AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not sure.” The older man’s shoulders drooped. “All I remember is that around four o’clock, I texted my wife to bring me a sandwich and a thermos of coffee. I didn’t want to leave Eden unattended, and my house is just a block from the Montgomery’s.”
“And then what?” asked Brien.
“My wife got there about fifteen minutes later, and I got out of the car. She stayed for a few minutes while I started eating, and then she left. But I didn’t get back in the SUV. My right knee had stiffened up, so I walked up and down the sidewalk until it loosened up. It was dusk by then, and I knew we had to get back. I finished the sandwich and poured the last cup of coffee and started toward the Montgomery’s house. The next thing I knew, I was on my back, staring up at an oak tree.”
Cain stirred. “How many people—one? Two?”
The older man’s chest heaved. “I’m not sure. I didn’t see or hear anything.”
Cain, Brien and I exchanged a look.
“Vampires,” muttered Cain.
Brien nodded.
Whoever had attacked Jones had probably been in the shadows. Could it be the same person or persons who’d helped sneak Esposito onto the island? My stomach folded in on itself.
Because if the answer was yes, Esposito was part of this.
Jones touched his left thigh. “I felt something sting my leg.”
MacKenzie moved forward. “Can I have a look?”
“Sure,” Jones said, and I eased him back onto the examining table, watching as the doctor helped Jones out of his pants.
MacKenzie examined the faint bruise on Jones’s thigh, a bruise with a tiny hole in the center. “You were definitely injected with something. Fast-acting from the sound of it.”
Jones glanced at me. “I’m sorry, Lieutenant. I should never have gotten out of the SUV.”
I blew out a breath. “Not your fault. I should’ve had you take backup.”
But I hadn’t thought Eden was in danger. Not on Lilith Island.
“If that’s all,” said the doctor, “he should rest now.”
“Let us know if you remember anything else,” Brien told Jones and we left the examining room.
Mrs. Jones was pacing the waiting room. It must’ve started raining because she was soaked, her short brown hair matted to her head, her sweater dripping.
Her attention shot to the three of us. “How is he?”
“He’s shook up,” Brien said, “but he should be all right.”
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Thank God.”
“Dr. Mackenzie’s with him now,” Brien added. “You can go in.”
“Thank you, my lord,” she said and hurried past us.
Outside we paused on the clinic’s front porch. I stared into the driving rain. It was barely above freezing. By morning it could turn to sleet or snow. The thought of Eden out there somewhere made me feel like I was being sliced with sharp silver razors.
“She’s a human, and pregnant,” I said. “She can’t survive for long on a night like this.”
Brien and Cain exchanged a glance.
“Eden’s okay,” Brien told me. “They wouldn’t have gone to this much trouble if they wanted to hurt her.”
“We’ll find her,” Cain added. “Whatever it takes, we’ll do it.”
