ROMANCE: Mason (Bad Boy Alpha Male Stepbrother Romance Boxset) (New Adult Contemporary Stepbrother Romance Collection) (81 page)

“Not like that!”  He sputtered.  “She saw the headlights and was trying to hide!  I recognized her!  That’s…”  He shook his head and pounded a fist against his skull.  “That’s all…I swear it!”  He looked desperately at Daniel with sweat dripping from his temples.  “I didn’t touch her!” 

“He didn’t.”  Autumn huffed. 

Daniel smiled at Bretton suddenly.  “Very good.  That was a good job, Bretton.  Truly.” 

Autumn couldn’t believe how those few words could impact Bretton so profoundly.  His body visibly relaxed and he looked up at Daniel the way a worshipper would to their god.  Another sad analogy would be that of an obedient dog after being petted and cajoled into bringing the evening paper between its teeth.

Daniel clapped his hands together once.  “I see no need for us to stay here!  We should go ahead home.” 

“Why not wait until morning?”  Lucinda asked, her eyes still on Autumn. 

“No.  I want to get my daughter home safe and sound where she belongs.” 

Daniel frowned as his cell phone began ringing.  When he looked at the caller ID he twisted his lips amusedly.  “This should be good.”  He swiped his finger up the phone and put it to his ear.  “Yes, Dalton, what can I do for you?” 

Autumn’s eyes widened.  She prayed Dalton wouldn’t say anything foolish.  Why couldn’t he just leave it alone like the note asked?

Because he thinks he loves you.  The words snaked through her head.  Autumn saw that her father was staring right at her, but hadn’t moved his lips.  It was the one trick she hoped she could learn before…she snapped her mind closed, a grin creeping at the corners of her lips. 

Daniel raised his eyebrows and turned his lips down in the universal silent expression of impressed surprise. 

“Why Dalton, why are you ranting?  She’s just fine.”  Daniel nodded his head and looked at the ceiling.  “Yes, she’s right here with me.”  Daniel lowered his head and winked at Autumn.  “No, I don’t think talking to her is a good idea.” 

Autumn took a deep breath and held her hand out.  “I don’t know what you’re used to, Father, but I will not be controlled to the point of not being able to speak with whom I please.” 

Tonya stifled a laugh.  She was beginning to really like this woman. 

Daniel handed Autumn the phone with a shrug.  “You’ve made your decision.  I have nothing to fear.” 

Autumn put the phone to her ear.  “Dalton?”

“Autumn, how could you do this?  We could have handled it!  Handled it together.”  Autumn closed her eyes against the image his wavering voice invoked.  She didn’t want to imagine her husband reduced to tears.

“It’s fine, Dalton.  This way is better.  I have his word that he’ll leave you and the pack alone.” 

“You think he’ll honor that?  You’ve lost your mind!  I’m coming to get you!” 

“No.”  Autumn replied firmly.  “Dalton, I love you.”  She said and ended the call. 

Dalton looked at the phone receiver in a momentary stunned silence, before he began beating it against the wall.  Chuck and Brian could hardly contain him as he blew hole after hole into the sheet rock.  Dalton was able to yank the entire phone from the wall and throw it out the kitchen window before they restrained him on the floor. 

“Get off of me!”  He roared.  Chuck and Dalton could hear the pull and stretch of his body trying to shift. 

“Calm down, buddy.  You need to calm down to help her.”  Chuck said quietly as he strained against Dalton’s super human strength. 

Mika knelt beside them and pushed her small arms into the fray until she was able to pinch Dalton behind the neck.  He stopped kicking and struggling.

“What the hell did you do?”  Brian demanded. 

“Vietnamese trick.”  She said and stood.

Brian looked up at her proudly as he loosened his grip on Dalton.  “Well, all right.” 

Tonya eased her way out of the room unnoticed beckoning Hanale with her eyes.  When they had disappeared into the dark recesses of the rear end of the house she stood on tip toe and whispered darkly in his ear. 

“Get the car.  I want you to drive me to Dalton’s.” 

