Grave Attraction (15 page)

“Sorry, I've got to go. Emergency.” With no time for finesse, he gave her a quick kiss on the lips before tearing off for the truck.

Adam broke damn near every traffic law on the books to get across town in record time. He flew up the driveway and skidded to a stop in front of the house. Dmitri's car was parked on the grass with the engine running and the driver's side door wide open. That couldn't be good. Adam flipped the safety off his Sig as he jumped out of the truck and raced toward the front door.

The inside of the house was a wreck. Everything that could be overturned was, from the couch to the kitchen table to the shelves that used to hold his collection of books and DVDs. Dozens of bullet holes dotted the walls, and the sliding glass door was shattered. Dmitri was crouched down on the floor beside Gwen, her face puffy and swollen on one side and her left arm hanging at an odd angle.

“Where the fuck have you been?” Dmitri demanded, a look of murder in his eyes. A shotgun was on the floor by his feet, alongside several boxes of shells.

“Busy. What happened?”

“Somebody came looking for your friend.”

Samuel emerged from the bathroom, his right eye swollen and blood staining the front of his shirt. His hair stood up in every direction, and the handle of a knife stuck out of the waistband of his pants. His hands were filled with items from the medicine cabinet, which he carried to Dmitri and Gwen.

“What was it?” Adam asked.

“Demon,” Samuel replied. He handed Dmitri a bottle of rubbing alcohol and set the rest of the supplies on the floor. “Nasty little bugger. Unfortunately, Mr. Stavitsky killed him before we could determine who sent him to assassinate me.”

Dmitri's eyes thinned to slits. “What would you have preferred for me to do?” His voice sounded low and lethal. “Allow it to murder
my wife
?”

Gwen gripped Dmitri's wrist and said something to him in Russian. He broke eye contact with Samuel and turned his attention back to her.

“You ready?” he asked.

She gave a curt nod, her forehead beaded with sweat. “Just get it over with.”

“As you wish.”

Slowly, he bent her arm at a ninety-degree angle and rotated the elbow upward. He paused for a moment when she sucked in a breath, then continued until there was a distinct popping sound and the ball of her arm slipped back into the shoulder socket. Gwen exhaled, her eyes closed as relief washed over her face.

“Okay,” Adam said, breaking the silence. “So a demon came after Samuel, tore the shit out of my house, and Dmitri and Gwen killed it.”

Samuel sniffed. “I helped.”

As if sensing Adam's doubt, Gwen said, “He stabbed it in the back when it came after me. I'd probably be dead if it wasn't for him.” Her gaze cut to Samuel, and some of the hardness left her eyes. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome. It's the least I could do after you risked your life to protect me.”

Something passed between the two, a grudging respect that neither seemed willing to vocalize or acknowledge. Come morning, they'd probably be back at each other's throats, but tonight they'd share the special camaraderie that came with fighting a common enemy.

Adam wrinkled his nose when he caught a whiff of what smelled like burned skunk. “What the hell is that smell?”

“That's the demon.” Samuel pointed toward the broken sliding glass door, where a dark lumpy mass was fizzing into the carpet.

For a second or two, Adam couldn't help but wonder how he was going to get the stain out. “Wow, I didn't realize they did that.”

“The demons from this world don't,” Dmitri said without looking away from his wife. “I don't know where this one's from.”

Panic slammed into Adam when he realized he'd yet to see the dog. With all the excitement, he should be barking his head off. “Where's Buford?”

At the sound of his name, Buford limped out of the kitchen, his tail wagging so fast his entire body wriggled. His snout was covered in blood and gore, though it didn't appear to be his. Claw marks scored the left side of his body, but the big mutt didn't act like they bothered him.

“Hey, boy, what happened to you?” Adam crouched to inspect the dog's wounds. They didn't look deep, but he'd need to treat them to avoid the risk of infection.

“He attacked the demon when it broke through the sliding glass door.” Gwen flinched when Dmitri dabbed a cut on her forehead with rubbing alcohol. “If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have had time to get off a shot.”

