A Jaguars Touch (18 page)

“She likes to draw,” Murphy said. “Saw her doodling on a napkin with a pencil. Can’t imagine what she’d be able to create with real material. And Finn says she’s got the voice of an angel. I guess she has a habit of singing while she cooks.”

Gideon nodded. “She has a notebook she carries with her full of pictures she’s drawn. And her voice is gorgeous. I’ve heard her sing many times. I’m surprised she did with Finn, though. She’s usually more reserved around strangers.”

“Well, now, they don’t come much stranger than my brother,” Murphy said. “But as he has a right fine voice himself. I’m sure she felt comfortable crooning a bit with him.”

“They all sing,” Vic said. “Logan plays the guitar. Most of them have pretty good voices.”

“Our little angel will fit right in. We’ll find out what she wants to do, and that’s what she’ll do,” Murphy said as if that settled it.

“Where’s everyone else?” Gideon asked.

“She and Finn ate first with Reno and Amia. When Griffin and I came up, the Professor was just arriving, as well, and…” He coughed but Gideon saw the grin on his face. “He said you two were otherwise engaged and would be a little late. Reno and Amia headed out to double check what we packed in the truck today. I have no idea where the Professor headed off to, but he dragged Griffin along with him. Those two were talking a mile a minute.”

“The Professor looked good?” Vic asked.

“Animated as hell,” Murphy said with a grin.

“What about Ariel and Finn?” Gideon wanted to know. He couldn’t shake his need to protect her. Probably because he hadn’t realized how much he’d failed her until she’d spoken with him earlier.

“They went down to check the supply rooms and keep an ear out for Dillon,” Murphy said.

Gideon nodded. “I’m planning to head down when we’re done. See if I can get him to say anything to me.”

“Good luck with that,” Murphy said. “Nothing I’ve done has made him tell me anything we’ve asked him. And I’ve done quite a bit to encourage him.” He gave a grin that was more a flash of teeth.

“Well that explains Tah feeling the need to remind you not to kill him,” Gideon said.

“Little fucker deserves it,” Murphy said with a grunt. “He could have killed Zane and Logan. I’m certain he planned to kill as many of us as he could. And look what he did to Lydia.”

“I agree with you,” Gideon said. “Or at least, I did before I talked to Clara.”

“Now that doesn’t even make sense,” Murphy grumbled. “She should hate him more than any of us. Not just because of Logan, but Lydia, also.”

Gideon sighed, setting down his fork. Thinking about what Clara thought of Thomas, the man she believed her uncle could be, made him incredibly sad. He needed answers. They all did, but none more so than Clara.

“I’m going to head down,” Gideon said, pushing back from the table. He dropped a kiss on top of Vic’s head. “Finish eating first, please,” he said. “Then come down and find me. I’m sure Murphy will keep you company.”

“Nothing better than dinner with a beautiful woman,” Murphy crooned.

“Just remember she’s mine,” Gideon stated with a glare.

“Hell man, I’d be more scared of her than of you,” Murphy said. “Vic would kick my ass.”

“Damn straight,” she said, smiling up at her mate. “Go. I’ll be down in a minute.”

He dropped a kiss that turned heated as they usually did with her. He loved the way she understood him. He had seen it in her eyes—the way she was aware he needed a few minutes alone to collect his thoughts and decide how to face Dillon. This encounter held the capability of changing lives. He pulled back reluctantly, wiping his thumb over her bottom lip and smiling at her.

“Rub it in, then, will ya,” Murphy said. “Some of us are unmated with no prospects in the future.”

“Oh, I can’t wait to watch you fall,” Vic said and started laughing.

Gideon glanced at Murphy to see what had Vic so tickled and saw how pale the other man was. It appeared the thought of mating caused Murphy a bit of fear. Gideon had once felt the same way. Until he’d met Vic and discovered there was no cause for worry. Everything was better with Vic— knowing that she would always be there, standing beside him. He had someone to confide in, to trust and love. He almost stumbled as he walked down the stairs toward the storage rooms. He loved Vic. It shouldn’t be possible to fall this fast, but that’s how mating was. Strangers one moment and emotionally tangled the next. There was no questioning. It just was, and he was damn lucky for it.

He’d been mulling stuff over in the back of his head since Clara had planted the first seed of doubt earlier. What could Thomas have done to Dillon? Was Lydia trying to tell them that Thomas had betrayed Dillon? Or had Clara been wrong? So many questions unanswered.

