Hunting Tess Read online

  “Don’t even try it, Wigg. He’s out of your league.”

  I bite my lip and have to force my legs not to walk away. “I’m just saying he looks like a great guy. You probably see each other all the time.”

  “As a matter of fact, we do.”

  “Right. Right. Does he have a job?”

  “What is wrong with you?”

  “Cute guy,” another girl from class interjects, looking at Dmitri. “Do you spend all your time together? I would.”

  “Just about,” Cece answers proudly.

  “He looks strong,” the girl comments. “Does he work out?”

  “He works for his family’s business. I guess it’s pretty labor intensive.”

  I have to hold back a snort. “Let me guess. He works all day so you only see him at night, right?”

  “Is there a point you’re trying to make?”

  “Oooh, you should watch out for that,” says the girl. “I dated a guy who would only see me at night because he was with another girl all day.”

  Oh thank goodness she said that. Any kind of doubt I planted would immediately be expunged. “Nope, no point. Have a nice life.”

  Swiftly checking my phone doesn’t show any response from Parker so I return to my stuff with Emily still there. “Ready to practice?”

  Dmitri slips out of the auditorium sometime later, and one frantic check for Cece tells me he left alone. My body buzzes to go after him. After all, vengeance would be sweet. But the rational part of my brain says to wait. If a trap is spring loaded outside, I want as much muscle power as possible to walk into it. Plus, Dmitri now knows I’m still in the area and will blow that whistle as loudly as possible. I can feel myself start to shake but clamp my hands tightly across my arms, pushing down the fear that wants to override my brain. I will not be scared.

  By the time class is over I return to my seat to several missed calls. My phone lights up and I answer the latest call in a string of attempts.

  “Is he still there? Are you okay? Why didn’t you answer?”

  “I’m fine, Parker, I was rehearsing. And no, he’s not here anymore.” A string of unintelligible muttering is followed by the abrupt blaring of a horn. “Where are you?”

  “Almost to your school if people would learn how to drive.” I would normally laugh at his sporadic road rage, but I wish he would get here faster.

  “Your showcase is next Saturday?”

  “Dache will post who makes the cut tomorrow.”

  “I’ve seen you dance. You’ll make the cut. So like I said, your showcase is next Saturday. Do you feel safe enough to stay in the area for the next week?”

  I take a moment to ponder the question. I have no intention of being taken prisoner for the rest of my life, but I also can’t run and hide. I tried that and it didn’t work. I’m not saying to completely blow off safety procedures, but the precautions we’ve set in place should be enough for now.

  “Well, I wasn’t planning on doing the showcase.”

  “It’s your decision. But if you’re apprehensive because of what happened last time, just know that you are better prepared now. You’re stronger and tougher than you were.”

  “Thanks,” I say, feeling myself blush at the compliment. “I’ve still got some time to think about it.”

  I end the call for Parker to have a private conversation with the car ahead of him. The string of angry ramblings isn’t exactly advancing the conversation.

  Even with Parker’s reassurances I’ve already decided I don’t want to do the showcase. My parents were planning on travelling here for graduation, and I don’t want to look out into the crowd, searching for them only to remind myself, again, that they’re gone.

  Taking a calming breath when thinking of them doesn’t work like it normally does. The walls start to close in on themselves so I grab my stuff and dash outside. Only when the open sky is above me do I remember the Dmitri problem. Well, no one jumps out to attack me and after a quick visual sweep I figure it’s probably fine.

  Closing my eyes against other students travelling to and from classes, I lean against the solid brick building warmed from the sun that is now nearly set and expand my senses. Just because I didn’t see anything doesn’t mean something isn’t there.

  A car’s horn grabs my attention to where Parker sits against the curb. Grabbing my bags, I look both ways like crossing a street before walking to the door he opens from the inside.

  “You shouldn’t have been waiting outside.”

