Shifting Shadows (Sparks Collide Trilogy) (17 page)

It made sense but my brain was still
too filled with rage to acknowledge it. “He could’ve-” I snarled.

“But he didn’t.”

We stood there in silence.

I saw
Trent
scan the broken lobby of Doc’s office.
I knew what he would see. End tables and sofas upturned and thrown across the
room, the curtain over the window ripped apart, hanging off the bent metal rod,
typical vet office magazines thrown all over the place, glass and water from
the fish tank everywhere, not to mention the glass from the shattered window.
It was a mess and I wanted to scream for not being conscious when it happened,
for not protecting them.

Trent
nodded to me “Do you, uh, want to hit
the wall again?”

I did but when
Trent
said it, it sounded less like a good
idea. “I think I’m good now.”

“Good, did Doc get an I.D. on the
attacker?”

“No, he was unfamiliar and by the smell
of him, he was human. I also thought I scented residual magic when I came to,
but I can’t be sure”

He nodded “I don’t smell any magic,
dude but it’s possible, either way a human, even one with some power is a
strange choice to hire when you want to kill a werewolf.”

“Yeah but it doesn’t tip off the
species responsible for hiring him so it was also damn smart. He might not have
been a match for Doc’s strength but he had plenty of silver on him, so he
couldn’t shift and he took him by surprise.”

“Right well, you guys seem to be doing
ok so don’t worry about it. Speaking of which, last I heard you were pretty
messed up. How’re you holding up?” He looked down at my bandages. “Your side
must hurt like a bitch.”

I barked a laugh “Yeah, I’m not allowed
to shift for a few days because of the stitches but when I do, it’ll heal
everything else. No big.”

“Stitches huh? Nice, haven’t had to
have those in a while, man. How many?”

“15 but don’t mention it to Kira. That
way she won’t notice when they’re gone two days later.”

“True. Let’s go check on her and get
her home.” We walked into my uncle’s office where I saw him, the guys, and Kira
talking and laughing.

Everyone seemed fine. I, on the other
hand was barely containing my fury.  “Ready to go?” The quicker we left,
the quicker my father could get a crew to come check out the scene. I wanted to
talk to them, hunt with them but I could admit when I was in no shape to do
that. Plus I would make sure Kira got home safely. It was the least I owed her.
“Yeah, I’m ready.” Kira said. She pulled out files from her purse and handed
them to Doc, “Here” she mumbled. “Don’t want to forget the whole reason I came
here.” she said. It looked like she tried to smile but it didn’t quite work.

“You think we could stop for some fast
food?” Max said from the back seat.

I heard a smacking noise and an “Oww”,
then
Logan
say “Hey Einstein, the girl was just
attacked and she wants to go home, the last thing on her to do list is to get
you your milkshake.”

I ignored the chatter in my car and
considered my options. While running was probably the smartest survival-wise,
it wasn’t a viable one. It would only make things worse and send out red flags
to everyone. It was clear that for now my secret was still safe and Doc hadn’t
told anyone else thus far. I knew that these guys were willing to protect the
human Kira at all costs. Right now I could use the protection and I would take
it as long as I could get it.

“Now that you mention it, I could definitely
go for food, I’m starved. Know any drive-thru’s that are still open? ” In the
end it was decided that I would be “allowed” to drive my car but I had to agree
to let Will, Logan and Max in the car with me while Trent, Jay and Brandon
followed in their car right behind us.

In the corner of my eye I saw Max fling
an arm out and hit
Logan
. “Food would help after a traumatic
experience, that’s why I mentioned it. Also, I do really love chocolate
shakes.”

I laughed, my entire body feeling
lighter “Well it’s decided then, trauma equals lots of fast food, guilt free.
Should we call the other guys and let them know our change of plans?”

Will spoke from seat next to me, phone
in hand “Already on it” and hit the speed dial to
Trent
. In my rear view mirror, I saw into
Trent
’s car and watched as he picked up the
phone.

On speaker, Will explained about the
fast food but before
Trent
could reply I heard Jay in the
background. “
Trent
, give me the phone.”

Oh crap. I worried that he would freak
out. He was not in the best mood. I heard some jostling noises and I held my
breath, waiting.

Finally his voice filled the car “Thank
God, I’m starved. There’s a local fast food joint that serves the best burgers
you ever tasted on

Logan
shouted from the back seat “oh hell
yeah, Juno’s is the shit, good thinkin’, man.”

I again glanced at my rear view mirror,
I couldn’t be sure because it was dark out but from the passenger seat, I
thought I saw Jay wink at me. Apparently shock made you delusional. I turned
back to the phone, “um yeah, sounds like a plan” then turned to Will. “You know
how to get there?” He
nodded,
a satisfied look on his
face. As usual that’s the most I’d get out of him.

He went to disconnect the call when
Jay’s voice emerged again, “but here’s the catch, as with all good things, you
got to work for it and Juno’s drive-thru closes in 20 minutes, you down with a
little speeding, princess?”

Princess?
Ha .
“I guess
we’ll see. Tell
Trent
to try and keep up.”

Trent
turned the corner into the drive-thru
so hard it almost tipped the car over but we successfully stayed behind Kira
the whole way. Although Speedy Gonzales may have given the average driver a run
for their money,
Trent
had no problem staying on her tail.

