Shiver (Night Roamers) (26 page)

“Will that work?”

He frowned. “Probably not.”

He opened the door and we stepped into a long hallway near the
same elevator I’d taken to the lower level.

“Ethan, I’ll bet they’re in the basemen
t.”

“
Maybe, but as long as we’re here, let’s check the main club area first.”

I nodded and followed his lead.

Most of the lights were out in the club as we snuck inside, but there were a couple of employees cleaning the bar and stocking the shelves with more booze.

“I don’t see any sign of your brother, nor do I smell his bullshit,” he whis
pered as we crouched down behind one of the walls separating the large dance floor.

I elbowed him. “Very funny.”

He bit back a smile. “I guess that leaves the basement.”

“What if he’s not here?”

“We’ll go back to your cabin then. Maybe that’s where they’re holding him, waiting for you to show up.”

“What about my mom? Caleb talked about bringing her to Vegas tomorrow.”

He frowned. “Faye owns a hotel in Vegas. I’ll bet he’s taken your mom there.”

“Do you know where it is
?” I whispered.

He nodded.
“I can show you.”

“Thanks, Ethan.”

We ducked out of the bar and made our way to the elevators, but didn’t see any kind of stairwell leading down to the basement.

“They must have an emergency exit somewhere else,” he said. “I don’t know if I want to take th
e elevator and announce our presence.”

“But it might be the only way to save Nathan.
”

He nodded. “I know. We have to find another way, though. I’m not risking you getting hurt.”

Just then, the elevator lights were blinking. Ethan grabbed me and whisked us away back into the club, where we ducked down under some tables. Seconds later, Faye walked into the club with a large bald guy wearing a suit. He reminded me of a gangster.

“I need a drink,” declared
Faye, moving behind the bar.

The barre
l-chested man said nothing, only sat down across from her at the bar.

“
So, Lucas, what have you done with the boy?” she asked.

He cleared his throat.
“We took him back to the cabin to wait for his sister.”

She filled he
rself a shot glass full of whiskey and slammed it. “Good,” she replied breathlessly, refilling it again. “I’m sure they’ll head back that way. What about the other kid?”

“
He’s on his way, I’m sure. I told him you’d help his…cause.”

“
Ah… I’m sure he’s pissed. What about Caleb? Did he leave town?” she asked.

“I believe so.”

She sighed. “I can’t believe he’s so gung-ho about that human. If I didn’t need Caleb, I’d kill them both.” 

“Caleb has
definitely become a loose cannon,” said the bald guy. “He’s going to put us all at risk with his actions. If I may make a suggestion?”

“Certainly,” she replied.

“You should consider getting rid of that entire clan of Roamers. You know, there’s going to be a deep investigation with all of the recent murders. It might put some heat on you and that would be bad for business.”

“
You’re probably right. It would be a pity to kill Celeste; however, she’s been so useful.”

He sighed.
“You’d have no choice. She’d seek revenge if you killed her father, Faye.”

Faye nodded.
“Very well, do it quickly.”

My breath caught in my throat.

Ethan put a finger over his lips as warning.

The bald man’s cell phone went off and he answered it.

“The kid is here,” he said after he hung up.

“
Good,” replied Faye.

Seconds later we watched in shock as Duncan was ushered into the bar.

“Duncan,” smiled Faye, holding out her hand. “Very nice to meet you.”

“Where is he?” growled Duncan, ignoring the
friendly gesture.

Faye stared at him for a second and then sighed. “We aren’t sure. He’s escaped.”

Duncan’s fists were clenched. “I’m going to kill him.”

I turned to Ethan, whose expression was unreadable.”

“Did you see him do it?” asked Duncan. “Did you see him kill my father?”

Faye nodded. “Yes, it was him. I saw it with my own eyes. He killed your father, broke his neck without a second though
t. All for that… girl,” she snarled.

“But, you saw him do it?”

She touched his arm. “Yes, I’m sorry and want to help you. We all know that Ethan is a coldblooded murderer and needs to be stopped once and for all.”

“
So, you’ll really help me find him?”

A slow smiled spread over Faye’s lips. “
Oh, yes. I’ll help you if you help me.”

Duncan frowned
. “What do you want from me?”

“Nikki. I want her.”

Duncan’s lips thinned. “Why?”

Faye tapped her nails on the bar. “Because,” she sighed
, “Nikki is Miranda.”

“What do you mean
by that?” he asked.

