Chapter Twenty-seven

Glenna drove like a crazy person, rocketing past little old ladies in the slow lane of I-70. Shearing close to the extreme drop-offs that characterized Rocky Mountain highways. Blowing everything from massive RVs to earthy-crunchy camping vans off the road in pursuit of her one overriding desire.

She had to see Sarah.

Only five when their parents died, Sarah had latched onto ten-year-old Glenna as a rock in the storm. From then on, Glenna was mother, father, and protector. And Sarah needed protection, not just from the loss of their parents, friends and home. But most of all from the unfeeling controlling environment they’d been forced to adapt to—Grandmother’s house.

Sarah must be devastated she was dead. Falling apart. And who would be there for her this time? Grandmother. Glenna nearly laughed. No way. Sarah needed her.

The sun had dropped down to crest the top of the foothills by the time she had made the two hour drive down from the mountains to the plains of Denver. She pulled into Sarah’s apartment parking lot near downtown. The lights were on, and she could see someone moving behind the sheer drapes. Sarah.

Hope nearly choked her as she flung herself out of the Jeep and up the two flights of stairs, barely making it to the top. She gasped for breath. She wasn’t recovered enough for this, not by a long shot, but she pushed her body to the limit all the way to Sarah’s door.

Completely out of breath by the time she hit Sarah’s door, she tried the knob. It gave, and she fell into the living room.

It was empty.

Glenna stood gasping for breath, waiting for Sarah to come out of her bedroom and give her a huge hug. And maybe, just once, be the one who took care of things. For the first time since she was small, Glenna wished she was the little sister and that she had a big sister to tell her everything was going to be alright. But Sarah didn’t come.

She heard a sound in the bedroom. “Sarah?”

“Who’s there?” Roger came into the room, in his dress slacks and button-down shirt. Calm, cool, and in control.

“Roger. Thank God.” Glenna moved toward him but the stark fear on his face stopped her cold.

“What the....?” He backed up a step. “You’re dead. They told us you were dead.”

“I’m not dead. I’m alive.” She took another hesitant step into the living room. “Where’s Sarah? Is she in the bedroom?”

Roger covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve. “They said you were sick, that you died in quarantine. It was on the news.”

“I’m not dead, I’m not even sick anymore. I’m better.”

“It’s contagious. You shouldn’t be here.” He narrowed his eyes and looked at her as if she were disputing the well-known reputation of his favorite news anchor.

“No, it’s not contagious. Well, it is, but only sometimes. They said only if I had a fever, but I’m female, so it’s no big deal.” She sounded like an idiot. Everything Sam had said sounded crazy. What did he know? Maybe she was contagious. Maybe she was putting her little sister in danger.

For the first time since she’d left the cabin, she felt a tingle of remorse.

“Where have you been?”

“I was kidnapped.” The words came out of her mouth, and she knew as soon as she said them that Roger wasn’t listening.

“We should call the authorities. He searched his pockets with his free hand, patting them as if looking for something. “They’ll know what to do with you.”

“What do you mean—do with me? I’m home. We’re celebrating our wedding in a few months.”

“There’s no wedding. We had a funeral instead.”

No wedding. A funeral instead. Spots danced in front of her eyes. “I need to sit down.” She sank onto the pretty sage green sofa she and Sarah had chosen together.

“You are sick.” Roger’s eyes widened over the mask of his arm. “I knew it.”

“I’m just dizzy.” Her stomach hurt, whether from hunger or the rejection in Roger’s eyes, she couldn’t say.

“You never think of anyone else.” Roger’s voice rose an octave. “Your grandmother was right—you’re a bull in a china shop, Glenna, never thinking. Look, here’s another example, showing up and exposing Sarah and me to an illness.”

“Sarah and you?” Glenna’s head spun. “Where’s Sarah?”

“She’s out.” Roger shifted his weight and avoided her eyes. “Thank God! Bad enough you show up here, upsetting her, but you could get her sick. You could get me sick.” Roger pulled out his cell phone with his left hand, his other one still covering his face. “I’m calling the police.”

“Do you care about me at all?” He stared at her and she shook her head at him. “I know we’re getting married for lots of practical reasons, but you always at least pretended to like me. Was even that a lie?” She didn’t need to see his nod, the truth was written all over his face.

Roger slowly eased the phone up, his fingers hovering over the screen.

“Glenna, you’re confused. The CDC explained it to us—lycanthroism makes you think things that aren’t true.” His thumb moved over his phone and it lit up. “Now you just rest there and they’ll be here soon.”

“No, they won’t.” Sam walked into the apartment, Ian right behind him, and held out his hand. “Give me the phone.”

