4. CATALINA

FOUR

catalina

He tossed me into the black car, and I fell face-first into the seats, cheek squishing into the buttery leather. I pushed myself up with my hands, but my wrist bent under me, and I fell to my elbows.

There was a muffled grunt from outside the vehicle and he slid the limp Tobias into the front seat, shoving all his limbs within the confines of the vehicle before slamming the door. He was in the driver seat within moments, the engine revving. I scrambled to yank at the door handle, desperately tugging like it would magically unlock.

I jerked at the sudden acceleration and my head smacked into the back of the seat. A dull thrum at my forehead started and I groaned.

“Try anything and I’ll snap your neck.” Jax, that was what the other one had called him.

I gasped, meeting his eyes in the rearview mirror. His eyes were fixed on me, unwavering. How was he driving so well without looking at the road?

“I’m just buckling myself in,” I said hurriedly, yanking the seatbelt. His lips tightened. From the slit of the horizontal mirror, I could only see his set scowl. “Please, don’t kill me.” The tremble in my voice verged on a wheeze.

I was in deep crap with this. What had I gotten myself into? All I wanted was to help someone I believed was being attacked by a vampire, but it was vamp-on-vamp crime. Yeah, the vampire, Tobias, had been gentle, almost courteous; still, this was not a situation I ever wanted to be in. This was why I stuck to myself. Why had I allowed the moment of weakness? I shouldn’t have hesitated stabbing my heel into his chest.

I knew vampires were evil. They were all like that one hunting me.

His attack had been violent and harsh, his teeth slicing into me without mercy as he gnawed on my throat. There were multiple drags before he tore at my clothing, his blood-scented breath wafting to my nose as he palmed my breast harshly. My attempts at getting away were laughable against his strength. I was no match for the skeletal naked body with patches of hair littering his scalp.

His feeding didn’t stop until I was half-dead and then he dragged me away from the isolated street. The cement burning my skin was ingrained in my memory alongside that cave he kept me in. He’d fed on me relentlessly, and for each day that had passed, the cruelty and evil in his red eyes increased.

I picked at the little flesh slightly lifted at my nail beds. Jax took a sharp turn, no longer focused on me.

I didn’t know how I’d survived with how much he’d drained from me. Time had become meaningless, running together in that insect-infested cave.

To this day, I couldn’t handle the sensation of bugs crawling over me.

Nausea crawled up my throat, and I fisted my hands around the seatbelt pressing into my chest. The memory of how much he broke my body and drained my blood haunted me.

Nausea continued to swirl in my gut as Jax took another sharp turn that caused my temple to smack into the plastic trim. I’d managed to escape that last time and today would be no different. A vice wrapped around my throat. And I would do everything possible to avoid getting sodomized again. I wrapped my trembling hand around the door handle and pulled. Of course, it didn’t work.

Tears sheened my eyes and I squeezed my eyes shut.

I’d stared into death that day I’d managed to get away. He’d gone mad with my absence and when he’d found me, he’d clutched me as hard as he could keep me to his body, then pinned me against a building in an alleyway and sank his fangs into my throat, sucking my blood until spots danced in front of my eyes while his cock sank into my ass. I didn’t know how long that lasted before he was interrupted by someone who yanked him off me. Flashes of colors was the last image ingrained in my memory before the loss of blood dragged me under and I’d woken to humans around me calling an ambulance.

To this day, I couldn’t help but wonder if the man that got him off me was a vampire. After all, a human couldn’t have done that. I’d understood many things, the main one being that vampires were monsters. Being within proximity to them raised the hair on my arms, like being near a wild animal.

The engine roared and Jax sped to dangerous levels, winding down the curving roads with enviable smoothness. As if sensing my gaze on him, his jaw ticked and he bared his teeth at me. I yelped, curling back into the seat. This vampire did not like me, and I didn’t doubt he’d kill me.

My lungs squeezed, tightening.

So what?

I tensed at the invasive thought. There was nothing magical or exciting about my life since I was always on the run. The only pleasure I ever felt from life was when I spoke to Peter, but he was often in a hurry, dealing with teenage boy stuff. He’d be fine if I was gone, especially with the money he’d receive from my death.

Truth was, I could disappear and there was nobody in my personal life who would care. A knot formed in my throat, and I blinked quickly. Well, maybe my literary agent.

Jax took a turn too hard and my shoulder smashed into the door. I winced. Another bruise to add to the collection.

Tires squealed and he jerked to a stop, making the seatbelt dig into my chest as the move tried to eject me. I scrambled to unbuckle and the clasp clicked in time for my door to jerk open.

Suddenly, I was upside down, being toted with his shoulder pressing into my gut.

