Chapter 5
Flicking the lights off, she turned into the gravel drive. Tessa squinted trying to see as she pulled in front of the old shack that had been let go by the owners for years and had been the local hangout for teenagers before it started to rot away.
Adam walked out of the house. She had always been jealous that she had been the one with red hair. Adam’s hair was longer than he usually wore it and the blackness set his golden eye off like a beacon, a golden eye that used to be the same shade of green as hers. “Why are you driving Bobby’s car?”
Tessa slammed the car door. “Because I didn’t want them to follow me. I left my car in front of the bar, slipped out the back.” Wagging her eyebrows up and down Tessa grinned. “Pretty sneaky huh?”
“And he agreed to that?” Adam gave a suspicious glare. “I’ve never known Bobby to give up his keys for anybody.”
Tessa looked behind him at the shack where a flood of light shone through the window. “Is big mouth still in there?”
“Yeah, where else would he be?” Adam replied letting it go that she totally ignored his question. “So the warriors just let you go?” He scanned the woods behind her.
Tessa snorted. “I really don’t think they’re very good at what they do. I mean first I almost got away climbing out my window, but I got stuck in the tree.”
“You climbed out the window?” Adam laughed.
“Yeah, but Jared, the one we chained to the chair, caught me.” Tessa frowned. “Then I just stood up and told them I had to leave because of my job, which I did, but I knew I was going to ask Bobby for time off so I could come out here to let you know what’s going on and they just let me walk out the door.” She replied in one long breath then chuckled.
“They did, huh?” He again scanned the area.
“On the smartness scale I’d say they rank pretty low, I mean sucky low. I thought they were supposed to be the best. Not real impressed here.” Tessa rolled her eyes catching sight of her brother’s face. “What?”
Adam didn’t answer just stared behind her.
“They’re behind me aren’t they?” Tessa cringed, her stomach coming up to meet the back of her throat. Dammit. Turning quickly she watched the three warriors head their way looking ready for anything. “Run Adam!”
“Yeah, run Adam.” Jared responded as his eyes zeroed in on her. “We warriors aren’t too high on the smartness scale your sister is rating us on so we might all three just stand here with our heads up our asses and let ya go.”
Tessa looked away from Jared’s intense stare. Seemed her foot found her mouth once again. Glancing up at Adam, she cringed. “I’m sorry.”
“Where is he?” Damon stopped in front of Adam his eyes glowing black.
Adam nodded his head toward the shack. “He’s in there.” He looked at Jared. “I was going to bring him back as soon as I got what I wanted from him, which I have so you can take him.”
“Thanks for your permission, but we don’t need it.” Jared replied not liking the kid’s cocky attitude.
“Well, I think you’re wrong…warrior.” Adam smiled as five half-breeds surrounded them. “You seem to be outnumbered.”
Faster than anyone could track, Jared had Adam in a head lock. “Let me tell you something you little shit, I’ve been around longer than you can even imagine. I have killed mean sons of bitches that would make you piss yourself. I can and will kill you with no remorse.”
“No!” Tessa ran at Jared tripping over something in the yard, but caught herself. “Please no. You can take big mouth, just leave us alone.”
“Get her the f*ck out of here.” Jared roared not caring which one did it as long as they got her out of harm’s way. This could get ugly real fast and probably would.
Sid picked her up walking away with her clawing and kicking.
“Don’t hurt her.” Adam started to fight, but soon lost his gusto as Jared squeezed tighter. “Just don’t hurt her.” He wheezed.
“No one is going to hurt her. Now tell them to back off.” Jared ordered, catching sight of Damon standing at his side. Jared watched as the half-breeds faded back some. “Now listen and listen good you dumbass, you need to lose the attitude and listen to us or you’re going to have warriors from all over climbing up your ass and your sister is going to be right in the middle of it. Nod if you understand.”
Adam nodded without hesitation.
“Good.” Jared glanced around to make sure everything was calm and cool. “I’m going to let you go, but if you decide to get stupid I am going to take you out.”
“I’m good.” Adam wheezed.
Jared let him go, but kept his guard up. “We are going to have a long conversation, no lies, no hiding anything from us and we will do our best to help you, but if you decide to play stupid I will lock you up or kill you, depends on what stupid card you play.”
Rubbing his throat, Adam tried to talk, but croaked instead. Clearing his throat he tried again. “I don’t give a f*ck anymore.” Adam looked over at where his sister was still fighting Sid. “If it wasn’t for her, I would have gone ahead and killed myself.”
Jared felt his pain, but he couldn’t let the kid know it. Pity was the last thing the kid needed right now. “Yeah, go ahead and take the p-ssy way out.”
“I didn’t want this.” Adam’s tone turned angry. “I don’t want to be a mindless killer.”
“None of us want this life, but we got it and we deal with it so you need to man up and do the same.” Jared hissed knowing this kid needed a badass response. The more they felt sorry for the kid the worse off he will be. Jared looked at the other half-breeds who were keeping their distance, the worse off they’d all be.
