Running in Fear: Cupid's Venom (3 page)

She nodded and moved a little closer to him. “Thank you for everything you guys are doing.”

Rory frowned. “Cecil, we would do this for anyone who’s been hurt. Don’t worry about it, pretty lady.”

Tug nodded and pulled out of the parking lot, heading towards his home, making sure no one followed them. “We’ll be there in about ten minutes. It’s nothing fancy, Cecil, but it’s safe and warm.”

Cecil laughed. “Tug, I’ve been kept in a four-by-six cell for the past six years. Anything would be better.”

“I don’t know how you survived. You have more strength than you believe, Cecil.” Tug wrapped his hand in hers and squeezed.

“No one should have to go through that, Cecil, and you’ll never have to again. You just got yourself two personal bodyguards,” Rory snarled. “The thought of my sister going through what you went through makes my blood boil.”

Tug eyed Rory as they drove the rest of the way in silence.

Something was up with him.

Tug pulled into the driveway and opened up the garage with his remote.

“Well, here we are, all safe and sound. No one will find you here.”

He smiled and opened his door, helping her out of his side of the car. She saw the Harley and slowly walked over to the bike, running her hand over it. Tears slipped down her face.

“My older brother used to take me for rides on his Harley before he left home to go into the service. We never heard from him after he left.

Maybe it was good he left. After Dad died, I had no one, but I kept dreaming Sam would come and rescue me. I think that’s the only thing that kept me going.”

Tug stood next to Rory, his heart clenching at the pain he heard in 16

Cecil’s voice. “I’ll tell you what. When it gets warmer, we’ll go on a road trip. Come on, let’s get you inside. I bet you haven’t eaten anything decent in, well, years.” He held out his hand and she walked over, placing her small hand in his.

“I’d like that very much. I’d love to feel free, with the wind blowing through my hair. And I am hungry.” She grinned at both of them as they stepped into the kitchen.

“Any time you’re hungry, I want you to come in here and take anything,” Tug told her. “My home is now yours. If you don’t find something, ask me. Come, let me show you around now. Then I’ll show you where you’ll sleep. You can take a nice hot bath while we fix supper.”

Cecil didn’t say anything until they stepped into the master bedroom, and she looked around. “I can’t take your room, Tug. I can sleep on the couch.” Her eyes were big as she glanced at him.

“Not another word. You will be sleeping in my bed. You need the rest. Now, there is a bathroom over there through the door. Since you don’t have any clothes, you can wear one of my T-shirts for now, if that’s okay with you.” He pulled open a drawer and handed one to her. “You’ll find shampoo, soap, and an extra toothbrush in there you can use. The towels are under the sink. Now, go on and soak in the tub while Rory and I fix some supper. Take your time.” He turned to leave, when she touched his arm.

“Tug…” She looked down at the floor as he turned to her. “Would you mind sleeping in the bed with me? I don’t want to be alone.”

He lifted her chin. “You sure you want me in the same bed? I don’t want to pressure you, Cecil. You haven’t experienced anything.”

“My mom, before she died, used to talk to me about finding my mate. She told me what the signs were. I may not have experience and have lived in a shell, but I want you near me. I can’t promise anything yet, but I’ll try.”

“Cecil, get in the tub. I’ll take care of you, I promise.” He kissed her nose and pushed her towards the tub.

“Um, Tug, one more thing. You might want to talk to Rory, because if I’m right, you’re not the only one.” She peeked at him and shut the bathroom door.

Tug stood there, stunned. His little mate was smarter than she let on. “Stupid hormones!” he growled and heard her laugh. Her laughter made him smile and tugged at his heart, sensing she hadn’t laughed in a while.

He would have to make sure she laughed more often.

Walking through the house, Tug found Rory pulling out three 17

steaks from the freezer. “I thought she would like a good steak, baked potato, and salad. I see ice cream in there that we could have for dessert.”

Tug leaned against the counter, and studied him. Rory was a few years younger than him, and had a black belt in Taekwondo. Tug had worked with him before. His family grew up in the area with his. “Cecil thinks you’re her mate, too.”