My ponytail loosened, my hair swinging as I scrambled to grab onto his back so I could lessen some of the pain.

I was becoming woozier and woozier.

“Stop,” I huffed, breathless. “I-I need—” A fucking second. I squeezed my eyelids shut and shook my head to disperse the dots in front of my eyes. I couldn’t reach into the purse strapped across my chest since my body flattened it between us.

There was a creak and I found myself looking at a crimson rug for a few beats before he took a turn and it became dark wood floors.

“Go get Tobias, he’s passed out in the passenger seat,” Jax ordered.

“She has a nice ass,” whoever he addressed intoned; the low voice sent a shiver up my spine.

I was lifted and then dumped into the chair. A sharp pain radiated from my wrist where it hit the arm of the seat. I whimpered, holding it to my chest.

“Quiet,” he snapped. I jumped, my back flattening against the couch cushion. No wonder it hurt, my wrist bone had smacked into the carved wood jutting to the side of the arm rests.

“That’s the woman . . .”

“Not now, Asher. I don’t care if she looks like someone you’ve fucked. Compulsion doesn’t work on her.” Jax’s sharp tone dragged my attention to him.

How had his hair grown...? I blinked as my gaze bounced from one to the other. Twins. Except one had long hair that hit his shoulders instead of the short style. The long-haired twin stepped close, head tipped to the side, blue gaze inquisitive and exponentially less aggressive than the other one. A loose, white, unbuttoned shirt flashed his pale skin.

Jax leaned down, his face frighteningly close to mine so the little lines of his pupils were clear for me to see. I struggled to breathe. “Why were you with Tobias?”

My lip trembled, and my eyes kept dropping to his pointy fangs. A muscle in his cheek twitched. He gripped my hair, twisting strands with such strength that it sent agonizing pinpricks through my scalp. “Speak.”

“I don’t know anything! He was being attacked. I thought he was human, so I took him to my car.” The words fell from my lips in a rush.

Jax became preternaturally still and all I could do was sit there as he stared at me. This was it; I could see my death in his eerie blue eyes.

“Fine. You’re useless if you know nothing.” His hand was suddenly wrapped around my throat. My pulse pounded in my ears, and I wrapped my hands around his wrist, trying to pull free, but it was no use. I used my nails, scratching and tugging desperately as my head became pressurized.

“If you’re going to kill her anyway, let me taste her,” the long-haired blond, Asher, said.

“Fine, but fucking drain her.” Jax released me and I dragged in air. I didn’t even have a second to collect myself before the cushion beside me dipped and a gentler hand cupped the side of my head.

“There there, take a breath,” he murmured, his lips slightly pursed. “I wish we could have had more time together,” he tsked. “Too bad I must kill you. It would have been quite the adventure to fuck a human that can’t be compelled.” He bopped me on the nose.

He was just as psychotic but he packaged it differently. Before I could even try to beg for my life, his lips brushed my neck and his fangs sank in.

They moved too fast. I was no match. Tears filled my eyes, and I bunched his white shirt, tugging at it weakly. He sucked in a long drag of blood, and just like the last bite, a flame ignited in my gut, spreading like wildfire. I stopped pulling at his shirt and went limp. My head swam with a mix of debilitating fear and lust so strong I clasped his arms, trying to get closer. He dragged in another swallow, pulling a cry from my lips as my core clenched, pulsing needily.

His fangs suddenly yanked out of my throat without precursor and the heat of his body left my hands. I drooped against the couch.

My hands shook, making it difficult for me to grip my purse strap, and no matter how much I focused, there was no strength in my fingers. He’d messed my neck up and left me floating on the edge of an orgasm. I panted, weakly fumbling with my purse. A hiss lifted the hair on my arms, but as frightened as it made me, I didn’t stop trying to unzip my bag. The sound of a scuffle erupted through the room, but I didn’t look up as I tried to focus.

“I’m in control now.” The rough voice held an undertone of a hiss.

Tobias knelt in front of me, slipping his hand into the purse and pressing the lip of the inhaler to my mouth like he’d done last time. I sucked in and relief loosened my chest.

“ Fuuuuuck , she’s delicious.” Asher leaned his elbows on the arm rests, looking down at me like I was some specimen under a microscope. Blood coated his toothy grin. My stomach turned over, but I could do nothing other than struggle to breathe. “She tastes like . . . like . . .” he trailed off, his eyes unfocused.

Tobias pulled the inhaler from my lips, and the back of his finger grazed my cheek. I flinched, swallowing hard as I studied my surroundings.

“You have both lost your minds.” The angry twin paced near the entrance.