“My brave, beautiful Gwenya.” Tenderly, Dmitri brushed his thumb over the side of her face that wasn't bruised.

Samuel sat down beside Buford with a bowl of soapy water and a washcloth. Carefully, he cleaned the pit bull's wounds, pulling back whenever the dog whimpered. “Stupid animal,” he murmured, but there was genuine affection in his words. He paused to pet Buford's massive square head, and the big lug licked him on the face.

Guilt gnawed at Adam's conscience. If he hadn't been so damn busy trying to get into Marlena's pants, he would have been here to do his job. Now people were hurt, his house was trashed, and the dog might need stitches.

He made a silent vow to stop thinking with his dick until after Samuel regained his powers. With everything going on, he needed to be at his best, and Marlena clouded his thoughts.

But as soon as the boss was safely out of his house, he and the shifter were taking care of business.

J
eremiah strained to contain his anger while listening to his idiot brother relay the news of what happened the night before. “You fired shots into her apartment?”

In all fairness, he had no one to blame but himself. He should have known better than to leave Elias alone while he prepared their new base of operations. But after so many days cooped up with his brother, he'd needed some quiet time to think.

The new property he'd rented was an hour's drive away in the middle of nowhere, a double-wide trailer on ten acres of land with only one neighbor nearby, the elderly landlord. And while the location was farther away than he preferred, it afforded them the privacy and anonymity they needed to complete the remainder of their mission.

The fools on TV made them out to be murderers, but you couldn't murder something that wasn't human. It was more like putting down a rabid animal before it caused any more harm. God had given him the ability to sense these creatures, and he fully intended on using the gift to rid the world of this scourge.

Too bad his younger brother's lack of impulse control had jeopardized everything they'd been working toward.

“She was right there,” Elias insisted, his hands waving wildly in the air. “I had her lined up, so I took the shot.”

“And you missed. Both times. Do you have any idea how much silver bullets cost?” Besides, given the choice he preferred to take her alive. Before killing her he wanted to catalog her weaknesses for future use against her kind.

“Look, I'm sorry, all right?” Elias slapped his hands against the sides of his pants, his voice raising almost a full octave. “How was I supposed to know she'd move at the last second?”

Jeremiah bit back a growl. “That's not the point. You should have waited until I got back.”

“You heard the recording; they would have been gone by then.”

True, but that still didn't justify his actions. Now everything was shot to hell. He'd been so careful, taking every precaution to ensure he left no trace behind. How was he supposed to know the creature possessed an enhanced sense of smell? Now that he knew, he'd take it into consideration when he finalized his next plan of action.

And then there was the question of the man who'd been with her inside her apartment. From what he gathered, the two were involved. Who was he? Was he human? If he wasn't they'd have to broaden their plans to include capturing him as well.

With the listening device still active in the kitchen, he'd know if she returned to the apartment. And if she didn't return, he could still monitor her movements through the GPS tracker he'd affixed to the underside of her vehicle's wheel well.

While he completed the final touches to the trailer, he'd allow the target to move about freely. Sooner or later, she'd lower her guard and slip back into her daily routine. And when she did, he'd be ready to press the advantage.

 

So much for staying away from Marlena.

In Adam's defense, going to the witch's house wasn't his idea. Cassie had called him earlier in the morning with news she'd created another potion for Samuel. And after everything that happened last night with the demon, he was itching to get the boss out of his home.

Still, his pulse raced at the thought of seeing Marlena again. He missed the taste of her, the sweet smell of her skin, the little sounds she made when they kissed. Come to think of it, he missed every damn thing about her. She consumed his thoughts, asleep and awake, and he couldn't wait to get her alone.

But first, he had business to take care of. Adam rang the doorbell to Cassie's home, shifting his weight from one foot to the other while he waited for someone to answer. He raised his hand to cover a yawn wide enough to make his jaw pop.

God, he was fucking exhausted. By the time he'd patched up the dog and cleaned the disaster inside his house, it was well past three in the morning. And since he had a job on the highway an hour and a half later, he hadn't bothered going to bed. Since then, he'd been mainlining coffee and M&M's just to keep his bleary eyes open.

