On the Edge of Destiny (Book 3) (A Vampire SEAL Novel) (6 page)

The last time I’d seen such a look of derision on Webb was when he spat at Edmund in the basement of the mansion.

“I just got here, darling,” she crooned, swinging her gaze back to Webb.

Yuck! She sounded like Edmund.

He grabbed her by the arm. “Nicki, leave,” he spat out. “Whatever you have to say, I’m not interested.”

So this was Nicki? The girl who Webb was supposedly in love with? Kate London’s friend. Kate had said she looked like me. The only similarity between us was the color of our hair.

“But, sweetie…” Her voice dripped with polite scorn.

Webb let go of her and turned his head. “Go get George,” he said to me, his eyes black as coal.

I shook my head slowly. “Not leaving,” I said calmly.

Nicki laughed.

Fear slid down my stomach. Anger rose up. The two emotions equaled disaster, or maybe a meltdown. I wasn’t sure.

Breathe. Breathe. Whatever you do, don’t freak. You need to stay calm.

If I didn’t, I was afraid of the mess I would make.

A split second of darkness ensued before my eyes flashed vampire violet. The energy I had on the beach made its way to the surface. I narrowed my eyes at Webb; his widened.

“Why don’t you tell her, Webb, how we used to have good times here,” Nicki said excitedly. “How we used to do—”

Webb whipped around, growling. “Can it, Nicki.”

“But I want to play. You know how I like to play,” she all but gushed.

Her words and tone reminded me of Edmund, for sure. Was she related to him?

Staying calm wasn’t happening. My anger jumped directly to fury.

The cabinet doors opened and slammed. The lone mug on the counter vibrated toward the edge.

“Shit,” Webb said.

Nicki giggled. “So I see your little toy has powers. I was watching her on the beach. I have to say, very impressive. You know you haven’t introduced us at all, Webb. You don’t have to. I know who she is. Kate has told me all about how weak Jo Mason is.”

I dug my nails into my palm and bit down on my lower lip as my skin prickled with power. I’d been called weak by Blake one too many times when he used to bully me at the human high school. I told myself to calm down. If my powers got out of hand, I could hurt her the same way I did Blake. I couldn’t afford to get into any more trouble.

Then she laughed again. The sound grated on me. I narrowed my eyes and clenched my fists tighter. She lost her smile as she backed up against the sink, rubbing her throat. Her face turned red, reminding me of how Blake looked that day at school. I turned my attention to Webb. Even his face reddened as he placed his fingers on his throat. I studied her then him.

He gave me a pleading look, shaking his head. Oh, how I didn’t want to stop…but he was being affected by my powers.

I slowly unclenched my hands, dropped my shoulders, and blew out a long breath.

Nicki choked, and Webb took in a ragged breath.

Before Nicki could even take another breath, I stalked up to her, but Webb snagged me.

“So not worth it, Jo,” he said hoarsely.

“Let me go, Webb,” I said, struggling under his strong hold.

A familiar voice cleared his throat behind us.

“What’s going on, Webb?” George asked. “Nicki. Shit.”

“Get Nicki out of here, George,” Webb commanded, keeping a vise-like grip around my waist. “I need you to calm down, Jo.”

I bared my fangs at the woman. She freaking laughed.

“Come on, Nick.” George cupped her elbow.

No argument came from her lips. She stopped in front of me, her eyes flashing to vampire black. “You’ll never have him. Never in this lifetime,” she said calmly. “Over my dead body. Ask his other girlfriends.”

“Is that a threat?” I asked evenly.

“No threat. It’s a promise.” Her words sliced through me like a knife.

“And you think
you
have what he needs or wants? I highly doubt it.” I squirmed against Webb’s hold. “But bring it on.”

“George?” Webb growled.

“I don’t need his help,” Nicki said. “I know my way out.” She flicked her arm at George and stalked out.

George followed her.

“Jo, I don’t want you to move if I let you go. Do you hear me? Do not go out that door.” Webb’s tone was resolute.

The adrenaline rush vanished. Between using my energy on the beach and now, I was suddenly tired, and I slumped against him. “Don’t worry.”