  “It’s not much safer than inside,” I reply, throwing my things to the back before buckling the seatbelt. “At least this way if I’m attacked there aren’t priceless artifacts lining the walls begging to be broken.”

  “Still, next time wait inside.”

  “You’re in a mood. Who stepped on your toes?”

  “Tess . . .”

  “Okay, paws.”

  He looks at me and I just look back, waiting for him to reveal why he’s being such a grump. He heaves a heavy sigh and the car rolls forward. “As happy as I am for my brother and Lorelai, they can be a bit much.”

  “Ah,” I reply in turn. “The love birds are the culprit. Well I think Caleb is in an awesome mood. Did you know he made me eggs this morning? Me! Eggs! They were mediocre, but it’s the thought that counts.”

  “Really? Food?”

  “What?”

  “Food is what thaws the ice queen’s heart?”

  “I am not!”

  “Fine, you’re not that bad. But now I know what to do if I ever borrow that rose scented soap again.”

  “It was an expensive bar!”

  “And I already said I’m sorry,” he chuckles, probably remembering the dumbstruck look on my face when he told me he had borrowed it but that it melted in his car. “Next time I’ll bring food with the apology.”

  “Why a full grow man wants to smell like roses is beyond me,” I murmur, looking out at the buildings flying by in a blur. “And Caleb and Lorelai are happy. You’re right that they can be a little touchy-feely, but something good should be happening with the recent crap fest from the Boulder vampire occupation.” Dmitri showing up today doesn’t give me much hope the school year will end smoothly.

  “Everything will be fine,” he comforts, squeezing my hand. My eyes flicker down to his hand resting on top of mine. A tingling heat spreads out from every contact point as it warms my whole body. As if suddenly aware of the action Parker removes his hand, placing it instead on the steering wheel. My hand mourns the lost connection.

  “Before I forget, you won’t have to pick me up tomorrow. One of my classes is doing a virtual lecture and the other got cancelled.”

  “Don’t you need to practice?”

  “I can do that in my room just fine.” It may be my imagination but he looks slightly disappointed.

  “Our home gym should be big enough for what you need. Just let me know when you need the space and we’ll clear out.”

  “You don’t have to—”

  “You should be able to practice without vampires interrupting your life. The gym is open or I can drive you.”

  I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, liking his gym proposal better than my room since I would probably end up kicking the T.V. to the floor. “Geez, when did you become so bossy?”

  He gives a short dry chuckle accompanied by a small grin at my teasing tone. “That quality seems to have hit harder more recently than it has in the past. I’m hoping at some point it wears off.”

  This time it is not my imagination when he gets a wistful expression, gazing off as if envisioning who knows what. I relax into my seat enjoying the heat blowing from the vents. Maybe someday I’ll find something to dream about that replicates that same contentment.

  CHAPTER 6

  HER

  Sleeping in was a nice, rare, event. Leo took Lorelai to tour the Celestial Seasonings factory since Caleb had “stuff to do” when Lorelai suggested going and didn’t want to be relentlessly teas
ed upon their return.

  “You burned the bacon,” Caleb complains, having yet to get to that “stuff”.

  Parker passes me the plate full of crispy bacon after taking his seat. “You would eat meat raw if it wouldn’t make you sick.”

  “Isn’t that kind of a perk of being a shifter?” I ask, thinking about stray dogs eating anything that’s available, not that I would call Caleb a stray dog to his face.

  Parker rubs at his forehead like he didn’t sleep well as Caleb scarfs down what he deems burned bacon, when in reality it’s perfectly crispy. Caleb heads upstairs as soon as all the food on his plate is crammed into his mouth in a very unappealing way.

  Once our plates are nearly cleared Parker asks, “What time is your class?”

  “Not until later this afternoon. Why?”

  “There are a couple of errands I need to run next to that new store on Pine Street if you want to come.

  “Yeah, that would be great.”

  A phone rings from the office leaving Parker with an exasperated look before apologizing. “Rain check?”

