Faith V Smith [Bound by Blood, The Legends 02] Dunbar's Curse (pdf)

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

streak when it came to police work.
All right, ready?
More than ready. And watch yourself, Zacke. Remember, you're no longer immortal. Miles punctuated
his words with a brief salute before following Hawk to the back door.
Miles reached out to turn the knob. Locked, just as he figured. Without a word, he and Hawk allowed
their bodies to dissolve into molecules of air. One vapor trail streamed through the door a second before the
other and then both men stabilized into mortal form once again.
A finger to his lips, Miles motioned for Hawk to search the rooms on one side of the hallway, while he
took the other. Deciding to use the mortal way he turned the doorknob of the first room on the left and 204
Dunbar's Curse
eased it open. A room devoid of furniture, with cobwebs thrown in, greeted him. He inhaled, but found no
trace of human life in this room or more importantly, no hint of violence or death. His search of the next few
rooms warranted the same results. A quick look at Hawk confirmed his luck had been no better. Silently they
moved through the house until they met Zacke. A quick shake of his head and Miles' breath and fangs
exploded. They have to be here.
Desperation turned his immediate world into a slow simulation of dread and horror. What if Gideon's
information had been wrong? What if the van, the witness spotted, had nothing to do with Hope's abduction?
Miles pulled away from his frantic thoughts and read Zacke's. With the upstairs clear, they would check
to see if there was a basement. The steps that led down to the core of the house also ended in a hallway. One
door at the very end drew Miles' attention. He crept closer, Zacke and Hawk so close they almost stumbled
over him when he stopped. The walls of the basement were solid at least six inches thick, the door a
galvanized piece of steel. No peephole. A silent try of the knob signified it was locked.
Miles didn't wait for the other two, he dissolved into molecules and entered the room. Nothing! Not a
damn thing.
Hope had to be on the premises somewhere. The van was the only lead they had, and surely it couldn't
be coincidence that the men who lived here might be suspects in the robberies. They could have gotten Hope's
address from her bag and& and what? Would they wait this long to make a move? Why now?
Miles? Zacke's voice echoed through the door's thickness.
205
Faith V. Smith
Give me a minute. He unlocked the door from the inside and both Zacke and Hawk plowed into the
room.
Hope?
She's not here, Hawk, I can't find any evidence she stayed in this room at all.
Well, she has to be somewhere.
But where, Zacke? Miles' nails grew and his fangs punctured his gums.
Maybe there's another way out of this room. We know all the upstairs rooms and the ones we searched
so far here in the basement were all empty, but there has to be another way out.
Zacke began to walk around the room, tapping on walls, moving old furniture.
Miles joined him as did Hawk. It might be fruitless, but it made no sense there wouldn't be a way to exit
the basement.
Give me a hand. Zacke worked to move more old furnishings, and Miles hurried to help him. Nothing!
Miles felt totally useless. Hope could be dead or dying or worse, and he couldn't help her.
What if we try the other rooms again? Maybe there's something we missed? Hawk's face held the
same worry nagging at both Miles and Zacke.
Good idea, why don't we each take a room. It'll speed things up
Right, Zacke. Hawk took off, and Zacke came up beside Miles.
Don't worry, we'll find her, Miles.
I know. I just hope it's not too late.
Several moments later, Miles stood in the center of the room he searched. So far, he'd come up with
nothing. His gaze canvassed the interior again. Several empty bottles of wine littered the floor. A few still rested
in the wine rack. He figured it had served as a wine cellar in the past. 206
Dunbar's Curse
The wine rack! It sat cattycorner against one edge of the wall.
Miles put his shoulder into the huge dust encrusted wood frame and shoved. The rack careened across
the floor with a screeching that hurt his ears.
Where the rack once rested was a plain wooden door.
Unsure whether or not the men who kidnapped Hope could hear him, Miles spoke in mind thoughts to
Hawk.
I've found another door.
We're on our way.
Good as his word, both Hawk and Zacke made short work of getting to the wine cellar.
I moved the rack and found the door.
All right, now we just see where it leads. Zacke stepped around Miles.
No, I'll go first. You stay behind me.
Miles.
Zacke, we're wasting time. Let's do it my way.
Zacke's grunt signaled his frustration but Miles ignored him.
He opened the door and stepped over the threshold onto a dirt floor surrounded by cement walls. He
moved out slowly and treaded his way down the long passage. Rats ran across his path, and he kicked them
out of his way.
After turning one corner and then another, he stopped. A door much like the one they'd found in the
upper basement stood in front of him. Miles placed his ear flat against the door, closed his eyes, and waited.
Three sets of heartbeats greeted his sensitive hearing. A moment more gave him the answer he needed. Two
men and one woman were inside. It had to be Hope it just had to be.
I'm fairly sure Hope's in there.
Okay, you two get inside and then unlock the 207
Faith V. Smith
door. We need to do this by the book.
To hell with the law, Zacke. We have to rescue Hope.
Keep your fangs under wrap, Miles. That goes for you too, Hawk. We want them to have no room to
weasel out on a technicality if it is the men and Hope.
Fine, let's go.
Miles dematerialized and reformed inside the room. Hawk stood beside him.
A whimper greeted his ears. Two men were bent over the form of a woman lying on a cot. Miles' heart
seized as he spied one flailing arm shoot out between their bodies. A ring adorned the fourth finger on her left
hand.
HOPE!
The sound of the lock being turned barely registered as he ran forward. A bone snapped when he
grabbed the smaller man's arm and jerked him away from the bed. A cry of agony caressed his ears with joy.
Good! He'd hurt the son-of-a-bit
Miles stop!
He ignored Zacke's command. The larger assailant now had Hope by the throat. His hands were
clenching her slender neck so tightly her face took on a pink cast. Trusting Hawk to make sure the first man
didn't interfere, Miles grabbed the man by the neck and squeezed. He watched as the man's eyes bulged out
and his breathing grew rapid as he tried to suck in enough air.
Let him go, Miles. I mean it! You need to see to Hope.
The words sounded as if they came from a distance. The jade haze obscuring his vision slowly began to
fade. Miles shook his head and then looked down. Hope lay still, her eyes closed, the hand wrapped around
her throat now gone. As his vision continued to clear, he noticed her sweater was 208
Dunbar's Curse
pushed up showing the bottom edge of the peach bra she wore, and her jeans were halfway down her
hips. Thank God, they'd arrived in time. Zacke stood over the man Miles had choked, his frame a dirty mass on
the floor. Miles didn't even realize he'd turned the man loose. His hands trembled as he reached down to
adjust Hope's clothing, then slid his arms under her shoulders and hips lifting her up to fit next to his heart.
I'm taking Hope home. Can you call Miranda and ask her to meet me there?
Yeah, get going, Hawk and I will wait for Gideon.
****
The night air against her face stirred Hope back to consciousness. Strong arms held her tightly. She
fought to break their hold.
Sssh. Hope, I've got you. You're safe. A small chuckle preceded Miles' next words. Although, if you
continue to struggle, we might find ourselves on the ground quicker than either one of us would like. Breath, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Tematy