Under the Full Moon (Crimson Romance) (12 page)

“Yes, Red. I want you to head down and inform the others the compound was exposed last night. Find out if anyone sensed or heard anything wrong. Off. Maybe even just a small brownout or like.”

“Sure thing, boss man, but can I ask what’s happened?”

Damien maneuvered himself behind the woman and while for the most part his slight movements went unnoticed, a faint voice reached through the throbs of pain still lancing his head.

“What’s going on? You’re up to something. I can tell,”
Beth asked mentally.

“It seems our friend Red here is set on hiding something and I want to know what.”
He pushed the message around in his head not quite sure how this telepathic communication thing worked.

“How so?”

“She bears no scent. Everyone has a scent … It screams wrong.”
Once behind the woman, he took another whiff. Not even perfume, deodorant or shampoo. Not one damn glandular scent wafted from the lying bitch. Nothing normal could possibly account for that, which only left magical. Why would a B.E.A.R. member need magical enhancements to cloak her scent, unless someone else’s scent lingered on her she didn’t want detected?
“Beth, be ready. My animal side has found a traitor.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Red flip a small switch. He didn’t know what it went to, but he’d bet it was some kind of alarm that had been turned off during the night and now she raced to reset before anyone noticed. He watched Beth’s face scrunch up in concentration — sweat beaded from her forehead and her eyes closed. Her head was partially turned so that the others weren’t aware of whatever it was she attempted. Only he was privy to the extreme in her expression and posture.

Before he had a chance to mentally ask what she attempted, the little hellcat launched across the room and straight on Red.

If they’d thought his attack on Coyt bad … well, hell, they hadn’t seen anything yet.

A cracking sound resonated around the room, machines clattered as bodies hit and bounced from one metal contraption to another. Hair and curses flew madly about.

“Where the fuck is she, bitch?” Though Beth asked, she gave no time for Red to answer. Damien watched as Beth exploded, becoming a nearly uncontrollable powerhouse. He worried what may happen if her power unleashed into the fury it had during the battle with Octavia when Beth had nearly brought the cave in around them from the sheer force emitting from her.

Hair, spit, and curses flew as the coppery smell of blood permeated the security room, and unlike when he had Coyt by the throat, none of them stepped between the vicious fight before them. A tooth hit the floor and Damien sighed in relief when he caught Red spit a decent amount of blood before Beth surged onto her again. There was no way at the moment to split the women apart without the chance of hurting one or both.

“What in the hell is she doing?” Squire shouted, jumping out of his seat in front of the monitor. Moss whirled around before the man could make a step and blocked his path to the melee.

“Kick her big ass, Beth,” Trick bellowed to his left and trained his eyes on Beth’s every jab, kick and strike.

“I do not have a big ass!” Red spat glaring daggers of death at Trick.

“Bitch, backstabbing your own friends like that,” Beth seethed. “You’re going to wish your stank ass was never born.” Beth yanked Red’s head back so hard Damien was shocked the other woman’s neck didn’t snap. Her assault continued as she slammed Red’s face down against the control board and continued doing so until blood spatter coated the console and another of Red’s teeth went flying. Red kicked outward and sent Beth sprawling backward.

Sirens blared all around them and Squire shot them a menacing look demanding someone break the women up. Even knowing he had a traitor among his group of comrades, he couldn’t stomach seeing one of his own pulverized.

Too fucking bad, Damien thought, relieved and glad Beth took matters into her own hands. He’d never lay a hand on a woman, but this traitor … well he’d have figured something out.

Heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway, coming in their direction and fast.

“You think you’re better than everyone else, Barbie?” Red screeched gaining her footing on Beth.

“Who the fuck are you calling Barbie?” Beth zipped from the awkward posture she’d ended up in from Red’s kick to her gut, and sailed past the hands that now blindly reached in between them in a vain attempt to rip the two apart.

Again, ill chosen timing did little to break the dueling duo up, but hell, he’d tried to tell Squire to back off.

“Damn, dude … you checking her bad self out? Beth’s stomping Red a new ass, man.” Trick didn’t seem the slightest concerned for Beth. Truthfully none of them did as the minx ripped chunks of red hair while bashing Red’s head against any hard surface she could. None of the men had any doubt of Beth’s anger, but if they were to question the other gal, they needed to intercede. Squire sadly had a point. Beth made her statement, now Red needed to make hers.

