Wicked Nights (8 page)

Corneliu winked at her. “Not bad, considering Alex ruined my chances to complete the ritual.”

When she tried to talk, it felt like his hands were around her throat. “Where’s Emily?” she croaked.

“Still alive, last time I checked.”

She tried to steady the beating of her heart, but it was hard to concentrate on anything when she couldn’t get enough air into her lungs. “I can’t … breathe,” she told him as calmly as possible.

Corneliu held her gaze for a second and then released the pressure. Not too much, but enough that she could breathe a bit more easily.

“Is this the only way you can deal with me? Let me go, and let’s try this without tricks.”

Corneliu relaxed against the back of the chair. “I love feisty women who think they can take on the world.” Although he was smiling, his voice sent chills down her spine. “But first I want to know what Alex got out of the ritual.”

Laurie
.

The voice was so unexpected, it actually made her jump. Her eyes froze on
Corneliu’s
, but his expression hadn’t changed. If he had heard anything, he wasn’t showing it.

Laurie, hold on. I’m coming.

How long had she been unconscious? Even driving at high speeds, it would take Alex at least two hours to get to her.

Laurie, tell me you’re okay.

She felt her chest tighten and had to keep the tears from spilling out.

I’m okay.
She paused.
Please, please hurry.

Her eyes went back to Corneliu. She wasn’t sure how, but she needed to keep him engaged enough that he wouldn’t kill her. Or worse.

Alex had been in the study when Laurie’s words first flashed into his mind. They were laced with a feverish panic, and his whole body had responded. It wasn’t just a reflex — it was almost as if her panic had come through her words and turned into anger inside him. Anger that she was about to be hurt, anger that somebody else was touching her.

Then everything went silent, and Alex feared the worst. He panicked for a minute and then forced himself to calm down and listen. The electricity was still there, although softer and quieter than usual. He told himself that meant Laurie was still alive, even if she wasn’t able to talk to him.

He got into his car and tuned in to the energy connecting them. He focused his eyes on the road and on making his way to the city as fast as possible. His mind was somewhere else, reaching for her, looking for a link.

Then all of a sudden the connection seemed to awaken and he was able to reach her again. An overwhelming sense of relief washed over him when she responded. He couldn’t explain what was going on or what he was feeling, but he knew every cell in his body was desperate to get to Laurie.

When he got to the city, he parked a block away from her apartment, just in case Corneliu had a way to look out over the street.

Every part of him was ready for a fight.

** **

Even before he reached the door of her apartment, he could hear the voices coming from inside. Nobody was shouting, but he could hear them anyway. The ritual hadn’t made his hearing superhuman, but it had given him selective hearing. He wasn’t sure what triggered the sensitivity. Maybe it was caused by strong emotions: anger, passion, alarm.
 
Whatever it was, it had kicked in now. All his senses were in overdrive.

He knew his cousin had enough power to at least partially immobilize Laurie so he could control her. There was no way to sneak in and surprise Corneliu, because he couldn’t guess where he was.

Alex put his hand up, and the deadbolt twisted.

This was it. All or nothing.

He pushed the door open without touching it and stepped inside.

And Corneliu slammed it shut right behind him.

Alex scanned the room until he found his cousin standing in the doorway of what looked like the bedroom. He couldn’t see past him, but he could feel Laurie’s vibration coming from the room. She was alive. In pain and exhausted, but alive.

“Get out of my way.”

Corneliu moved slightly, and the light coming through the window illuminated Laurie’s gun, dancing in his fingers. “You’re not fast enough, Alex. I’ll turn around and put a bullet in her head if you move your hands.”

“If you’ve hurt her….”

Corneliu shook his head. “What’s the big attachment, anyway? Last week, you didn’t even know her.”

That was something Alex couldn’t answer. Not logically, anyway. What started as simply an attraction had become something else once they completed the ritual. It was as if there was an invisible thread connecting them now. One that he didn’t want to sever.

Alex.

Relief washed over him when his mind heard her. The sound was weak but warm.

