Obsessions: A Monster Squad Novel 7 (26 page)

“No, he didn’t, but…I don’t know. I think maybe I made a mistake.” She sighed and kicked her shoes off into the floor. “Or maybe I didn’t and I just feel guilty. I just don’t know.”

“Okay, let’s back up. Tell me why you feel guilty.”

Laura filled him in on her father and Crystal. She explained how her father’s ‘miraculous’ increase in energy and appetite had struck a chord with her. Suddenly she just knew that it was ‘wrong’. “Doesn’t it say that death comes to us all? Who am I to intervene?”

“You’re a worried daughter doing what she feels she has to do in order to save her ailing father.” Evan leaned back in his chair and she could hear it creaking through the phone. “I can’t say about any residual guilt you may be feeling about him and his girlfriend, but you felt this was something you had to do.”

“Why didn’t you stop me?” Her voice was soft and childlike.

Evan sighed into the phone and shook his head. “Like anybody could stop you once you set your mind to something. Besides, it was daylight outside. I’d have been toast before I ever reached you.”

Laura rolled over on the bed and stared at the trophies on her shelf. “Do you think I messed up?”

“Don’t ask me that.”

“Why not? I trust your judgment.”

“Because, regardless of what I think, it’s too late to do anything about it. The deed is done. He’s infected. All you can do now is continue the protocol so that he’s eased into the transition.”

Laura pinched her eyes shut and tried to force back the emotions she felt. “What if I messed up?”

“We’ll just have to deal with the consequences.” Evan shifted the phone closer to his mouth. “Did you note I said, ‘we’?”

“Yes, I did. Thank you.”

“I have to say though, I’m confused. Why the change of heart? You couldn’t wait to get away from here and run off to save him. Now that you can, you’re worried you made the wrong decision.”

Laura opened her eyes and felt the hot sting of tears forming then running down the side of her face. “I can feel it in my gut. He won’t be able to handle this and somebody…maybe even the squads will be called out to deal with him.” She sniffed back the tears and clenched her teeth together. “It’s one thing to die because it’s your time. It’s another to be put down because you lose it. If that happens, Evan…it will be
my
fault.”

*****

Foster paced the tiny area as he waited to hear back from the hired enforcers. “Why haven’t any of them checked in with us?”

“It is daylight. They may be asleep.”

“Bah!” Foster slapped at the stack of papers on the edge of the desk and sent a chair flying into the wall. “Viktor could be here at any moment. I need to know what resources we have available to offer him!”

The enforcers bent and picked up the papers, shoving them haphazardly back into the files. “They will respond as soon as they see the message. With the money we are offering, they will not ignore the call.”

“They’d better not. If they leave me standing here with nothing more than my dick in my hand once Viktor arrives…” He glared at the enforcer who simply nodded and backed away. “Do we have any resources left at the island?”

“The other hunter is in charge there. Mueller.”

Foster threw his hands into the air. “Of course he is. Thompson’s right hand man. They’d just as soon kill Rufus themselves.” He paced the small room and tried to think, his mind racing. “What about the Russians?”

“I called them. Apparently they are tied up and can’t release anyone right away.”

“Tied up? Can’t release anyone? This is the head of the
Lamia Beastia
we’re talking about here!”

The enforcer nodded. “But he is not the head of their
familias
. Rufus is well respected and technically the head of all, but the
familias
can still supersede unless it is a time of war.”

“Of course they can.” Foster mocked their response while he continued to pace. “Is anyone overseas available?”

The enforcer shook his head. “The Sicarii’s army destroyed many
familias
from within. Many are still trying to rebuild.”

Foster paused and clenched his fists, his face contorting as he fought not to scream. “We have no wolves other than what Viktor may bring. We have no fighters because the vampire war destroyed them all. We have…nothing?”

The enforcer shrugged. “It is too short of notice for most to respond or send assistance.”

“Because nobody has rebuilt their ranks.” Foster plopped onto the hotel bed. “Short sighted, incompetent idiots.”

“They are trying. Many have created new vampires, they just…”

“What?” Foster turned a curious eye to the enforcer. “What do you know that I do not?”

The large vampire averted his eyes. “They get in too big of a hurry and they lose control. The packs of baby vamps end up loose on the humans.” He turned and met Foster’s gaze. “The hunters get them.”

*****

Jericho stepped into Dominic’s office and rapped on the door. “We have a couple of possibilities on the board. You might want to get your team prepped.”

Dom set his paperwork aside and gave Captain Jones a crooked grin. “We just came in off the last one. Shouldn’t First Squad take this one?”

Jones paused and lifted his clipboard. He flipped through the pages and scratched at his chin. “I forgot that they changed all the teams around. Team Two is actually Three and One was Two and…” He shrugged. “You want me to tell Spanky to take this one? I’m sure he wouldn’t care either way.”

Dominic stared at his after action report on Mac. Perhaps if he took the next op, the man would snap out of whatever funk he was in and develop a desire. A desire to be a part of the squad, to be a team player. “Let me talk to Spanky. I’ll get back to you in two shakes.”

Jericho gave him a thumbs-up and slipped out of the tiny office. Dom walked down the hall and knocked on Spalding’s door. With no answer, he stuck his head inside to find the office empty. “If I were Spanky, where would I be?”

“Right behind you, you big oaf.” Spanky poked him in the ribs as he walked past and flipped on the light to his office.

Dom jerked as his ribs were violated by Spalding’s offending finger. “Dude, that ain’t cool sneaking up on a trained killer like that.”

