Jericho Page 7

  Still Jericho showed no reaction to Tess’ news – he didn’t believe her. Didn’t believe she would dare enter his compound and take what was his. Deliberately, he refrained from reminding her she would be detained after three messy kills in the middle of a human hotel. It was on her shoulders, but she didn’t seem troubled by that tiny detail. Crazy as ever and off on another tangent of revenge.

  He had tired of it years ago, but today it had worn so thin, he was more than willing to take her into custody himself and turn her over to the authorities so the Council of Nine could deal with her.

  Barely moving, Reno inched closer to Tess than anyone else would dare. To his way of thinking, if they had Tess, she’d give up Abe in a blink. If she really had her, which he doubted. Talk about Tess was that she loved pain, but only when applying it. Otherwise, she was all bark, but don’t bite me.

  Reno would take a personal interest in introducing her to the pain factor even though it really wasn’t his thing. Yeah, he could push himself, put it out there, and cut on her big time. He’d do it in the name of payback revenge for the way she treated Jericho. Yeah man, he cheered himself on, inching nearer the bitch.

  Red lips twitching and hands planted on her wide hips, Tess glared at Reno before shifting to the opposite side of the room directly across from Jericho. She mushed through all the blood and gore as if it weren’t there.

  “Tell me Tess, what fucking law I’ve broken.”

  “Mixing with humans and keeping them long term. As you know, Jinn males can capture and keep a female’s attention even when she doesn’t want it. You’ve got her under your spell and that’s where you’ve broken the law.” Unbelievably, she pouted. “You know, Jericho, if you’re not nicer to me, your stupid, silly human won’t last very long.” Tess taunted him, leather clad legs akimbo staring him down, daring him to take a run at her. She loved the chase.

  Jericho’s deep blue eyes flicked over her once, dismissing her. “You’re not making any sense. I’ve never needed to hold any female spellbound. Stop playing games.” A tremor ran the length of his body. At the end of his patience and worried about Abe, he barked, “What fucking rock did you crawl out from under coming to me with this kinda shit? For your information, the female is a guest in my home and under my direct protection.”

  He crossed massive arms over his heavily muscled chest. “You’ve broken the law on several fronts and I’m not even going into the three kills in a forbidden establishment. Kills you unlawfully committed here today. Know what that means, worm?”

  Cursing, she paced in one corner. “You don’t mean that, Jericho. You wouldn’t dare detain me. Besides, you broke the law first. Enthralling a human female long term is against the old Jinn laws.”

  “Says who?” he countered. “What law are you talking about? Cite me the law. Now, Tess.” Voice deep with fury, it steamrolled over the room, commanding an answer.

  Tess sported a tiny smile, she was getting to the big, bad Jericho. A delicious shiver curved up her back and she had to focus hard not to let her mind trip off into a fantasy or two where they were skin to skin and doing nasty things. “You idiot. I haven’t actually read it. Someone else interpreted it.”

  Now fully intent on forcing Jericho to her will, she added, “My source is highly respected. And that source will stand behind their interpretation when I bring your trash to the Council of Nine. So, really, it doesn’t matter what you say.”

  With a voice of steel, Jericho, King of the Jinn, stated, “Against my wishes, you’ve taken the female – a guest under Jinn protection – from my home. For that Tess, you’ll pay. More importantly and try to remember this: what you fail to understand in your fucking pea brain is that female is still under my protection whether you have her or not."

  Tess hadn’t bothered to think through her end game and probably a few other things, like killing that old Vamp and his enforcers inside the hotel. They had all stunk so bad that an impossible to deny urge had overcome her and in a frenzy she lashed out. Consequences be damned. She was a Demon and a Danbury and both carried a lot of weight which she used at every opportunity.

  Tess brooded, her leather bodysuit creaking as she stormed back and forth. This wasn’t at all the way she expected their encounter to play out. Usually, she worked well under pressure, but her energy was drained after several delicious kills and she was sated by the sight of fresh blood – the Vamp had bled so nicely – the Grunts not so much, but they were well worth shredding.

  That kind of killing was completely addictive.

