Bloodlines (68 page)

Anthony, amazingly, still looked like he was keeping his temper. Jed was pretty sure he wasn’t going to be able to say the same, shortly. Anthony glanced at Jed, then back at Leo. “And how many jobs have you worked with Jed, Mr. O’Malley?”

Leo paused, gaze darting between them, another smile creasing his lips and never touching the cold blue of his eyes. “Are you implying blackmail, wolf?”

“He might be implying it. I’m just fucking saying it.” Jed met Leo’s gaze without blinking. “I so much as smell one of your flannel fucking hunters sniffing around that pack again, I’m going to ruin you. Akron, Ohio, Leo. That’s all I’m going to say.”

Leo pursed his lips in thought, considering them both. “I am being paid quite a lot,” he pointed out, like this was just another business transaction.

“Enough to be okay with the fact that there are a few hundred wolves that will shortly know your scent and where you do business?” Anthony said lowly.

“If I was afraid of the big, bad wolf,” Leo smirked, “I wouldn’t have let you in the door.”

“Well, little pig,” Jed growled, “I’m about to huff and puff and blow your fucking head in.”

Leo rolled his eyes. “Crass threats are utterly boring.” He sat again, pulling out a silver cigarette case. “Fine. Vampires are tiresome to deal with long-term. I will terminate their contract if it will get you both out of my office immediately.”

Anthony nodded. “Let’s get out of here, then, Jed.”

Jed
really
wanted to punch Leo. Or shoot him. Nonfatally! Maybe in the kneecap. But he just fixed Leo with a glower as he stood and marched out the door, Anthony beside him. They had a silent ride down the elevator, neither one exchanging a word as they stalked out to the Jeep. Jed started it up and headed out onto the highway, fingers clenched tight on the wheel.

“Vampires,” he grunted, darting a glance over at Anthony. “You think that’s true?”

Anthony frowned. “It wouldn’t surprise me. Do you think he’ll keep his word?”

“He’s a businessman.” Jed sagged back in the seat, eyes itching with exhaustion. “I think he’s going to do whatever gets him the biggest payday. Whatever the bloodsuckers are paying him can’t be worth pissing the both of us off.”

“Do you think he was telling the truth about the kidnapped wolves?” Anthony sounded skeptical. “Are they really getting… what he said?”

The thing about Anthony, Jed realized, was that he apparently couldn’t comprehend that people would kidnap sentient creatures to skin them. Jed had seen a lot worse in his day, so he had no trouble imagining it. Hell, he wouldn’t be surprised if there was a whole side business in it for Leo: exotic rugs and Murdering Fuckheads R Us.

“Nah,” he lied easily. What would be the point in saying yes? Hunters going after the pack were enough of a nightmare. Jed didn’t want to add to the pile. “Leo’s an asshole. Probably just wanted to rile you up so he’d have an excuse to sic his goons on you.”

“Right.” Though he’d sounded skeptical before, Jed could hear a little bit of relief in Anthony’s voice. “Getting wolves for rugs would be ridiculous, anyway. If you want a pelt rug, bears are way bigger.”

“Exactly.” Jed clapped Anthony on the shoulder, nodding. And he added another mark on his list of reasons to blow these goddamn hunters out of the water. Whoever was bankrolling them, whoever was pulling Leo’s strings, they needed to go down. In a very bloody fashion.

Although avoiding war would be nice. Jed wouldn’t mind not having an inter-freak battle on his hands.

“So he said that vampires are the ones calling for all this. I wonder if that’s the start of the war Victor saw in his vision,” Anthony mused. “Wolves versus vampires.”

“I don’t know.” Jed shifted, dragging his hand across his jaw and wondering where he could get some more coffee. There had to be a drive-through somewhere. “Maybe? Does that sound like something that might actually happen? I mean, I know I’m the dumb human, but wouldn’t you guys, you know,
not
want to kill each other?”

“I’m just as in the dark as you.” Anthony shrugged. “I’ve never interacted with a vampire. I think wolves and vampires generally stay away from each other. You’re right, nobody wants a war. But then you get cases like what happened in Cairo. It’s not just the vampires that cross the line either. There’s bad wolves out there too.”

“So we’re really not as different as people keep saying,” Jed pointed out with a grunt. “Hey, maybe there’s hope for us all yet.” He took an exit and pulled into a fast-food place, got out of the Jeep, and stretched. “I need coffee or I’m going to fall asleep and kill us both. You want anything?”

