Better Off Undead - Cynthia Eden Page 0,60
Why am I—”
“Tell me the rest. Tell me how Jane got out of that basement.” Drew wasn’t a vamp-in-waiting, but the guy’s mind was strong. So strong that Aidan had to work hard to control him.
“I rushed to Mary Jane.” The words came stiltedly. “Untied her. We ran to the window. There was one small window in that basement. I went through first. I turned around and put my hands back through the opening. I was going to get Mary Jane out. But…but the vamp grabbed her legs.”
Garrison had frozen, the whiskey bottle inches from his mouth.
Aidan could hear the hard drumming of his own heartbeat.
“But…our father appeared. Our real father, the one I’d feared for so long.”
“What?”
“He…he grabbed the other vamp from behind. Held him back so Mary Jane could get out.” Drew’s voice went ragged. “I don’t think Mary Jane remembers that part. And it’s good because…our father…that vamp attacked him. With fangs and claws and there was so much blood and our dad…despite everything, I swear, he was still good because he screamed for me to take Mary Jane and…to run.”
Impossible.
But…
Drew is under my power. He has to tell me the truth. Aidan tapped Drew’s arm. “Why the fuck do you have this tattoo?”
“To remind me that my sister suffered to protect me. To remind me every single day that there is good in the world. Because even though she won’t let me near her, even though Mary Jane says something about her is too dangerous…Mary Jane is the good in my world. Wearing her mark is the least I can do.”
Aidan let him go.
Drew exhaled on a ragged breath and shook his head. “Where is my sister?”
“Walking into danger. Isn’t that her usual way of operating?” Aidan turned away. “And I’m going with her. Because I have her back.” Just as I know she’d have mine. “You can stay—”
“If Mary Jane’s in trouble, then I’m coming, too.”
Hell. I know I have to be more careful with my words. I let that “can” slip out. I should’ve just said…You stay here.
Drew grabbed his arm and spun Aidan back around. “If my sister needs me, I’m there.”
“No—”
“Some crazy ass goons of yours who just showed up at my house in the middle of the night. They said Mary Jane was in trouble, and I hauled ass here, no questions. Because I love her. Because I will not let her down again.”
“You don’t know what you’re stepping into,” Aidan warned him.
“One night, when I was about four years old, I saw my real father come home. He wasn’t the happy, smiling guy I’d known. The guy who made me feel safe my whole freaking life. His skin was too pale, his body was shaking. And he had fangs. He came at me, and I ran.” Shame burned in Drew’s voice. “Years later, I saw my mother and my stepfather get murdered by vamps. And the father that I’d tried to forget—the father I’d been hiding from for so long? He was there. Fighting with fangs and claws. Fighting to save me and my sister.” His breath huffed out. “So don’t tell me I don’t know what I’m stepping into, okay? I get it—monsters are real.”
Yes, they were.
Drew’s voice shook as he said, “My sister is fighting a vamp, isn’t she? That’s what’s going on, and I won’t let her be alone.”
The guy still didn’t get it. “It’s not just vamps you have to deal with. This time, the killer is one of us.”
“Us?”
Garrison cleared his throat and put down the whiskey. “Well, not you. He’s like me. Like Aidan.”
Drew dropped his hold on Aidan and backed up—fast. “You’re vampires?”
“No,” Aidan told him as he let his claws spring out. “We’re werewolves.” If this went poorly, he’d just make the guy forget.
“What. The. Fuck? Werewolves?” Drew swayed. “Werewolves are real?”
“Plenty of things are real in this world.” He held Drew’s gaze.
“Are you…evil?”
“Only some days.”
“No, he’s not!” Garrison fired back. Like Aidan needed the guy defending him, but it was a nice gesture. “Aidan takes care of this pack. He protects this town. He’s our law!”
Drew’s hand clenched around the back of a nearby chair. “Werewolves.”
Yes, he obviously needed processing time, and that was time Aidan didn’t intend to waste. “Keep him close,” he ordered Garrison. “Only, no handcuffs this time, got it?”
Garrison nodded. “Got it.”
Aidan headed for the door, but quick footsteps thudded behind him. Without looking back, he threw out his hand and his fingers fisted in Drew’s shirt.