“Be there in a minute!” the witch called out from inside. About ten seconds later, the locks disengaged, and the door opened to reveal Cassie's cheerful face. “Wow, that was quick.”

“Well, I wasn't too far away.” He smiled. Something about the old woman lifted his spirits, but he couldn't quite pin down what it was. “Is Marlena around by any chance?” Her car wasn't in the driveway, but that didn't mean it wasn't in the garage.

“No, I'm afraid she's out running errands.”

The witch didn't seem very happy about that, and honestly, he couldn't blame her. After what happened last night, he'd rather have Marlena locked tight inside Cassie's house until the police arrested her assailants.

Cassie opened the door a little wider. “Why don't you come inside?”

“Sure, but I can't stay for long.” Even though his next appointment wasn't until late in the evening, he wanted to get back to the house to make sure there weren't any more demon problems.

Adam followed Cassie past the foyer and into the spacious kitchen. The floors and counters were sparkling clean, while the sink was filled with soapy water with a few pots and pans soaking in it. The stench of pawpaw hung heavy in the air, reminding him of the time he'd spent with Marlena in the muddy field. Then the field made him think of the kiss at the flea market, which in turn made him think of all the things he wanted to do with her once he got her good and naked. And he would. It was only a matter of time.

A large brown jug with a black screw-on cap sat on the granite counter by the stove. Beside it was a clear plastic bag containing a folded-up sheet of paper and what appeared to be little packets of dried herbs. Cassie picked up both and handed them to Adam.

“Since the last potion didn't do the trick, I brewed up the nuclear option when it comes to dark magic removal. If this doesn't work, your friend's out of luck.” She tapped the jug with her index finger. “He needs to drink eight ounces at midnight and then every two hours afterward until the bottle is empty. Once he drinks the last dose, have him mix the herbs in the bag with his bathwater and scrub his entire body from head to toes. If he misses a single spot, it won't work. Understood?”

“Absolutely. Should I refrigerate the potion or keep it at room temperature?”

Cassie shrugged. “Whichever way your friend prefers. Either way won't affect the potency.”

“Sounds good.” He couldn't think of any other questions to ask. “Thanks for all your help.”

“My pleasure. There's also an incantation he'll need to perform while he mixes the bath water. I wrote it down in the notes.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a gold chain with a polished black crystal attached. “This is for you. Once the dark magic is banished from your friend, it'll try to seek out a new host. The tourmaline will prevent it from latching onto you.”

She went up on her tiptoes and fastened the chain around his neck. The stone felt warm against his bare skin, almost like it was alive.

“There's three more in the bag,” Cassie continued as she came back down on her heels. “For your friend, and for Dmitri and his wife. Make sure they wear them.”

“Gotcha. How long before it's okay to take them off?”

The old witch pressed her lips together as if thinking it over. “Couple days, usually. Dark magic breaks down quickly without a host. But it's better to leave them on for a full week, just to be safe.”

“Will do. Thanks again. I don't know what we would have done without you.”

She smiled, and the tiny lines around her eyes fanned out and deepened. “You're very welcome. Let me know how it goes.”

Lord, he hoped this worked. The thought of having Samuel in his house for much longer nearly made him break out into hives. The man was a class-one pain in the ass, and he was getting tired of listening to him bitch and moan about every little thing. Not to mention Dmitri and Gwen were coming close to pounding their former boss into a pulp.

With a hand on his arm, Cassie walked him to the door. She glanced up at him, her eyes glinting with curiosity. “You like my Marley, don't you?”

Like there was any question. “I'd be a fool not to.”

“Hmm. That's what I thought.”

Adam paused with his hand on the knob. He sensed a note of tension in the witch, as if she wanted to say something but was concerned about how he'd react. “Are you worried about me hurting her? If you are, I can assure you—”

“Oh, no,” the witch said with a light laugh and a shake of her head. “It's nothing like that. Marley's a big girl, and she's more than capable of taking care of herself.”