The wooden floorboards were polished to such perfection that I doubted they’d seen much wear in their lifetime. Two couches faced each other in the middle of the room, an onyx coffee table with the surface made of glass between them. The seat I huddled in gave me a view of the entire room.

There had to be a way to escape. I worried my lip as I sought the latch to the half oval window I sat near. The dark curtains fluttered... it must be open. If I tossed myself out, I’d be able to run, but they were vampires. I didn’t have a chance of escaping before one of them caught me.

I met Tobias’s gaze, and he frowned as if he understood the rioting emotions in my head. His lips parted and he focused on my face, a dent forming between his brows. I avoided his searching eyes.

The inside of the home was Gothic, all dark bars and curving metal. It was beautiful in a spooky way. Like something out of a story book. The chimney, with ornate black-metal framing, was hauntingly beautiful.

A tickle at my neck dragged my hand up. My fingertips slid over my skin, brushing over a stinging wound.

“Let me close that for you,” Asher purred. He leaned close, too suddenly.

Panic shocked my strength back to life. I swung the only luxury bag I owned, smacking him across the face. The entire room seemed to still.

Oh shit.

“It was a reflex,” I said frantically, hugging my Prada to my chest. I shouldn’t have done that to her. The precious baby didn’t deserve the last moments of our lives to be spent like this. “Just bury her with me after you kill me,” I babbled. “Don’t give her to another vampire. As my dying wish, please?—”

“I won’t let him hurt you,” Tobias said, stiff. The promise flowed over my skin. I didn’t believe it for a second. “Allow him to heal you.” I didn’t say anything. What could I do? Say no?

Asher pressed his long finger under my chin and tipped it up, exposing my neck. I squeezed my eyes tightly shut. There was nothing else I could do other than scream. If I couldn’t take one vampire, I was practically a newborn fawn to three of them. His wet tongue lashed against my neck . . . once . . . twice. A shiver coasted down to my core and my purse slipped from my grip.

“That’s enough,” Tobias ordered.

“There, there, all better.” Asher’s grin flashed fangs. “It was just a nick.”

Understatement of the century.

“How do you know about our kind?”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out, the knot in my throat was too thick. My teeth clicked together, and I took a moment to breathe but my response wasn’t fast enough for Jax. He was shoving past Tobias and in front of me in a flash.

“Tell me.” He hissed and fisted the back of my hair, yanking my head back with a harsh movement.

I cried out, tears welling. He stared down at me with a deadly look in his eyes.

“Be careful with her,” Tobias snapped and pressed his fingertips into Jax’s shoulder.

“Looks like Tobias finally wants a pet,” Asher said in a too gleeful voice. No. I didn’t want to be a pet. My hands shook and I returned my gaze to the English vampire.

“Compulsion doesn’t work on her.” Jax didn’t react, his gaze focused on me as his hold tightened.

Tobias squeezed Jax’s wrist, and all I could feel from the action was the tug. Jax narrowed his eyes at him, but Tobias stared back without twitching a muscle.

Jax finally released me, the angry twin hissing as he stepped away with a glower.

“I apologize for him.” Tobias crouched in front of me, pressing a hand into the cushion. I focused on the indent in the couch where his hand pressed with neat oval nails, trimmed to precision. A feathering touch brushed my forehead. “Who did this to you?”

My eyes flicked to Jax without a second thought, but I quickly brought them back to my trembling hands. I hadn’t meant to look at him.

Tobias straightened in front of me; the back of his torn, bloody knit sweater allowed me a peek at his skin.

I craned my neck and found him glaring, eyes narrowed. It must be a requirement to be taller than six three and built like Greek Gods. I couldn’t lie to myself, as frightened as I was, their beauty was glaringly obvious.

“When are you going to tell us what happened?” Asher flopped on the couch next to me. The hem of his white button-down rising, his toned abs on full display, and droplets of my blood staining his shirt. His skin was pale and looked silky to the touch.

“You can touch.” My gaze snapped to him at his low words. His hand splayed on his stomach, and he lifted his shirt inch by inch, raising it to expose more of the leanly-packed muscle.

Jax’s open hand smacked him across the forehead.

“Fuck you, Jaxon,” Asher hissed.

“We don’t have time for your shit,” Jax snapped at his twin.

Tobias motioned for my attention, taking it away from the bickering vampires and held out a hand. I stared at it, then up into his patient eyes. He’d treated me with care, but I wasn’t foolish enough to think I actually had a say, so I placed my fingers in his. They gently constricted around mine. Vampires weren’t supposed to be this gentle.

Asher clicked his tongue. The surprised sound dragging my attention to him. He straightened from his slouch, staring at Tobias. “Did you just smile?”