“Hey, Gideon,” Ariel called and he looked up to see her smiling. It wasn’t a full-face smile, just a small lift at one corner of her mouth, but it was the closest he’d seen.

“Hey, yourself,” he replied. “Dinner was great.”

“Finn helped,” she said.

“Where is he?” Gideon asked.

“He went to check something at the cabin. Told me to stay away from Dillon,” she said. “Are you here to talk to him?”

Gideon nodded.

“Look, I like him,” Ariel said. “He’s funny, and he sings with me. And he makes me feel…normal,” she said quietly.

“I wasn’t talking about Finn,” Gideon said. “I’m glad he makes you feel normal. But, Ariel, you are normal.”

“Oh, I thought you meant…” She looked uncomfortable, shuffling her feet. “So you want to talk to Dillon? Why?” She turned her head and Gideon could almost see the gears working in her mind. “You’re going to ask him about Thomas, aren’t you? You know he’ll lie. You can’t trust anything he says.”

“Did Dillon ever hurt you?” Gideon asked.

She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “I stayed away from him.”

“Ariel?” he demanded.

“He didn’t hurt me. He made me uncomfortable, so I avoided him.”

“Smart idea,” Gideon said.

She shrugged. “I’m going to Oklahoma,” she blurted. “I’m going to ride with Finn and Murphy.”

“So I heard,” Gideon said. “Have a safe trip.”

“Will I see you there?”

“Vic and I have decided to go, yes,” Gideon said.

“Before or after you hunt for Thomas?”

“Before,” he said.

“Good,” Ariel stated, and it humbled him to see how relieved she was. “I’m glad to hear it.”

Gideon knew Vic, Murphy and the Professor were right. Ariel would have a better chance of healing with this group. She already seemed livelier than he’s seen her in a very long time. It seemed Finn really was good for her.

“Looks like I got here before the fun begins,” Vic said, coming up to join them.

“I was just getting ready to head over,” Gideon said. “Where does Murphy normally talk to him?”

“There’s a room just down the hall. It’s one of the larger storage rooms. Dillon shifts in the smaller room. He tried it with Murphy once, but Murphy picked him up by the scruff of his scrawny little bobcat neck and slammed him into the wall,” Vic said. “He hasn’t pulled anything like that since then.”

“His smaller size can be an asset. It gives him greater maneuverability in some situations,” Gideon warned. “Keep that in mind.”

“I’ll do that,” Vic promised. “Let’s go talk to him.”

“Can I come?” Ariel asked.

Gideon shook his head. “I think you better sit this one out. But I’ll let you know if he says anything.”

“I’ll hang around down here in case you decide you do need me,” Ariel said, stance wide as if daring him to say differently.

“Sounds good,” he said.

He and Vic headed down the hall toward the room Dillon was locked in. Vic pointed to the two bolts on the door. Gideon reached for the top one while she reached for the other. As soon as they pulled them, something slammed against the door, or someone. Gideon moved in front, forcing Vic to step aside. He let out a vicious roar and the thumping stopped. One more and nothing but silence greeted them. Gideon opened the door and met Dillon’s glance. The other man sat in the corner of the room, back to the wall.

“Well, if it isn’t Thomas’s errand boy and shadow,” Dillon said. “Fancy meeting you here, Gideon.”

“Dillon,” Gideon responded.

“To what do I owe the honors?” Dillon sneered. “Don’t tell me you came searching for me and Lydia instead of your precious Thomas?”

Vic brought a chair over and set it behind Gideon.

He pulled it forward and sat right in the doorway, blocking Dillon in the room. “What is it about Thomas you don’t like?”

“What makes you think I didn’t like him?” Dillon countered.

Gideon paused for a moment. Didn’t? Why was Dillon using the past tense? Had the younger man done something to Thomas? The only way to find out was to keep talking and hope Dillon was ready to confess.

“I know Thomas hurt you,” Gideon said. “He’s not always a nice guy.”

Dillon looked shocked. He blinked then narrowed his eyes at Gideon. “You don’t know shit. You were his little lap dog. Go do this. Go do that. That’s all he said to you, and off you went. You never gave a fuck about anyone else.”

“When did you start messing with the vials of fever?” Gideon asked.

“You know nothing,” Dillon said again, giving him a funny look.

Gideon thought for a minute and took a chance, praying his gut was wrong.