Grunting, he lifted me in his arms and carried me to the couch.

“I can walk, Webb.”

“Yeah, and your point is what?” Irritation colored his tone.

We stared at each other. His eyes were still vampire black, and I imagined mine were still violet.

“I need to feed,” I said instead of arguing with him.

“Don’t move.” He was gone in a flash.

I took one breath, and he handed me a container of blood. I chugged it down. “Thank you.”

“For?” He pulled a strand of hair off my forehead.

“For keeping me from destroying your house. But I won’t thank you for holding me back from punching her. I so wanted to.”

“She’s not worth it. Besides, knowing what you can do with your powers, it was best you didn’t go there, especially with your upcoming hearing.”

I shrugged as I took the last sip of blood. I didn’t want to admit he was right.

The door clicked. Webb and I glanced over the couch.

George came in and took a seat on the window bench. Webb had a plush window seat built in front of one of the stationary floor-to-ceiling glass doors.

George let out a breath and scrubbed a hand down his face. “She gave me a message to give to you, Webb.”

“Is she gone?” I asked.

“Her car is not in the driveway. That’s all I can tell you.”

“What does that mean?” I looked at Webb.

“It means she may be slinking around the house, if I know her,” Webb said.

“Creepy” was the only word to come to mind.

“What’s the message?” Webb asked.

“Kate wants to talk to you.”

My eyes widened. What could she possibly want?

Webb leaned back against the couch, a muscle popping in his jaw. “About?”

“Kate will be at the fundraiser on Sunday.” George leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Are you going to a fundraiser?” His eyes stayed focused on Webb.

“Yes. It’s being hosted by Victor Costner.” Webb’s hand snaked out, and he tapped me on the leg.

I didn’t know if he was asking me to come closer, but I curled up next to him. “How does Kate know you’re going?”

He didn’t waste any time wrapping me with his arms. His body shook slightly as he buried his face in my hair.

“Good question,” George said.

Webb eased back. “Mmmph. Great question.”

“Do you think someone on our side told her?” I asked. “You still suspect another person working on the inside.”

“It’s possible,” Webb said. “Or the phones are bugged.”

“You swept the base. Didn’t you?”

Webb let me go and rose. “I need to call the commander. George, can you give Stan a call? Have him check around the area. I want to make sure Nicki is not hanging around.”

George unfolded himself from the window bench. “You know she is, Webb. I’m sorry to have to say that. But I’ll call Stan, then I’ll scope the property. It shouldn’t be hard to find her car, if she’s still here.”

“I’ll go with George,” I jumped off the couch. I would love to find her and finish what we started.

Webb had his hand on his cell phone. “Like hell you will!”

I stuck my fists on my hips. “Why not? I’m capable of handling myself.”

He let out what I thought was a laugh, but it sounded like a grunt. “It’s not you I’m worried about.” He shoved his phone back in his pocket.

“What?” My voice hitched.

“I’ll call you in a bit, Webb.” George walked out the front door.

Webb turned to me. “Jo, your powers would kill her. I know you’re not aware of the severity of what you can sling at someone, but I’m here to tell you, even I’m a little intimidated, especially after you somehow sucked the air out of this room.”

I harrumphed. “You’re afraid of me? Between you and my dad, you could both destroy an army.”

“You could do it all by yourself.”

I swallowed, remembering Edmund’s prediction for the second time today. “You’ll have powers the vampire world hadn’t seen in all of their existence,” he’d told me.

He held out his hand. “Let’s go, Jo. We’ll walk the property.”

I didn’t move. “I thought you were going to call my dad?”

“I will when we get back.”

I wanted to stomp my foot like a child. Webb could be irritating when he had his possessive, military mask on.

“Do I have to carry you? Because you’re not staying here,” he snapped.

I blew past him through the patio doors.

He followed.

We scanned the area behind the house before we circled the property. Satisfied Nikki wasn’t close, we trudged up the hill on the paved road until it dead-ended at a dirt path.

“Where does this lead?” I asked.

“To a steep drop-off. I doubt she would come up here. There is no access to the house from here.”

We turned and headed back toward the house. Webb was in his soldier mode, listening, scanning, and sniffing. Our species had a keen sense of smell. We searched one more time around the house but didn’t bother with the beach.