Anthony answered by hopping out to join him, keeping his hands warm in the pockets of his jacket. “These places never have real meat, but I’m starving so I don’t care.”

“Yeah, their coffee is going to be shit too,” Jed agreed. “But fuck, I’m about to give the Folgers can a blow job just to get some caffeine in my system, so it’ll do.” They walked in, shoulder to shoulder, and ordered a couple of breakfast sandwiches, Anthony’s heavy on the sausage, and two large black coffees.

He and Anthony traipsed back out to the Jeep and leaned against the hood of the car while they ate. It was chilly, too early yet for there to be much traffic but late enough that they’d missed the morning commute. Anthony had started moving his hands too carefully again. Whatever determination or adrenaline that had allowed him to push past his illness was gone now. Jed shrugged off his jacket and unceremoniously wrapped it around Anthony’s shoulders to help ward off the morning cold.

“You can sleep on the way back,” he told Anthony with a grunt, hunched over his coffee like it was literally a form of lifeblood. “Give me a chance to listen to some decent music instead of the crap you pick.”

“You’ve just got shit taste.” Anthony smiled wanly.

“Watch it.” Jed wagged a warning finger at him. “I’ll make you walk home.” Anthony’s quiet laugh was reward enough, and they ate in silence for another few moments. Jed watched the passing traffic on the highway beyond the parking lot, mind nicely disconnected, weariness seeping into his bones.

“So,” Anthony said eventually. Jed braced himself; he recognized that tone. A serious discussion was imminent. “Do you regret that we didn’t kill those two hunters?”

Heaving out a breath, Jed concentrated on gulping down more coffee without burning his tongue off. “Honestly? I haven’t even thought about it. Probably wouldn’t regret it if we’d done it, either. I’m not really one to dwell on jobs once they’re finished.”

“I’m glad we didn’t,” Anthony murmured. “Edwin killed a hunter before. Do you remember?”

“Yeah.” Jed folded his arms, squinting up at the sun. “Yeah, Ant, I get it.” Civilians in combat were the worst fucking thing. They weren’t trained for it, and they didn’t know how to handle the aftermath. Like Edwin.

Like Redford.

“I just hope you don’t regret it. Lot easier to sleep at night when you know the thing that’s out there trying to kill you is dead.”

“I told him that he shouldn’t feel guilty,” Anthony mused. “We were getting attacked, and he had to protect his pack. But those hunters that we scared off? They were sleeping. I don’t think I could have lived with myself if we’d killed them.”

After a beat, Jed glanced over at Anthony. This was a guy who’d raised two kids by himself, no help from goddamn anyone. He hunted his own meat, he dealt with a disease that was eating him from the inside, he was basically Superman. He had a code. Even men like the ones who killed his parents had some kind of worth to him.

He was a better man than Jed was. And, hell, Anthony wasn’t even a man.

“Okay, Jiminy Cricket.” Nodding, Jed finished the rest of his coffee and tossed the Styrofoam cup toward a nearby bin. “Lesson learned. Can we hit the road now?”

Anthony just smiled in reply. After they got rid of the rest of their trash, Anthony climbed into the Jeep and relaxed back into his seat, closing his eyes. Jed, despite what he’d threatened, didn’t turn the radio on at all. He drove as Anthony slept, making the long trip back as quickly as he could. They parked the Jeep, and he woke Anthony to make the trek up to the camp.

They were greeted ten minutes out by one of the sentries, which made Jed want to practically burst with pride. As soon as the Fur Pigeon made sure it was really them, they were let through. Redford was waiting right at the entrance to the camp, visibly relieved that they were both in one piece. Jed went to him, immediately wrapping his arms tightly around him, burying his face in Redford’s neck.

“You okay?” he asked, needing to hear it again. No matter what the doc had said, Jed needed to hear it from Redford.

Pulling up the sleeve of his T-shirt, Redford showed him the bullet graze. “Just four stitches,” he reassured. “You’ve had worse cutting yourself shaving.”

Yeah, like he cared. Jed pressed a careful kiss just below the bandage, silently apologizing for that wound as well. One more way he’d failed. He was racking up quite a count. “Come on,” he murmured, arm hooking around Redford’s waist as if he couldn’t bear the thought of being too separate. “Anthony and I need to update the Gray Lady. Which means you’re coming with me, because I am going to want to stick close for a while.”