Tobias’s lips flattened and he met my gaze.

“I can’t get a read on her.”

“Impossible!” I startled at Jax’s shout. Tobias’s eyes shut briefly, and he released me as he turned, angling himself in front of me. Jax must overreact often. The short temper, the quick assumptions... anger issues was written all over this man, er, vampire. “If you would have remained at full strength and fed as you’re supposed to, you never would have landed us in this situation with a mutant human.”

“And don’t forget delicious ,” Asher chimed in.

Tilting my head so I could see around Tobias, I noted the flush creeping up Jax’s neck.

“Breathe, brother, if you don’t simmer down, we’ll have to have another blood run.” Asher smirked, obviously enjoying poking at him. “And like you said, we can’t be going out too much, considering everything going on and with Ren gone?—”

“Shut it,” Jax roared. The hair on my arms lifted and I pushed off the seat as I slinked behind Tobias. His back tightened against my palm. My thumb slipped into the ripped hole in his soft sweater and pressed gently onto his spine. A tremble coasted up his back, and I swallowed hard as I snatched my hand back.

“We must kill her.”

“Jax, calm yourself.” Tobias’s deep voice vibrated over my skin.

“She’s just a human.” Jax really didn’t want me around. Fucking dick.

I sucked in a breath when Asher elbowed Tobias out of the way. His glittering blue eyes seemed much deeper up close. An inquisitive, mocking expression marred his face as he peered down at me and lifted his hand to cup my cheek.

I sucked in a breath and Tobias hissed, but it did nothing to stop him as Asher rubbed my lower lip with the pad of his thumb.

“Lovely, just as I thought you’d be,” he purred. What?

His pupils expanded, engulfing his eyes with near darkness. He breathed me in and my body reacted to his nearness, nipples pebbling. It was too hot in here, but I didn’t fan my face like I wanted. Instead, I stilled like I was near a predator, because that was what he was, and I had a feeling he’d like it if I ran.

One of his hands slipped to the dip in my waist, but he didn’t stop there, and with each inch he lowered, my heart thundered louder in my ears. My skin prickled with awareness and his grazing touch left a fire in its wake. My body was betraying me. It didn’t get this hot unless I was near designer stuff. I sank my fingernails into my palm. They were not sweet like the vampires in my books. If I repeated it to myself enough, it may sink in.

But why were they just as seductive?

“Enough.” Tobias shoved Asher by his shoulder, and Asher tilted his head back, laughing.

“Don’t like what’s going through my mind, Ancient One?”

Tobias said nothing as he stared back. What did he mean by “going through my mind?”

“Can you read minds?” The question slipped out before I could stop it.

The brothers were different kinds of dangerous. It was a good thing I’d just taken a pump of my medicine because it was holding my lungs over even as my pulse skyrocketed.

Tobias’s brows lifted at my question. “Not yours.”

So, some vampires read minds then. Jax had mentioned something earlier about compulsion, and I’d read enough to understand what that was, yet he said that didn’t work on me. My attention jumped from Jax’s stiff face to Tobias’s concerned one to Asher’s curious one. I needed to say something, I had to muster up the courage so my voice didn’t shake.

“I already knew about your kind,” I muttered. “I’ve known for years. Do you think that’s why it doesn’t work?”

“How did you know about us?” Jax crowded me. My gaze ping-ponged as I switched from face to face. They were all within touching distance, towering over me like statues. “Are you owned? Who do you belong to?” The rapid-fire questions forced me back until the back of my knees pressed against the edge of the couch. I was already shaking my head, only understanding about half of what he was saying. “Who sent you to spy on us?” His leaned into my face, so close that my ass dropped onto the couch. I grunted upon landing, leaning away until I couldn’t. His palms slapped on the furniture, his arms corralling me and his body blocking my view.

“N-no one sent me.” I lifted my hands in front of me and waved them in a calm-down motion.

His sweet breath fluttered the hairs that had escaped my ponytail. I gritted my teeth and forced my eyes to meet his. The pupils expanded for a different reason than Asher’s had and the hair on my arms lifted. Jax’s hands slammed into the cushions, and his thumbs pressing into my thighs as he leaned over me, face an inch from mine—using his body to intimidate me. Looking into my eyes like he could see into my soul. He was the dangerous one. I wiggled my bare toes and fixed my eyes on his nose.

“Just kill me if that’s what you’re going to do.” Tears helplessly gathered in my eyes and the vampire blurred into a large blob hovering over me.

“No one is killing you, Pet,” Asher’s disembodied voice murmured from somewhere behind him. He was so similar, yet so different to his twin.

Jax shoved off the couch and scoffed, disgusted.