George called, letting Webb know that Nikki’s red Porsche had breezed through town.

We climbed the steps to the front door.

“I’m sorry about before,” I said. “But you need to stop being—”

“What?” Webb asked. “Protective? I’m not going to apologize, Jo. You need to choose when you use your powers. You can’t use them every time you get angry.” Steel laced his tone.

Well, I wouldn’t say “protective.” I had a few other choice words.

“Who are you protecting, Webb? Nicki or me? If you’re worried about my powers, then it’s clear it isn’t me.”

His eyes flashed with anger. “Seriously, Jo? Do you hear yourself?” He pushed his fingers through his hair. “You really do make me crazy—and it’s not the kind of crazy I would like from you. I was serious when I said I was a little intimidated. I couldn’t breathe when you somehow closed off my airways. Me, Jo.” He pointed to his chest. “Do you get that? When you use any of your powers, beware. They’re usually not directed at one person, but many. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Tears filled my eyes. I hadn’t been trying to hurt Webb at all. That was the reason I’d stopped.

“Hey.” He crooked a finger under my chin. “You need to practice, to learn control.”

I was numb and scared. How was I going to learn control? Was that how I killed Blake Turner? Did I suck all the air from the bathroom that day? I was so going to jail after the Council of Eternal Affairs convicted me of murder.

“Do you hear me?” Webb’s voice penetrated the shock.

I blinked away a tear and nodded. He was right on so many levels. I hated myself.

“Let’s go in. When we get back to base, I’ll work with you on your powers. Okay?”

Again, all I could do was nod.

George returned about an hour later and retired to his room. Webb talked to my dad while I hunkered down on the couch and berated myself the entire time. I had to find a way to make sure I didn’t get angry. If I didn’t, I would use my powers unconsciously. I couldn’t hurt anyone, especially not those I cared about. All this time, I’d thought Sam had the anger issues, but I did, too.

I stared out the windowed doors. Dusk had settled over the ocean, oranges and blues painting the sky.

The cushion dipped, and I tore away my gaze from the crashing waves.

“Come join me, beautiful.” He gathered all the pillows and piled them on the floor before kicking off his shoes and sitting down.

I crawled down and nestled between his legs. He rested his hands on my stomach while his chin sat on my head.

“How’s my dad?” I placed my hands on top of his.

“Stressed. He’s going to have a security company come in and do a complete sweep of the base for any type of surveillance equipment. You okay?” His lips lingered near my ear. “I didn’t mean to be so harsh on you, Jo.”

“That’s okay, Webb. I deserved it. You’re right. One of the reasons why I stopped when I did was because I saw what it was doing to you.”

His hand snaked underneath my shirt.

“Webb?”

“Shhh,” he murmured as his tongue found the inside of my ear. He gently traced circles around my belly button before coasting upward. “Your heart is racing,” he murmured.

No, really? The vampire’s magic hands were on me, and his lips were causing my insides to ignite. Of course my heart was racing.

His hand reached the underside of my breasts then slowly slid down.

“Soft. Your skin feels like I’m touching the wings of a butterfly,” he whispered against my neck.

I was a goner. I almost pinched myself to make sure this wasn’t a dream, but I didn’t have to. The points of his fangs scraped down the column of my neck.

My pulse jumped, and I let out a soft gasp.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to,” he whispered. His hands tightened on my hips. “I want you to stay with me tonight. We’ll sleep here on the couch. I don’t trust Nicki.”

Acid rose up, killing the swarm of butterflies in my stomach. To say I wasn’t jealous would be a lie, plain and simple, but it was more than jealousy. Kate and Nicki were friends, and that enhanced my hatred for Nicki all the more.

Chapter 4

A
t some point during the night, Webb had moved me from the floor to the couch. I woke up a couple of times to find him standing in front of the glass doors, gazing out into the darkness. I tried to coax him to snuggle with me, but the sentinel in him kept him on guard. I finally gave up when sleep broke my efforts to get him to rest.

I stretched, opening my eyes to a soft light spilling in through the windows. Pink and blue streaked across the sky over the calm ocean. I sat up, glancing around.