“I guess the more accurate question would be, when did Thomas pull you into his schemes? I know he was the one who wanted you to try one of the formulas on Lydia.”

Gideon saw Dillon’s eyes widen and felt as if he’d been punched in the gut. Vic was right. Thomas was a bastard.

“We needed a trial subject. Lydia was conveniently there,” Dillon finally said with a shrug.

“Thomas said you were eager, a good lackey to have around,” Gideon told the other man, poking at Dillon’s ego.

“I wasn’t a damn lackey!” he yelled.

Gideon shrugged as if it didn’t matter.

“Lydia deserved better than that,” Gideon finally said. “She was a good person.” And the guilt was really eating him up.

“She was a Blane,” Dillon stated, and Gideon could hear those words coming out of Thomas’s mouth. “She should have stayed and died with Michael. Thomas would have forced her to leave if not for poor little orphan Clara latching onto her. Then every time Lydia turned around, it was all about how we should go rescue Amia. We needed to save Amia. Blah, blah, blah. I think Thomas just wanted to shut Lydia up at first. But she served her purpose in the end.”

A memory surfaced, one of Thomas yelling at Dillon, berating him for something. Gideon hadn’t paid much attention at the time. He wished he had, now.

“Things would have been fine if you’d just done what you were supposed to,” Gideon goaded, recalling Thomas saying those words to Dillon.

“I did everything he said. Everything. It’s not my fault he was constantly changing his mind. Unstable, that’s what he was. Jesus, he used to talk to Michael like he was in the room with him. Gave me the fucking creeps. Thomas would apologize to him—say he had no choice. Then he’d yell and tell Michael he should have quit asking questions.” Dillon gave that evil smile again. “That must be why you’re still alive. Never questioned anything did you. Just obeyed like a good little boy.”

“Cut the shit.” Gideon growled, leaning forward. He was pissed. Was Dillon trying to imply Thomas had knowingly sent Michael to his death? “We know what happened. I was able to give Lydia something before she died.”

“What did you give her?” Dillon wanted to know.

“You should be asking what she said,” Gideon countered. “She told us. About you, Thomas, the betrayal. She told us everything.”

“I had to do it,” Dillon screamed, surging to his feet and prowling the tiny room. His body shook, and Gideon could feel the waves of anxiety flowing from him.

Gideon started to say something, but he was treading on really thin ice, and he knew it. He had no idea what Dillon felt he’d needed to do. Gideon was almost afraid to find out. The more he heard, the more Thomas warped from someone he’d called a friend into a monster he’d failed to realize was there. Instead, he just shook his head back and forth and waited to see if Dillon would continue.

“He was betraying us all,” Dillon yelled. “You thought he was so perfect. Every person he saved he ended up using in some way. You, Lydia, me, Ariel. He had plans for all of us. Someone had to step up.”

“And you decided to play the hero?” Gideon let his disbelief through loud and clear.

“You have no idea the things Thomas was really capable of, the lengths he’d go to for something he wanted. He was even willing to sacrifice Clara, his own fucking niece,” Dillon stated.

“I know,” Gideon said sadly. “He sent her in to be slaughtered, just like he did her father.”

Dillon nodded, and Gideon felt nauseous.

“Where did he go?” Gideon asked. “Before I left with Griffin and Ariel. Where did Thomas go?”

Dillon sat again. He leaned his elbows on his knees and dropped his head between them. “I’m so tired,” he said. “I kept hoping the red-haired Neanderthal would kill me. Just snap my neck and kill me. So I stayed quiet, hoping to make him angry enough. But he wouldn’t.”

“Why would you want to die?” Gideon asked.

“I didn’t know what to expect when we got here. I figured I’d give a few people the virus then escape in the chaos. I never figured on this.” His gaze skimmed the walls of the room, and Gideon realized the limited space was taking a toll on Dillon. “It’s like a cage.”

“One of your own making,” Gideon challenged.

“Think back to the night when everything changed for Thomas,” Dillon said softly, his voice barely a whisper.

“When his wife and child were killed,” Gideon stated.

“Thomas lived a dangerous life. It was only a matter of time before hunters came after him. They wanted him. Do you really think they’d pass up a chance to take something they could use against him?” Dillon goaded.

Gideon shook his head. “I was there. I saw his wife, the baby ripped from her womb. It’s a horror I’ll never forget.”

“A baby,” Dillon whispered, then looked up with tired eyes. “You saw a baby.”