off either. They’d stared at each other until his brother had ordered her to go. Lorn hadn’t been rude but he hadn’t been overly friendly either. The guy frowned a lot.
A sign caught her attention on the right side of the road. It stated gas was just ahead. Her heart sped up a little and it helped her get a second wind. Some of the tiredness faded. It was possible Lavos lived in that town too, along with Digger. She might see him faster than she’d anticipated.
She straightened in the seat until she got a look at her face in the rearview mirror. Her hair was a mess from opening up the windows a few times to allow air to blow inside and her eyes were bloodshot.
“Great,” she muttered. “I look like hell. What’s new?” It wasn’t as if Lavos had met her at her best.
Jadee slowed when she saw the town. It was as small as the map implied, with several buildings on one side of the road. There was a gas station with a mini market and a few tiny tourist shops. A large barn, with Digger’s name painted in red on the wooden side, sat at the end of the strip, beyond the gas station’s pumps and parking lot.
She spotted another structure off the road, lurking behind the buildings and up a high hill. It had to be the biggest log cabin she’d ever seen, but it seemed to be a private home, since there were no signs near or on it. The road leading to it wasn’t even in view.
Jadee parked at Digger’s Auto Repair and Garage, maneuvering into the wide space beside the building. She noted the main doors were shut as she peered out her passenger-side window. A closed sign was displayed. “Shit.” It was just her luck that he wasn’t there when she arrived.
She turned off the engine and glanced at the sky. It would get dark soon but she had a bit of time. She removed the keys and unlocked the door, climbing out. Her legs protested when she put weight on them but she ignored the achy muscles, stretching. She leaned in and grabbed her purse off the floor under the seat where she’d stored it.
The gas station/mini-mart was open. She slammed the door and hit the remote lock on the RV door, heading that way. No other customers were in the small parking lot and she didn’t see anyone inside except the clerk. He was a handsome guy in his twenties. The music inside was a little loud.
He stopped sweeping the floor and grinned at her. “Hello.” He had a nice voice.
“Hi.”
He turned his head, staring out the windows. “You need gas? I don’t see your vehicle.”
“I parked next door. Do you know when Digger’s auto shop is going to be open?”
“Are you having car trouble? I can call him. He doesn’t live far.”
She hadn’t expected that. “Thank you. That would be great.”
“No problem.” He set down the broom and walked over to the counter. He leaned across and lifted up the receiver of the phone. He flashed her another grin. “We’ll get you up and running fast enough. Digger is magic with anything on four wheels.”
He turned away and dialed. Jadee noticed a small display of hot dogs and walked over. The breakfast bars she’d eaten as road snacks had been tasteless after the first few. She started making two dogs.
“We have a code red,” the clerk said. “A woman has car problems. Get here.” He paused. “Thanks.”
Jadee was surprised at his words. Code red? She met his gaze when he hung up.
He grinned again. “He’s on his way.”
“What’s a code red?”
“That little engine light going off, of course. It’s an inside joke. You know. He’s a mechanic.”
“Got it.” She wasn’t about to correct him on the car trouble. She faced the food stand and put ketchup on her dogs, then put them in their little pouches. She grabbed a bag of chips, a soda, and a candy bar. She went to the counter and set everything down.
“This is a small town.”
“Yes.” He stepped behind the cash register. “We don’t get that many visitors. It’s boring as hell around here.” He started to ring up her purchases.
It was tempting to ask him about Lavos but she didn’t dare. Instead, she studied the man. He was a very muscular guy for a store clerk. Was he a Werewolf who belonged to the pack? Did Werewolves work in gas station convenient stores? Did they even hold real jobs or just run around the vast woods all day, hunting for food? She slid her hand inside her purse and pulled out cash.
“Where are you heading?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
One of his eyebrows lifted. “That’s an odd answer.”
“It was an unplanned trip.” She struggled to come up with something to say that wouldn’t g
ive away too much information. “Ever just want to hit the road and drive? That’s what I did.”
“I wish.” His features relaxed. “That sounds like fun.” His nostrils flared. “You traveling alone?”
She’d seen that move. He was sniffing her. “Yes.”