“I want whatever you got from her,” Corneliu said, and Alex realized his cousin couldn’t hear Laurie at all.

“You know it doesn’t work that way. Why are you even here?”

“I just want to make sure you don’t get the last laugh, that’s all.” He took a step backward, towards Laurie.

Alex knew he had to act now, before it was too late. There was nothing he could do from where he was standing, but he had a major advantage in this game.

Laurie, can you move?

No.

He concentrated all his energy into the bedroom and was able to see
Corneliu’s
magic holding her down. It was some kind of shield, similar to the one he’d created the other night to halt
Corneliu’s
attack. And he also knew he could break in and release her without difficulty. Doing so would alert Corneliu, though, and he was volatile enough already. But if he could release just one hand.

Laurie, try moving your right hand. Can you?

Silence, then
Yes.

“You’re awfully quiet for a guy who’s so concerned about his little woman.”

“What do you want? Name it and then get the fuck out of here. Or let’s go somewhere else, just you and me.”

Corneliu chuckled, and there was a thick darkness to the sound. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

Laurie, when I tell you, use your right hand to push something to the floor. Anything.

Okay.

“Last chance,” he said and his eyes burned when they locked onto
Corneliu’s
.

“Fuck you!”

Now, Laurie!

The sudden crash startled Corneliu, and he jerked his head around. That was all Alex needed. His hand went up, and Laurie’s gun went flying across the room.

And then Corneliu was in the air, his feet off the ground, his throat being crushed. He gasped for air, his hands frantically trying to fight the invisible attack.

Behind him, Laurie moved and immediately yelped in pain.

Alex took a step forward, closing the distance between him and his prey.

“I’m going to give you one chance, Corneliu. I’ll put you down, and you get out of here and never come back,” he paused for a second, squeezing
Corneliu’s
throat harder with his mind. “Or I’ll break your neck right now.”

Corneliu’s
feet thrashed in the air. “Put me down!”

Alex released him, and Corneliu hit the floor hard. Immediately, his hand went up, and objects from different corners of the room started flying. Alex could feel them rush towards him without even moving his head. He could also shatter them into a million little pieces before they even got close to touching him.

Corneliu’s
eyes were big with a mix of surprise and rage.

“I can crush your throat in a blink,” Alex whispered.

Corneliu stood up, stumbling, and moved towards the door. “This isn’t over,
frate
,” he said before staggering out of the apartment.

Alex didn’t expect it to be.

In fact, he was sure this little encounter was going to bring much larger repercussions for all of them. Part of him wished he could put an end to everything right then and there, but there were family rules he didn’t want to break. And there was Laurie, who was even more important right now.

As soon as Alex walked into the bedroom, she rushed into his arms.

“Are you okay?”

She melted into him. Her heart was beating wildly, but she seemed more relieved than scared at that point. As big of a part he’d played in saving her, she was still holding her ground. “I’m fine. Sore. Emily?”

“Unconscious but breathing.”

Alex held her tight, feeling the blood rushing in her body. She felt warm under his hands. She felt right. He kissed her and then smiled against her lips. “Handy little thing we have going.”

Laurie smiled, and Alex realized he didn’t want to let her go.
 

“I need to call an ambulance.”

He frowned. “I’m staying here. I don’t think Corneliu is done with you.”

She moved away from him and into the living room. Emily was breathing steadily, almost as if she was in a deep sleep. She wasn’t bleeding, and there was no apparent injury.

Laurie picked up the phone and dialed 911, then turned to face him. “I don’t want you to be here when the ambulance comes.”

“There’s no way I’m leaving you alone, so forget it.”

“Follow us to the hospital, then, but keep your distance. If the cops see you around, you’ll become a suspect. Right now, all Emily will remember is Corneliu. Let’s keep it that way.”

She picked up her gun.

“Laurie, you and I need to talk.”

Her eyes locked onto his. She looked powerful, in control. Just a few minutes ago, he’d felt like the rescuer saving the damsel in distress. But Laurie exuded power right now. He couldn’t see the golden glow she’d had on her skin the night before, but he could almost feel it. She had the soul of a warrior.