  She always resented Jericho held more power than her and detested his fairness, his natural leadership and the way others flocked to him for advice or the fact he was the hottest Jinn on the planet and completely unavailable to her. She not only resented, but hated that more than anything else.

  Huffing now, she sputtered, “We can end this all right here. Let’s make a trade – you for her.” She had the advantage, the human female was in her possession.

  Jericho shook his head and added, “You couldn’t handle me, Tess. You wouldn’t know what the fuck to do.”

  Still, Tess had spirited the female away from Jericho’s compound and she wasn’t about to give her up for nothing. She wanted revenge on Jericho and now that she had the chance she knew the best way to get it was to play with his human. Cut her up some – let her bleed out a little. A delicious idea.

  Impatiently, Tess rubbed both hands together, giving the two males her wickedest smile before vaporing.

  “Noooo!” Jericho roared, leaping across the conference table, he reached for Tess, but his hands grasped only air. "Fucking bitch, you’ll never take another breath. I’ll rip your fucking head off with my bare hands.” When no response came it was obvious Tess was long gone.

  Stunned, Jericho grappled with the hideous fact he had no idea where the fuck Tess had gone – with Abe.

  His sweet, beautiful Abe in the hands of a Demon bent on revenge.

  Reno tried to check in with Caleb. No response. This wasn’t good. “Caleb’s not responding, Jericho. Compound could be compromised.”

  Jericho nodded, barking into his com-link. “Zulu, Conn, head to the compound. It may be compromised. Tess says she has Abe. Find Caleb and Matty. Make sure they’re ok. Check in soon as you know anything.”

  Reno quirked a brow. “You gonna let the Council know what’s going on? Might be wise as Tess is in the shit spot right now.”

  Jericho considered it. He really didn’t want the Council of Nine in on his business, but this was serious. It would be far better to admit he had taken Abe under his protection and into his home than to have Tess put her spin on it – presenting the situation as underhanded and Jericho’s secret. “Good call. Get hold of Marklon and let him know what’s going on. She needs to be detained after three kills and this place needs to be scrubbed. Don’t tell him I’m going after Tess.”

  Reno relayed instructions to Conn.

  Jericho tapped his com-link, switching to a secure frequency that automatically connected.

  A deep voice inquired. “What you need?”

  “I’m calling in favors. Need to find a female. Get me Roald Gildwood, tell him I’m asking for him personally. If anyone can track her, he can. And I want Treigh if you can find him. Keep me posted.” Jericho tapped the com-link severing the call and switching back to normal frequency.

  Caleb checked in. “Boss. I’m sorry. I was downstairs when a huge power surge hit. Came out of nowhere, every damn alarm went off and the entire security system crashed for a couple of seconds. Hold on, I’m checking vid now. Okay, Abe comes into the kitchen and the lights brown out. Power surge hits the electrical system and she goes to the back door, opens it...aw fuck! She...just disappears. Hell, sorry, boss.”

  Jericho kept his voice level as he spoke. “You both okay?” Inside, he felt as if he were dying when Caleb confirmed Abe was gone. He didn't know which way to turn or what to do. Tess would hurt Abe bad. His one saving grace – to present
Abe to the Council of Nine, she would have to be in relatively good shape so Tess couldn't kill her. He only hoped.

  “Yeah boss, we’re good. Matty was asleep in the great room with her earphones on and music blasting. I’m running system checks. Compound is secure, but beyond that nothing yet. Surge might’ve fried wires and shit.”

  “Stay put. Cal. That’s an order.” Jericho pursed his lips. “We have to consider it wasn’t a normal power surge. Tess is a Demon.”

  “Roger. Copy that.”

  "Tell Zulu to grab a used t-shirt of Abe's and bring it to me. We’ll wait outside at the south side of the building."

  "Roger. Out."

  As they left the hotel, Reno jogged in beside Jericho. In minutes, Zulu dropped off Abe's used t-shirt and headed back to the compound.

  Jericho held it to his nose – honey, lemons and rain swarmed over him, but he didn't wad it into a ball and stuff his face into it like he truly wanted to do. His heart shattered as he tucked it away inside his shirt.

