Immortal Ever After (3 page)

By the time Bricker rejoined him, Anders was done cleaning and bandaging the wound and simply standing at the door of the van staring at the mortal woman.

“Do you want me to drive?” Bricker asked, peering curiously at the woman in the van.

“Yes.” Anders hadn’t intended to say that, but wasn’t surprised when the word slipped out. It was a good idea. Bricker could drive and he could ride in the back with Valerie. If she woke during the journey, he would be there to keep her calm and prevent her doing herself further injury during the drive.

“Let’s move,” he ordered, getting into the back and pulling the door closed.

Two

V
alerie woke up feeling like a train wreck victim. Every inch of her seemed to be aching or sore. But when she tried to shift to a more comfortable position she learned her back right side was the worst. Moving had sent a shaft of pain shooting through her that made her suck in a sharp breath. Memory followed on the heels of the pain, crashing into her head like an angry bull. Her eyes immediately shot open. They just as quickly blinked closed when they were assaulted by bright light. After ten days spent mostly in utter darkness, it appeared her eyes were sensitive. But she had to know where she was and what the situation was. Valerie was pretty sure she was no longer lying in the dirt outside the house of horrors, but where was she now? Had help come? Was she in a hospital? Or had her kidnapper spotted her outside on the ground under his bushes and taken her with him? The bright light rather than the pitch black she was used to suggested she was safe, but Valerie had to know for sure.

She forced her eyes open a crack, and then a little more, and more still until she could make out the white ceiling overhead. That was reassuring, she told herself and opened her eyes a little further, her head shifting on what felt like a pillow so that she could take in her surroundings. The first thing she saw was an IV stand to her left with a half-empty bag of clear liquid in it.

She allowed herself to relax a little then, but continued to force her eyes open and peer around. Some of her tension returned when she noted the dark wood furnishings in the room and the pale blue walls. She was lying in a sleigh bed, but there was also a dresser, two bedside tables, and then a chair against the wall on one side of the bed, and two chairs and a small table by a window with baby blue blinds on the other side of the bed. It was all very attractive and soothing . . . and not a hospital.

That realization had her trying to sit up. It was a bit of a struggle. She was weak and so achy and sore everywhere, but she managed the feat and followed it up with removing the IV needle from the back of her left hand.

Valerie gave herself a moment to enjoy the first accomplishment, then shifted her feet to the floor and eased off the edge of the mattress to stand on shaky legs. So far, so good, she told herself when they didn’t collapse under her.

“Oh good, you’re awake.”

That cheerful voice drew her gaze to the door to see a very pregnant brunette entering . . . extremely pregnant. The woman was petite everywhere except for having an almost freakishly huge stomach bulging out in front of her. Valerie didn’t know how the woman was carrying that burden around without some kind of sling around it to aid her in bearing the weight.

“I know. I’m huge,” the woman said, rubbing her stomach with a self-conscious laugh as she approached the bed.

Realizing she was staring rudely at the protuberance, Valerie forced her eyes to the woman’s face. “Where am I?”

The question came out in a cracked, raspy voice and actually hurt her throat. It felt like someone had scoured the lining of her throat with an SOS pad while she was sleeping. Nasty.

“A safe house,” the brunette answered as she reached her side. She then leaned past her to pick up a glass of clear fluid from the bedside table. She offered the beverage to Valerie. “It’s water. Room temperature by now, I’m sure, but it will wet your whistle.”

Valerie hesitated, but then accepted the glass. She didn’t know the brunette from Eve, but she’d said this was a safe house, and the woman was pretty non-threatening. It was hard to imagine her being in league with the likes of Igor or his boss and drugging her water, so she risked it and took a tentative sip. When she didn’t taste anything amiss, Valerie relaxed and gulped down half the glass in one go. The liquid was silky and soothing in her mouth and throat, and made her realize how parched she’d been.

“Thank you,” Valerie murmured as she lowered the glass.

“You’re welcome.” The brunette smiled widely and held out her hand. “I’m Leigh Argeneau.”

“Valerie Moyer,” Val responded, placing her free hand in the woman’s to shake.

“It’s nice to meet you, Valerie,” Leigh said with a smile. “How are you feeling?”