Before she could answer, Ethan grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the bar.

“We have to go,” he whispered.

I stopped walking. “Why did she call me Miranda?” I said.
“This is so ridiculous.”

“Don’
t listen to her. We have to leave now. Your brother’s life is in danger, as is your mom’s.”

“As
is yours,” boomed a voice behind us.

Ethan and I turned to face Duncan.

“Duncan,” I said, stepping towards him.

Ethan
pulled me back.

“You killed my father,” growled
Duncan, stepping towards us.

“No,” I said
, moving towards him again. “It wasn’t Ethan!”

“Don’t lie for him, Nikki,” snapped Duncan.
“He’d say or do anything to keep you interested in him.”

“
No, it’s true,” said Ethan, stepping between Duncan and myself. “I wasn’t there. I’ve never even met your father.”

“Don’t listen to them
,” said Faye, walking up behind Duncan. She placed a hand on his shoulder. “They’re both trying to trick you. Don’t let them.”

“You lie, Faye,” snapped Ethan. “This game you’re playing must end.”

“Games?” said Duncan, taking another step towards us. “You know all about them. That’s why Nikki is so brainwashed by your lies. I think it’s time to end your games, once and for all.”

I watched in shock as Duncan leaped towards Ethan and in a whirl of fists they began to fight.

“No!” I yelled, backing away.

“Grab
her, Lucas!” hollered Faye, staring at me with a gleam in her eyes.

Before I
could move any further, Lucas grabbed me from behind and pulled me towards the elevator, which was now opening. “Ethan!” I screamed, as I was shoved inside. The next thing I knew, Faye joined us and the elevator closed.

“Finally,” sneered Faye. “I have you, Miranda.”

“You’re crazy!” I cried. “I’m not Miranda!”

She stepped in front of me and grabbed my chin. She stared into my eyes. “Oh, but you are.
I see you in there.”

“Please let me go,” I begged as the elevator door opened at the top floor. “I’m, seriously not who you think I am.”

“Let you go? Now, why would I want to do that?” she chuckled.

“Please, don’t do this!”

They ignored my pleas and forced me into her apartment.

“Lucas, go back downstairs and shoot both of them,” said Faye. “It appears we don’t need Duncan now.”

“Shoot them? I didn’t think that would work,” said Lucas.

“
Shoot the Roamers in the head. It will immobilize them until I can come back down and finish the job,” she said.

He nodded and left the apartment.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked.

Because it amuses me…

“You’re insane,”
I said.

Just then something came crashing through the large pla
te window from the courtyard.

“Incompetent idiot,” sighed Faye as Ethan stood up straight. She quickly grabbed me around the throat.

“Let her go,” growled Ethan, stepping towards us slowly.

Faye’s grip tightened. “Step away from us, or I’ll break her neck.”

He stopped. “Faye, don’t do this.”

“Why?
Because you can’t live without her?” she barked.

“Because she’s just a girl.
Look, she’s not Miranda.”

“She must die, like the rest.”

He frowned. “Like the rest? What do you mean by that?”

“Th
e bodies that Miranda has used to try and come back. I’ve worked very hard to stop her.”

“What are you talking about?” he asked.

“She thought she could fool me, but I… I could see her in all of their eyes.”

“Whose eyes?” he asked.

She laughed. “Amy, Tina, all the others. Miranda used their bodies to return to you, and now she’s in Nikki’s. But not for long. I’m going to find a way to stop your little bitch for good.”

“You killed all of thos
e girls?” I whispered hoarsely.

“Shut up,” she growled, squeezing my throat
tighter.

Just then Lucas stormed through the front door. “I got one of them,” he said.

My chest grew tight.
Duncan!

“The other one is here, now finish the job.”

Ethan smirked. “You’re kidding right? I’m a little faster than your bullet.”

Faye pushed me to the ground. “
Better yet, kill the girl instead.”

There was a loud blast from the gun and then
total darkness.

My dreams were a jumble of terror, grief, and hunger. When I finally woke up, there was an overwhelming need in the pit of my stomach, which ached to be satisfied.

“Ethan!” I
gasped, sitting up.

I looked around and found myself alone
in a strange bedroom, wearing nothing but an oversized man’s button front dress shirt.

The room was cold.

I began to shiver in spite of the warm fire cracking in a nearby fireplace. I pulled the scratchy blanket in tighter to my body and stood up to get closer to the heat of the fire.