Monsters' Gift (Crude Hill High #2) - Sam Crescent Page 0,16

if it wasn’t important? You and Ashley are in danger. We’ve already got Ashley on the way back to Crude Hill. Your lives are in danger.”

“You’re lying. Ashley told me you sent me here for my own good.”

“Yes, and she didn’t lie, but things change, Emily. You know this life better than anyone. We’re not going to let anything happen to you.” She was going to hate me, but so long as I got her ass back in Crude Hill, in our home, I didn’t care.

Her gaze left mine and she looked toward Vadik, River, and Gael. I hoped they kept straight fucking faces.

I was doing what I needed to in order to get her home.

“Ashley’s safe?”

“Yes.”

“I need to call her.” She moved as if to go and see, and I reacted. Wrapping my arms around her, we were going for plan B. I didn’t want this one, but she was too damn stubborn. River was there with the needle, and he pressed it into her skin. “What the hell are you doing? Let me go. Let me the fuck go.”

She was no match for my strength. I held her as the sedative took effect. Her grip on the towel loosened and it dropped to the floor. I kept my arms around her as she slumped in my arms.

I looked toward Gael. “Get her some clothes.”

“Since when did I become your servant?”

“Just get her some fucking clothes.” I didn’t have time to argue. The moment the sedative went into her, we were on a countdown. We only had one other dose and I didn’t want to waste time.

The sooner we got her to Crude Hill, the better.

Vadik and River watched me. I hadn’t let her go.

“You lied to her,” River said.

“You think she was going to come with us?” I didn’t know why I was trying to justify myself to them.

“I don’t know, but lying to her wasn’t exactly ideal, was it?” Vadik asked. “She’s going to know the truth now, and we’re going to have to fight her.”

“If she knows what’s good for her, she’ll do as she’s told.” I sounded like an asshole, but I didn’t care. I was trying to keep her safe, protect her.

Gael returned with a pair of sweats and an ugly-ass t-shirt with a cat on it. Kind of strange for Emily, but I didn’t care. With Gael’s help, we got her changed and I lifted her in my arms.

“Wait,” Gael said, stopping me as I walk toward the door.

“What?”

“You think we should, you know, grab a few things for her?”

“We’re about to have a fight for our life in keeping her. Do you really fucking think this is going to help us if she has any memories of all that we’ve taken from her?” I was losing my temper now.

“It may help,” Vadik said.

“If you guys want to stay behind and grab sentimental shit, be my guest. I don’t have time.” I worked the door open and left, carrying the love of our life with me down toward our waiting car.

****

Vadik

Emily hadn’t woken up yet.

We were on our plane, heading to the airport, where a car was waiting for us to escort us all back to Crude Hill.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

We’d lain down her seat and she was curled up. River threw a blanket on her, and she looked so perfect. Peaceful within sleep but also because we finally had her back.

Caleb sat beside her, drinking some whiskey. I noticed his hands shook a little, but I didn’t comment. He wasn’t afraid. None of us were. With the life we’d lived these past few years, fear wasn’t easy to come by.

Emily, though, she was finally with us, and Earl had come through. Ashley was gone and she was still alive.

We’d fucked up. I knew we had.

Gael sat a couple of seats down from me, staring at her. He’d finally tasted her, and I knew what he was going through. The pleasure that rushed through you, the feel of her wrapped around you. I’d had a chance to experience it once myself, but since then, nothing else.

I missed it.

I missed that feeling.

Seeing her now, I was overcome by guilt. There had been women over the years, some I’d tried to use to make me forget her. I’d never gone all the way with them, but the intent had been there.

Earl had given us a chance to look into Emily’s past. There wasn’t anyone. Her life was dull. She worked constantly. Ashley