Duncan (26 page)

Kenny laughed, shaking his head, turning toward Tessa. “Well you turned into a little badass now, didn’t you?” He picked up his leg to kick her, but she grabbed his foot, yanking it hard, sending him to the floor.

Fear spurred her forward, but before she could make it to the door, her foot was grabbed making her fall to her knees. With one yank, she was on her stomach being pulled back into the house. Picking up her other foot, she kicked him in the face repeatedly, but his hold didn’t loosen.

When Pam noticed Tessa just stood there staring, horror evident on her face, Pam screamed, “Go, dammit!”

“I’m not leaving you.” Tessa ran back into the house.

“You are going to pay for that, bitch.” Kenny climbed on top of her turning her over. As his fist raised to smash down on Pam’s face, she remembered a lesson learned during her training. Thrusting up with the palm of her hand, she smashed it against his nose, just as a loud clunk echoed in the room. Kenny groaned, slumping forward.

Tessa stood over him with a lamp she had cracked him with.

Pam scrambled out from under him to her feet, grabbed Tessa and took off out the door. As soon as both women hit the ground, they slid in the mud, Pam’s phone skidding out of her hand.

“Dammit.” Pam reached, grabbing her phone out of the mud. With trembling fingers, she went to her messages and hit send, sending the message she had programmed to Duncan with the address of where she went. The click of a gun made her cringe, her eyes closing in defeat. This was it. She would never see Duncan or Daniel again. Her heart broke.

“If you just messaged the Warriors, they’re going to be too late. Now get the fuck up, you worthless slut,” Kenny spat. 

The sound of triple quick beeps of a text alert echoed in the darkness.

“We’re already here.” Duncan’s voice rose out of the darkness.

Pam looked up, her hair plastered to her head and face as the cold rain beat down. She watched as each Warrior appeared, removing black hooded cloaks that blended them into the darkness.

“Well, welcome to the party.” Kenny aimed the gun at Tessa. “But you’re a little too late for the human.”

In a movement so quick, Duncan threw something that whizzed over the women’s heads. Pam ducked, then turned to see a knife sticking out of Kenny’s arm and the gun dropping to the ground.

Kenny’s scream of pain was enough to send Pam and Tessa running. Duncan grabbed Pam putting her safely behind him. She looked around his arm to see Kenny pulling the knife out of his arm.

“You fucker,” Kenny screamed, throwing the knife back at Duncan who just batted it away.

“Get her out of here,” Duncan ordered, his eyes never leaving Kenny.

“But…” Pam tried to argue, but Sid was there grabbing her.

“Now!” Duncan’s tone was low, but the authority made it seem like he shouted.

“Pam, get back here!” Kenny yelled stomping toward her, an insane look in his eyes, the look of a man who knew he was about to die. “Pam!”

Duncan took two steps, punching Kenny in the face. “You’re not fit to say her name, you worthless son of a bitch.”

Kenny’s head snapped back as blood spurted from his nose. He tried to punch back, but missed, landing in the mud. Duncan used his boot, pushing Kenny’s head and face into the mud.

“How does it feel to be humiliated, you bastard?” Pushing down hard one last time, he removed his foot. “Get up!” Duncan growled.

“She will never be yours,” Kenny grunted, spitting mud and blood. “I made damn sure she would never forget me. Every time you fuck that bitch, it will be me she sees and fear she feels.”

Duncan grabbed him around the throat and lifted him in the air. “She is a strong woman and has already moved on.” Duncan squeezed harder, making him splutter and claw at his hand. “I will erase you from her memory. After this moment, you will never be thought of again. You will
never
hurt her again.”

Dropping Kenny to his feet, he turned him around pushing him up to the house and inside. Slamming the door with his foot, he smacked Kenny in the back of the head just like he knew Kenny had done to Pam.

“What are you doing?” Kenny tripped, catching himself.

Duncan didn’t say a word and dodged when Kenny came at him swinging. With one well-placed kick to the stomach, Kenny was down on the ground sucking air. “Making sure you never bring Pam pain again.” Duncan punched him again in the face, satisfied when one of his fangs broke.

“You broke my fang,” Kenny cried out, feeling it with his finger.

Duncan punched him on the other side of the mouth. When he didn’t break that one, he punched him again until it did. “I don’t have a file, or I’d file the fucking things down to the gums.”

