Anarchy (Hive Trilogy Book 2) (16 page)

All eyes turned in my direction then, and not only eyes but guns. I hit the ground in time to cover my head as the area around me got absolutely smashed with firepower. After an agonizing minute of flying plaster, brick, and other debris—my heart pounding so hard I thought it might explode—the shooting stopped. I expected a deafening silence, but instead there was a strange whirring sound. A helicopter was circling the area. And I could hear police sirens in the distance. Yeah, now they come to help…

Taking a few moments, I lay there catching my breath and debating what to do. I didn’t want to peek my head up and have it blown off. Just when I was about to decide, Jared poked his head up across the other end of the rooftop.

“It’s over. The SWAT called in backup and their helicopter is keeping things under control. Let’s get out of here before the media arrives.” His thick Australian accent was the best damn thing I had heard all day. I sighed in relief and popped up, walking over to the enforcer, who helped me down the ladder.

When we reached the bottom, he turned to me: “Oh and that was damn good shooting, for a rookie.” He winked.

I scowled briefly before it turned into a grin. “Good ladder climbing, for an enforcer,” I said, and he nudged me playfully.

Suddenly Ryder was there, eyes blazing, looking every inch the deadly enforcer. Jared took the hint and left me alone with him.

“Don’t ever do that again.” The silver swirl of his eyes was almost mesmerizing.

Focusing the best I could, I dragged a small slice of attitude up from my tired depths, and putting my hands on my hips, channeled my inner Jayden. “Same to you, bud. You nearly got yourself killed, which is the second time this month in case we were keeping track!”

He took a deep breath and I could sense he was trying to calm himself. A few more deep breaths and he seriously looked as tense. At the fifth breath he stepped into me so fast it was a blur and then our bodies were pressed tightly together, the wall of the building behind me.

Ryder’s forehead pressed against mine, his words tumbling out. “Sorry, Charlie but that was the last day you will be allowed out of the Hive until we deal with both the humans and the Quorum. Something has to give soon, and I won’t let that something be you.”

It took a minute for his words to register. I was a little distracted by the press of his body and the fire in his eyes and the scent of spice and cedarwood. Then he was kissing me gently before striding off to bark orders at the team. Pushing myself off the wall, my legs were a little too shaky for my liking as I followed his path across to where our Humvees waited. Our vehicles had been spared the bullets which had ripped apart the SWAT cars and it looked like we were bailing now.

Oliver and Jayden were already inside when I climbed into the middle seat. The door next to me opened and Ryder slid in too. We didn’t want to wait around another moment.

As we drove through the scene, all I could see was the mess of bodies and parts scattered around.
Holy shit.
I was grateful it had been none of my guys. Beside a few war wounds, we were all leaving here alive. Then an awful thought struck me: “What if Deliverance retaliates on my mom? Did they see me leaving her house?”

Oh God, that would be the icing on the cake.

Ryder answered straight away. “I’ll have the other boys go check on them and warn your mom and Tessa. At least we know there are not many of them around here left to retaliate. Not after today.”

That was true. They’d lost a lot of their people this afternoon.

Ryder was all business as he relayed the information to the boys over the walkies. Listening in and worrying about my mom gave me a pain in my stomach, which I was pretty sure was an ulcer. Could ash even get ulcers? Seemed like this unicorn ash could.

Oliver was foot-to-the-
floor smashing his way through Portland. The sun was set now, and the cold was seeping into my body.

“I never wanted to drag my family into this mess,” I said, my voice monotonous as I stared out the window, seeing nothing of the dark streets as they flashed by. “They already lost me, and now they might be under attack from some crazy-ass human Bible bashers.”

Ryder reached across to me and I met him halfway. A slight ease entered my being as he laced our fingers together. I wasn’t alone in all of this; there were others to watch out for me and my family, and that in itself was a huge gift.

“It will be okay, Charlie,” Oliver said. “Deliverance tend not to target their own kind. They focus the hatred straight at the Hive.”

I nodded, and as he turned back to give me a confident, perfect-teeth smile, I managed to return the gesture. His words did make me feel a little better, and if I stayed away from them and my family hid out for a few days, hopefully Deliverance would never think to use them against me.

