Page 86 of New Blood

A car came to a screeching halt just behind the Mercedes, and Grant and Parker jumped out.

Jude looked at them. “Spread out, they can’t have gotten far.”

He headed for the back entrance of the hardware store, while his brain worked overtime. Why had Violet stopped here? This wasn’t a remote area where she could get rid of Danielle without attracting attention. Or had she maybe already hurt Danielle and dumped her body somewhere on the way, before Francisco had started tracking her phone? Fuck! He didn’t know what to think.

Jude entered the hardware store and inhaled deeply, trying to ascertain if either Violet or Danielle had been inside, but he didn’t pick up the scent of werewolves. He pivoted and exited the store again, then let his eyes roam, reading the signs of the other businesses surrounding the parking lot: a nail salon, a massage parlor, a boutique, and lots of others. At least six or seven stores on each side of the parking lot.

He saw Grant enter the massage parlor and Parker heading for a general store, so he went to the boutique. When he was only a few feet away from the back entrance, he picked up a scent. He took a deeper breath, filling his lungs with it. Yes, there was a faint smell of wolf. He was about to enter through the back exit when he saw Austin exit the shop next to it. He waved for him to approach and mouthed a silent “In here.”

Jude entered ahead of his brother, instantly assessing his surroundings. The boutique was surprisingly large, its shelves and racks full of merchandise. His eyes automatically zoomed in, and he realized that everything in the store was women’s lingerie. There were several women perusing the merchandise. Danielle wasn’t among them, and the scent of strong perfume coming from one of the women inhibited even his superior sense of smell from figuring out if Danielle or Violet had been here.

“There,” his brother suddenly whispered next to him.

He followed his outstretched hand. Violet was coming out of the changing rooms, a few bras hanging over her forearm.

He made a beeline for her so fast she didn’t even see him until he was only two feet away from her, cutting off any chance for escape.

He grabbed her by her biceps and pushed her back toward a changing cubicle’s door, while Austin covered his back, preventing others from watching them.

“Where the fuck is Danielle? What did you do to her? I swear if you killed her, I’ll rip your heart out while it’s still beating.”

Violet gasped, and she even had the audacity to look innocent and shocked. Had she really thought that she would get away with this?

“I didn’t—”

He choked off her reply by snatching her neck and pressing her against the door. “You think I wouldn’t find out that it was you who—”

“Jude?”

The hesitant female voice made him snap his head to the right. Danielle stood in the doorway of another fitting room cubicle, wearing nothing more than an enticing negligee.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

But he couldn’t even speak, too relieved that she was alive. He let go of Violet and pulled Danielle into his arms, squeezing her tightly to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating.

“You’re alive,” he managed to say.

“Excuse me, gentlemen,” a stern voice interrupted from behind.

Jude turned his head and looked at the middle-aged woman who glared at him and Austin.

“You can’t be back here! This is for ladies only!”

“We’re leaving,” Jude assured her, and pulled Danielle with him.

“Without paying?” the boutique owner asked, sounding even more annoyed now.

“Apologies, ma’am. I’ll take care of that in a minute. Austin, take Violet back with you, and alert Grant and Parker. Take the Land Rover. I’ll drive Danielle back.”

Violet looked at him, still mimicking confusion. She was a good actress. He almost believed her.

“How dare you?” Violet snapped.

“Jude, what is this about?” Danielle asked.

“I’ll explain on the drive home.” He motioned to Austin. “Don’t let her out of your sight.”

As Austin led a protesting Violet out through the back entrance, Jude turned back to Danielle.