Replica (The Blood Borne Series Book 2) (23 page)

“Don’t get between them. Ever.”

Madre de Dios
, I did not want another reason to like Ivan. But he made it damn hard. Rachel held a hand out to me and helped me up. It worried me that I needed her help. Already I could feel the bites from the wolves coursing through me, like a sickness tightening its hold second by second. Vampires didn’t get sick...I could only imagine what was happening to me.

How long would I be able to remain standing?

“How much of what Antonio said is true?” Rachel asked. “And don’t blow me off. I’d like a real answer.”

I kept a hand on her shoulder, steadying myself as we walked up the slow sloping sand dune and out to where I’d seen the handlers with the wolves. I’d seen them; I
knew
I had.

“Vampires can lose their minds. But it happens to those who do not bond with a human from the era they live in. I was bonded to Calvin, and he helped me adjust to how much the world had changed from when I was turned. Without him to steady me, I would have lost my mind.”

“Fuck, but you don’t have anyone now? How long can you go without a human bonded to you?”

I closed my eyes as disappointment flowed through me. Apparently I hadn’t communicated the truth to her after all. I’d wanted to believe Ivan was wrong, that Rachel had understood what I’d told her on the plane.

For now, I would let her believe she would be free of me one day. “I have time. Calvin has not been gone long. Barely a few weeks.”

“So when?”

“In the next year. What I saw on the dunes, though...I think I might know what they were, but I need you to look. I...I want you to see what I saw.”

Because if I wasn’t going crazy, then what I saw was a big fucking problem. The kind of supernatural problem that was legendary even to a vampire of my age.

I found the spot where I’d first seen the handlers and their wolves, and I pressed my fingers lightly into Rachel’s arm. “There, do you see the wolf tracks?”

“Yes. Big-ass motherfuckers that they were, they’re hard to miss, aren’t they?”

I guided her toward a chunk of chain and leather half buried in the sand. “Get that.”

She moved away from me and I swayed where I stood. Whatever good the shepherd had done for me, I’d lost it and then some in that fight.

Rachel scooped the leash and bits of muzzle up. “Fuck me. Who could hold a werewolf on a leash and survive?”

I went to my knees, my throat convulsing as the sickness from the werewolves spread. I knew what I needed, but there was only Rachel. “Shadow men. They...” I couldn’t get the words out. “I need to feed, Rachel. Now.” I put some weight on the words, but I couldn’t look at her. Shame filled me that I had to ask my friend for her blood. Shame and fear. If she turned from me, I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t tackle her and take what I needed regardless of her wishes.

She dropped to my side, going to one knee, though her movements were heavy with hesitation and unease. “Will it hurt?”

I shook my head and grabbed her arm, the pulse in her wrist beckoning me. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t fucking apologize. Just don’t turn me into a vamp.”

I swallowed and lifted her wrist to my mouth. “Deal.”

CHAPTER 24

RACHEL

I prepared myself for the puncture, telling myself it would be over in a short time. But the bite dredged up memories of the first time I’d come face to face with a vampire. How he’d almost bled me dry. And how Lea had saved me.

So while I hated every fucking minute of feeling my blood being sucked out of my veins, I was willing to do it for her. And while I wasn’t about to volunteer the information, I’d do it again if the need arose.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Antonio snarled, grabbing Lea’s shoulder, and throwing her off me.

Lea hissed, but I had rolled to my feet, and the blade from my boot was already in my hand and pointed at him.

“Stay out of this, Cazador.”

Lea looked stronger than before and ready to attack, but I shot her a glare. “Lea. No. Let me handle this.”

She showed me her fangs, and I suspect anyone else would have had their head ripped off.

I turned my full attention to Antonio, who seemed more than ready for a fight.

“You let that parasite feed from you.”

“I helped my friend, something you don’t seem to understand.”

He burst out laughing. “That abomination doesn’t know the first thing about being your
friend
.” He spat the word out like he’d choked on spoiled milk. His glance darted to my blade and he growled. “How many times do you plan to threaten me with the blade I gave you? Can you not see that I am only trying to protect you?”

My eyes narrowed as I continued to hold out the blade. “You neglected to tell me the blade came with strings, but if you want it back, too damn bad. It’s mine now.”

“
Strings
?” he demanded. “I gave you a way to protect yourself when your friend—who knows the world you dally in—did not. I was the one to watch over you when Stravinsky’s men followed you after you met Hades in the Financial District.”

“I can take care of myself!” The insinuation that I couldn’t pissed me off. I didn’t need to prove
anything
to him.

His expression softened, but only slightly. “My blade helps you do that,
mi amor
. What has the bloodsucker given you?”

“Why do we keep having this conversation?” I snarled, my grip tightening on the blade. “I’m sick to death of talking about it. I’ve made my choice, and if you can’t deal with it, go the fuck away! It has nothing to do with
you
!”