  Nodding in understanding he stands from the table, disappearing toward the study and work. After clearing off the table I stand in the kitchen unsure what to do now. Parker’s voice draws me to the study where I hear keyboard keys clicking vigorously.

  “There are four different properties under that name. I did find another alias with three properties including a seaside cottage, but unless there’s an underground bunker it wouldn’t be big enough for their purposes.”

  “Anything industrial?”

  More clicking.

  “Two. One was sold in the fifties to a private sector and the other . . . was sold to a dummy corporation ten years ago.”

  “Great. Can you get a location?”

  “Broomfield.”

  Since the door is cracked, I don’t feel bad about eavesdropping, especially since I’m in plain view. And I’m curious about what exactly Parker does.

  Muffled dialogue comes through the speaker phone like the person talking is consulting someone else. “We can get a team there but it’ll take a couple of hours. Do you mind scouting out the area for us with Caleb?”

  Parker’s eyes flicker up to mine through the doorway. I knew the risk of getting caught was high but that doesn’t stop my blush. “Yeah, we can do that.” Finishing up a few details he ends the call. Before I can apologize, he asks, “Want to take a field trip?”

  “What exactly do you do?” I question, surveying the plain gray industrial building. Built in an older part of town the building looks like it hasn’t been used in quite some time. A row of narrow windows runs along the second floor of the building, clouded over with age, and the only sound I hear are mine and Parker’s breathing. Caleb volunteered to circle the building for any clues of activity.

  “Normally I work behind a computer. Tracking, locating, informing, stuff like that. The group I work for tracks all sorts of nasty creatures, taking care of them and protecting the humans they threaten.”

  “So, what exactly are we doing here?”

  “A hit was found of missing women from a few small towns in Wyoming.”

  “And you tracked them here? They’re inside this warehouse?”

  “Possibly,” Parker says, scanning for anything out of the ordinary.

  “Then we need to get inside! Isn’t that part of scouting things out?”

  “Only from the outside. I can’t just barge in.”

  “But we have no idea what’s going on in there! What if they’ve been drugged?” I rove the building again trying to think of a way to see inside without actually being seen. The windows are too aged to get a good view, but it looks like there are several vents on top of the building. Maybe one would be big enough to slip inside.

  Caleb rounds the corner and jogs to us. “There are a couple of loading doors but they’re locked. I’m sure we could break through but with the noise that would make our entrance would be anything but stealthy.”

  “Were there any tracks?”

  “Yeah. Tire tracks from a heavy truck and two sets of footprints. Looked relatively fresh too.”

  “Okay, I’ll call it in.” Stepping away, Parker’s phone is already to his ear. I look back at the building with worry. If there are girls inside there’s no telling how long they’ll last. I look at the vents on top of the warehouse again, forming a loose plan.

  “We need a way to see inside.”

  “Think you’ll fit?” Caleb asks, following my line of sight and connecting the pieces.

  “One way to find out.”

  Disclosing the haphazard plan to Parker, who doesn’t immediately turn it down though a frown grows deeper and deeper on his face, he reluctantly agrees on the condition I don’t engage if there are vampires. I smelled something when we first arrived but don’t any more. The scent could have been old.

  His hand looks like it’s moving toward mine before he readjusts, fixing the cuff of his shirt. That was strange. My heart started beating a little faster at the thought of him taking my hand, but I quash any self-pity that would squeeze into my non-existent dating life. Turning my back, I scale the side using every small protruding brick available.

  With minimal effort I hoist myself over the roof’s ledge, tucking and rolling onto the surface. Various sizes of vents dot the space with a couple looking industrial sized. The first one I go to sounds like a metal fan isn’t too far away, but the second one sounds clear. Climbing in I slide down the steep shaft slowly, vigilantly, to make sure I don’t slip and fumble our advantage.

