“I’m still sorry. I understand what it’s like to lose a loved one.”
“I didn’t love him, barely knew him. It was more of a wishful yearning for family. I was hoping that he hadn’t gone so far over the edge that I couldn’t save him. Apparently, I was mistaken. I lashed out without discovering all of the facts first. Anthony is an ancient like me. There aren’t many of us left. If I had killed him, my actions would have resulted in my death as well, and I would have been responsible for taking two ancients out that are willing to fight for the survival of our race.”
“I don’t think anyone will blame you for what you did once they learn your side of it.”
“Don’t be so sure,” he muttered under his breath. “Thank you for caring, though. It means a lot to me.” He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead and was out the door.
She wanted to tell him she loved him, but the moment had passed. She’d wait until they got back and cleared this whole misunderstanding up before telling him. She wished she could see him, but the heat had done little to melt the snow covering the windows.
Two minutes later, her door swung open with such force she screamed.
“Are you okay?” Raze stood beside the car.
“Y-yes.” She stepped out, but when she tried to look around him, he blocked her view with his body.
“Did he hurt you?” Raze’s fists were clenched at his sides.
“No. We had a blowout and ended up in the ditch on our way home.
Piers attempted to hike to Sanctuary, but it was too far and the cell didn’t have a signal.” She tried to push around Raze, but he wouldn’t budge from her path.
“Where is Piers?” She called to him. “Piers? Piers!” Raze ushered her backwards, and when she struggled to get by him, he picked her up and sat her in the passenger seat of a truck that sat behind the Jeep. “What have you done?”
Her heart beat like thunder. Something had happened. It was the only logical reason why Raze was acting like he was.
“Get in and buckle up. I’m taking you back to Sanctuary.”
“Not until I see him.” She clenched her teeth in anger.
“Don’t argue with me. You can see him later.”
She swung her legs inside and acted like she was buckling her seatbelt.
When Raze shut the door and started walking toward the front of the truck, she slung the door open and jumped out. She ran past the truck and skidded to a stop when she reached the front of the Jeep. Piers lay on the ground, facedown, and crimson pooled on the white snow around his head. Anthony and Brent squatted beside his motionless body.
She cried out and ran to him. Anthony and Brent stood and before she could reach Piers, Raze grabbed her from behind.
“Get her the hell out of here!” Brent yelled at Raze.
“What the fuck do you think I was trying to do?” Raze answered.
“What did you do to him?” she screamed. “He didn’t do anything wrong.
He didn’t hurt me.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she fought against Raze with all her might while he dragged her to the truck. He put her in the driver side and pushed her toward the middle of the seat until he could climb in beside her.
The entire time, he held her wrist in an iron grip that she could not break no matter how hard she tried. She kicked and slapped at him until her body went limp with exhaustion.
“You killed him.” Sobs wracked her body.
“He’s not dead.”
“But all of the blood. He has to be.” She choked out the words as the horrible images played through her mind. “You have to take him to a hospital! He could die.”
“He won’t die from his injuries. When he wakes up, he’ll be able to change and, once he does, he’ll be healed.”
“Yeah, but are they going to kill him after he wakes up? It was all a mistake. He didn’t know all the facts about what happened to his brother.”
“It’s out of my hands.”
“Don’t be an ass, Raze. It isn’t out of your hands. You are involved in this since his brother came looking for you to begin with. I swear, if you let them hurt him, I’ll hate you for the rest of my life. And while that on its own may not bother you that much, I guarantee that it will bother my sister.”
“Of course I care about your feelings. I love you like a sister, Sherry. I would protect you with my life just like I would Janine.”
“Then don’t let them hurt him.”
Those were the last words spoken until they made it back to Sanctuary.
Chapter Twelve
Sherry felt much better after she showered and changed her clothes. She sat in the cabin at Sanctuary that had marked the beginning of her journey with Piers. Janine sat across from her. Both had a steaming cup of cocoa nestled between their hands.
“I want to see him.” Sherry didn’t like the way her sister didn’t meet her gaze. That always meant she was hiding something from her.
“You can’t.”
“Why not?”
“He left.”
“What?” Her heart sank. Piers wouldn’t leave her. He loved her. But you never told him you loved him.
“I’m sorry.”
“Is he coming back?”
“I don’t think so. He told Raze he was sorry for all the trouble he caused.
He said to tell you goodbye.”
“No. I don’t believe you.”
“When have I ever lied to you?” Janine’s eyes snapped up to her face.
“Never. Until now.” She gritted her teeth, but knew without a doubt that it was the truth.
“He’s no good for you.” Janine sighed and sipped at her cocoa.
“You can’t make that decision for me. It’s my choice whether he’s right for me or not.”
“You can’t stand the woods or nature. He’s all about everything you despise.”
“After what you and Raze went through, you are seriously trying to convince me that Piers and I can’t compromise and be happy?”
“It’s different with Raze and me.”
“How?”
“I like nature. He didn’t kidnap me. He didn’t take me from my family.”
“Neither did Piers. Well, he did at first, but he brought me back.”
“No. He didn’t.”
“We had a flat and got caught in a snowstorm. It was beyond our control, Janine.” Sherry was becoming angry. Her sister had never acted like this with her. She wasn’t ten years old. She was a grown woman and didn’t need Janine to act like her mother. “I’ve had enough. This isn’t your, or Raze’s, or anyone else’s decision. It’s mine, and whatever I decide, I expect you to stand by my side.”
“But—”
“Don’t drive a wedge between us where there is no need for one. I love you more than anything. You know that.” She reached and took her sister’s hand in hers. “But I love Piers too. I want to be with him, and no one will stand in my way.”
“You really do love him, don’t you?”
Sherry nodded.
“I’m sorry. The men told him you didn’t want to have anything to do with him. He left.”
“He’s okay though?” Sherry breathed a sigh of relief.
“Yes.”
“Why would they do that?”
“He’s too rough around the edges for you.”
“He loves me, and somehow, I doubt that Raze is a kitten.”
“No, he isn’t, but it’s different. I’m not as delicate as you are.” Janine sighed.
“Why, because of my anxiety? Do you know, I didn’t have one anxiety attack the whole time I was with him? That should tell you something.”
“Yes. It does.”
“I’m his mate.”
“Raze thought so too the first day he took you.”