“Good morning,” George said. He sat at one of the four barstools at the kitchen island.

“Where’s Webb?” My voice was rough from sleep.

“Shower. Why don’t you join me?”

I rubbed my peepers as I ambled over to the fridge. I plucked out a bottle of blood then sat down next George.

“So is Nicki as loony as she seems?” I unscrewed the cap.

He chuckled.

I took a swig of blood.

“My advice, Jo, is to stay away from her. Nicki likes to play games. Twisted, sick ones. She’s not worth your time.”

True, but something suggested she was going to demand my time. “You think she was the one who cut the brakes?”

He turned to me. “The thought has crossed my mind. But”—he searched my face—“she loves Webb too much to hurt him.”

My heart sank. Did Webb have the same feelings for Nicki?

George touched my leg. “Jo, I’ve known Webb longer than anyone. He’s not one to lie, steal, cheat… You get my drift. His one flaw is he can be very possessive. But the best thing about Webb is he has a huge heart. I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.”

“Does he love—” Webb’s woodsy scent came before the sound of his footsteps. I turned.

His gaze latched onto mine. His cobalt blue eyes sparkled as he smiled wide.

If my heart had sunk at what George had told me, it now skipped a beat at the sight of Webb.

“Is George telling stories?” Webb asked as he stood over me. “Good morning, angel.” He bent down and kissed me softly on the lips. “Why don’t you shower? Then we’ll get on the road.”

I regarded him with open lust as he backed away. I wasn’t sure I could move, let alone speak. Not after the way he said “angel” in his sweet, husky voice, nor after the feathery kiss he’d planted on my lips. My only motivation was the fact I desperately needed a shower. I downed my breakfast and ran upstairs.

I showered quickly and dressed. My new jeans fit perfectly, as did the red blouse. After gathering my belongings, I went in search of Webb. He and George were securing the doors. After they buttoned up the house and activated the alarm system, we got on the road.

As we drove out of town, I thought about my conversation with George. While he might not believe Nicki would be capable of trying to kill Webb with me, she’d said I would never have Webb. Maybe she’d been stalking us all day, and she got into a jealous rage. I wasn’t crossing Nicki off the list of suspects.

The landscape changed as we approached Boston. Cars packed the freeways, moving at a snail’s pace. An image of an overstuffed car lot came to mind as I stared out the windshield. Stop-and-go was the rhythm of movement as we made our way to George’s house in Beacon Hill.

Once we arrived, Webb climbed out and chatted with George. I’d thought we were switching vehicles, but Stan had told Webb to use the truck so George could use his own car.

After a few minutes, Webb slid back in. He maneuvered through traffic and onto the freeway. The road finally opened up as the city faded behind us. I didn’t want to go back. I loved my brother and Dad, but I felt as though I was losing the freedom that I had with Webb at his house.

He reached over the console and laced his fingers in mine. “Do you want to share?”

The silkiness of his voice caressed my solar plexus, cutting through the despair that had settled in me.

“Just thinking how I would like to go back to your house.” I stared out the side window. Sure, the military compound was my home, but the place reminded me of all the problems we’d faced with the Plutariums.

He rubbed the back of his fingers over my cheek. I leaned into his gentle touch.

“You sure your quiet has nothing to do with yesterday or the day before?” He lowered his hand onto the console.

I wasn’t sure I was ready to talk about Nicki, but maybe now was a good time, before we both got caught up in the craziness of life on base. Plus, Olivia, the only female sentinel, had taught me to know my enemy, and Nicki was clearly one. “Can you tell me about Nicki?”

His face tightened as his gaze bounced from the road to me and back to the road again. “Nothing really to tell. I was at a low point in my life when Kate insisted I get out and let my hair down. So she set me up with Nicki. We went on two dates before I called it off.”

“Why?”

“For one, I wasn’t looking for a permanent relationship. Two, being a SEAL, I was gone a lot. More importantly, she’s not my type. Although, for some reason, she has this notion she and I were meant to be together.”

And she’ll do anything to get you, too. Boy, the idea of her cutting the brakes is looking better and better.
“Is there a reason she thinks that?” I asked, voice low.