The next few days passed by agonizingly slow. I wasn’t allowed out on calls, and no matter how hard I snooped I couldn’t find out where they were keeping the little girl. For the most part I was back on “who is the mole?” duties, trying to figure out who in the Hive was a backstabbing, lying piece of shit. I had about eight thousand suspects, and no reason to wipe even one of them off the list. Every single vampire was there on principle now, except for Lucas. I would give him the benefit of the doubt until he did something which revoked that trust.

After dinner I was sprawled across my couch, about to die of boredom. Jayden, Oliver and Markus were in the kitchen, talking about something dude-like—cars, I think. Jayden was probably trying to figure out how to drag his man into his bedroom for some private time. As much as my BAFF loved my new bodyguard detail because Oliver was often in
the apartment, it also sucked because the enforcers were always on duty. No time for fun.

At the knock on the door I sprang up and dashed across the room, flinging open the door to find Ryder standing there dressed in his gym clothes.

Boredom fled. Along with saliva in mouth and clever words in brain.

“Want to go for a rooftop run?” he asked.

Hells yeah I did. Wasting no time, I dragged on some sweats, laced up my shoes, and waved goodbye to the boys. Jayden was flashing me his eyebrow and hip waggle, so he was very happy about this change in circumstances.

It took five minutes, but then we were out of the building and on the roof. The second the cool night air hit me, clearing away some of the funk I’d been in, I knew this was a good idea.

Ryder took off down the track and I followed, focused on the large swollen moon. I’d always found something so mesmerizing about the moon, especially when it was full. Its light seemed to highlight the beauty around me, remind me to stop and take a second to appreciate everything.

After a few laps, I heard the doors open and nearly stumbled over my feet when I saw the little vampire girl walk out. Following her was a stern-looking redheaded vampire.

Ryder caught my arm and we slowed as the pair walked out on to the track. The girl had headphones on, but when she saw us she took them off.

The redheaded vamp found the closest wall and got to the really important business of relaxing against it. “You have ten minutes,” she told the girl with a thick Russian accent.

The young girl gave a single head nod and then began to jog. I sped up next her.

“No,” Ryder whispered.

I shot him a death glare that hopefully conveyed how closed my legs would be if he kept trying to order me around. He lifted both hands up in a placating manner, before backing off me a tad.

“You like running?” I asked, turning back to the girl.

I couldn’t halt the sadness and anger which welled inside of me. She looked depressed. Her alabaster skin was shining in the bright moon, but her eyes were downcast, stress lines fracturing her perfect features. No child should have stress lines.

Of course she was beautiful, with short brown hair naturally curled into tight ringlets, smooth skin, and a thin athletic build. The vampire virus was working in full effect. But it was still wrong somehow, like looking at a weird doll.

She wet her lips before answering me: “I used to run and like it but now I don’t know what I like.” Even her voice was low and sad. “You don’t smell like a vampire, but you’re a girl?” For the first time a sign of actual interest crossed her solemn face.

I nodded. “I’m an ash, a special one-of-a-kind girl ash … and I can help you.” From the corner of my eye I could see Ryder was reaching for me again. Clearly I was overstepping the safe boundaries he was trying to keep me in.

With a burst of speed, I moved out of his reach again. The girl kept pace, and as she stared longer at me, her eyes started the silver pulsing thing. “Your blood smells really good,” she whispered, blinking a few times, her face falling. “Which is totally gross.”

Dammit.
I was curing this girl or I would die trying.

“What room number are you staying in?” I pressed her, knowing my time was short.

Her lashes fluttered at my question, as if she was trying to understand what I’d just said. There was something wrong with her cognitive functions; she was slower to think and was void of personality, almost as if she was stuck in some sort of robotic and depressed state.

“Katelynn, time’s up!” the redheaded Russian screamed at her. The lazy bitch had not moved from the wall, and it looked like she’d been on her phone the entire time. Great babysitting there.

Katelynn ground to a halt, all obedient-like.