Redford looked like he wouldn’t have it any other way. They made their path toward the campfires, numerous wolves giving Jed and Anthony curious, anticipatory looks as they passed. The Gray Lady was waiting for them by one of the larger fires, surrounded by younger wolf cubs. She raised her head to acknowledge them as they came close.

“Well?” she asked, as if their conversation hours ago was merely being continued now with no break at all.

“It’s vampires.” Jed didn’t see any point beating around the bush. “They were paying O’Malley. I’m pretty sure we’ve convinced him it’s no longer worth his while to continue that particular arrangement, but I don’t know if they’d try someone else. Or if there’s even anyone else for them to go to.”

“
Vampires
?” Victor looked like he wasn’t sure whether to be confused or horrified. “I know there’s something of an odd rivalry, but I’d hoped….” He trailed off, staring hard at the ground.

The Gray Lady looked over at him. “Your vision?” A nod was the only response Victor gave. Jed glanced over, half frowning. This was probably a David thing. Most of the time when Victor got that look, the one half like he’d sucked sour grapes and half like he liked it, it was a David thing. Which meant Jed really, really didn’t want to talk about it.

“In any case, I think we’re in the clear. At least for now.” Jed looked back at the Gray Lady. “If you have anyone in the vampire world you can talk to, you might want to. Because the last thing we need is both sides starting a goddamn war.”

From her expression, he may as well have suggested she roll around in shit. “We don’t keep contact with leeches,” she sniffed.

“Maybe you should start,” Victor said bluntly. “Jed’s right. Diplomatic contact may be essential at this point.” But even he didn’t look convinced by his own argument.

It was a mistake. Jed could see that so clearly. If vampires and wolves wanted to duke it out like some cheesy B-rated horror flick, then fine. But people would get caught in the crossfire. Half bloods, humans,
Redford
, they’d get stuck in the middle, and that could get very bad, very fast.

But right then, Jed was exhausted, he was hungry, and he wanted Redford. None of those things would be helped by having a long debate on the merits of diplomacy. So Jed just nodded and took Redford’s hand, breaking up the little meeting and heading back to their tent.

“You really need sleep,” Redford told him softly, ushering Jed into the tent when they reached it. “Everybody else can handle the strategy talks now.”

“I’m fine,” he insisted, but it was habit now. Jed collapsed face-first into their bed of blankets and pillows, barely managing to kick off his boots before he burrowed into the warmth. “How’s your arm? Does it hurt?” He cracked one eye open and peered up at Redford. “Shit, it does, doesn’t it? I should have gotten you some pain pills.” He tried to struggle back up, getting caught in the blankets around his legs. “I think I have some left in my bag.”

“Jed.” Redford put a hand on his chest, pushing him back down onto the blankets, then crawled in after him. “It hurts, but it just aches. I’m okay.”

He still wanted to get Redford the pills, but his whole body felt too heavy to move. So Jed just wrapped his arms carefully around Redford’s waist, pulling him in close. “I thought I lost you.” The admission felt like he’d let out some agonizing weight that had been crushing him slowly since he’d heard the first gunshot. “I hate that feeling, Red.”

“I’m sorry. I should have been watching my surroundings better,” Redford whispered, getting that guilty look on his face again.

Wait, what? How had that happened? Jed frowned at the way Redford’s lips were pulling down, touching his thumbs to the creases at the corners of Redford’s mouth as if he could smooth them away. “Why are you saying sorry?” he asked, voice thick with approaching sleep. “It’s not your fault.”

Redford didn’t answer right away. Instead, he leaned forward, brushing a kiss against Jed’s forehead. He stroked his fingers through Jed’s hair, knowing the motion always had Jed’s eyes falling closed in relaxation. “It doesn’t matter,” Redford murmured. “Get some sleep, Jed.”

“Not until you tell me it wasn’t your fault.” It was getting harder to string words together, but Jed struggled valiantly to do just that. He snuggled in closer to Redford, letting out a slow breath of content at the feeling of Redford’s fingers. “’Cause it wasn’t. It was their fault. I blew them up for it. They ran away like scared little rabbits.”

He felt Redford smile against his forehead. “Fine. It wasn’t my fault.”

“Damn straight.” Cracking a giant yawn, Jed buried his face into Redford’s chest, relaxing. “Love you,” he mumbled before he lost the ability to speak altogether.

“Love you too,” he heard Redford say. And then he slipped into sleep completely.