Dirty Blood (12 page)

I was sad for Julie and her boyfriend. I’d only met
her a couple of times, but she was nice and friendly and hadn’t
talked down to me, like an adult might. She’d treated me like I was
her peer, and I’d appreciated that. Her and my mother had spent a
lot of time together, though, and I could only imagine how hard
this was for her.

“Okay, I’m going to hang up and get some work done,”
she said. “I’ll see you later.”

I wanted to say something to make her feel better,
but I couldn’t think of anything so I just said, “Okay, um, Love
you. Bye.”

We hung up, and I could feel Wes watching me. I
shoved the phone back into my pocket and stared down at my jeans,
trying to blink the tears away before I met his eyes. He surprised
me by taking my hand and gently squeezing it.

“Did you know her well?” he asked, quietly.

Now, I did look up. “You heard that?”

He nodded. “Wolves have excellent hearing.”

“Right.” I let out a deep breath, wishing all of the
stress would go with it. “I didn’t really know her. She worked for
my mother, at the flower shop.”

“I see.” He frowned and his gaze settled on something
beyond me.

“What is it?”

“Well, whoever left you that note obviously picked
someone you knew.”

“You think they did that on purpose?”

“Probably. What are the odds?”

“So, the message about this being a preview, you
think that means they’ll do it again, with someone else I
know?”

His gaze swung back to me, and he squeezed my hand
again. “We’ll make sure they don’t.”

I felt the air in the car begin to change as I stared
back at him. It felt warm and thick, like a humid, post-rain summer
day. And even though we were already touching, palm to palm, I
suddenly had an intense desire to be closer to him, pressed to him.
My muscles ached with it and I had to restrain myself from scooting
across the seat, and wrapping my arms around his shoulders, and
burying my face in his neck.

The image wouldn’t remove itself from my mind and I
finally had to wrench my gaze from his, to keep from acting on the
impulse. I was breathing heavier, partly because of the thickness
in the air and partly from wanting to touch him. I wondered if he
was affected, too, but I couldn’t look at him again or I wouldn’t
be able to stop myself.

A second later, his hand slid free from mine, and he
reached up and turned the key in the ignition. The car purred to
life and Wes busied himself with checking the rearview and easing
us out of the lot. I pressed the button for the window, letting in
a gust of cold air. For once, I didn’t curse the cold, and was
relieved when I felt the tension melt away.

When we were on the road, Wes cleared his throat.
“Well, that was…”

I lifted my head from where I’d been leaning closer
to the open window and looked over at him. He was running a hand
through his hair, still searching for a word to describe what had
happened. He’d noticed it, too. “Different,” I finished.

He sent me a half smile. “Yeah. Definitely that.”

My phone buzzed again and I pulled it out and
hurriedly read the screen. It wasn’t my mother, but a text, from
George. ‘Babe, miss you. Call me.’ I typed out an excuse and hit
send, hoping it would be enough to keep him from stopping by this
time, and shoved the phone back into my pocket.

“Who was that?” Wes asked.

“George,” I answered, after only a few seconds
hesitation.

Wes made a noise, like he was about to speak, but
then he stopped. I looked over at him. His lips were pressed
together in a frown.

“What?” I asked.

“I just don’t understand why you chose him.”

“We broke up,” I said, like that was somehow
answering his question.

“I know. I mean, initially.”

I tried to think of an acceptable answer. I’d never
had to put it into words, before, especially not to another guy.
And not just any guy, but my human magnet. “Well, we’ve known each
other for a long time. Sort of grew up together, I guess, and I
know him better than almost anyone.”

“That’s not a reason,” Wes pointed out.

“I know. It’s not just that, though… We have a lot in
common, and I can tell him anything,” I finished.

“Anything, huh,” Wes repeated.

“Well, I used to be able to tell him anything.”

“And that’s important to you?”

“Very.” I might’ve said more, but we’d already pulled
up in front of my house.

“I’m going to park around the corner,” said Wes. “No
point in drawing attention. And whoever’s doing this might show
themselves if they think you’re alone.”

I got out, and he pulled away to park.