  “Boss, let’s hit Tess’ place first and work out from there.”

  Jericho nodded and shot straight up with Reno going diagonal and cursing all the way.

  Tess wasn’t at home, but Jericho tore it apart anyway, thinking to release some frustration. It didn’t – only made him angrier. They hit club after club, mowing through each place, leaning on those who might know where she was.

  Word spread fast that the two big Jinns were looking for Tess and they meant fucking business.

  On a hair trigger, Jericho agreed it was time to meet up with Roald, a Kodiak Bear shifter.

  Jericho braced Roald’s forearms in greeting, a heavy grimace in place. “Keep this under the wire. True.”

  “Anything, man. What’s going on?” Roald was seriously a bear of a male, wide through the middle with massive shoulders and arms like machine guns. Big as he was, he was also fast on his feet with a longer arm reach than most and always got in first with his fists. Meaty bear paw fists and he was also an expert at hand-to-hand combat.

  Jericho handed Roald Abe’s t-shirt.

  Roald didn't stuff it up his nose like Jericho wanted to do, but reverently cupped it in his big hands, Abe's scent wafting up to him. “Unusual. Lemons for sure. Mmhmm, honey and fuck…water?” Silence surrounded them as Roald searched for the answer. “Ah, rain. It's rain, honey and lemons – truly defining." Turning to his warriors, he held out his big hands, commanding, "Scent her.”

  Reverently, Roald handed the t-shirt back to Jericho. Fuck, man, Roald had a sinking feeling this female meant a whole hell of a lot – a world or two – to his friend, Jericho. "Let us do what we do. Just follow and trust me."

  Jericho nodded immediately.

  The Kodiak shifters set off, running like the wind.

  Jericho and Reno tracked them from above. After an hour of fruitless searching they materialized at Abe's last scent point – a scant two miles from the compound. Frustrated, Jericho barked, “Cal, gimme specks on a five-mile radius of the compound.”

  “Roger. Copy that. Uh, to the north is Danbury Farm three miles out with the main house two miles beyond that. Nada to the south or east, but west is that old warehouse we’ve been keeping an eye on.”

  No way would Tess have taken Abe back to Danbury Farm – her family’s property – so Jericho gave the order to go west and check the warehouse.

  Once there, after a thorough search, Roald shook his head. “She hasn’t been here. None of us are picking up her scent past that last marked site.”

  “Fuck, let’s get to Danbury Farm.” Jericho was on fire with rage billowing inside, making him feel twice his normal size. He needed to find Abe and fast. It chilled him to the fucking bone to consider what Tess might be doing to her. Tess liked blood – lotsa blood – with her torture.

  When they came up empty after scouring the lower portion of the vast property that made up Danbury Farm, Jericho walked away from the group. His big body vibrated and his neck muscles bulged. Rage made him step away, he was about to fucking lose control.

  Roald dared to move slowly in beside him, noting Jericho’s eyes were blazing purple. A true tell he walked the edge of rage. “Need an outlet? Let me help you.”

  “Can’t. Need to kill not spar.”

  Roald chuckled only to break the tension, finding no humor in it. “Yeah, you and who else. You forget we’re evenly matched.”

  Jericho furiously shook his head, features darkly etched with shadow as his black hair swept across his face. “Not this time, Amigo. I can't control the power of my rage. It's too dangerous ‘cause I fucking guarantee I won’t hold back.”

  Roald stepped away as Reno moved in next to Jericho. He spoke in a low voice, urging Jericho to return to the compound to put a solid plan together. Maybe even rally his troops.

  Roald and his warriors stayed behind to scour every inch of land for any scent of Jericho's female.

  For that's what she was – even if the big Jinn wasn't admitting it yet. But Roald had his suspicions.

  Never before had Jericho ever admitted he couldn't control his rage or the power that went with it.

  For this female he did.

  Didn't that say it all?

  CHAPTER 9

  It was late when she woke up and slid quietly downstairs in the hope of finding something cold to drink. The house was quiet, almost too quiet. Oddly she was comforted by the cameras everywhere.