Relief hit Glenna so hard her head spun. She had to lean back onto the couch again so she didn’t fall over. Despite her escape, despite all her disbelief in everything they’d been telling her, despite all that had gone on, she knew, deep in her bones—these men were hers. And they were here to back her up.

“She’s contagious.”Roger clutched the cell phone to him, his voice rising in panic. “She has lycanthroism.”

“She isn’t sick.” Sam closed the space between him and Roger in two long strides. A minute ago Roger had appeared in control, now he shrank before the bigger man. Sam reached out and plucked the phone from Roger’s loose fingers. He shook his head at her. “Glenna, you shouldn’t be here.”

“That’s what I said.” Roger nodded. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“I’m taking you back.”

“No. I need to stay here, Sarah needs me.” She got up off of the couch. “I’m not leaving until I see Sarah.

“Glenna, you’re putting everyone at risk.”

“You are sick,” Roger said. “I knew it!”

“Sam, look. Roger is my fiancé. I’m sure once he understands, he’ll use the connections that my family’s helped him accumulate and fix everything.” She fixed Roger with a hard stare. “Won’t you, Roger?”

“Fiancé.” Sam’s big frame seemed to get larger and his eyes gleamed. “Tell him it’s over, Glenna.”

“You two have something to work out. I’ll just be over here.” Roger dropped his arm from his face and ducked around Sam, lunging for the kitchen.

“There’s another phone!” Glenna got up to stop him, but before she could get there, Sam was across the room.

“I wouldn’t do that.” Sam ripped the corded phone from the wall.

Roger’s mouth gaped. “How dare you.” He snapped his lips together. “Glenna.” She knew this tone. He’d used it when she’d bought the shocking orange hatchback. “You shouldn’t have brought him here Just look at him. Your grandmother would be shocked. I’m shocked.”

“Come on, Glenna, it’s time to leave.” Sam tossed the phone down and started towards her across the apartment.

She ran behind the couch, her fingers curled into fists. Nothing made sense anymore. Her new instincts said to trust Sam, but she needed to stay here and see Sarah and Sam wasn’t going to allow that. “Roger, you have to help me. They’re keeping me prisoner.

“Are you telling me this is one of the men who’s been keeping you in quarantine? Why didn’t you say so?” A huge smile spread across Roger’s face. “Obviously, if you’re going to take her away, I don’t need to call anyone.”

“You understand, she’ll still be listed as deceased?” Sam asked.

“Sam? Roger? What are you doing?” Glenna’s head swiveled back and forth between the two men. Roger was supposed to be her ally. She shook her head to clear it. No, Sam was supposed to be her ally. “Roger, I’m your fiancée. You should listen to me.”

“Glenna, you’re dead.” Roger smiled and the chill of his expression shot through her like ice. “We’ve moved on. I’ve been living here, helping your sister cope.”

“You’ve moved in with Sarah?” Glenna couldn’t believe her ears. “But you would never move in with me. You said it was inappropriate.”

“Sarah needed someone here, to protect her from the paparazzi and the trolls. Everyone thought we’d helped you escape. There have been a lot of calls. Social media has been a frenzy. She can’t be on the internet. Now that the CDC has declared you dead, it’s much better.” Roger nodded at Sam and Ian. “Thank you, gentlemen, for taking care of this.”

“It’s no problem, sir.” Sam’s face had gone blank. “You do understand you can’t tell anyone, not her grandmother or her sister. It’s better for them if they think she’s dead.”

“I understand completely.” Roger nodded, and gestured toward the door. Sam crossed over to Glenna and reached for her.

Glenna hung onto the couch, her fingers scrabbling over the tightly covered cushions. “Screw this. I’m not going anywhere.”

Sam grabbed her, tearing her away from the couch. Her fingers lost their purchase and he dragged her to her feet. She fought hard, pushing and shoving and scratching.

“You see how the illness has progressed?” Sam grunted as she kicked him hard, hitting his leg instead of the soft groin area she’d been going for.

“She doesn’t understand what’s going on,” Ian said. “Sad, really.”

Sam swung her over his shoulder and walked out of the apartment, leaving Ian behind, still talking to Roger.

“We’ll take good care of her, sir, don’t you worry.”

“Stop! Stop! Put me down!” She shrieked and pounded and kicked, but he carried her out and down the stairs, straight over to the big, black SUV.

Sam opened the hatch. She struggled, but he thrust her into the back section. She scrambled for her feet and lunged for the door.

“Sorry, sugar.” He slammed the hatch. She went for the front but couldn’t get through. She was stuck in the fenced-off area for dogs.