That seemed to straighten the kid’s spine a bit. “Why didn’t you guys help us when we asked?”
Damon and Jared shared a glance. They were never told about half-breeds in the area. “Not sure about that Adam, but I promise you we will find out.”
“We really didn’t mean any harm.” Adam nodded toward his sister who seemed to have calmed down slightly.
Jared also glanced up at Sid and Tessa waving them down. “Call Duncan. We need to get them to the warehouse where we can talk and figure out what the hell is going on.”
“Already called. He’s on his way.” Sid replied letting go of Tessa’s arm so she could rush to her brother.
Tessa stood next to her brother, eyes wary, ready to protect him if necessary. “What are you going to do with him?”
“As soon as we get him into the warehouse we’re gonna hang him by his fangs, beat him senseless before locking him in a room tied to a bed with silver chains.” Jared replied gaining a chuckle from Damon and Sid.
Tessa scrunched her nose at him. “Silver doesn’t work on him.” She snorted then tapped her temple. “Guess you all rank low on the memory thing too.” She jumped slightly when Jared growled at her.
“Keep pushing, Red.” Jared glared at her. “Just keep pushing.”
Tessa shrugged her shoulder before turning to her brother. “Sense of humor isn’t their strong suit either.
“If we were going to hurt either of you, it would have been done before now.” Jared’s tone was sharp as a whip clearly stating he was losing his patience.
“There’s more of us than this.” Adam indicated with a nod of his head.
“How many more and where are they.” Jared sighed not liking where this was going.
“At least ten more that I know of.” Adam looked around at the others. “Most scattered when we escaped.”
“I need you guys to get a definite head count, names or whatever you can. We need to track them down.” Jared turned toward Damon. “Can you take a few of these guys with you and meet us at the warehouse?”
Damon nodded as Sid headed for the small shack. “I’ll get dickhead and meet you all there.”
“You take them.” Jared nodded behind him at the other half-breeds who had ventured closer. “I’ll go with these two.” He glanced at Tessa, waiting for her to argue, but she just raised both eyebrows as if she was totally innocent of what he was looking at her for.
Sid walked out with Chad who glared at Damon, but kept his mouth shut. Then his focus turned on Adam and Tessa. “You know he had big plans for you.” He chuckled when he nodded toward Tessa. “Especially you, baby doll.”
Sid pushed Chad past them when both Damon and Jared growled. “You are the stupidest son of a bitch I’ve ever met. Shut the f*ck up and move before I pick you up and throw your ass to the car.”
Chad tripped catching himself, but laughed loudly. “Just wait.” His annoying deranged giggle floated through the fog that was starting to settle in the dusk. “This isn’t over by a long shot.”
“I can kill him now.” Damon snarled his golden eyes turning black as they followed Chad.
Jared felt the same damn way, but they needed him. He had more information, he knew it. “In good time, buddy.” Jared headed toward the car, opening the passenger side door for Tessa holding out his hand.
Tessa stood there staring at him. “What?”
“Get in and give me the keys. I’m driving.” Jared glanced around making sure everyone was accounted for before looking back down at her, his hand still outstretched. Adam had already gotten into the backseat of the Mustang.
“Ah, no way. I’m driving.” Tessa shook her head. “This is my boss’s car and if anything happens to it it’s my ass….literally.”
“Give me the keys Tessa.” His tone was as firm as his glare.
“No.” Backing away Tessa stuck them in her front pocket with a smirk. “I drive or you walk.”
Jared grabbed her so fast, sticking his hand in her front pocket fishing out the keys, that Tessa didn’t have time to react. He dangled the keys in front of her. “Who’s walking?”
Tessa made a grab at them, but he was faster, way faster. Slapping her hands on her hips Tessa frowned. “You’re an asshat.”
Tilting his head Jared chuckled. “Yeah, well you’re a pain in my asshat. Get in the damn car.” He gently, but firmly guided her into the front seat.
“Brute.” Tessa hissed yanking her arm from his grasp.
Making sure all her body parts were in he slammed the door. Walking around the back of the car he smiled. “Asshat?” he chuckled. Where in the hell did she come up with her insults?
“You better not put one scratch on this car.” Tessa fumed from the passenger seat.
Jared reached over and snapped her seat belt while she slapped at his hands again. Adam chuckled from the backseat. Starting the car Jared revved the engine for a few seconds. Glancing over at Tessa who was sneering at him, he grinned. “You know one would think out of the thousands of years I’ve been on this earth I would have gotten my driver’s license.”
Tessa’s eyes popped open wide. “You don’t have your drive……”
Not giving her a chance to finish her screaming protest Jared gave her a wink as he jammed it in reverse at a high rate of speed, then proceeded to shift into gear sweeping them into a full sliding turn heading forward down the driveway going so fast rocks pinged against the beautiful red paint.