Spalding laughed as he fell into his chair. “I’ll keep that in mind the next time there’s a spider in here.” He pushed his chair back to make more room for the large Italian. “Don’t be a stranger, come on in and…well…I’d say make yourself comfortable, but I swear this used to be a janitor’s closet before they shoved a desk in here.”

“Yeah, no shit.” Dom leaned against the wall and smirked. “Hey look, Jericho just gave me a heads-up on a possible op on the boards. He was going to assign it to my squad, but I reminded him we just came in.”

“Yeah, okay. We can take it.” Spalding leaned forward in his chair and cleared a spot on his desk. He reached for the file in Dom’s hand, but Dom held it back.

“No, this ain’t it. I was just…” He sighed heavily then glanced out in the hallway to ensure it was clear. “I’m having problems with one of my guys.”

“Just one? I figured Charmichael would be giving you fits, too.”

Dom shook his head. “No, he’s fitting in pretty well. It’s all Chad. It seems the guy doesn’t play well with others.”

Spanky nodded. “All the things that people thought about Sullivan.”

“Yeah, so how’s he working out?”

“Actually, quite well. He was just misunderstood.” Spalding gave him a lopsided grin. “He’s a hell of an operator. A little emotional when it comes to his sister, but nothing I can’t handle.”

Dom smiled mischievously. “Feel like taking on another project?”

Spalding shook his head. “Hell no. Little John would kill Mac. They can’t stand each other.”

“I sorta got that vibe too. I wonder why that is?”

Spalding shrugged. “Little John claims that Mac can’t stand for anybody to outscore him on anything. He needs to be
numero uno
on everything. If he can’t be, he undermines them every chance he gets.”

Dom scratched the side of his head while he considered Sullivan’s observations. “You know, that makes sense.”

“So you think you have a handle on how to make him fit in?”

Dom shook his head. “Not a fucking clue.” He slapped the folder against his thigh as he turned for the door. “But if you don’t care, I’m going to take this next op. Maybe if he has to sit out for a rotation he’ll realize I’m not playing.”

Spalding nodded. “You got it brother. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Just cover the fort while we’re out protecting Democracy from monsters.” He shot Spalding a wink.

“We’re a Constitutional Republic.”

Dom turned and gave him a blank stare. “Huh?”

“You said…” Spalding waved him off. “Good luck out there.”

*****

Bigby drove back to the warehouse and hopped down from the truck. The greasy bag he carried dangled from his grip and nearly dropped as he listened to the sound of construction coming from within the warehouse. He rushed to the doors and found Martinez directing his men as they began building the mock-up.

“What’s going on here?” Bigby marched to the work crews that carried the lumber from the stacks. “Who told you to start construction on this?”

The man stopped and nodded toward Martinez with his chin. Bigby turned and saw the man flipping through pages within a file folder. “I’ll get to the bottom of this.” He turned and marched toward Martinez. “What the hell are you doing?”

Martinez turned and flashed the man a toothy grin. “We got the intel.” He handed the folder to Bigby who dropped the greasy bag on the floor and began flipping through the folder.

“This…this can’t be…are you sure?”

“We just got it. Mr. Simmons forwarded it to me just moments ago. I printed it out and my men have begun construction.”

“There’s even a blueprint in here.”

“I know. Crazy huh?” Martinez pulled the file from Bigby’s hand. “I have no idea where Mr. Simmons’ man got it, but he delivered.”

Bigby rubbed at his chin as he looked at the men hurriedly building the mock-up. “Yeah, mate, a little too convenient if you ask me.”

*****

Kalen paused at Brooke’s door, his hand raised but refusing to make contact with the painted metal surface. He could feel his heart rate increase and his breath caught in his throat. He lowered his head and stared at the floor. Slowly he turned and walked back to his room. What would he say to her?

As he sat down on his bed, his mind raced back to the night she invaded his dreams. It had felt so real. The knowing looks she had given him afterward convinced him that she had shared the dream as well, but he couldn’t be certain.

Kalen sighed and slumped down into his mattress. What good would it do him to ask? Even if she admitted to having shared the dream with him, what would that mean? It didn’t necessarily mean they were somehow connected. And who’s to say that she would tell him the truth?

Kalen spun slowly on the bed and stretched out, interlacing his fingers and propping them behind his head. He closed his eyes and instantly, she filled his thoughts. Her eyes, her hair, the shape of her jaw, every minute detail of her face was burned into his memory. He sighed audibly and rolled to his side, facing the block wall. He instinctively reached out and placed his hand on the cold, painted wall and could almost imagine her on the other side.

“I wish I could know what you were thinking.”

A soft knock at his door snapped him from his reverie. He rolled over and swung his feet off the edge of the bed. He padded to the door and opened it, his mouth dropping open as his eyes took in Brooke standing in the doorway.

“Brooke. I didn’t…I mean…I was just…” Kalen closed his mouth and simply stared at her.

Brooke looked up at him and he couldn’t read the expression on her face. “You gonna invite me in or what?”

Kalen startled and stepped aside. “Of course. Please.”

She stepped inside and glanced around. “I see your place is just as fancy as mine.”

He nodded as he shut the door. “It suffices.”

He turned and gave her his full attention. “To what do I owe the honor?”

She averted her eyes and reached for the chair. “I was just…uh…I was thinking that maybe we should, you know…talk.”

Kalen slipped past her and sat on the edge of the bed. “Very well.” He brushed out imaginary wrinkles in the sleep tunic he wore. “What would you like to discuss?”

She finally raised her eyes to meet his gaze. “Why do you keep invading my dreams?”

*****

“Sir? I think I may have something.”

Director Jameson looked up from the stack of papers on his desk and waved the analyst inside. “Talk to me, Stevens. What did you find?”