  The vertical shaft ends and opens to a winding air duct barely a foot wide. Angling sideways, I have to tweak my hips diagonally to fit through the widest part, and even then, it’s tight. How I’ll get out is beyond me since scooching backwards won’t work.

  Pushing any descending claustrophobia away, I focus my efforts on inching forward without banging about. After five minutes of this excruciating effort I have to stop. My arms are pinched painfully at my sides and my ankles hurt from propelling my weight forward. Resting against the cool metal, I take a shuddering breath and think of everything I could have done differently. Like maybe not forced myself into an enclosed space not quite big enough for me. That would have been good for starters.

  Maybe one of these channels loops around and I can inch my way back out.

  Before I can wriggle a little further the duct breaks out from under me sending me careening at an awkward angle toward the ground. Plastering my hands against a grated metal walkway, it takes a second to hear anything past the blood roaring in my ears.

  But what I hear after isn’t encouraging. Hasty footsteps make their way to me, and before I can find something to hide behind a man points a gun at my head.

  CHAPTER 7

  HIM

  Adjusting the shirt’s fabric to give me more room in one shoulder only makes the other side uncomfortable. The button-down shirt stretches tightly across my shoulders, far too small but currently my only option. At least the basketball shorts don’t ride up.

  I stand with Marc in front of the warehouse’s security tapes trying to adjust this infernal shirt. Bringing my arms forward, the seams give out connecting the sleeves to the back and I can finally stand in peace. Thankfully Rob was wearing an extra layer today and offered up this covering, otherwise I would be in an unfortunate predicament. I didn’t stop to undress when I heard a gunshot fired. My clothes got shredded when I phased and tore off the door with my teeth.

  The tech guy Marc’s team brought sits at the monitors with his own laptop plugged in, running his own program to manipulate the footage.

  “Right there,” Marc says, pointing at the first monitor. The image shows Tess marching down the stairs with a man standing behind her, a gun to her head. I feel the hairs on my arms rise at the sight and blow a cool, steady breath out of my mouth. Other screens show different camera angles on the large enclosure, the huddled mass of seventeen young women the primary reason for
our visit. “Okay, speed it up.”

  Tess walks across the concrete floor to join the other girls staying submissive under threat of guns and vampires. The picture is too grainy to make out any subtle expressions, but I can definitely see the sneer on those who think they have the upper hand. Two men walk the perimeter of the girls, inspecting them like they’re cattle. One carries a gun but the other doesn’t. Vampire perhaps? Seeing something about to happen, the tech slows the video to its normal speed in time to see Tess faint and slump to the ground.

  Too bad there isn’t audio since I would love to know what is being said.

  The man without a weapon nudges Tess with his foot, looking opposed to bending over which would wrinkle his suit. After a couple of seconds, he leans down to shake her awake which is when Tess attacks. Kneeing him in the temple she makes it to her feet and uses the stunned man as a human shield.

  I watch the different perspectives on the monitors of the other lowlifes coming to attention, creeping closer to surround the already terrified girls. Tess says something to which a new player responds. From what we’ve gleaned from the survivors, this new man was in charge of the operation. Stealing girls to sell to the highest bidder.

  Marc gives a low whistle when Tess employs her fighting abilities, taking down three assailants without releasing her hold on the original guy. “No wonder we arrived too late to the action. Given enough time she probably could have cleared the whole warehouse of these criminals.”

  A wolf comes bounding onto the screen and I know how the rest plays out. Seeing Tess unharmed after fearing the worst from hearing that gun was almost enough to pull me from the bloodlust that had taken over outside the warehouse. But not quite.

  I shouldn’t have invited her to come, but keeping my distance is becoming tougher.

  “That girl knows what she’s doing,” Marc comments, sparing a moment to glance at me. I can see the wheels in his head turning with the possibility of having someone like Tess on his team. She would be an excellent addition to hunting down monsters.

  “She certainly does,” I respond with a slight smile, watching her lithe form take down enemies twice her size with ease. It would be nice to work together.