“That’s brave. I mean, most women don’t do that. It’s a dangerous world. You’re safe here but you know what I mean.”
“I do.” She was afraid to bring up Lavos but all those dire warnings he’d given her resurfaced. She wasn’t sure if she could trust the clerk or if he’d lunge across the counter to try to kill her if he thought she knew he was a Werewolf. She glanced at his name tag. “Volti. That’s a cool name. I’ve never met someone with that one before.”
“It’s Russian,” he mumbled. “You’ll find a lot of us in this area.”
“Ah.” Russian Werewolves, or is that just an excuse for the odd name? “Very cool.”
“Thanks.” His gaze darted down her body and then back up. “What’s your name?”
“Jadee.”
“What do the initials stand for?”
“It’s just Jadee.” She spelled it. “My parents weren’t exactly the types to do the norm, including give me a name like Mary or Tammy.”
“Hippies? We get some of them in the summer. They come out here saying they’re trying to communicate with nature or find their karma or some such shit. No offense.”
She laughed. “None taken. I bet you do get some odd visitors. This is far off the main highways.”
“Yes, it is. You should have stuck to them though. The next motel is about thirty miles down the road and it’s kind of a dive.”
“I have an RV. I can sleep in it.”
“I like those.” He stepped out from behind the counter and walked to the door, peering toward Digger’s. “Nice. It’s a big sucker.” He came back to her. “I don’t see too many women driving them.”
“It belonged to my father. I inherited it.”
“I’m sorry.” His features softened. “I’d be bummed if I lost my dad. We’re close.”
The front door of the store swung open and Digger came inside. He recognized her right away—his mouth fell open and his eyes widened. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Volti’s voice took on a deeper tone.
“Um…” Digger gave her a once over. “Nothing. This is the lady with the engine troubles?”
“Yes.”
Digger took a few hesitant steps, giving her a suspicious look. “You ever been in this area before?”
He’d definitely recognized her. She was certain of that. He knew she had, so why did he ask? It might be because it wasn’t safe to talk in front of the clerk. She’d play along. “Not this town but some of the ones nearby.”
Digger’s dark eyes started to lighten and he advanced fast, gripping her by her arms. She dropped her purse, stunned. He was trying to control her mind. His eyes didn’t exactly glow. They were a dark, deep brown but they looked eerie as hell with some yellow lighting them up.
“Goddamn,” Digger hissed. “She wasn’t supposed to come back.”
“Who is she?”
“She’s the only survivor from when those bloodsuckers took out that small human town. Lorn said he wiped her mind and sent her back to the lower forty-eight. I was sure he’d told her to never return to Alaska, so what the hell is she doing here?” He kept his gaze locked on her. “You’d better call Lorn, Volti.”
“Are you sure she’s the right one?”
They were talking as if Jadee wasn’t there. Did that mean that Digger thought he had her under his control? Was she supposed to be like some breathing, brainless doll? He looked furious and scary. She masked her features and held very still, prepared to pretend. She didn’t know what he’d do if he realized she was more than aware of what was going on, in control of her body and thoughts.
“I thought that damn RV looked familiar but I didn’t walk up and inspect it. It’ll have California plates but the tow car had Washington ones. That’s why I didn’t put it together.” Digger leaned in a little. “Hold real still, sweetheart. No need to be afraid. We’re going to send you home so we don’t have to kill you. Her heart is racing.”
She tried to slow that down. He either had super-good hearing or he could feel her pulse.
“Lorn is busy. The delegates from the clans are here. They arrived this morning. They’re all up the hill at the lodge. I’m supposed to send any humans on their way so they don’t stick around.”
“Call Lavos then.”
“He’s up there too. He dropped in about half an hour ago and said he had to go kiss some ass. I think we should handle this. Put her to sleep and I’ll carry her to the back storeroom while you go find out what’s wrong with her engine. We’ll wake her up and send her on her way as soon as you get it running right. I’ll even fill her tank. She’ll just remember it was something trivial you fixed fast, she pumped her own gas, and took off.”
“She got food.”
“Not a problem. I saw how she likes her hot dogs. I’ll just get her fresh ones. She won’t even notice a time gap if we implant that she arrived here whenever you get her engine going.”