Hanale looked in her eyes deeply and nodded slowly, his dead heart blossoming a little more.  He lowered his face and kissed her gently before allowing the shadows to engulf him.  Tonya touched her lips and furrowed her brow.  She didn’t understand what was happening, but it would have to wait.  Right then she had made a decision that must be seen through. 

She came back to the room and watched for a moment as Daniel and Lucinda talked animatedly about Autumn right in front of her.  Autumn looked miserable. 

Becky turned in her chair and met Tonya’s eyes.  She nodded her head once, nearly indecipherably, as Tonya backed away and went out of sight. 

Tonya had her feet on the ground and was out of the car before Hanale could properly bring it to a shuddering halt.  Tonya marched to the Dalton’s door and began banging on it as Hanale got out of the car and quickly followed her.  He had no doubt of her physical abilities, but he wasn’t sure how the household of werewolves would receive her.  If she was hurt…in anyway…a pound of flesh would be his required payment. 

The door flung open and Dalton stared at her angry surprise.  She ignored his expression and pushed into the house.  Dalton stood to the side and held his arm to his side. 

“Well, big boy?  Are you coming in or not?”

Hanale grunted and entered the house.

“I’ll make this short and sweet.  Daniel is planning on taking her back to the Bull Mitch tonight.  If you want any hope of getting her back, then you will need to act right now.  You’ll never make it through the Bull Mitch alive if you wait to get her.” 

“Why?  Why are you helping us?”  Dalton asked. 

Tonya looked at Winnie as she moved towards her side.  “I’m helping because I’m tired of Daniel and his bullshit.  I’m helping because what he has planned is a monstrosity that needs to be stopped.” 

“What?”  Dalton asked through gritted teeth.  “What’s he going to do with her?” 

“He’s going to shock her into triggering the vampire blood.”

“How?” 

“He’s going to kill someone she loves right before her eyes.” 

Dalton took a step back.  “Becky.”  He said flatly. 

“Or you…if he gets the chance.  You are his primary choice, but he’ll settle for an attempt with Becky.”  Tonya shook her head.  “It doesn’t matter right now.  Right now, we have to go!  He won’t delay the trip very long just because Hanale and I aren’t there.” 

All of the pack came to their feet except for Tamara and Serena.  Saeed stood behind them where they sat on the couch.  “I’ll protect them.  Unless you want me to go with you?” 

“No.”  Dalton relied quickly.  “Stay with them, please.  Mika?”

“I’m coming!”  She said hopping down the hall on one foot as she tried to shove her foot into a high topped tennis shoe. 

Dalton sucked in breath and readied himself to argue with her, but Brian stopped him. 

“Let her come.”  Brian said with troubled eyes. 

“The risk…” 

Brian squeezed his shoulder.  “She knows the risk.  This is her pack too.  Autumn is her friend.” 

Dalton knew time was not on their side and didn’t try to argue the matter further. 

“Let’s go!”  Tonya demanded from the door. 

Winnie shrugged into her jacket and stopped in front of her sister before sliding past.  “Thank you.” 

Tonya nodded and allowed a ghost of a smile to grace her lips.  “You’re welcome.” 

Dalton skirted the edge of the strange house, his body crouched and low to the ground.  Brian had broken around the opposite side edge and disappeared.  There didn’t appear to be any guards on the outside, and Dalton lifted a silent prayer of thanks.  Tonya and Hanale should have reentered the house by now through the unlocked back door.

Tonya sauntered into the living room and stopped short.  Hanale stopped just behind her, his amber eyes staring over her head.  The room was darkened and empty.  Tonya felt her breath hitch.  It all felt wrong.  She swept her eyes over the room and kept them moving even when she detected the silhouettes of several people.  A deadly voice drifted from a darkened corner. 

“Where have you been?”

“Out.”  Tonya kept her voice level. 

“Out where?”  Daniel stepped from the corner with crossed arms. 

Tonya forced her mind to stay still as she watched Daniel’s eyes cloud with blackness.  She needed her demeanor to reveal nothing out of the ordinary.  She moved away with her catlike grace, swinging her hips like normal.  She could feel Daniel’s eyes stalking her every step. 

