Chapter Eleven
Addison’s muscles ached as she and Trish carried Gabby into the dark warehouse, her pulse fast with fear. He’d taken their cell phones and purses and dumped them in a pile next to the entrance. Now, the only thing they had was the first aid bag, which didn’t contain much besides bandages and tape. As they entered, Julian flicked on the lights. Addison stopped in shock, nearly dropping Gabby’s feet. “No way. You’re not locking us in there.”
“Relax, it won’t be for long. I have friends who will be coming to see to that.”
“What friends.” Trish had stopped too, pulled to a standstill by Gabby’s sagging body. She put her side gently on the ground. She whirled to face Julian. “You mean those rogue assholes who attacked us earlier, don’t you?”
“Don’t you like the rough guys?” Julian’s upper lip curled. “I figured since you’d refused all the decent wolves in the pack that you wanted someone gritty.” He turned to Addison, his face turning hard. “I know you do. I can smell him all over you from here. But don’t worry, he’s being taken care of too.”
Addison growled, her wolf leaping to the surface. “What the hell have you done.”
“Don’t worry about lover-boy, your future dates are finishing him off right now.”
“If you’ve hurt him I’ll rip you to pieces.” It was the hardest thing she’d ever done, pushing her wolf down. They both wanted their mate, and they wanted to sink their teeth into Julian’s face and rip, tearing a hole in his cheek right where it turned up in a mocking grin.
“Calm down before I’m forced to shoot you. And that would ruin everything.” The smell of his wolf rising rose in the air between them. “I don’t understand. Your stepfather paraded you in front of at least a hundred good pack wolves, why in the hell would you choose a dirty loser like him?”
“He’s not a loser!” Her skin pulsed with the push of fur. Get a hold of yourself, Addison. He’s still got that gun.
“Loser or not, now he’s really up shit creek. You won’t have time to mourn him before his buddies come to get you.” He waved the gun, signaling them to move toward the entrance. “Now get in the cage.”
“No.” Addison planted her feet in the hard cement of the warehouse floor. Maybe she could take him before he got a shot off, she peeled off her jacket. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Trish start to do the same. “I’m not stupid enough to think you’ll let us live. I’m going to make it hard.” Her muscles tensed in preparation for the shift.
“You can get in the cage or I can shoot you now. Your choice.” He centered the gun on her face so she looked straight down the barrel. Julian’s face behind the cold hard steel was full of malice. His black-gloved finger tightened, and he pulled the trigger.
The shot flew past her, the sound ringing in her ears long after she realized the bullet had passed.
Her blood turned to ice. He’d missed on purpose, but she could tell, he wouldn’t do it again.
“I’ve always wondered what it would be like.” His eyes gleamed. “I’ve killed as a wolf, biting deep into a rabbit, feeling the blood spurt in my mouth. But what does it feel like to pull the trigger and end a person’s life, just like a human would? Is it as satisfying? Does it get you hard? Just give me the chance, Addison, and I’ll do it. I’ll shoot you right now.”
“Do it. Shoot me now.”
He continued as if he hadn’t even heard her. “And then I’ll shoot your little human friends. Bang. Bang.” He twitched the gun just enough for her to know that Eve and Gabby would never stand a chance. The need for blood rose from his skin like the stink of too much bad cologne.
Julian would kill her. And then he’d kill each and every one of her friends. She could smell the truth.
“Come on, Addison. Please, just do what he says. For Gabby.” Eve’s voice was shaky as she knelt down on the concrete beside Gabby’s prone body and felt for a pulse. She turned big pleading blue eyes up to Addison. “She’s still alive. Isn’t that something? If you don’t co-operate, what are the chances she’ll live?”
She could read the desperation in Eve’s face.
It might be too late for Ethan, hell, it might already be too late for them. But Eve was right—while they were still alive, there was a chance they’d make it. Alive—maybe, just maybe, they’d have a chance to escape later. Dead—there was no chance.
She had to cooperate. For her friends’ sake. And maybe for Ethan’s. She couldn’t believe he was dead. Couldn’t believe it because her slender tie to him through the mark was still strong, still vibrant. He was alive. And as long as he was, she had to try to survive.
“Let’s go.” She threw her coat to Eve, bent down and took hold of Gabby’s feet. Trish got the shoulders and they shuffled into the cage.
There was no water, nothing. Not even a bucket to pee in. She turned back to face Julian as he closed the large padlock onto the chain link.
She looped her fingers through the cold metal mesh. “Gabby needs water. She needs medical care.”
He grinned. “She’ll be dead soon. Accept it. You’re better off worrying about yourself.”
“You can’t just leave us here. She needs help.”
“Do you think I care?”
“Where are you going?”
He snorted. “Do you think I’m stupid enough to be the one who kills Lincoln Hunter’s sister? Look, I’m wearing gloves. These shoes, this coat, none of it is mine, they’re from a thrift store. There won’t be any of my scent when the pack finds this place with your dead bodies. That is, if they even find it.” He laughed and walked away into the light coming from the open warehouse door.
His phone rang out and he yanked his glove off with a curse, swiping it on. “No. Just kill him and get it over with. I want you here. I want them all dead before the sun sets, before that fucking asshole Hunter finds them. And Sven, no loose ends.”
He hung up and waved the phone at the girls in the cage. “Your lovers will be here in a few minutes. You’d better enjoy what they have to offer, it’s the last dick you’re going to get before you die.”
Panic raced through Addison. “Julian!” She rattled the chain link. “You can’t do this!”
But the only sound she heard was his rising laugh as he left the building, flicking off the lights as he went. The warehouse door slammed shut behind him, the clang ringing through Addison’s bones sounding like their death knell in the darkness.