Okay, then. Obviously, something was on the witch's mind, but he was clueless as to what it actually was. “Then what are you trying to tell me?”

Cassie paused, chewing her bottom lip. “I shouldn't—she'll kill me when she finds out—but I'm going to do it anyway.” The old witch looked him up and down, a strange expression playing over her face. “You have an old soul,” she said at last. “Do you have any idea just how old?”

Adam studied the old woman over the space of a few heartbeats, trying to decide if she was serious or just messing with him. “Afraid not, but I'm guessing you do.”

She nodded. “Somewhere in the neighborhood of four hundred years.”

Definitely not the answer he'd been expecting. Actually, he wasn't sure what to expect, but it sure as hell wasn't that. “And you know this how?”

“Marley told me.”

Okay, that didn't make sense. “How would she know?”

“Because she knew you when your name was Christopher Johannes Walther.” She paused a beat before adding, “Her husband.”

 

By the time Marlena arrived at her apartment, the maintenance crew had already removed the broken front window and replaced it with a new one. The two young workers were outside packing up their tools as she walked to her front door.

“Thanks, guys,” she said as she slid her key in the lock.

“No problem, Ms. Walther. We also patched the holes in your wall.” The taller man scowled. “I still can't believe someone shot up your window.”

“Yeah, me neither,” the other man chimed in. “We've never had anything like this happen before. Any idea who did it?”

Marlena shook her head even though she had a good idea who was responsible. “I wish I knew. You boys haven't seen anyone hanging around the building, have you?”

“Nah, but I'll let you know if I do.”

“Thanks.” She entered the apartment and locked the door behind her.

The place reeked of the maintenance men, but if she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, she could still catch a faint whiff of the killer. She also picked up the distinct scent of Adam, all dark and musky and inherently male. She focused on Adam's more pleasant aroma and the memories that came along with it. The feel of his body pressing hers against the carpet. His hands on her. His mouth on her. That kiss.
Oh, God, that kiss.
If the cops hadn't come knocking at the door, she probably would have screwed him right there on the living room floor, broken glass, bullets, and all.

The heat in her body vanished at the thought of the vial in her purse. She reached inside, retrieved the tiny bottle, and held it up to the light. Had she made a mistake by not slipping Adam the potion to restore Christopher's memories? Although she couldn't say for sure, her gut told her no. She'd come to like Adam for the man he was without any outside influences from the past. It made her feel like a traitor to her husband, but she couldn't help the way she felt inside. She loved Christopher and she always would, but maybe it was time to let go of the past and see what the future had in store.

Decision made, she blew out a breath and cleared the clutter from her mind. Somewhere the killers were plotting their next move, and she wanted to make certain the apartment was secure before moving back in. As much as she loved Cassie's company, she also valued her privacy. And when—not if—she took Adam to bed, she didn't want to worry about anyone overhearing them from the next room.

Moving to the kitchen, she set the vial on the counter. She tossed out the overripe bananas and poured the sour milk down the drain. And since the lunch meat had gotten slimy, she threw that in the trash as well. The rest of the groceries seemed okay, but she wasn't sure if she'd feel safe eating anything that had already been opened. For all she knew, the sick bastards might have slipped something inside.

“Shit.” That meant her grocery list just got a lot longer. Dragging the garbage can across the linoleum, she opened the refrigerator and pitched everything that could be contaminated. She hated wasting so much food, but there was no way of knowing if any of it had been tampered with. Finished, she tied up the bulging bag and set it outside her front door.

With that out of the way, she moved on to the task of making the apartment more secure. She changed out the locks and installed a dead bolt and chain. Then she spent the next two hours wiring an alarm system into every window and door. If anyone broke in, the alarm would go off, and it was set loud enough to wake the dead. It was also programmed into her phone, so if she was away when the alarm was triggered, she could alert the police or disarm the system remotely.

Satisfied with her handiwork, she packed up her tools and returned them to the closet. Dirty and sweaty, she went to the kitchen to clean her face and get a can of Mountain Dew from the fridge. She leaned back against the counter and chugged almost half of the can.