  Only afterwards did Abe realize how stupid she was. When a pretty female with short black hair, dressed in a nice black leather bodysuit knocked at the kitchen door – the lights had strangely browned out.

  That should've caught her attention, but didn’t.

  None of the alarms went off when she opened the unlocked kitchen door.

  Uh huh, she missed that one too.

  Still half asleep, it hadn’t occurred to Abe that the compound could be under attack.

  A big smile in place, the pretty female invited her outside for a chat. Abe thought it weird, but since security was ultra tight – she trusted that. Even though it was dark, she hadn’t considered for a second, but walked out the door.

  Wow, what an idiot she was. And way too trusting!

  One step over the threshold and it instantly hit her. It was a big mistake to leave the safety and security of the house as an oily black vapor enveloped her. Like a cage it tightened, stealing her breath and disorienting her. Tightly it spun a cocoon, blocking out sight, sound and every one of her senses. Horrified to be lost in the cloying, smothering oily blackness, Abe experienced real bone chilling fear.

  What felt like seconds later, her bare feet scraped along rough, rocky ground for the briefest moment and out of nowhere, a high-pitched female voice squealed, “You’re mine and Jericho can’t have you. Hah!”

  Her feet left the ground as the cloying blackness tightened around her and once again she was engulfed in utter silence.

  With no warning, Abe smashed face first into hard stone. Instinctively, she pushed up as a deep gash split open her forehead. Pain was all consuming as blood poured into her eyes, over her cheeks to drip off her chin. The front of her t-shirt was splattered with blood. Tears mixed with her blood as pain exploded with fireworks force.

  Swaying on her knees, her body shook so badly she could barely breathe while she tried to block the pain. It was too dark to see much, but the space felt small and closed in. Mildew and rot hung in the air making her gag – but on top of that there was another rank sweet odor she couldn’t place.

  The back of her hand pressed to the gash on her forehead in a futile attempt to stop some of the bleeding when a low groan of pain ripped out, echoing in the small space. Pain was eating her alive.

  She stayed still until her heart settled down some – it was thundering in her chest – and the booming thud in her head eased off.

  A moment later horrendous pain flared up again. Abe grunted and leaning over, let everything come up until only dry heaves remained. When vile odors of rot an
d mildew gagged her again, she clenched her teeth.

  Slowly, body shaking and legs wobbly, she sucked in a harsh breath and got to her feet. Everything spun as she quickly reached out to brace one hand against the damp stone wall when a familiar voice growled in her head.

  Let me out. It’s Bear. I can help.

  A gasp of disbelief escaped – maybe she was already dead or at the very least in a coma having crazy dreams again – because this wasn’t real – it couldn’t be happening.

  Only in her dreams did the big bear exist. His name was simply Bear and she had often run through fields and forests with him, but he didn’t exist – at least not in her real world, her waking world.

  Bear was her secret. Since waking up in Jericho’s home, she dreamt about the massive Kodiak a lot. He told her he was First Order – whatever that meant. She also hadn’t revealed her dreams about Bear to anyone, including Jericho. Tempted a few times to share her secret, but she worried Jericho would really think her crazy so she said nothing. After all, they were only dreams.

  Let Bear out?

  How did she do that?

  More importantly, could she trust the voice in her head?

  Blood continued to drip down her face as Abe tore a strip off the bottom of her black t-shirt to bind it around her forehead. Eyes rapidly swelling from the face plant, it frightened her that soon she might be blind.

  Less than a minute was all it took to crab walk around the cramped space. Tiny, it was six feet square with maybe an extra step or two. What did that measure – did it matter?

  Her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she vaguely saw a big iron ring embedded in the wall above her head with a long chain attached. Torture. She froze as that word echoed through her mind. Trembling with fear now, inside she screamed soundlessly again and again.

  Bear roared – Let me out! I’ll get you free.

  Although the voice was identical to the one in her dreams, Abe couldn’t take any chances. She needed to be really careful, really cautious and stay really alert. Most of all she had to stop being so stupid. Otherwise this was the end of the road.