“Choice,” he snorted. “You think you have been given
a choice
?”

“Enough.” Lea stormed past me and grabbed his arm. Dragging him backward, she said, “We need to chat about boundaries.”

“Nice knowing you, Antonio,” I called after him, surprised he wasn’t giving Lea more resistance.

“Why do you hate him so much?” Ivan asked from the darkness, moving slowly toward me. He was still limping, but it didn’t look so bad considering he’d had a broken femur an hour before.

I squatted and stuffed my blade into my boot. “Jesus, Ivan. I don’t have superhuman sight or hearing like you and Lea. A little warning would be nice.”

“Sorry, but you evaded the question.”

I shook my head and groaned. “I refuse to discuss my feelings for that asshole.”

“Your feelings could get us all killed.”

That pissed me off, and my exhaustion sure didn’t help. I grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer. “Don’t you ever suggest I would do something to intentionally hurt any of us.”

“I didn’t mean you’d do it intentionally. All I meant was that you need to face why you hate him so much. And this—” his eyes shifted to my hand, “—looks pretty damn intentional.”

I shoved him away, cursing under my breath. He was right. Antonio threw me off balance. “I hate him because he represents everything I ran away from growing up. The kind of men who always told me I wasn’t smart enough, wasn’t strong enough. Wasn’t good enough. That I was weak because my chromosomes were different than theirs.

“I’ve busted my ass to prove them wrong—in everything I’ve done. When I was a reporter here, I had to be tougher and stronger and braver than all the men just to prove myself their equal. I’ve proven myself over and over, and I’m done. So if that asshole finds me lacking, he can go fuck himself.”

What I didn’t add was that I’d let men use me and trick me, and I was officially done. Men were good for two things: opening jars and a good fuck. As far as I was concerned, Lea could open all the jars I needed and my vibrator would take care of the second.

He gave me a short nod. “I understand. I’m sorry.”

That caught me by surprise, and a smile curved my lips as I put my hands on my hips. “Imagine that. A man who apologizes. Lea should snatch you up.” Still, he was a reminder that all men might not fit into my very narrow lens. But now was not the time to get philosophical.

He grinned and started to say something, then paused abruptly. I knew he’d just been alerted to something.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Vehicles. Coming this way.”

“How far?”

“Outside of town but approaching fast.”

“It could be Baran’s transport. He was trying to put a rush on it. The more road we put between us and the village before daylight, the better.” I could hear the low rumble, but without binoculars or night vision goggles, I couldn’t do anything. “Where’s Lea?”

He nodded to my right. “She’s on the hill with the thorn in your side.”

“We need to get her. Now. If it’s Baran, we won’t have much time.” Without giving him a chance to answer, I jogged over to a Humvee that had stopped at the corner of a nearby building. A man got out and looked around before his gaze settled on me. It only took a few seconds for me to recognize my friend.

“Baran,” I said softly as I started toward him.

He pulled me into a hug, thumping me on the back. “I never expected to see you again.” His gaze shifted and I realized Lea was standing behind me.

“Have you heard of a facility that is conducting experiments? Human experiments?”

“We are always hearing rumors.”

“Anything I can count on?”

“What kind of story are you pursuing?” he asked.

“It’s better you don’t know. And hopefully I can get it shut down before you ever do. Did you get everything I needed?”

“Yes.” He led me to the truck and showed me a bag on the passenger seat. “Laptop, tools, weapons, explosives, GPS locator, maps, and satellite phone. Food and water in the back, a few extra goodies just in case.”

“You are amazing to get this together in such a short time,” I murmured. “Now you and I are even.”

But he scowled. “After everything you did to help my family, we will never be even as long as you draw breath.”

I put my hand on his arm. “Thank you, Baran.”

He nodded and walked toward an idling truck as I grabbed the bag and pulled out the GPS. “Now, we have a real chance of finding this place.” I grinned at Lea. “We can plug in the coordinates Hades gave me.” My gaze landed on Antonio. “Do you still want him to come with us?”

Her eyes darkened. “Yes.”

“Then he can drive so I can back up my busted computer onto my new one. I estimate we’ll be there in about seven hours. Lea, you wait in the back and stay hidden.” I grinned at her. “And maybe take a nap. With Ivan.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but I cut her off. “I’d keep Ivan up front with me, but I don’t want to leave you alone, and I sure as hell don’t trust Antonio with you. Which means Ivan goes in the back.”

I expected an argument, but she got into the back and dragged Ivan with her. Then she stopped and studied me with a strange look on her face.

“Rachel?” she asked, her voice heavy.

“Yeah.”

“Don’t let Antonio get to you.”

I scowled. It was too damn late for that.