“Sore, weak, and like I need a shower,” Val answered honestly.

“I’m not surprised you’re sore,” Leigh said with a nod. “You took a heck of a beating. You have bruises everywhere, and your back wound is probably tender as well. I’m afraid only time is going to help with that,” she added apologetically. “But we can do something about a shower. Can you walk on your own, or shall I help you?”

“I can manage,” Valerie assured her.

“Then follow me,” Leigh said, turning on her heel. She headed for a door on the other side of the bed, adding, “The weakness shouldn’t last long. You lost a lot of blood before our doctor could get you sewn up, but she gave you a couple of pints to replace it before switching you to saline in the IV. Hopefully, between that and the fact that you only sustained a flesh wound, you should quickly regain your strength and feel more yourself.”

Valerie didn’t comment, but suspected Leigh was right. She was already feeling less shaky, and suspected after a shower and some food she’d feel better still. She couldn’t wait. But she also had some questions. “This safe house—”

“Is my home,” Leigh said as she opened the door and led her into a bathroom decorated in dark shades of blue. Casting a smile over her shoulder, she added, “Well, mine and my husband’s, Lucian. He runs the Enforcement team that responded to your 911 call.” She paused and then turned to Valerie to admit, “Well, actually Mortimer is the one in charge of the men, but he answers to Lucian.” She shrugged. “Anyway, they found the other women in the basement and then searched and found you in the bushes. They took the other women to the Enforcer house, but brought you here so the doctor could tend you. It’s for the best,” she added quickly when Valerie frowned at the knowledge that she’d been separated from the other women. “There weren’t enough beds at the Enforcer house for all of you and this way you could get more individual attention.”

Valerie relaxed and nodded, but asked, “Why not a hospital?”

“Your kidnapper got away and they were afraid you wouldn’t be safe in a hospital,” Leigh said quietly.

Valerie stiffened at this news. She’d killed Igor, but his boss, the one behind all of the ills that had befallen her, had got away with it. Son of a bitch.

“You’re safe here,” Leigh said. “Lucian won’t let anything happen to you.”

Valerie didn’t comment. She was more pissed than worried about the escape of Igor’s boss. She might have been knocked out and dragged off once, but she wouldn’t allow it to happen again. And she resented the fact that the bastard had got away with it. However, there was nothing she could do about that, so she pushed the thoughts away as Leigh said, “I’ll leave you alone to take your bath.”

“I’d rather shower than bathe,” she said with a grimace.

Leigh paused at the door and turned to face Valerie. “I’m sorry, but it’s better if you bathe this time. You aren’t very steady on your feet and I don’t want you to slip in the shower and add to the bruises and bumps you already have. Besides, Dani said you weren’t to get your bandages wet and this is the easiest way to ensure that.”

“Dani?” Valerie asked.

“Dr. Dani Pimms,” Leigh explained. “She’s the one who sewed you up and took care of you.”

“Oh,” Valerie murmured, then sighed and moved to the tub to set the stopper and turn on the taps, muttering, “I suppose a bath will have to do then.”

Leigh smiled faintly at her grumbling, and moved over to collect a washcloth and towel from the cupboard beside the sink, saying, “The shampoo, conditioner, and soap are on the side of the tub.”

“Thank you,” Valerie said, taking the towel and washcloth from her.

“You’re welcome. I guess I’ll leave you to it then,” Leigh said cheerfully, moving to the door. “Don’t forget you aren’t supposed to get your bandages wet, so you don’t want the water too deep. I’ll stay in the bedroom in case you run into any problems. Yell if you need me.”

Valerie said, “thank you,” again as the door closed, then turned to survey the bath. The water was almost halfway up the tub and that was without her in it. She set the towel and washcloth on the closed toilet seat and turned off the water, then straightened and peered down at herself.

Her eyebrows rose as she took in the pretty white cotton nightgown she wore. It wasn’t really her style. An overlarge T-shirt was her usual nightwear. Valerie suspected it was probably Leigh’s, put on her after her arrival here.

Whether it was her style or not, she appreciated the loan. Her clothes had been filthy after ten days in them, but jumping out the window and crawling through the dirt under the bushes had made them positively disgusting.

