A Chase of Prey (A Shade of Vampire #11)(10)

Micah walked ten feet and stopped, right at the edge of the road. “This is where it’s last strongest.” He continued walking along the edge of the road. “But I can still sense it. They went in that direction.” He pointed left.

There was no doubt in my mind that they’d gotten into a vehicle. This would make it harder for Micah to track them down. But it wouldn’t be impossible, as long as they kept a window open.

I looked up at a nearby signpost.

“So they’re headed north.”

Chapter 6: Rose

The vehicle slowed to a stop as we approached a gas station. Luis parked by a pump and got out of the car to fill the tank. The late afternoon sun touched my face as I looked up at the sky. It wouldn’t be long until we parted ways and continued on foot. I smiled to think that we’d pass these men on the road in no time. Then I groaned, realizing we’d have to find some other vehicle to hitchhike again tomorrow.

Luis finished filling up the tank and headed toward the pay station. Julio stepped out of the car, his boots ringing on the pavement as he made his way toward the van’s back door. He opened it.

“We have some time. You probably want to stretch your legs.”

I looked at Caleb and he nodded. We both climbed out and walked around. I stretched out my arms and rolled my neck from side to side. I’d lost track of how many hours we’d been sitting.

We stood beneath the station’s covering. Caleb didn’t need to pull the hood over his head. He just stood there, his black suit tied around his shoulders.

Julio looked at me. “Would you like to use the bathroom?”

“Yes,” I said, relieved that he’d asked.

“Come, I’ll show you where it is.”

Caleb stepped forward. “Tell me where it is and I’ll take her.”

Julio smiled and nodded courteously. “Of course,” he said. “Follow me.”

Caleb’s grip around my arm didn’t loosen as we walked toward the entrance of the shop. Its shelves were stacked with newspapers, snacks, bottles of water and cigarettes. Julio led us to a door at the back of the shop. He pushed it open to reveal a narrow staircase winding upward.

I looked from Julio back to the man behind the counter. “Are you sure it’s okay if we go up there?”

“Sure… Pedro, it’s okay, right?”

The shopkeeper glanced up briefly and nodded toward the door.

I climbed the steps with Caleb, Julio walking up behind us. We reached a dim corridor at the top. The walls were stained and the floorboards creaked beneath us. Julio ushered us along and pointed to a grey door right at the end of the corridor.

“Through there.”

“Thanks,” I said, continuing toward the door, Caleb still holding my arm.

Once we reached it, Caleb let go of me. “I’ll wait here for you.”

I nodded and opened the door. I stepped inside, the weight of the door causing it to click shut behind me. It was pitch black. I fumbled against the wall for a switch and found one.

But as I flicked on the light, strong hands wrapped around my neck. I choked as a thick piece of fabric was forced into my mouth, silencing me.

I strained my neck to see Luis tying rope around my hands and pinning them behind my back. Caleb must have heard the struggle because the heavy door began to shake, Caleb’s body pounding against it.

My heart almost stopped as gunshots sounded outside. Dozens of them in the space of a few seconds. It sounded like a machine gun. I heard Caleb groan, and then there was more banging and crashing.

A sharp pain erupted in the back of my neck and I sank to the floor. Luis had struck me with the end of a rifle. He bent down over me, fastening more rope around my legs. I tried to squirm and struggle, but he was too strong. He heaved me up and crossed to the opposite side of the room, where, to my horror, there was another door. He pushed it open, and it revealed another staircase leading downward.

I screamed into the gag until my throat was sore. Tears of panic blurred my eyes as he walked around the building and headed back to the truck in the parking lot.

Caleb, where are you? I was certain that he’d heard me struggle. That was why Julio had opened fire on him.

Luis wolf-whistled. His other three companions, who’d been taking a smoking break across the parking lot, came racing toward us. One of them opened up the door for Luis, who laid me down over the back row of seats and sat down next to my head. I struggled to sit up but he held me down. I struggled even more frantically as the engine stuttered to a start and the vehicle began reversing. I couldn’t see who was driving, but they were in a hurry. The truck screeched as the tires skidded across concrete.

I glared up at Luis, who had both arms gripping my stomach and shoulders, holding me in place.

“Hush,” he said. I felt his stale breath on my face as he leaned over me, his mouth barely inches from mine. I turned my head to the side and closed my eyes.

He called out something in Portuguese to the other men in the truck, and they all chuckled. He began stroking my forehead.

“Don’t worry,” he rasped. “We’ll take you to Boa Vista. And further, if you care to join us…”

His palm was sweaty against my skin, odor seeping through his pores. I tried to spit out the gag but he stuffed it further into my mouth.

“Behave yourself, my dear. We don’t want to hurt you.”