Dark Callings (Phoenix Intelligence Agency) (14 page)

Blackstone Haven: Power of Attraction

Taige Crenshaw

Excerpt

Chapter One

Fear swamped Wesley McCarty as he looked at the date on the newspaper in disbelief.

January twelfth.

He had lost six months of time and had no idea of what he had done. Swearing viciously, he leant back against the couch. He ran his hand over his head. The last thing he remembered was going to bed early. When he woke he was so relived, hell thankful, he hadn’t dreamed.

Wesley looked down at his hands and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Thank God, no blood, cuts, or markings. You’re doing okay, Wes.”

Even as he said it, he knew it was a lie. It was just the beginning of summer when he went to sleep yet when he woke there was snow on the ground. He tried to remember what had happened.

Black waves of pain hammered in his head
. He swallowed the nausea bubbling in the back of his throat. He breathed rapidly in and out. The feeling passed. After some time, the pain lessened and he could think.

Oh God, what is happening to me? I’m losing my—

Wesley cut off the thought before it could form. No.
There is a reasonable explanation. There has to be one.

Wesley sat up and pushed the button for the answering machine on the table next to the couch. As the many messages played, he started to shake. By the last one he knew that one of his vague explanations weren’t going to fix this. His friends who were also his business partners would want an explanation. Besides this one, there were times before that he had disappeared for a few hours, or days, and he had easily explained them away. This last disappearance of so many months would only make them question all the other times he had been gone before. He wasn’t ready to answer any questions. He had no clue himself what was going on.

“What am I going to do?”

He slumped deeper into the couch and closed his eyes while he thought up various explanations for his disappearance. None sounded believable enough for his partners to buy.

With a sigh, he opened his eyes. His gaze landed on the tapestry over the fireplace. The profusion of colours of the scenic mountains, waters, and beautiful landscapes was a backdrop to a woman seemingly in the shadows. He couldn’t make out her features, but still got a sense of her happiness and sultry beauty. Her head was tilting back, and she held her body as if waiting for something. When he had received the piece from his friend Ian McIntyre, the note had said it was called Prophecy. Although it should have seemed like a weird name, it somehow seemed to fit.

He remembered the note had also extended an invitation to come to Blackstone Haven.

With a sense of purpose, he stood. He knew where he was going.

You’re running away.
He ignored the voice in his head and continued to look at the tapestry.

The scene called to him.

In a swift motion, he picked up the letter opener from the table, turned, and threw it. It quivered, embedded into the wall behind him.

Shocked, Wesley stared at it. Slowly, he made his way over to it. A feeling of unease swept him as he saw the bug pinned to the wall with the opener. He curled his hand over the handle and tried to pull it out. He couldn’t.

Tugging hard with both hands, he was able to release it. Wesley looked at the letter opener, then at the mark it in the wall.

“What the hell?”

His voice echoed in the emptiness. He glanced around the room that usually gave him comfort. The long, dark brown couches, chairs, and other items he had chosen years ago when he had bought the house seemed to not be the same. The walls were closing in on him.

“I’ve got to get out of here.” Wesley turned quickly and made his way back upstairs.

Three hours later, he was shifting gears in his SUV. The tension in his shoulders and the closed in feeling had eased as he put the city behind him. He patted the head resting against his thigh. A tongue licked his hand.

“Newt, you’re not getting any steak for dinner, no matter how nice you try to act,” Wesley said.

A bark sounded, and he glanced at his copper-red and white Siberian husky, who had sat up beside him.
Newton
barked again. Her parti-coloured eyes—one brown, the other blue—twinkled with mischief.

“Don’t give me that look.” Wesley returned his attention to the road.

He had swung by Pan’s—one of his business partners—house to get
Newton
on his way out of town. He was grateful that Pan was out of town, too, or he would never have got away without questions. At least this time, they would know where he was. He had sent them all emails.

Newton
barked.

“I’m not a coward. It is better not to talk to them right now,” Wesley defended.

Until he could figure out what was going on, it was best he went somewhere he could think and not have too many questions. He glanced at
Newton
.

She whined, as if sensing his distress. She curled against his leg and put her foot on his thigh.
Newton
whined again.

He glanced at her, running his hand over her thick coat. “It’s okay. We’ll figure out what’s happening.”

Wesley glanced back at the road.

A man stepped in front of the car.

Wesley hit the brake. The seatbelt jerked him. The car hit the man and he went flying, landing a distance away.

“Oh, God.” Shaking, Wesley unhooked his seatbelt.

He glanced at
Newton
. She barked. His hands pulled open the door and he quickly got out. He ran to the man.