A black-hooded figure came in handing Duncan his cape. Duncan put it on lifting the hood over his head. He took the container, and then nodded at the other figure who turned and walked to the kerosene heater in the corner and lit it. Without looking their way, the hooded figure walked out of the room.

“What is that?” Kenny’s eyes filled with fear when the smell of kerosene filled the air. “What’s going on?”

Duncan grabbed him, throwing him to the couch and holding him there with his foot. “Don’t think I didn’t see the faded burn scars on Pam’s skin, you sick fuck.” Duncan sprayed kerosene on Kenny, making sure he moved his foot.

“You can’t do this,” Kenny shouted, not looking so sure, the smug confidence finally disappearing off his face. “This is murder.”

“No,” Duncan replied, pulling his hood back so Kenny’s half-breed eyes could see his full-blooded Warrior eyes. “This is justice, the way the Warriors used to exert justice to rapists and anyone who hurt women.”

“No, please.” Kenny attempted to get up, but Duncan’s boot pushed him back down.

“How many times did Pam say those same exact words to you?” Duncan hissed.

Kenny stared at him in horror, realizing the position he was now in.

“That’s what I thought, you son of a bitch,” Duncan growled. “Any man who raises a hand against a woman deserves to die.”

Duncan lit the match with his fingernail, holding it up. “Have a nice sleep…in hell, you bastard.” Duncan flipped the match, watching with a morbid satisfaction as Kenny burned, taking all the evil he had ever done to Pam with him. “Fuck you!” Duncan spat, turned and walked out of the house, his hood up.

*****

Pam stood shuffling from foot to foot, her hands rubbing together. They had stopped on the wooded trail next to the river. Damon had caught up minutes before, but Duncan was still gone. A large boom sounded as the night sky lit up with flames.

She went to take off, but Jared, who still held Tessa, stopped her. “Wait.”

A shadowy figure appeared on the trail heading for them. When Jared let go of her arm, Pam took off, slipping and sliding in the mud. Without slowing, she jumped into Duncan’s arms, almost knocking him off balance, and held him tight.

“He will never hurt you again.” Duncan held her firmly, holding her to his chest and breathing in her scent, a scent he had feared never to experience again.

Pam, still wrapped around him, grasped his face in her hands. “Thank you.”

“I wish I could have prevented the first part.” He looked at the swelling in her face, anger blazing from his eyes. “And we are going to have a long talk about your little ‘adventure’.”

“How did you know where I was?”  Pam frowned.

“Nicole remembered you talking about this place. It was a long shot, but it paid off.” Duncan glared at her. “Don’t ever do anything like that again.”

A moment of guilt flickered through her eyes at his fear. “What happened?” Her eyes looked over his shoulder at the flames.

“It’s dangerous to fall asleep with a kerosene heater.” Duncan set her down, wrapping her in his cape.

“We need to get out of here.” Damon hurried past them as sirens blared in the distance.

Pam felt tears roll down her cheeks. She knew what he had done for her, and the last resistance on her heart broke away. “I love you.”

Duncan leaned down and kissed her. “I love you more.”

As the police and fire department screamed past, no one noticed the cloaked figures making their way through the woods along the river.

As they made their way quickly through the darkness, Pam reached deep into her pocket, pulled her ring out and placed it on her finger. Rightness settled over her.

“I understand why you took it off this time, but I don’t ever want it off your finger again.” Duncan kissed the top her head.

“Never,” Pam replied with a sigh of pure happiness.

Chapter 28

Everyone sat in the games room, wrapping paper scattered everywhere. The Christmas tree sat in the corner, lights and ornaments twinkling festively. Pam held Daniel who was growing quickly, but not as quickly as they were afraid of. Slade was keeping a close eye on him. The only effects so far of Pam’s being a half-breed was that he healed more quickly than a human did.

Her eyes roamed the room landing on Duncan who stood talking to Damon, but his eyes were watching her. She grinned at him; he winked back.

Jill was still recovering from her gunshot wound. None of them could tell if there was something between her and Slade. Time would tell, although Pam had her suspicions from the furtive glances they cast at one another when they thought no one was watching.

“Can I hold him?” Tessa sat down next to Pam.

“You sure can.” Pam handed Daniel over to her. “So what did Jared get you for Christmas?”

Nicole heard and sat down across from them. “Yeah, what did Jared get you?”