~ 11 ~

“So now what?” I asked. We were back in my room,
after scarfing the chicken my mother had left in the fridge, and
Jack had just called back to say the search had been a dead end.
There wasn’t even a trail to follow.

“Now, we keep looking, and you don’t go anywhere
alone.” Wes was sitting in his usual spot, in my desk chair,
twirling back and forth in half circles with his feet.

“That doesn’t sound like much of a plan. We have no
idea who’s doing this.”

“We have a few ideas worth exploring.”

“We?”

“The group.”

“And does this group include me? Or do I get left in
the dark about everything?”

Wes stopped spinning and sighed. “It might include
you. If you want.”

“You’re going to let me meet them?” I asked,
surprised.

“I probably shouldn’t,” he admitted. “But Jack asked
me to. He’s called a Cause meeting for later, and you’re invited if
you want to come.”

“Do you want me to come?” I had to ask, because even
though he’d extended the invitation, his tone seemed like he was
hoping I’d say no.

“I don’t know.”

I let out a frustrated breath. “I still don’t get why
you’re here, if you don’t want me to be a part of your world,” I
said, putting emphasis on the last two words. Because even though
it was obvious that our worlds were connected, it seemed like he
was determined to make sure they stayed separate.

Wes slid out of his chair and came over to sit by me
on the bed. He looked into my face with a gaze that seemed to
penetrate straight through me, and I found myself holding my
breath. “You intrigue me. I’ve never met anyone like you.” He
paused, and then added, “It’s probably a bad idea to involve you,
but I don’t think I have a choice anymore. And Jack thinks it’s
best if you know what’s going on.”

The way he looked at me suddenly made it very
important for me to know his motive for including me. “So you’re
only inviting me because Jack told you to.”

His gaze deepened and he leaned closer. “Why do you
keep pushing me Tara?” he asked, quietly. “I’m trying to keep you
safe.”

I squared my shoulders and gave him an even look,
refusing to be drawn into the spell of his eyes. “Well, you can
stop. I just needed time to process everything. But I’m not scared.
And Jack’s right. I have a right to know who is threatening
me.”

“I don’t think you’re scared. I think you don’t know
what you’re getting yourself into. But like I said, I don’t have a
choice. If I hadn’t come, Jack would have.”

Irritation flickered in me. Every word out of Wes’
mouth was like a rejection while the entire time, he looked at me
like … well, like he wanted a whole lot more than conversation. Or
maybe I was imagining it. The whole thing was becoming beyond
frustrating to interpret. “Well, maybe I’d be better off dealing
with Jack then. You can save yourself the trouble.” I started to
get up, but his hands shot out and grabbed my arms, holding me in
place.

His face was only inches from mine now, and he was
staring at me with that same blazing stare that made me think he
was feeling something besides just ‘protective responsibility’. I
stared back stubbornly, trying to remain unaffected. It wasn’t
working.

Slowly, he raised a hand from where it still rested
on my arm and traced his fingertips down my cheek and into my hair.
My entire body reacted by going pleasantly numb. I inhaled the
scent of crisp leather, from where his arm hung in the air by my
face; it was mixed with a dried-leaf and pine smell that could only
ever be Wes and made me think of sunshine on bare skin. His fingers
moved from my hair back to my face, and that tiny gesture was all
it took to awaken that polar pull between us.

I wasn’t even sure who leaned in first, but by the
time our lips met, it was completely mutual. His kiss was soft at
first but his touch brought with it a heat that I’d never felt
before. It radiated out and spread into the rest of my body, like
wildfire. He tasted like apple cider and the woods in summer, and
all I could think was that I’d never tasted anything so delicious.
The kiss only lasted a few seconds, and I tried to hide my
disappointment when he pulled away so quickly. He gazed back at me,
and his lips curved up into a small smile.

“Does this mean you’ve officially chosen a side?” he
asked, quietly.

“Probably,” I mumbled.

His grin widened. “Are you okay? You look kind of
distracted.”

“I didn’t exactly see that coming,” I admitted.

“Me neither.”

“Does this mean you’re okay with me coming
today?”

