Chapter Eleven
Allison sat at her desk and ran her fingers over her lips, still thinking about the night before.
She wasn’t sure just what had come over her, but for the first time in a week, she’d actually slept well. Albeit a bit warm, but still, better than she had been. Not even a hint of a nightmare had troubled her.
A smile played on Allison’s lips. She wanted to see Quintus again. In fact, she even invented a stupid reason why she needed to see him.
The envelope with the money for the work and brownies she’d picked up that morning sat next to her on the desk. Along with his number on the top.
It was about the oldest pickup line in the book, but she was desperate. She wanted to see him in his element. Maybe they would be able to pick up where they left off.
Allison knew there was no rational reason she should be going over there, but the heart had never been all that rational an organ.
Maybe everything he’d told her about the Vestal connection was true. In a world where men like the hybrids existed, she couldn’t dismiss it out of hand.
“Wait,” she heard Celine call from outside the door. “You can’t just go—”
The door flung open, and Ms. Anderson strode in, an irritated expression on her face.
“They say I need to have it surveyed as well as the plans for the place,” the woman yelled.
Allison looked past the very angry woman to Celine. Her eyes were wide behind her glasses as she watched the raving woman.
“I believe that was outlined in the paperwork I gave you,” Ms. Anderson said.
For the first time, Allison fully took in the strange woman’s current clothing.
Today it was all red. It was like her clothing reflected her moods.
“I can’t wait that long,” Ms. Anderson said, and leaned against her desk. “I demand you speed this process up.”
It wasn’t Allison’s first time dealing with someone trying to intimidate her. Usually it was men, but it didn’t really matter. She was more than capable of handling it.
“As discussed before, these things take time,” Allison said.
For a moment, she thought she might argue further when the other woman suddenly stood up straight and smiled down at her.
“Now I’m sure we can come to some sort of agreement,” Ms. Anderson said. “I’m sure there’s… something you need that perhaps I can provide.”
Allison felt her temper bubbling just under the surface. Trying to boldface bribe her was just as outrageous at it got.
“As I said before, there is nothing I can do. If that’s all, please shut the door on your way out.”
Allison blinked. She could have sworn she saw a flash of red behind the woman’s eyes, but shook her head. The bright red outfit was just messing with her head, especially after the week she’d had worrying about the Glycons.
The woman’s face twisted just before she stormed back out of the off in much the same manner she’d entered. When she was outside the door, Celine scurried inside the room.
“I told you,” she said. “I have a bad feeling about that woman.”
Allison frowned. “She’s just used to getting her way. I’m sure that’s not the last we’ll see of her. Remember the timber company?”
Celine cringed and rightly so.
They showed up nearly every day for a month bitching about the permits. It was a nightmare.
“Okay, but she still gives me the creeps.”
Allison had to agree there. Ms. Anderson was creepy but harmless, especially compared to killer Glycons.
“And on that note, I’m calling it a day,” Allison said.
Celine smiled at her. “Got a date?”
She opened her mouth to refute it but found she couldn’t.
“Oh. My. God. You do have a date!”
Allison sighed loudly. “I’m just dropping off money for the work and thank-you brownies.”
Celine grinned widely. “And does thank-you sex follow those brownies?”
Allison grabbed her coat from the rack and slipped it on, her face flush with excitement.
“A lady doesn’t kiss and tell.”
Celine stepped over to the door. “Well, don’t do anything I wouldn’t.” She winked.
Allison laughed. “That’s a pretty wide range.”
Celine gave her an over-the-shoulder wave. “I like to keep my options open.”
Allison found herself laughing as she made her way out of the building. She was excited. Likely more than she should be considering she was just dropping off a few things.
But it wasn’t the chance that they might do something, but more just seeing him again. It made her heart race and her palms sweat.
A long, happy sigh left her mouth. The Vestal thing sounded crazy, but maybe it explained why she felt the way she did. This was more than just simple attraction. She felt so strongly pulled toward Quintus. There had to be something deeper.
Still, the Vestal concept sounded a lot like soul mates, and that was something Allison had never been able to buy into.
She decided she’d just play it by ear. The reality was, regardless of what happened with Quintus, she needed the hybrids to help with the Glycons. After that was taken care of, she could figure out if there was any long-term future with the hunky Quintus.
She climbed into the car and made her way through town. The street lights popped on overhead as the sun sank over the horizon.
Happily, she hummed to some nameless tune on the radio, following the winding road as she did so, feeling truly relaxed for the first time in a long time.
A piercing scream ripped through the air. A chill ran down her spine. Even though she was in a car, the sound seemed to come in stereo from all around here.
There was no question just what had made that sound. She’d heard it before, even if in the distance. As long as she lived, she’d never forget the sound of the Glycon.
With a shaking hand, she grabbed the phone beside her and tried to punch in Quintus’s number as carefully as she could. She was thankful for all the time she’d stared at it on her desk.
“I’m glad you called,” he said in his smooth voice over the line.
“They’re after me.”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, something large slammed into the back end of her car. The wheel shook in her hands. She dropped the phone as she struggled to keep herself from driving into a ditch on the side of the road.
Bam!
Something else slammed into her from the other side. This time she was more prepared, and the car swerved just slightly.
Allison checked in the mirrors all around her. In the distance, she could make out two sets of glowing red eyes moving in the darkness.
“Oh shit,” she said as she watched them and the road in front of her. “Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit.”
She struggled to take in deep breaths as she reached down to pick the phone back up.
“What the fuck is going on?” Quintus shouted over the phone.
“Something hit the back of my car,” she said still trying to catch her breath. “Twice.”
He could hear him mumbling something to someone.
“Quintus, it’s them. I saw their red eyes in the mirror.”
“Where are you?”
She swallowed hard as she watched the eyes getting closer behind her. Allison pressed the gas with everything she had and hoped her little four cylinder didn’t give out on her.
“I’m on 97 headed your way,” she said.
“Good,” he said, and she could hear him panting now as well. “Give it all you got, and I’ll meet you at the road, baby.”
She didn’t even have to ask how he was going to get all the way down the long road to his place to the main road with such ease. She’d seen his speed before.
Her engine roared as she barreled down the road. The red eyes in her rear-view mirror receded farther away. The Glycons were fast, but at least they couldn’t keep up with a car at high speed.
Not that it slowed her racing heart. She wouldn’t feel safe until she was in his arms again. If they’d tracked her down once, they could track her down again, maybe next time when she wasn’t in her car.
Allison spotted a dirt road and slammed on the brakes to make the turn. Her tires squealed, and she added long tire streaks to the highway. The car finally skidded to the stop.
Her heart leapt in her throat when she spotted Quintus standing in front of her car with several other men at his side. Judging by their size and bright blue eyes, they were all hybrids.
Allison stepped out of the car, and Quintus was there, pulling her hard against his bare chest.
“You’re safe,” he whispered. “I’ve got you.”