Bitter Blood (Blood and Moonlight Book 3)(16)

“Mary Jane…” Drew called.

She stopped. Looked back.

Drew smiled at her. “You won’t leave me here.”

What else was she supposed to do with him? Let him out so he could go and attack again? Go after Aidan? Hurt innocent people who got in his way?

“I didn’t leave you,” Drew reminded her softly. “When the vampire had you in our basement. When he was burning your skin and you were crying, I didn’t leave you. I got you out of there. I saved your life.”

She swallowed.

“You won’t leave me,” Drew said, utterly confident.

Jane turned away from him once more. Her eyes squeezed shut. “Goodbye.” And she walked out, as fast as her shaking legs could carry her.

He bellowed her name. She didn’t look back.

He screamed for her.

Jane kept walking. From the corner of her eye, she saw Vivian jerk her head toward the guard and then point to Drew’s room. The guard quickly ran inside.

But those screams followed Jane.

“Aidan can make him forget,” Vivian said, voice brisk. “He can make sure that your brother forgets everything that happened in New Orleans. You know an alpha werewolf can control a human—Aidan can control Drew. He can make it so that your brother—”

The screaming had stopped.

Jane looked at Vivian. “So that Drew forgets me?” Because he’d have to forget her—otherwise, she’d just be another monster that he had to hunt.

I didn’t leave you. Jane exhaled on a ragged breath. “Keep a guard with him until I can get Aidan back here.” Because only an alpha werewolf had the power to control a human’s mind that completely. Other werewolves could influence humans, could charm them, sway them, but an alpha…

Mind-freaking-control. An alpha was a whole other level of power.

“I’ll make sure my man stays here,” Vivian assured her.

Jane nodded. She looked down at her hand and realized she was still holding the chunk of broken mirror. Her reflection stared back at her.

Hello, monster.

Jane shoved that piece of glass into the nearest garbage can. Then she reached for her phone as she rushed down the long corridor. Unfortunately, there was no signal in that place.

No signal, but she could have sworn she heard the echo of her brother’s screams.





Chapter Four


Drew Hart glared at the guard who stood just inside of his room—more like my prison. The guy was tall, thin, but with an intense gaze that wouldn’t freaking leave Drew’s face.

Is he one of them? One of the monsters? For years, Drew had thought that he only had to worry about vampires, but then a werewolf had appeared, literally on his doorstep. A beast who’d worked for Aidan Locke—the bastard who thought he was going to keep Jane at his side.

“Get the restraints off me,” Drew demanded.

The guy just smirked at him. “Relax, buddy. You aren’t going anywhere. Captain Harris sent me in to keep an eye on you.”

Captain Harris…Yes, he knew her. She’d tried to interview him a few times but he’d given her nothing. Then she’d come running into his room a few minutes ago, her badge gleaming like she was some kind of big deal. She wasn’t. “I’ve got to piss,” Drew threw back at him. I am not your buddy. “I’m about to piss all over this bed. So get the restraints off.” He heaved once more. “Where are the nurses? The doctors? They should be coming around. They always come around at this time.” That had been the drill since he arrived in the looney bin. He’d gotten patched up at the hospital, then been sent to this hell.

“There was a change of plans for today.”

That wasn’t good. Just what did Mary Jane have in mind? She’d really left him—deserted him. What would happen next?

“The alpha will be coming soon,” the guard added, his eyes gleaming.

Oh, hell, no. He’d met Aidan Locke once, tried to kill him on the same day. Drew did not want to tangle with that fellow again. “I’m going to piss myself.”

The guard nodded. “Yep, that’s the reaction most folks have to Aidan.”

What? He jerked again as he fought his restraints. “Just let me go to the damn bathroom! You can tie me down again as soon as I’m done. There’s no window in the bathroom—no way out for me at all.” Then, hating it, he added, “Please.” Begging. So humiliating.

But the guard actually seemed to soften at the last word. “You’re right. Nowhere for you to go. Not like you’d get past me.” He sighed as he headed for the bed. “And I really don’t want to smell your piss on the sheets.” A few moments later, the straps were gone and Drew was lurching his way to the bathroom.

“Thank you,” he managed, voice nearly strangled. Then he shut the door on the guy. No lock, of course not. But…

Drew smiled.

The guard shouted, “I don’t hear you pissing!”

Drew flipped on the water. Then he bent down and picked up one of the broken mirror shards. The guard should have bothered to look in the bathroom. Hadn’t he heard the breaking glass? Captain Harris had sure run in fast enough.

Drew hid the shard behind his back as he left the bathroom.

“You left the water on, man,” the guard grumbled. “Conserve the damn earth, you know? Take care of it or…” The guard marched toward the bathroom, obviously intending to turn off the water himself. “Or it won’t take care of you,” the guard finished. His body brushed against Drew’s.