Page 20 of Blood Lost
“Like what?” Vik interjected, urging me to continue.
“Like you chopping Eli’s hand off. I know, it’s dumb. He obviously has his hand. I have no idea where the images came from.” I stopped myself from rambling as Vik and Eli broke into laughter. “What’s so funny?”
“You’re not crazy. It really happened. I’m surprised you remember that over other things.” Vik said, rubbing his hand down my arm to calm me down.
“I don’t understand. How?” I stared at Eli, trying to figure out what didn’t make sense.
He smiled at me. “Don’t freak out, okay?” He waited for my nod, then removed his hand from my lap and twisted it off his wrist.
“What the actual fuck?!” I yelled. Declan reached up and pulled me onto his lap. I buried my head against his neck. This was the strangest nightmare I’d ever had.
“It’s okay, love. Yes, Vik chopped my hand off. I was pissed at first, but this prosthetic nearly makes up for it. This thing can do some pretty neat stuff.” It was as if Eli was trying to convince me that everything was normal.
“So, you’re okay? And you guys are friends now? I’m so confused.” I replied, not moving from where Dec held me.
He rubbed my back and held me tightly. “That is a little strange, guys,” he said. “More than a little, if we’re being honest.”
Vik leaned closer to me. “I’m sorry, Myshka. It’s a long story, but we’ve moved past it. I hope you can as well. We would love to take you shopping today if you’ll let us.”
Chapter 24
Declan
Somehow, Vik convinced Delilah that shopping was exactly what she needed to get over her concerns. I hadn’t heard about the hand either, and honestly, I was a little scared of these guys. I mean, if one of them randomly starts cutting parts off the other and they magically get past it…that’s just strange. I kept my thoughts to myself, deciding to discuss it with Delilah when we had time alone. There was no reason to start a fight right now. There may have been nothing to worry about anyway. They both agreed that it was a long story. One day soon, I would corner one of them and force it out. Until then, I’d see what Delilah thinks in private, and we’d go from there.
I suggested that we head to shops near my home, but Vik disapproved. My side of town wasn’t as upscale as he wanted. Of course, he said the same about Eli’s zone. None of us wanted to cause issues in another area, so we agreed that a neutral place might be better. There were some upscale stores in the East zone of the city, and as far as we knew, none of us had a connection with the guy who ran things over there. It would be equally uncomfortable for all of us. I got volunteered to drive since I was the only one with an SUV.
I ended up getting rid of the one I’d brought Delilah home in after she’d been shot. It was replaced with a brand-new model. I had expected the heads of Maxwell Industries and Strain Industries to have multiple vehicles at their disposal. It surprised me to find out that Eli had two sports cars and Vik had nothing but a motorcycle at the moment. Everyone climbed into the SUV, and Eli brought up directions to the stores Delilah had chosen. The drive was quiet and tense. I sensed there was a lot that needed to be said, but for some reason, no one was willing to say it.
I had wanted to bring a security detail, but Vik assured me he had it under control. Eli rolled his eyes, and Delilah chuckled as if she remembered how stubborn Vik was from before. “Okay, man, if you’re sure you have it. Let’s go get our girl set up.” We walked into the first store amidst stares from the other customers. It didn’t take long for me to realize that Vik’s security method involved scaring off the other patrons, so Delilah had the store to herself. I turned to Eli, “You knew this was his plan, didn’t you?”
Eli laughed. “I suspected. He’s pretty protective of her. Blames himself for the kidnapping since it was his guy who betrayed him.”
Vik’s hesitation to trust me made more sense given that information. I wouldn’t trust me either. Delilah followed Vik around the store, picking out things to try on, while Eli and I followed her. Once all four of us had armfuls of different items, Eli asked an employee for the dressing room. With her reaction, I wasn’t sure if he had tipped her really well or if he’d just used compulsion. Either way, she was thrilled to help our girl out.
Vik and Eli dragged three chairs over in front of the dressing room. When the girl unlocked the door, Vik insisted on checking it to ensure there was no way someone could get to Delilah. It was a little over the top, but neither of the ladies seemed to mind, and it made him feel better. With him convinced she was safe, we settled onto the chairs and let her have fun playing dress-up.
Delilah would come out every few outfits and do a slight turn as if she were in a fashion show. The three of us would clap and catcall her no matter how silly she looked. I had a feeling she was testing us because some of the things she danced around in were pretty outrageous, and I couldn’t imagine her actually wearing them. She sent Vik for a different size pair of jeans, then asked Eli to grab a different color of a sweater she loved. While they were off hunting for what she’d requested, she asked me to find her a new bra and panty set. I didn’t want to leave her unprotected, but it seemed crazy to worry when we were the only ones in the store. After a quick kiss, I went off to find what she’d asked for.
I turned back just in time to see the store employee who’d helped us with the dressing room walking into the tiny room with Delilah. I paused, then shrugged it off. Our girl must have needed some help with zipping something. A nagging feeling started to eat at my insides. I tried to convince myself that I was overreacting. I looked back at the dressing room and decided to go back and see where the girl had gone. She couldn’t still be in there with Delilah, could she?
I tapped on the door and waited for a response. I knocked again as Eli and Vik returned with the items they’d been sent for. “Something’s wrong,” I said and pulled the door off its hinges. I’d pay to replace it later.
My jaw dropped at the scene inside that tiny room. Crimson was splattered across the wall, and Delilah was drinking from the girl. I grabbed her and pulled her away from the human as Eli and Vik did their best to tend to the unconscious girl. My biggest fear had just been realized. Delilah’s eyes were glazed over, and she was fighting me to get back to the human she’d nearly drained. How had this happened?
“She’s dead. We need to go. Now.” Vik’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. There would be no way to cover this up. It would be better for Delilah if we could hide her for a while until the hunters gave up on finding the person responsible. They weren’t known for giving up, but it did happen on occasion.
“What about the mess?” I asked, throwing Delilah over my shoulder and running toward my SUV.
“We can’t worry about that right now. I can wipe the cameras; then, no one will know we were here. That’s the best we’re going to get right now. But we have to hurry before someone comes in.” Eli’s calm had an undertone of panic. I could tell that he wasn’t sure what had happened either.
I climbed in the back with Delilah. Vik drove and Eli worked on something on his phone. I assumed that he was working on the surveillance, as he’d explained. Delilah had stopped fighting me and was coming in and out of consciousness. “Was this how she acted the other night when she was drugged?”
Vik looked at me in the mirror. “Shit. You’re right. I mean, the other night, she was throwing herself at Eli, but she looked like she does now. Really out of it and not herself.”
Someone had managed to drug her and cause her to lose control. When she recovered, she would be so upset with herself for killing that girl. It wasn’t her fault, but there would be no way to convince her or the hunters of that. Our situation just went from strange to deadly. I held her in my arms and wished I hadn’t pissed Kayden off earlier. He was the only one who might be able to help us now. Vik drove us out of the city while I berated myself for alienating my best friend. I wondered where we would go and how we would hide.
Chapter 25