It’s true that we made sure to stick by
her tonight for her safety but by the sound of his stomach growl I can’t say
Trent wouldn’t have driven that fast anyway just to get here before it closed.
Either way, the break neck speed was all worth it when our car rolled up and we
heard one of the best phrases a famished Were could ever know, “Welcome to
Juno’s can I take your order?”

The guys got out of the cars and got
out into the parking lot of my apartment complex. They tried to convince me to
let them come in for a while but I put on my best offended face and they backed
off. I acted the part of a human girl who didn’t think a random burglar would
be able to find my home or have any reason to come to my home.

I asked if we were still on for
tomorrow and a debate ensued. Trent and Brandon said yes. Max and Will said no.
Logan
said no but only because he felt bad
and Jay had yet to give an opinion. I had a feeling if Jay gave his opinion then
the conversation would be over. So maybe he was refraining for a reason. I
waited while they hashed it out.

Finally
Trent
said “It’s safer there. We can
reevaluate things from there. If more attacks happen while we’re gone then we
know it was something serious and if they don’t then it was most likely just
those kids trying to finish off Jay.”

Everyone turned to
Trent
. “That’s a well thought out plan,
Trent
.” Max said smiling.

“I’m in frickin’ law school.
We do the whole logic thing
occasionally, dude.” He said grumbling.

Brandon
looked around, “That’s odd.”

“What?” I asked.

“I don’t see any other signs of the
apocalypse but
Trent
just made sense.”
Trent
went to throttle him.

Will intervened. “Chill guys. We should
figure this out.”

Finally Jay stepped forward. He was
battered and bruised but in that moment he portrayed all the authority of a
king. “
Trent
’s right, it’s probably best that we
get away for a couple of days. By then the authorities will know more such as
whether the attack was personal, a burglary, or something else entirely.”

“The authorities?”
I interjected. “I thought Doc said he
wouldn’t call the police.” I was looking at Jay but out of the corner of my eye
I saw worried faces.

He spoke, capturing my attention again.
“With my father being the mayor, scandal is unacceptable. The authorities have
been notified but in a private manor. My dad will call in some favors and work
with the police but mostly with other privately hired figures to get this
sorted out.”

It made sense and it reminded me that
my new friends were powerful people in this town. That alone could have made
them a target but I had a feeling that whatever Jay really was, possibly what
all of them really were, had more to do with it. “Great. I hope they find out
what’s going on. As for tomorrow, I could use a vacation so I’m down with the
plan. I talked to Doc before we left and he said he’s fine with it if we still
go. I’m going inside now. I’ll see you guys in the morning.” There was no
arguing with that, so off they went, grumbling and growling.

Hurrying to the second floor, I checked
all my wards; they were still in place without a metaphysical scratch on them.
The moment I got in, I locked my door, and sagged against it down to the
carpet. So my mom had been right, I was involved in an attack. There were dark
shadows but only one of them intended to harm anyone. I was grateful for my
mother’s warning and grateful I had made the protection potion. I was worried,
however, about the consequences of my offensive spell wielding.

Not to mention the fact that my new
friends were some kind of supernaturals. Here I was, desperately trying to be
normal and my best friends turn out not to be any more normal than I am. What’s
next, Christina’s really a ghost?

I should call my parents, have them get
me, and go into hiding. The problems with that were infinite, however. If I was
already being tracked, this would put them in danger too. I couldn’t risk that.
Never mind that it would take me away from my future career and life that I was
finally able to build for myself. What kind of person puts their family at risk
to save their own butt?

My other option was to stay and hope it
will blow over. I felt that Doc would keep my secret and maybe he had been
keeping it for some time already. It was hard to tell how much he knew and how
long he’d known about me. My head spun with questions and I decided to ignore
them all.

Christina came out of her room.
Kira?
Is that
you.
”

I put my hand over my heart to somehow
slow
it’s
intense thundering inside my chest and
turned to her peeking out her bedroom door. “Yeah, sorry did I wake you?”

“No, I was just watching T.V., Xander
dropped me off a little while ago. How was girl’s night? Sorry I couldn’t
come.”

I yawned to cover my anxiety. “It was
fun and it’s no problem. How was your date?”

“Pretty good.”
She said shyly and I knew she was so
into him.

“Cool, listen I’m heading out to Jay’s
beach house tomorrow with the crew so I won’t be here the next couple of days.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Well, well now
that is exciting. You’ll have to tell me everything and send pictures or it
didn’t happen.”

“Deal.
I’ve got to go pack and get ready for
tomorrow.”

“Ok, goodnight.” She said and hugged
me.

“Night.”
I went to my room and hoped packing
would take my mind off things. Conversely, the first item on my list wasn’t a
bikini. It was the rest of my protection potion bottles. Even though I tried to
ignore it, if I was ever on high alert, it was now.

9 a.m.
and both
Trent
and Will’s cars were loaded up with
luggage and people. My beach house was only about three hours away but it felt
like we were going to a whole other world. I sat in
Trent
’s car with Trent, Logan, Max and Kira.
Will’s car wasn’t far behind, holding himself, Demi, Annabella, Brandon, and
Mena.

After we got home last night, Will and
I spent a few hours sitting on the couch, flipping through channels. We didn’t
talk much but what we did say meant a lot. Will explained that when he left for
Texas
he thought it would be easier on
everyone if he just cut himself off for a while. He apologized for being an
idiot and I apologized for being a selfish dip-shit and not being more
supportive and crap like that.