“Beth. Easy honey, remember, she may be our only clue as to where Grace is.” Moss interjected himself between the bodies and snatched Beth around her waist. Legs and arms flailed as she fought trying desperately to get back to the woman. “Easy, baby,” Moss coxed doing his best to soothe his mate. Damien understood and commended his fierce loyalty to her. Beth proved passionate in all she did, including fighting for those she called her own. His friend indeed had scored a true treasure.

“Moss, let me go or so help me God … ” she hissed, still spitting mad.

“Or you’ll what, love?” Moss whispered something into her ear that settled her instantly. Her body relaxed into his, her breathing calmed and her posture returned to normal.

“Well, we wouldn’t want that to happen.” Damien caught her reply and slight blush as she calmed within his friend’s embrace.

The rest of the B.E.A.R. members piled in to check what caused all the chaos and screaming that must have echoed through the building. Squire gave instructions for Red to be taken down into questioning. Damien didn’t need to be told about the room to get the message it wasn’t as hospitable as the other plush rooms within the compound.

“You are so going to pay for that, bitch. He’s going to rain hell down around you and I’ll be there to laugh as you scream,” Red swore retribution on Beth.

“Bring it, Bozo.” Damien caught the muscles in Moss’s arm clench as he held Beth tight. She’d begun fighting to get free again.

Once Slick drug her away, Squire apologized for all the fucktardery that had transpired under his command.

“We’d suspected a mole within our group, but until now, I truly had no idea who’d be working for those monsters.”

“How could you not have noticed what a carrot top bitch you had lurking around?” Beth was clearly still angry and wanting to lash out.

“Red’s been with me since near the start. I’m clueless as to what they offered her to prompt a sudden switching of sides.” Squire genuinely looked flustered and disappointed.

“She had feelings for you.”

They all turned to find Bev standing quietly in the doorway.

“No. Impossible. If she did, she never said a word to me. Never even hinted.” He scratched the top of his head.

“She did. You just never slowed down enough to notice. Never caught how she bent over in front of you, or how she made a point to sit near you each night.”

He shook his head, still clearly not coming to grips with everything he’d missed right before his eyes.

“To hear her say it, you two were friends with benefits,” Bev added.

Damien didn’t miss the accusation and hurt on the other woman’s face. Bev may not believe Red one hundred percent, but she suspected somewhere amid the traitor’s tales lay a bit of truth. When Squire turned away from her, Damien winced. Apparently the truth had reared itself and bit him on his royal ass. Problem Damien had with the man’s lie was the fact Squire’s truth screwed Grace over in bad way.

“None of this gets us any closer to finding Grace. Let me drill the scorned lover,” he said impatiently. Anger made him toss that dig of his own in Squire’s direction. Which earned him a narrowed gaze from the man. A warning. Too bad Damien viewed warnings as challenges, nothing more.

“No. You won’t be able to play dirty enough. The fact she’s a woman will hold you back. I’m the best choice to drill her.” Beth jumped at the chance to question Red again.

“While I appreciate your willingness, I’m putting Bev and Lily in charge.” Squire nodded at Bev, who disappeared he assumed to get whoever Lily was.

“Fine, but we stand in as well. And if we’re not satisfied with what this woman has to say, we step in,” Damien threatened, not at ease with the call, but willing to give them one shot at getting the answers he needed.

“Fair enough. Follow me downstairs to the cellar.” Squire stood and headed for the elevators. Damien stayed in control for the most part, but knowing Demetrius had Grace in his clutches kept him unsettled. Nothing would ease the ache stabbing his heart except having Grace safe in his embrace again.

Even before they’d entered the room, Damien’s sensitive hearing picked up the fast flowing threats launched at that Lily person. Squire opened a massive steel door and a surgical-like room presented itself. Everything in the room was pristine, clean, sparkling, sterling silver.

Dead center of the room, tied to a large chair, sat one very pissed off Red.

“Where is Grace?” Damien may have agreed to hold back, but his need for swift answers overtook the promise.

“Where you will never find her,” Red spat in their direction. Hatred dripped from her every pore.