“Where are the others?  Or did you tire of your precious daughter already?”

“They’re here…around.” 

A light came on in the room, and Tonya blinked once.  Lucinda moved off of the steps and Johnathon from beneath them.  The remaining feeder hissed and dropped down from where she was hanging on to the ceiling.  Her leering face came within an inch of Tonya’s and she licked her on the side of the face. 

Tonya growled and hit the woman in the middle of her chest with the flat of her palm.  The woman flew across the room from the force of the blow and hit the front door with a thud.  She righted herself and crouched as if to spring. 

“Come at me again, and I’ll kill you.” 

Daniel’s head swung sharply and his lips pulled away from his teeth.  “Well, well.  Now I know where you’ve been for sure.”  He looked at Tonya and clucked his tongue.  “Naughty, girl.” 

“Where’s my wife?” 

“Johnathon, show him.” 

Johnathon smirked and opened a closet by the front door.  He yanked Autumn out first, her hands were bound and she had something tied around her mouth.  She bit down on it and flashed her eyes wildly at Dalton.  Becky was pulled out next, tied in the same way, but her face and neck were marred with dozens of puncture marks.  She could barely keep her head up, and Johnathon tossed her like a rag doll into the middle of the room.  Autumn tried to get to her but Daniel yanked her by her backwards by the hair.  He smirked at Dalton darkly from the side of her face. 

Dalton let out a roar and changed instantly into his wolf form.  Brian and Tonya followed suit. 

“Look at that, Darling.”  Daniel whispered, pulling her further away, his hand still bunched in her hair.  Two wolves and one sickening werewolf.  He shoved Autumn out of the way and spread his legs wide, jumping and swiping in one clean movement.  Dalton jumped to meet him, taking the blow with a yelp and whimper, his body tumbling backwards. 

Autumn screamed from behind the cloth shoved in her mouth, and tears of fury began to leak from her eyes. 

A flurry of movement erupted in the room as the front door banged open and Chuck and Winnie stepped through, no longer humans, but towering salivating werewolves.  One pounced on Lucinda and the other on Johnathon. 

Autumn struggled against the ties on her wrists as a small form dropped down beside her speaking Vietnamese rapidly.  Mika’s slanted eyes were as round as they could be with fear, but she deftly untied the rope on Autumn’s wrists and unbound her mouth.  Autumn shook her head as Mika tried to help her up. 

“No, please, help my mother!” 

Mika darted to Becky and began dragging her limp form out of the fray.  She noticed movement a second too late and shielded her face as the frenzied feeder jumped on her and knocked her into the far wall.  She grinned as Mika’s body lay motionless. 

Autumn stood, her face contorted, she could hear Becky mumbling something in another language and thought it odd that she would know Latin.  Autumn felt a rush go through her body, and her arms moved of their own volition, spreading wide.  Her head flew backwards and she could feel something coming from deep within her.  She opened her mouth and flung her head and arms forward, issuing a scream that stopped all other movement in the room.  Glass shattered and the vampire she had directed it toward, fell to her knees holding her ears.  Blood and dust flew from her nose before she fell over.  Autumn yanked a piece of black iron from the staircase as if it were nothing but paper and shoved it through the motionless vampire’s skull. 

She twirled her body sharply and glared at the inhabitants left in the room.  Winnie approached her cautiously, her werewolf muzzle holding Lucinda’s head by the hair.  She shook thrashed the head and dropped it.  It bounced once like a deflated basketball and half rolled to a stop. 

Autumn’s eyes flashed hotly, the light brown replaced by black.  Daniel smiled, knowing she had come into her blood lines.  It had worked just the way Clarisse had said it would. 

Brian loped to Mika and whined licking her still unconscious face. 

“You will let my pack leave this place.”  She spoke to Daniel directly.  She didn’t have a chorus of demon’s voice or one of weeping angels, but it caused pain to all who heard it none the less.  Whines and groans made a chorus as she walked slowly towards her father. 

“I only wanted what was best for you.” 

“No, you wanted another possession.”  She countered.