The trees along the highway whizzed by. Traffic grew heavy. The orange signs flashed road construction.

“It’s hard to tell why Nicki thinks anything.”

The right two lanes were closed, so Webb slowed and merged into the left lane. After we passed the construction zone, he flicked on the blinker. An off-ramp for Assonet drew closer. This wasn’t our exit. We still had miles to go before we were even near Fall River. Maybe he needed gas.

“So you decided to drop me off in the woods?” I joked.

I trusted Webb completely. So why did my body tense? Maybe the red sparks in his vampire black eyes gave me reason to pause.

He chuckled then squeezed my hand. “Not a chance, Jo. Not a chance.”

Webb veered off and slowed down for the stop sign before turning right and following the two-lane road for one mile. After flicking on the blinker, he drove into a commuter lot packed with cars and trucks. He navigated his way around to where the pavement met the dense brush. He backed into an empty spot.

Ooookay. Why were we here? Fear settled in my veins.

The tall trees surrounding the lot swayed in the wind as dark clouds rolled in. A summer storm seemed to be brewing. He killed the engine, removed his seat belt, then leaned over and removed mine. My tongue wouldn’t move. My stomach twisted, and not in the way I wanted it to when I watched Webb.

A white beat-up car circled the parking lot before stopping behind a blue pickup truck. A lady got out of the white car and climbed into the truck.

When both vehicles drove away, Webb’s strong hands were on my hips. Before I knew what was happening, I was on his lap with the steering wheel jammed into my back.

The sudden motion rendered me speechless. Sure, vampire reflexes were fast, and we usually did things in a blur when we wanted to, but he could’ve asked. I would’ve been more than obliged to hop over the console.

Running his fists through my hair, he crushed his lips to mine. My breath caught in my lungs. What in the world was going on? So we were parking to make out. Not that I was complaining, but this wasn’t lovers’ lane or even a secluded spot.

I smiled, and he growled, his hands cupping my face.

“Kiss me, Jo.” He sounded desperate, scared. Of what, though?

My smile turned into a frown. Tunneling my hands through his hair, I trailed kisses along his jaw. “What’s wrong, baby?”

He buried his head in the crook in my neck.

“Webb, talk to me. Why are we in a parking lot off the highway? You’re kind of scaring me.”

The vampire, the soldier, the navy SEAL never looked worried, at least since I’d known him. My mind spun with all kinds of thoughts as my heart rate kicked into high gear. Whatever was eating at him, it couldn’t be good.

He leaned back, straightening his shoulders as the anguish on his face grew. I rested against the steering wheel.

He placed his hand on my heart. “It’s beating really fast.”

“Only for you.” The words came from deep within my soul, even though I had a little anxiety.

I searched his face, trying to find something to tell me what was plaguing him. Instead, I ended up melting at the way his long crescent moon eyelashes framed those amazing heart-throbbing eyes, especially when he gazed at me with such longing that I forgot who I was. I absently traced a finger over his eyelids then his eyebrow, settling on a small scar I had just noticed under his left eyebrow.

His eyes darkened to vampire black. “Really?” His tone went deeper than surprise, as though he needed some sort of assurance that I meant what I said.

“You make my world better.” The words spilled easily. “But what’s bothering you?”

Time seemed to stop as we explored each other. His chest rose and fell with every breath. I didn’t have to feel his heart to know it was beating as fast as mine.

“I wanted time alone with you where there are no insane people barging in, no one trying to kill us, and a few more minutes to kiss those lips of yours and touch your exquisite body.”

My lips parted in surprise.

“You’re gorgeous, Jo.” He tangled his hands in my hair again. “You were as a human, and even more so now that you’re a vampire. My heart beats faster every time I hear your voice. My stomach does somersaults when I lay eyes on you. And the one thing that gets my whole body humming is your lavender scent.” He sucked in my bottom lip. “I’ve never been in a relationship.” He kissed the edge of my mouth. “So this is new for me.”

His eyes flickered with fear and excitement, and my stomach followed suit. My brain hadn’t caught up to everything he’d said, but the goose bumps and butterflies sure had.