Rory stopped leaning against the fridge and stared at him. “How do you suggest we handle this? You have more experience with sharing than I do, and right now Cecil doesn’t need us going at each other. She’s going to need both of us.”

Tug nodded. “You’re right. She’s going to need both of us. I have no problem sharing her with you, but there will be no others. She’s never been with a man before.” Tug reached down and grabbed the bag of potatoes from the drawer.

“Agreed on the men. I think I’d kill someone if they touched her.

We’re going to have to let Remi and Dane know.” Rory unwrapped the plastic from the steaks and threw them in the microwave to thaw.

“They’ll be here tonight after they talk to the two who were following her. They already know I’m her mate. I know you have an apartment above your folks’ garage. When we get things settled, why don’t you move your things in here? It’s bigger and it will give us time to get to know Cecil.”

Rory studied him as he pulled out the warmed steaks. “You’re being awfully generous. Isn’t this eating you up inside?”

Tug turned and faced Rory. “Yes and no. Do I want to share my mate with another man? No, but I like you, Rory, and I respect your abilities. Cecil has been hurt so badly it’s going to take years for her to truly trust anyone. She’s trying already and I, for one, am not going to disappoint her or hurt her. If I have to share her love, then I will, because I know she has enough love for both of us. I know she needs both of us.”

Rory nodded, putting the steaks on the stove grill. “You’re right.

She’s going to need us both. Maybe that’s why she has two of us. Mother Nature knew she would need us both.”

Tug poked holes in the potatoes and popped them in the microwave, turning to see Cecil leaning against the doorway, staring at both of them.

“I thought you were going to soak in the tub.” He walked up to her and smiled down at her. He loved seeing her in his T-shirt. It engulfed her small body.

“I don’t like being alone, so I thought I could help with supper.”

She smiled when Rory stepped up to them and brushed her wet 18

hair back. “We could use some help with a salad,” he said.

Tug smiled and nodded as he stepped back, letting Rory show her what to do. Turning, he frowned as he heard a car pull up in the driveway.

He glanced back at Rory, who stared at him. Cecil grabbed the counter, her knuckles white with fear. “I’m sure it’s Remi or Dane,” Tug assured her.

“You guys finish the salad. I’ll be back.”

He moved around to the living room and looked out the window.

He sighed, opening the front door. “I thought you guys wouldn’t be here until later.” He moved out of the way as Sheila, Jaycee, Mark, Dane, Remi, and Bo entered the house.

“We found out all we could out of the men, and the ladies here wanted to come. They brought over bags of clothes and things for Cecil.

Why don’t you help me get them out of trunk?” Remi opened the door and walked back out as the girls went into the kitchen.

“What did you find out?” Tug grabbed a bag and leaned against the car as Dane came around with Bo.

“It seems there are at least six labs here in the U.S. that these men know of. Each one is doing different experiments on wolves and other species. They’re not only after Cecil, but three others that escaped with her, all females. One of the men was one of the scientists who spliced cobra DNA with hers. Her bite is lethal. “Dane leaned against the truck. “I take it from your reaction earlier Cecil is your mate?

Tug nodded and stared up at the house.

“You’re going to have to watch yourself, especially if you plan to mate with her.”

“There is no ‘if.’ It will happen,” Tug said. “Rory is also her mate and we’ve decided to live here for now. We want her to get used to both of us.”

Remi stared at him, then nodded. “We did find out our genes are stronger than the snake’s. So any children will be wolf, though they might have some traces of the snake DNA. We will never know. Also, we need to tell Cecil her father is still alive. We are already planning to go into the lab, but we need to talk to her about the layout of the place. I don’t trust the doctor’s or the guard’s word on everything.”

“She’s going to want to go back to help.” Tug glanced at the house. “But there is no way she’s stepping a foot near that place.”

* * * *

Cecil sat at the kitchen bar, laughing with Sheila and Jaycee.

Never had she felt more at home than with both of them. Sheila worked on cutting her hair while it was wet. Rory watched the women as he sliced the vegetables for the salad.

19

Mark stood next to Rory, laughing. “I swear, you get three females in the room and any subject is open season.”

“Mark, don’t push it. We have to update Cecil on girl things. Go see what’s taking them so long with the things we brought for Cecil.”