“Probably.”

We sat that way for a few minutes, and I waited to
see if he’d kiss me again, but he didn’t. He smiled and got up,
holding his hand out to me. “Ready?”

I nodded, still reeling from the kiss and the weight
of his eyes, and let him pull me toward the door. “So there’s going
to be others at this meeting? Like other Werewolves?”

“Yes, some.” He raised his eyebrow in a challenge. “I
thought you said you weren’t scared.”

“I’m not. I just – what if some of them aren’t happy
with me about Liliana?”

“Tara, no one’s mad at you. They all understand it
wasn’t your fault. You had no choice. Besides, we’re pretty sure
Liliana was a double agent.”

“Like I have any idea what that means,” I
mumbled.

“You don’t have to do this, you know. Get involved, I
mean. We’ll still protect you.”

His tone was gentle and meant to be reassuring but I
bristled at what he was suggesting. “So, just stay home and hide
out while somebody out there takes a shot at everyone I care about?
Let a pack of strangers fight my battles for me?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I said I wouldn’t freak out again, and I meant it.
I’m going to do whatever it takes to find this guy and stop him
from hurting people.”

He nodded, something unreadable in his eyes. “Okay,
then.”

I stopped short, throwing a glance at my closet. “Can
I have a minute to change?”

“I’ll be downstairs.”

I listened to the sound of his footsteps on the
stairs, already feeling bad for snapping at him. I hated my temper,
and I hated when it got the better of me, even more. But he’d
started it, with suggesting I stick my head in the sand. That just
wasn’t me.

When I was sure he wasn’t going to pop his head back
in, I took the plunger pieces out of my backpack and stuffed them
into my back jeans pockets. Like before, I pulled my shirt down to
hide them. Then I pulled on my boots, grabbed my sweatshirt, and
headed downstairs. Wes was waiting for me at the door.

“I’m going to pull the car around. Wait here,” he
said.

I nodded, and he slipped around the side of the
house. I turned the key in the lock on the front door and then
dropped my keys into my bag. As I did, a familiar tingly feeling
hit me, and crawled along my skin, underneath my jacket. My head
came up, and I scanned my yard, looking for the source.

Just like earlier, I saw no one, but I wasn’t going
to let it go so easily this time. I flattened myself against the
house and crept to the corner, but when I peeked around it was
empty. The quiet purr of an engine broke the silence, and I saw the
Aston Martin coming down the street, sleek and silver. The tingly
feeling abruptly disappeared. I hurried down to the curb.

Wes pulled to a stop, and I climbed in, grateful that
he’d already been blasting the heat. I held my hands up to the
vents as he pulled away.

“When you picked me up just now, did you feel
anything?” I asked, as we curved through the neighborhood.

He glanced over, sharply. “No, should I have?”

“I don’t know. I felt something…”

Wes slammed his foot down on the brake, and the car
jerked to a stop. I felt myself slam forward, and then the seat
belt caught me and held me in place. Wes swerved the car onto the
shoulder, and a spray of gravel flew up behind us as we came to a
halt. “What did you feel?”

“The same feeling I got at the pool hall. A
Werewolf.”

Wes responded by slamming a foot down on the gas and
jerking the wheel hard to the left. We spun around in a u-turn and
sped back through my neighborhood. A second later the car lurched
to another stop. Wes throw his door open and then he was out of the
car, striding quickly across my front lawn, scanning the yard as he
went.

I reluctantly followed, carefully aware of my body’s
nerve endings but there was no trace of tingles this time. I waited
on the lawn while Wes did a circle of the house. When he walked
back over to me the disapproval was plain on his face.

“You should have told me right away,” he said.

“It was already gone by the time you pulled up,” I
said defensively. “Besides, I figured I was just being paranoid,
like the other day.”

His eyes immediately narrowed, making me regret the
admission.

“What do you mean ‘like the other day’?”

“I got the same feeling in the mall parking lot on
Friday night.” I shrugged like it was no big deal. “It went away,
though, and I didn’t see anything suspicious so I figured it was
nothing, maybe an aftershock of my encounter with Liliana or
something.”