I raised both eyebrows. “But you just said you dated Nicki.”

“It was a date and not a relationship.”

“Is that what’s really bothering you?” I slipped my hands under his shirt, loving the way he trembled under my touch.

“Our first date was great, but it didn’t end well. Then Nicki showed up. So I guess what I’m trying to say is, I’m worried about us.”

“I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I promise.” I didn’t know the first thing about relationships either. But I wanted to build one with him. That much was certain.

Skimming his gaze over me, he grinned as though my promise was what he needed.

“What?” I asked.

“You’re amazing.”

Large raindrops pelted the truck, creating an ominous sound, one that faded when his lips brushed mine. His kiss was gentle until my hand traveled south over the dips of his toned chest to his abs. Then he looked as though he were a vampire possessed. Gone was the tenderness. In its place stood a predator staking his claim.

My life changed in that moment, in that truck. Without a doubt, Webb London was my future.

We’d stayed in the parking lot for nearly an hour without any distractions. Dad hadn’t even called, which surprised me. Regardless, Webb and I kissed a lot and talked about us, and nothing more. We decided we’d try to steal as much time to see each other when we could. He had a job to do, and our time together would be minimal, especially with Dad around, dictating.

The rain had stopped, and the sun peeked through the clouds every now and again.

When we were finally on the road again, Webb didn’t let go of my hand until we drove up to the security gate, and he rolled down the window.

“Lieutenant London?” Kraft nodded. “Welcome back.”

“Thanks. How is everything here?” Webb asked.

Kraft was a sentinel who moonlighted as a guardian at St. Anne’s Academy, the vampire school I was banned from until my court hearing with the Council of Eternal Affairs. I guessed today he was playing sentinel and not guardian.

Kraft bent his mammoth body down, looking in. His blond hair was tied back in a low ponytail, and he was wearing his fingerless gloves. The only time I’d seen all the sentinels wearing them was when we stormed the mansion. I wasn’t sure of the purpose of them. Maybe it was a fashion statement.

“Jo.” Kraft nodded, his mahogany eyes latching onto mine.

“Is there a problem, Sentinel?” Webb asked, glancing between Kraft and me.

Kraft had been the one to give me blood after I battled Blake Turner. When he did, I had a vision of him and a lady friend of his. I still wasn’t sure what that was all about, and I didn’t care to revisit it. It would just open up more questions, and given the events of the past week—heck, the past two days—I wasn’t prepared to even think about my blossoming powers. Not right now anyway.

“No, sir,” Kraft said. “I’m sure the commander will fill you in on the activity we’ve had around here. Jo, nice to see you again.”

Webb nodded while Kraft stepped away from the truck.

As we waited for the gate to open, Webb asked, his tone a possessive growl, “Do you want to tell me what that look between you and Kraft was all about?”

“Um…look?”

“Jo, you’re avoiding the question.” Annoyance weaved through each of his words. He drove through the gate.

The branches of the trees along the road rustled in the light wind. Webb gave the truck some gas as he steered around the winding way leading to the main building.

“So Kraft looked at me. I’m not sure what you’re insinuating.” Was Webb London jealous?

A muscle jumped in his jaw. “Mmm” was all he said as he wound around the main complex.

We finally parked in a spot with Webb’s name on it. Each vampire SEAL had their own spot reserved for them, as evidenced by the signposts. Webb’s spot sat between Dad and Tripp’s.

I was ready to bolt when Webb grasped my arm. “Yes?” I asked.

“You would tell me if there was anything between you and Kraft.”

“Webb…” I paused, mainly because the anger in his eyes had switched to something else. What? I couldn’t be sure. “There’s nothing between me and Kraft. I promise.”

The line between his eyebrows relaxed as he accepted my answer. Then he brought my hand to his lips, kissing the back of it. “You ready?”

I shrugged. Was I prepared to face the future? The answer in my head and in my heart was a
hell no
. But life didn’t play nice at all, at least when it came to my life.

“Angel, look at me,” he said.

I lifted my gaze to his.

“We’re in this together. We’ll get through whatever is thrown our way.”

A ray of sunlight beamed through the windows, highlighting his chiseled features.

“I know,” I lied.