“Sleep,” Digger ordered.
Jadee closed her eyes and let her body slump. It was going to hurt if she hit the floor but the idea of letting the two Werewolves know she was immune might be more painful, since Digger mentioned killing her.
The mechanic didn’t allow her fall. He held her up until Volti walked up behind her and grabbed her under her arms. He lifted her off her feet, against his solid body.
“Her keys are on the counter.” Volti turned with her. She let her head fall forward, playing dead to the world. He adjusted his hold on her to free a hand when they must have reached a door. He bent back to keep her body against his front. Then he eased her down on something soft. She waited until she heard a door close before she peeked.
It was a small storage room and there was a sleeping bag on the floor, where she’d been gently dumped. She listened, hearing Volti and Digger softly speaking from the other room. She just couldn’t make out what they said. She sat up when she realized she was alone.
She saw the back door and rose up, walking toward it. There was a glass window and she peeked out. The big log cabin up the hill was within sight. That had to be the lodge they’d talked about. Lavos would be there.
She glanced at the other door that led into the store. She could lie back down and play along until they sent her on her way. It would mean she couldn’t return. Digger and Volti would know she’d fooled them then for sure.
She looked out the window again, watching the line of trees. No one else was around. She glanced at the log structure. It wasn’t too far away and thick trees covered most of the hill. She debated her options.
It would be stupid to make a dash for that lodge to find Lavos on her own. They’d mentioned delegates from other clans. She could guess what that meant. Werewolves from other packs had come to visit. The woods could literally be crawling with them. The memory of what Lavos looked like while shifted sent a chill down her spine.
Her other alternative would be to forget about trying to gain his help by meekly leaving town. But she’d come a long way. It was a hell of a choice.
The memory of those Vampires flashed in her mind. What if they did send out messages to other Vampire nests? Lavos said they loved to live in cities. She’d be safe if she avoided any large ones, probably.
“Damn,” she muttered.
What if Vampires and Werewolf packs talked to share information? They knew she was immune to mind control. Was there already some alert going out for her? Would everything that went bump in the night and day be after her ass? Paranoia could only go so far to keep her safe. She needed to know what she was up against if she wanted a chance at surviving. That meant she’d have to get answers.
She could kidnap a Werewolf and make him talk. She ditched that idea as soon as it formed. She wasn’t about
to kill someone like Lavos, regardless of what they wanted to do to her. They were just trying to protect their secrets, unlike Vampires, who were bloodthirsty perverts who attacked women for no good reason. The two men in the store had just wanted to wipe her memory and send her on her way. Neither one had demanded she perform sexual acts on them.
Her last option would be to change her looks, ditch the RV and her car. That RV was her only protection though. Her dad had left her a lot of money. She could order another RV that wasn’t traceable, but it would take months to have all the special features added to it. Months she’d be sleeping in motels with cheap doors and easy access to her if something wanted in.
Fuck. She stared up at that lodge. She needed to talk to Lavos. She didn’t want to die. Digger was going to go play with her engine and he’d figure out fast that there wasn’t anything wrong with it. He’d come back and she’d have to leave town. Her only chance at finding Lavos would be gone.
She gripped the handle of the door but examined the frame first. There was no alarm hooked to it. It wasn’t even a sturdy security door. The town must not have much crime. She twisted the knob and it turned. She opened the door an inch.
“Damn,” she hissed. “This is stupid—but what choice do I have?”
She eased the door open and stepped outside. She froze momentarily, looking at the woods once more, not seeing any other people or hairy beasts. She pushed off the wall and ran for all she was worth to the line of trees.
Chapter Eleven
Jadee peeked out from behind a big tree trunk, staring at the building. No one lounged outside but she couldn’t exactly just stroll inside the double doors. Her heart pounded and she turned her head, looking down the hill she’d just climbed. The small town sat below. Her RV remained parked at the garage. Digger had lifted the hood up and stood on something to reach the engine. Volti hadn’t charged out of the store to search for her so far. At least she hadn’t seen him.
How easy would it be for them to track her?
They’re like dogs. Probably as simple as pie. She clenched her teeth.