Time to break out the big guns. The very thing I would have used on a daily basis if I had ever been a mom. Bribery. “Tell me your room number and I will bring you a present. A stuffed toy.” My heart started to hammer as footsteps sounded behind me. There was more movement, and I heard Ryder’s deep tones as he moved to intercept the redhead.

“They have me on the forty-ninth floor. Room sixteen. I like unicorns.” Her innocent voice shredded my heart.

Room 4916. Gotcha.

“Then I’ll bring a unicorn. Just don’t tell anyone or I can’t see you again.”

A small smile graced her mouth. “Okay.”

She turned and went to her Russian nanny, who was both conversing with my enforcer and glaring at me. I didn’t care. My eyes were glued to Katelynn as devastation at letting her go rocked through me. I just wanted to grab her up, hug her tight and keep her safe. Dammit!

Okay, I needed to focus on what I could do. She said she liked unicorns and she was going to get one. Or at least the blood of one. I might not be able to save her today, but it would not be long before I could.

After they went through the double doors, Ryder took a few long strides to stand before me. He took my face in his hands. “Sometimes I wonder if falling in love with you will be the death of me.”

My breath hitched at his use of the L word. That was a definite declaration, or a roundabout one anyway. Before I could reply, his lips fell on mine and we were locked in a kiss.

This wasn’t the first time we had kissed since our night together, but it was the first where heightened emotions and our fiery attraction merged into one cataclysmic event. I lost all sense of time, worry, fear, and regret. I lived in that moment with Ryder, and if I could have prolonged it forever I’d be signing on the dotted line. Unfortunately, as was the norm of late, all good things had to come to an end.

We mutually pulled apart, both of us a little out of breath, and a lot silver-eyed, I was sure.

I leaned in closer to him, which somehow was still not close enough. “Geeze, I’m so sweaty from that run. I really need a shower but I’m afraid of getting attacked.” My words were light, like I was just making idle conversation, but I was eye-screwing the hell out of him and he knew it.

Ryder’s laughter was so rare that it made it that much more enjoyable to hear; that low rumble warmed my belly. “Why, Charlie Anne, there’s no way I could leave a lady to shower alone in these sort of dangerous times. In fact I’m going to have to insist on this protective shower duty becoming a daily occurrence.”

I grinned, losing all sense of chill as our lips met again, but only briefly this time. It was not a good idea right now, our need out of control, to be kissing in any sort of har
dcore fashion. Our bodies were too impatient to be together, so we’d hold back the lust until we got to that shower. It was moments like these that I wished ash had magic powers too. Instant transportation would be very useful right about now.

The next day I was in my living room playing cards with Ryder as Sam sat quietly on the couch, flipping through a magazine. We’d just come back from the rooftop, arguing about when was the right time for me to cure the girl. Ryder wanted to wait until we were ready to run, but I was afraid they would “transfer” her, or whatever bullshit they pretended to do to get rid of the children.

“Boom! Full house!” I slammed my cards down, showing off the three aces and two kings.

Ryder’s face was carved from stone, no smile, no hint of defeat.

“Shit,” I groaned, knowing he must have a better hand than me to be keeping that mask of calm.

Ryder placed his cards down and smiled. “Straight flush.”

I fake pouted. “Cheater.”

Before he could retort, a loud bang-bang-bang came at my door. Sam was up and across the room with his gun drawn in seconds.

“Who is it?” Ryder demanded from behind Sam, his own gun
held in a strong grip.

“Oh God, Charlie, I’m so sorry.” The male voice came through clearly, familiar and sounding desperate.

“Blake?” I pushed past my guards and wrenched opened the door.

The vampire’s eyes were red-rimmed, blood crusted around his mouth. His hands were shaking almost uncontrollably.

“I’m sorry,” he said again.

My voice could have cut glass then. “What did you do?” This motherfucker better not mention my best friend.

“I changed Tessa and now she’s dying. It’s not working. Her body is rejecting the virus.” He dropped his head down, those shaking hands clutching at his Cabbage Patch Doll-like curls.

Using his distraction, I leaned forward and ran at him in a football tackle, slamming him against the far hallway wall and cracking the plaster. “I’m going to kill you!” I screamed in his face.