Overgrown trees crowded the sides of the road; their limbs sounded like skeletal fingers scraping the mirrors, windshield, and roof as he drove beneath them. The forest was so thick along the sides of the road that the headlights barely penetrated more than ten feet in front of them. They’d been on the road for a few miles already with no end in view.
“Where are we going?” Simone asked as she gripped the door handle to keep from bouncing in her seat over the potholes.
“I’m not sure.”
Ronan often bought properties to use as emergency retreats and investments. Killean had a few such properties himself, but he’d never been here before. However, he’d gotten the address and directions from Ronan when they spoke earlier.
After another few miles, the road suddenly dead-ended in front of an old brick building that looked as if it had crawled out of the pages of a horror novel. As he gazed at the bars covering the windows—some of which were broken—the arched front door, and the austere, uninviting brick exterior, he suspected this place was once an asylum. To the left of him, an SUV and pickup truck were parked, but he didn’t see anyone inside them or walking around the building.
“What is this place?”Simone whispered; something about it gave her chills.
She leaned forward and craned her head to take in all three floors of the structure. The vines climbing up the side of the building were ivy, but though the plant should be green and flourishing this time of year, its thick brown vines were bare of any leaves and peeling off the bricks. The only thing thriving here was the dense underbrush crowding the structure and probably the rats.
When the front door opened, Ronan stepped out and climbed down the three wooden steps that looked as if they’d been newly erected; Nathan followed him. Simone’s heart leapt when she spotted Nathan. She’d never been in love with him, she didn’t want to return to her past, but he was a familiar, comforting face.
When Kadence elbowed her way past her brother to stand beside Ronan, Simone almost threw her door open and plunged into the night to hug her, but she held herself back. Simone didn’t know what they planned for Killean or her, and until she knew they would both be safe, she had to be careful.
She glanced over at Killean when he rested his hand on her knee. “Let’s get this over with,” he said.
Simone nodded, and Killean turned his attention back to the group standing at the bottom of the steps. They wouldn’t jump him or try to kill him; he may not be one of them anymore, but Ronan would give him the benefit of the doubt until he had no reason to. And then, although he wouldn’t like doing it, Ronan would slaughter him if he deemed it necessary.
“Wait for me,” Killean said, and opening his door, he stepped into the night.
Declan exited the building behind the others, but Killean didn’t see Saxon and Lucien anywhere. He suspected they were in the woods, probably with some hunters, watching to make sure he’d come alone. Killean didn’t blame them for their distrust; he would be just as suspicious if one of the other Defenders fell and tried to return.
Killean walked around the car, and opening the door, he held his hand out to Simone. She clasped it and slid from the car to stand beside him with her chin raised and her shoulders back. Nathan and Kadence’s eyebrows rose at this sign of defiance.
Simone stepped closer to Killean as he led her toward the others. She studied the four vampires before glancing at the ominous woods. The hair on her nape rose when she felt eyes following her from the thick shadows. How many were out there watching, waiting for some sign to bring down Killean?
She’d kill anyone who tried. The possessive, murderous impulse didn’t surprise her. Before being captured, she’d never considered taking the life of another, but now she would do whatever it took to protect him. Her fingers entwined with his as they stopped in front of the others.
“Ronan,” Killean greeted.
“Killean.”
A tense silence followed their crisp greeting until Simone wanted to scream to break it.
“I’d get a refund on your new cologne if I were you, Killean,” Declan said, and everyone shot him a look. “Too soon?” When they all continued to glare at him, Declan shrugged before pulling a lollipop out of his pocket; he unwrapped it and stuck it in his mouth. “Tough crowd tonight.”
“Are you okay, Simone?” Kadence asked.
Simone smiled at her. “Yes. Ireallyam.”
Kadence stared at her before glancing nervously at Killean.
“Did anyone follow you here?” Ronan asked.
“Not that I’m aware of,” Killean replied. “I think we successfully lost Joseph and that thing in Vermont.”
Ronan’s gaze went beyond him to the road. “Then let’s discuss this inside.”
Inwardly, Simone cringed at the idea of entering the building, but she followed Killean as Declan turned and strolled inside. Ronan, Kadence, and Nathan hung back until they passed and fell into step behind them. Simone glanced back at them; she didn’t like having them behind Killean, but Killean never looked back.
It’s okay, Killean whispered into her mind and squeezed her hand.If they wanted me dead, I would be already.
That didn't overly reassure her, but he was right. Simone turned her attention away from the three behind them as they stepped inside. Her mouth almost dropped when they stepped into the elegant foyer. She glanced behind her to make sure the outside world remained the same and she hadn’t stepped through some cupboard leading to a magical world.
The overgrown outside remained the same, but it definitely didn’t match the white marble floors and wide stairs leading to the second floor. A flashlight set on the newel with its beam pointed at the ceiling illuminated the polished oak railing of the stairs.