“Pity for you in that case,” Bev said simply. So softly spoken and unchallenging, Red took the bait.

“And why is that, Bev? If you ask me, more like pity for them.” Red nodded her head in their direction. Damien’s eyes narrowed and though his mind warned against striking a woman, his beast swore no woman sat before him. Only a monster who wished harm against his mate.

“Oh, but I disagree. Know why? Because you were willing to prove your love and where are you now? Sitting here, tied up, and taking the rap. And what did Demetrius do? Forsake your love by having you help him steal the only woman he wants. Loves. Boy that’s gotta sting. I’d be pissed. Livid in fact.” Bev hopped up and slid back on one of the numerous countertops in the room, crossed her legs and continued. “I mean. He loves her, you love him … but unlike Demetrius, you ran around doing all the dirty work. You’re the one who got caught. And where is he? I don’t think anyone’s outside pounding on our front door to get you back. It’s called expendable and is your new title.”

“Fuck you. He’ll come. Just you wait. But unlike Demetrius, will Squire ever come after you? Or will you continue to pine for him from darkened corners? Oh yeah. I’ve watched you, Bev. Seen you drool as he passes by. Recognized the burn from experience, didn’t you? Must really chap your ass Squire spent his nights in my bed, rather than yours.”

Damien grew concerned when the color drained from Bev’s face and he prayed the woman held her shit together. Red had become rattled when Bev was on the attack, and he hoped this woman could continue doing so. Unnerved meant Red might slip up and give away Grace’s or Demetrius’s location.

“Oh priceless. You should see your face. And you,” Red’s attention swiveled toward Squire. “have led her on. Led me on for a while as well. I’ll own my mistakes, but mind you, Demetrius isn’t one of them. You, on the other hand … does Damien know of your special connection with Grace?”

“It’s a private matter between Grace and myself, no other.”

Damien cleared his throat. Squire was dead wrong if he thought anything he had with Grace would be private. Damien’s first priority was getting Grace back safe and sound. But if this man, Squire, thought he wouldn’t be involved in anything going down between Grace and his self … well, he was sorely mistaking.

“Please, Red. Grace has done nothing to you and if you truly love Demetrius, why not help us get her back? Away from him. So he will want and need you again?”

They turned their attention on the mousy girl that until now had remained library quiet.

“I’m sorry, Lily. I really did like you, sweetie, but I can’t do that. What I will say is they are coming after you next. I know how you hate them, so I’m warning you now. I owe you that much.” Red’s eyes softened a tad while she spoke to the girl.

“If you really wanted to help, tell us where the innocent is.” Lily again addressed Red without glancing at any others. “I don’t want to hurt you. Please don’t make me.”

“You? Hurt me? On what planet, halfling?” Red laughed openly, her tussle of red curls shaking as she did.

In less than a second, Red began keening loudly in obvious distress. Her hands bound to the chair gnarled in arthritic proportions and her knees drew inward, an instinct to rock away the pain. She paled, gagging as tears streamed down her face. Her breaths came in short pain-filled pants until finally whatever the hell hit her passed.

“Please answer our questions. I don’t want to have to dig around again.”

Lily had done something. Damien studied the young woman. From all outward appearances, she appeared no older than her late teens or early twenties, was of slim build. For all intents and purposes, not someone who jumped out at you. Until you caught sight of her soulful brown eyes. Therein lay her beauty.

Right now Lily’s eyes filled with unshed tears over what she warned she must do.

“Please, Red. Turn the bad around. Think of another, rather than yourself,” Lily pleaded and Damien gathered she and Red must have been tight at one time.

Red panted so hard her bangs blew up and down off her sweat-covered forehead, leaving a few strands stuck in the dewed mess.

“I can’t. He’ll — kill — me — if I do,” she barely rasped through the radiating pain that seemed to still be assailing her.

“If you don’t, we will,” Damien said, walking over to lean over in front of the woman. His peripheral vision picked up Squire edging closer. Good. The man didn’t know what he’d do, or not do, and that worked to Damien’s advantage. “Unlike the others, I won’t apologize for the pain I inflict. I take care of me and mine, and right now you are the threat to them I intend to neutralize. Be it long and painful or short and sweet. Your call.”