Maybe even more disgusting than her hair presently was, she thought, catching sight of herself in the mirror over the sink. Either Leigh or the doctor had obviously made some attempt to clean her up because her face was clean, as were her arms, but her blond hair was greasy and limp, with clumps of dirt in it, and her scalp was brown between the strands. Cripes, she didn’t recall landing after jumping out of the window, but if she were to guess from looking at her head, she’d say she’d landed on it.

Smiling slightly at the ridiculous thought, Valerie turned and quickly stripped off the nightgown, then stepped into the tub. She settled carefully into it, but had to shift her foot under her butt and sit on it to keep her bandage above the water line. With all her aches and pains, it wasn’t a comfortable position. It was going to be a fast bath.

As she quickly washed away almost two weeks of sweat and stench, Valerie thought of all the things she hadn’t asked Leigh yet. Her host had said the other women had been taken to the Enforcer house, which Valerie assumed was a real safe house. But Leigh hadn’t said how they were physically and mentally and that was something Valerie was wondering about now that she knew she was safe.

“How are you doing?” Leigh called through the door.

“Good,” Valerie answered.

“You’ll probably need help washing your hair,” Leigh said. “Let me know when you’re ready and I’ll help you.”

Valerie gave a noncommittal grunt, but she was now considering the problem. She couldn’t just lie back and dunk her head in the water. She was supposed to keep her bandage dry.

Her gaze slid to the showerhead a good distance above the tub taps. It was one with a long metal-covered hose attached. It could be used as a normal showerhead, or removed from its holder and handheld for more interesting angles.

“Perfect,” Valerie murmured as she stood up and stepped out of the tub. After quickly drying herself, she wrapped the towel around herself sarong style and then turned back to retrieve the handheld showerhead. She was standing outside of the tub, bent forward, soaking her head over the tub when she thought she heard her name. Pausing, she glanced toward the door and listened, but wasn’t sure if she’d heard anything or not over the rush of water. Then the door suddenly opened and Leigh peered worriedly in.

“Oh, good, you’re all right,” she said, and then set another white cotton gown on the counter as she explained, “I stepped out for a minute to fetch you a fresh nightgown and called out to be sure you were okay when I got back, but you didn’t answer.” She hesitated, then stepped into the room, saying, “Let me help with that.”

“I can manage,” Valerie assured her.

“I’m sure you can, but it will be faster with help and I’m concerned about you pulling your stitches.”

Since the stitches in her back were already tugging a bit painfully, Valerie didn’t protest further. The moment she lowered her arms, the pulling eased so she supposed it was for the best.

“I meant to ask earlier,” she said as Leigh finished dampening her hair and squirted on some shampoo. “How are the other women? Did they all make it out all right?”

Leigh was silent as she finished lathering her hair, then sighed and admitted, “I’m afraid one of the women was dead when the men arrived. Another died during the first night.”

“Bethany and Janey,” Valerie said, her mouth tightening. If she were walking down the street and ran into any one of the women from that house of horrors, she wouldn’t even recognize them. She only knew them as voices in the dark, but those voices had helped keep her sane. They’d all encouraged and given each other hope in that hell. However, Bethany and Janey had grown quieter each day she’d been there. Janey had fallen completely silent the second to last night there, Bethany that last night. Valerie had feared the worst and it seemed her fears had been well founded.

“The others are all right though,” Leigh continued encouragingly as she started to rinse out the shampoo. “One or two were pretty weak, but bounced back after a few good meals and a couple nights’ sleep.”

“A couple nights’ sleep?” Valerie asked with a start and instinctively tried to turn her head to look at her, but jerked her head down again when she got a face full of water.

“Sorry. Are you all right? Do you want a towel or something to dry your face?” Leigh asked.

“No, it’s all right.” Valerie wiped the worst of the water away with her fingers. She then asked, “How long have I been here?”

“I’m sorry, I should have said,” Leigh muttered as she rinsed her hair. “This is the third night that you’ve been here.”

“I’ve been here three nights?” Valerie asked with disbelief. “I don’t remember any of it until waking up here today.”