Turning by Dawn Kirby

Ben’s Move

Grabbing Matt hadn’t been a problem. Lance and his crew of four had simply waited for the poor, unsuspecting guy to fall asleep. After he’d been tied up and secured in the trunk of the car they went inside to wait for Carly. As a reader she’d be harder to catch and knew it. She’d sense trouble the second she walked through the door.

He posted one of his men by the front window and another behind the bushes outside. The other three hid in separate rooms just in case she managed to make it past Lance. Not likely, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

As they waited Carly cautiously made her way up the street, doing her best to reach out to Nicholas. She’d picked up on the unwelcome presence from three blocks away and wanted to make damn sure he knew Ben had decided to make his move. If she was going to allow herself to be taken she wanted assurance somebody would be coming to get them both. After seeing what they had planned for her, she was determined to spend as little time in their presence as possible.

“Who?” Nicholas demanded.

“I don’t know yet,” Carly thought back. “I haven’t got to the house yet. All I know is they are Weres and I’m payment.”  

“Trouble between packs?” he queried.

“Big trouble. I don’t see many surviving this one.”

“Wonderful.” Nicholas had heard there were two packs fighting over territory. The last thing he expected was to be thrown in the thick of it. Then again, this little twist could work out to be a good thing. “Go with them. Do not fight. Let them think you are meek.”

“Nicholas, I can’t just roll over like that. They’d suspect trouble in a heartbeat.”

After contemplating her statement a moment he decided she may very well be right. “Very well. Be yourself, but don’t do it so well you end up getting hurt in the process. I do not want your blood on my hands.”

He sensed her agreement and let his mind disconnect from hers. She’d seek him out later to clue them in on who was holding them. Until then, there was simply nothing he could do. That included making Alana worry about something she couldn’t change.

“Hey, everything okay?” Alana asked wrapping her arms around his waist. “You look like something’s wrong.”

Nicholas kissed the top of her head and smiled. “Everything’s fine, love. I was just thinking.”

“About?”

“You. Me. Our future.” He turned her chin up and looked her dead in the eye. “Why do you resist so? I could give you so much.”

“Give it to me now,” she told him. “I don’t have to change what I am to enjoy my life with you.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

She dropped her arms to her side and sighed. “Nicholas, let’s not do this, Not now. Ben is still out there. Matt’s still in danger-”

“Ben’s already made his move,” he said cutting her off. Her eyes grew wide. Her shoulders dropped.

“When? How?” She was so shocked she didn’t really know which question she wanted answered first.

“It’s happening as we speak. Ben has enlisted the help of the Weres. Getting them back won’t be easy.”

“The weres? Them? Wait.” Tears stung her eyes. Anger started to bubble to the surface. How long had he known? “When were you gonna tell me?”

He looked down at her, hurt by the trace of anger he saw in her eyes. “Werewolves, Alana. They have taken Matt as bait and Carly as payment. There is a feud between packs brewing. Her unique ability would serve them well. I did not tell you because there is nothing I can do to stop it. I am one man. A vampire I may be; invincible I am not. Not alone anyway.” His hand cupped her cheek gently. “I could be if I have you by my side.”

“Me you have,” she said through clenched teeth. “My trust is another story.”