Jaycee stood next to her with her hands on her hips.

She laughed as Mark came around the counter and growled. “Are you telling me what to do? You know what happens when you start bossing us around.”

“Knock it off, Mark. You can spank me later.” She giggled and nudged Cecil.

“You like to be spanked? Are you crazy?” Cecil frowned a shiver went up her spine, but her pussy quivered with excitement. She glanced over at Rory and he grinned.
Damn, he knows.

Jaycee laughed. “Oh, Cecil, you have so much to learn. Spanking can be well very erotic if the right man does it. It’s not about punishment, but more about pleasure. There are so many different things a man can do to turn you on, and from what I hear, you have one of the best masters around. He’ll be able to teach you everything.”

“Umm, actually, I have two mates, it seems.” Cecil glanced up at Rory. “That is, if what my mother told me is correct.”

Jaycee and Sheila gasped. Rory nodded and grinned. “She’s right.”

“Okay, this is
so
not fair. First Jaycee gets three mates, and now you have two.” Sheila pouted, but jumped as Bo came strolling in with the other men.

“You don’t need two mates. I take care of your every need.” He wrapped his arms around her from behind, and bit down on her neck.

“Hey, knock it off. I’m trying to cut Cecil’s hair here. Did you guys bring in the bags?”

“Sure did.” He nodded at the bags that Tug and Remi put on the dining room table.

Cecil stared at the bags, then at Jaycee. “You didn’t have to do this.” Tears slid down her cheeks. “I don’t need much.”

Jaycee stepped up to her and hugged her. “Every woman deserves clothes, shoes, and personal items. Most of the things were donated from everyone. I just hope they fit. You’re so skinny. Your men had better fatten you up.” She looked at Tug.

“Hey, we have supper cooking. I even have ice cream for dessert for her,” Tug grumbled.

Remi sat down at the table and gazed at her. “Cecil, we need to talk.”

20

Sheila spun around and glared at him. “Can’t this wait? I’m not even half way done with her haircut.”

Cecil squirmed in her chair. “You can do it while we talk, Sheila.”

She wiped her hands on the T-shirt. “I take it that they talked?” Tug pulled up a chair next to her and took her hand, squeezing it.

“Yes, we do have some good news. Your father is still alive. From what we found out, he’s being held somewhere else in the building.” Remi grinned.

Her body shook. “There’s no way he can be alive. I saw them put him in the room. There is no way he could survive. They had more than thirty different poisonous snakes in that room.” Tears slipped down her face. “I heard his screams,” she whispered.

“See? I knew this would happen. Damn it, Remi, she’s been through enough!” Jaycee yelled and stomped her foot.

Dane came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

“Easy, Jaycee. We have to find out what’s going on, and the layout of the place, if we’re going in.”

Cecil jumped up and paced back and forth. “You can’t go in.

There’s no way. The place is heavily protected. It was just a fluke that the security system went down when it did. We were lucky to escape.” Her hand flew up to her mouth.

“We know about the other three that escaped, and that there are six labs in the U.S.”

She shook her head. “No, Remi. There are more than fifty the last time I heard someone talking. Each one has a different species they are experimenting on. They thought I was out of my mind and I kept them thinking that. It’s the only way I could hear things and learn the security system.” She sat back down at the table.

“I need some paper and a pencil. I’ll show you what I know.” She looked up into his face. “But I won’t tell you where the others went. We promised to go in different directions so at least one of us would make it and try to get help for the others.” Looking down at the paper that Rory put in front of her, she started to draw. “I was the weak one. I just wanted peace.”

Tug and Rory leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Everyone wants peace and a safe place to live. You survived and now you have both of us to help you.”

“Thank you. It’s a three-story brick building. There’s a basement with many tunnels leading to outer buildings. There are a total of six buildings surrounding the main one. All these buildings are protected by three different security systems. The first security system, which is close to 21

the building, is made up of gas mines wired to movement sensors.” She looked up and grinned. “Sorry, not too good with wording here.”

Everyone laughed. “You’re doing great, and the drawing is amazing.” Remi and Dane glanced at Tug. “You might want to have her talk to Will when all this is over. Her talent is too good to let it go to waste.”