“Are you okay?” Wesley asked as he skidded to a stop beside him. He leaned over to help him, and the man’s hand flashed out.

The man turned to him, mirrored glasses hiding his eyes. His strong jaw and features seemed familiar, as did the long raven hair that shifted around his face as he turned his head and tightened his hold on Wesley’s arm.

Wesley brought up his other hand, but the man blocked it effortlessly. A small, cruel grin curved his lips.

An image of eyes almost translucent grey flashed in Wesley’s mind, and a sting on his arm made him jerk back. The man released his hold. Wesley’s head swam. A growl sounded behind him. He turned.
Newton
flew across the road towards them. He saw her stumble and fall.

“No!” Wesley screamed.

It came out instead as a weak murmur. He stumbled to
Newton
, but his knees buckled. Nausea swamped him. Blackness clouded his vision.

The man walked into his line of sight and knelt next to
Newton
. He ran his hand, seemingly gently, across her fur then looked at Wesley, a malevolent smile on his face. Then darkness swallowed Wesley, and everything went black.

Wesley jerked awake and looked around frantically, his heart pounding. The room he was in was unfamiliar. He swung his legs out of bed, and his foot touched fur. He looked down and saw
Newton
by the bed. She barked weakly and tried to stand, but couldn’t. Shifting his legs, he got down by her side and searched her for marks. He felt none. She licked his hand then laid her head back on her paws.

Cautiously, he got up and walked to the windows by the door. He stood to one side and looked out. His dark red SUV was parked in front of the door. He tested the door and it opened. Quickly, he stepped outside onto the porch and glanced around.

A little distance away he saw a house. He continued to glance around and realised there were a bunch of them. Confused, he turned and went back inside. A paper on the table caught his attention. Going over to it, he picked it up.

Blackstone Bungalows. Check in February first at 8:15 p.m.

His legs wobbled as he saw the date and his signature on the bottom. Wesley reached for a chair, pulled it out, and sat.

“Three weeks. I’ve lost almost three weeks.” Wesley stopped, considering. “Or have I? What is real? What’s happening to me? I was in my house, and I went for
Newton
to get out of town. We were driving, then—”

He stopped, trying to remember how he had got here, but couldn’t.

Fear coated his skin, and he breathed rapidly. “Did any of it happen? Is any of this real? It has to be. I’m here.
Newton
is with me. How did we get here?”

A weak bark grabbed his attention.
Newton
was dragging herself on the floor towards him. Getting up, he ran to her.

“
Newton
, what’s wrong with you?” He leaned over her and felt her pulse. It was weak and thready. Her eyes were unfocused. Quickly, he stood, lifting her in his arms. Frantic, he looked around the room for his keys. Spotting them on the table by the bed, he went and grabbed them. Slipping his feet into his loafers, he ran out the door to his car. He put her on the passenger seat, then ran around to the driver’s side and got in.

“Hold on, Newt.” Wesley turned on the car and drove down the road.

He tapped a key in his dash, and his computer slid out from its compartment. Silently, he thanked Pan for insisting they all have their cars outfitted with the special computers so they could work from anywhere. He rapidly punched in a request for the nearest veterinarian. Within seconds, the screen displayed the address with directions.

“We’ll be there in ten minutes, Newt. Hold on.” He touched
Newton
.

Her breathing was laboured. Wesley pressed down on the gas and roared past the office where a sign read
Blackstone Bungalows
. In minutes, he spotted what he was looking for. He screeched to a halt and jumped out of the car, going to the passenger side. Picking up
Newton
, he ran to the door, pushing it open with his hip and continuing inside.

“I need some help!” Wesley called.

He looked around the empty waiting area frantically. Spotting a door, he headed for it.

The door opened, and a woman stepped out. She looked at him, then at
Newton
. A frown filled her café au lait face, while her amber coloured eyes blazed with anger.

“What have you done to that dog?”

The fierceness of her question made Wesley’s fear increase.

“Please, help me. I don’t know what’s wrong with her.”

“Give her to me,” the woman demanded.

Wesley tightened his grip on
Newton
. The woman’s eyes narrowed as she sensed he wasn’t letting her go. She held open the door, then gestured.

“Fine. Bring her back here.”

Wesley walked through the door and waited for the woman to pass him. He followed her down a long hallway and into a room. Putting
Newton
down on the table, he watched her every move closely. The woman quickly hooked
Newton
up to a machine to monitor her pulse, then took a blood sample.

The woman looked at him. “Wait here while I check this.”

Wesley nodded. The woman left. He leaned over
Newton
. She opened her eyes and barked weakly. Tears burned Wesley’s eyes.