Tessa looked up at Jared, who was staring at her. “Nothing yet.”

Pam frowned. “Don’t tell me you guys are still fighting?”

“No, it’s not that.” Tessa smiled, her face had fading bruises from Kenny’s abusive hand. “He doesn’t want to give me what I want.”

“And what’s that?” Nicole glared at Jared. “I know what these Warriors are worth and if he’s being a tight ass, then I’ll-”

“I want him to change me.” Tessa cut her off, handing Daniel to Nicole. “And he doesn’t want to.”

“Oh, ah…” Nicole looked at Pam, wide-eyed at a loss of what to say.

“Well, Christmas isn’t over yet,” Pam added. Nicole rolled her eyes at her. Well at least it was better than ‘oh, ah’ Pam thought.

“What did you guys get?” Tessa changed the subject.

“Damon got me a new coat and a few other things.” Nicole grinned. “I didn’t want much because I want to work on finding a house.”

“What did you get, Pam?” Nicole nodded toward her.

“A wedding.” Pam grinned when they both just stared at her. When her words finally sunk in, both women screamed, scaring poor Daniel, making him scream right along with them.

“They give me a heart attack every time they do that,” Jared cursed, watching the women hugging each other. “What the hell is going on over there?”

“Guess Pam told them what I gave her for Christmas.” Duncan grinned, taking a long swig of beer.

“And?” Jared glanced at Damon with raised eyebrows, then looked back to Duncan. “Can you share?”

“Yeah.” Duncan laughed. “A wedding.”

Everyone was quiet until an earsplitting scream echoed in the room. Sid placed his hands on his face, and then cut the scream off. “Sorry, just couldn’t help it.” He raised his beer to Duncan. “Congrats, bro. Really,” he added before walking off.

“He’s just not right,” Jared sighed before grinning at Duncan. “Congrats, my man. When’s the big day?”

“March 18
,” Duncan replied, still grinning from ear-to-ear.

“I’m happy for you, Duncan.” Damon slapped him on the back. “You guys deserve to be happy.”

Jared glanced over watching the women talk, but noticed that Tessa was a little more subdued. Putting his beer on the bar, he headed over by the women. “I hear congratulations are in order.” He leaned down kissing Pam on the cheek.

“Thanks.” Pam smiled.

“Now, may I steal my lady away from you for a few minutes?” Jared grabbed Tessa’s hand, leading her out of the room and into another one. Closing the door, he turned. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she answered back with a blush.

“Are you okay?” Jared brushed her hair off her cheek, loving the pink blush the crept across her skin

“Yeah, why?”

“I haven’t forgotten your Christmas present, babe.” Jared rubbed her cheek with his thumb. When she didn’t say anything, he sighed. “You know I love you more than anything in this world.”

Tessa frowned. “Yes, I know.”

“No, I don’t think you do.” Jared looked away. “If I was to change you and something happened, something went wrong, I couldn’t handle it. I’m not willing to take that chance with your life.” He hated the look of hurt and disappointment that she desperately tried to hide from her face. But the thought of losing her was simply too much.

“It’s okay.” Tessa tried to smile. “I understand.”

“I’m not going to feed from Vicky anymore,” Jared reassured her. “And I’m going to talk to Slade about our situation.”

“It’s not really about Vicky.” When she saw his knowing frown, she sighed. “Okay, it is a little bit about Vicky, but I want to be the one to give you what you need. Why can’t you understand that? You could feed from a little old man, and I’d still feel that I wasn’t giving you what you need.”

“I have to feed, Tessa.”

“I know that, Jared.” Tessa calmed herself, knowing that getting heated wasn’t going to help the situation. “But more than anything, I want my blood to be enough for you.”

“Let me talk to Slade, okay?” Jared hugged her tight. “We will work this out.”

Tessa nodded into his chest. “I know we will.”

Jared reached behind him and locked the door. “I think I need to show you just how much I love you.”

“If you insist, Mr. Kincaid.” Tessa grinned with a sigh as he proceeded to do just that.

Jared could still see the doubt in her beautiful eyes and vowed he would spend the rest of their lives proving to her that she was the only woman he would ever love.

*****

Duncan brought in everything from the Christmas party while Pam put Daniel down for the night. Looking around his home, he smiled. It finally looked lived in. Something he had yearned for.