Undead Or Alive (Bad Things #3)(24)

“I haven’t forgotten anything,” Cass said.

Of course, he hadn’t. And why had his words sounded like a warning?

But Ivan was turning to trudge back through the woods and she hurried to keep up with him. And since she moved—Cass had to keep up with her, too.

They were linked, bound still…until that forty-eight hours ended.

Maybe…maybe she could delay them…maybe she could make that forty-eight hours expire before he delivered her to Luke. If the forty-eight hours ended before Luke got her back, then she could have a chance to disappear.

Her head lowered as she began to plan.





Chapter Eight


“We’re ready to fly,” Amber announced. She was holding a wrench in her hand and a streak of dirt slid across her cheek. “She’ll be good to go now.”

Cass had to admit, he was impressed. He’d watched Amber and she’d seemed to know exactly what she was doing, no hesitations at all. She just jumped right to work on the small plane.

“Where did you train?” Ivan wanted to know as he gave a low whistle. “You’ve got that engine working like a dream.”

She shrugged. “I didn’t train anywhere. Or at least, not at any school or any place like that.”

Ivan’s jaw dropped.

“I just…I know how to make things work.” She put down the wrench. “I’ve been putting things together and taking them apart for a very, very long time.”

Cass stared at her. “You’re sure this plane will fly?” He didn’t have the knife in his hand—he’d already stowed it on the plane with a bit of gear and some back-up clothes that Ivan had given to him. At the earliest opportunity, though, he planned to take out that knife again. And to use it so that he could unravel all of Amber’s secrets.

“I’m sure.” Her stare met his unflinchingly. “But if you don’t believe me, just ask your buddy here. He was watching me like a hawk.”

Ivan nodded. “It’s good.” Then he turned and moved briskly toward the side of the plane. “Now you two need to get the hell out of here. This strip is off the radar for most folks, but I don’t like to take chances, know what I mean?”

Cass knew exactly what he meant. He handed Ivan his payment and the cash vanished. “More will be wired to your account.” Enough to cover the cost of the plane. He’d done business with Ivan plenty of times over the years. They had a standing agreement. “Thanks for the help, shifter.”

Ivan glanced away, licking his lips. “Anytime, Reaper. Anytime.” His gaze had darted to Amber. He was frowning.

Cass put his hands on his hips. “Is there a problem?”

Ivan raked a hand over his face. Amber was just a few feet away—as far as their invisible bond would let her go—and she was still peering at the front of the plane. “What is she? I mean…I swear, she smells human to me, and you know I have a good nose for things like that.” His gaze slid back to Cass. “I don’t like putting humans at risk.” Because, once upon a time, Ivan had fallen in love with a human female. Unfortunately, she’d been caught in a paranormal battle—caught between bear shifters and vampires—and she’d vanished.

“She’s not human.” Cass was absolutely certain of that fact.

Ivan’s shoulders relaxed.

“Gregory is after her.”

The shifter took a step back. “What?”

“He tracked her down to the hotel we were staying at in Biloxi. The vamp thinks he can take her and start hunting for Luke.”

“You…killed him?”

Cass lowered his voice. “No. I let the bastard keep living. After all, I owed him.”

Ivan exhaled. “A lot of us owe him. Next to Luke, I’d say he’s the paranormal who schemes the most. Always planning ahead. Always using everyone else…”

“His vampire clan took me in when I was a kid.”

Cass heard the faint rustle of footsteps and saw Amber creeping closer, but he kept talking. Maybe she should hear this.

“Gregory’s vampire clan took me in when I was at my worst. A f*cking lost kid who’d been tortured for too long. I was more animal than human back then.”

Amber gave a sharp inhale.

“They raised me. Taught me to fight. To hunt. To kill. Once, Gregory was the closest thing I had to family.”

Her hands twisted in front of her. “The thing about family…they can turn on you, too. Sometimes, the worst danger that you can ever face can come from the ones closest to you.”

He knew she was right. “Gregory and I can be too much alike.” Again, he was warning her. “We hunted together for years, but he didn’t like being second best. Now I guess he’s ready to take over.”

She licked her lips. “He’s trying to take me.”

Cass turned to face her. Ivan slipped away, moving toward the front of the plane and picking up the tools. “That’s not happening. I don’t give up a bounty to anyone.” He moved even closer to her. “I’m not giving you up.” The words came out rough and hard, but they were true. He wouldn’t let her go.

“Except…to Luke. You’ll give me up, then, won’t you?”

His jaw clenched.