A Shifter's Curse, Raven Steele [the top 100 crime novels of all time .TXT] 📗

Silas scooted to the edge of his seat on the sofa, his very presence upsetting everything good about this house. “I figured you’d come here instead of obeying Dominic’s orders.”

“Orders?” I asked, and closed the door. Stay cool.

“He didn’t give permission for anyone to leave.”

“You left.”

His hand tightened on the arm rest, and his left eye twitched. “I don’t need anyone’s permission, but you sure do. Maybe you need another private punishment. I sure enjoyed our last one.”

Samira glanced at me, her brows furrowed in confusion, but I kept my eyes focused on Silas, determined not to show any fear. He held no power over me. I said it again in my head so I believed the words.

An uneasiness settled in my throat as he continued to stare at me with cold, dark eyes. They were holes that promised pain and agony. Something wasn’t right.

“I’m glad you’re back,” Samira said, ignoring everything Silas had just said. “I could use some good company.”

I finally looked her way. She was sitting across from Silas, leaning back with her legs crossed. She was moving her mouth in a strange way—was she chewing gum? That was something new. But she definitely looked relaxed. Like Silas’ presence didn’t bother her at all. And that’s when I knew she was sending him a signal: I’m not afraid of you.

“How’d you get home?” she asked.

“A kind pack member dropped me off.”

By the knowing look in her eye, she knew who I was talking about. “Good. What—”

“I was just talking to Samira about family,” Silas interrupted. His angry gaze swiveled to hers as he tapped his cane on the floor. “How important it is that we can count on each other. Ever since you started working with us, we’ve considered you like family, despite your being a vampire. And one thing family never does, is betray each other.”

She casually tapped her fingers on the chair’s armrest. I bet she was counting each touch in her head. “I absolutely agree.”

Silas nodded, and I could tell this conversation hadn’t gone as he expected or wanted. "Rightly so. Family is important." He looked up at me. "Where did you say yours was from?"

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

He bristled and pressed his hands to his arms as if he was cold. "That's not the kind of reception I expect to receive from a pack member. You should be honored to have me in your home."

"Honored isn’t the word I’d use."

He leaned into his cane and used it to help him to his feet. He opened his mouth to say something but Samira interrupted him. "He came by to see me. He had some questions about the two Greybacks who were found at the restaurant."

"And did you learn anything?" I pressed my lips into a straight line to keep from laughing in his face. So far I’d always been a step ahead of him, thanks to good friends, friends I hardly deserved. I’d have to repay Samira and Luke somehow.

“She has given me some good leads to follow up on." He touched the top of his cane to his forehead. "I just remembered, Samira. If we cannot recover the briefcase, then we will need you to set up another meeting with the Nocturnas. We will need more drugs."

Ah, I understood now why he hadn’t pressed the issue about the compulsion thing. He still needed her. Badly.

Samira shook her head. “The deal they made is with the Silver Claws, not me. It would be bad business for me to intervene on your behalf."

"But as a vampire, you can explain our loss in a way they can understand. I trust you can do this?"

She reached up and slowly removed her glasses. “And if I refuse?"

He chuckled as if that was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. He stepped toward me and leaned in slightly. "You still smell."

“Are you finished here?" I said quickly, before Samira karate chopped him in half. I opened the front door, letting in a breath of much needed fresh air.

“For now, but Briar, you will return with me. I’m sure Dominic is wondering where you are. Plus, there's something I want to discuss with you."

"I have to work tonight."

“I'm not asking.” He walked onto the porch, then paused waiting for me.

“You don’t have to go,” Samira said. She had come to her feet faster than I could blink.

I looked from her to Silas. If I left with Silas now, I’d be in a car alone with him. Maybe this was my chance to get rid of him once and for all. I couldn’t pass that up.

“I’ll be there in a minute,” I said to Silas.

He huffed, and I expected him to argue, but he said, “I’ll wait in the car. I'll give you three minutes, but then I’m coming in after you.”

As soon as the door closed, Samira asked, her voice low, "I trust everything went as expected?"

I cleared my throat, a thank you itching its way up. I wasn’t used to someone helping me. Not without a motive. What was hers?

“How did you do it? How did you manage to get two Greybacks away from their pack, compel them, and put them in a restaurant in such a short amount of time? And compelling a supernatural? I'm impressed."

She walked into the kitchen with me trailing behind. She opened the fridge and pulled out her jug of blood. "As soon as Luke texted me saying you would be in trouble, I acted. I was already nearby watching the Greybacks so it made my job easier.”

Surprised, I opened my mouth to ask her how she knew where they were, but she kept talking.

“It only took three minutes to locate a couple. Shifters always have men patrolling away from their pack, a weakness I exploit often. It took less than thirty seconds to compel each of them. I don’t normally do this. It is forbidden among my kind, but I had no other choice with the short amount of time I had been given.”

“But why did you do what you did?” I asked. “Couldn’t you have just caused an explosion or something?”

“Luke told me to find a Greyback and make it so he couldn’t talk. He said it was the only way. Was he wrong?" She guzzled from the jug, nearly drinking it all.

My mouth fell open, watching her drink all that blood cold.

“You don’t mind that it’s cold?”

“I prefer it.” When I still stared at her, she chugged down the rest, shrugging. “It’s an acquired taste. But warm blood isn’t good for me. It reminds me too much of the living.”

I wanted to ask her what that meant but the clock behind me chimed, reminding me that Silas was waiting for me outside.

Instead I sighed, realizing Luke had been right. If Samira did anything other than produce a compelled Greyback, then eventually the witch would read their minds. It had been the right thing to do.

“One last question. Why would you help me?" No one helps without a motive.

"Because anyone working against Dominic is not my enemy. We may have different reasons for wanting his destruction, but our end game is the same. We can help each other, if you’d allow it.”

“I don’t trust you, or anyone, for that matter.”

“Whatever you have planned, you can’t do it alone. You proved that today. And I could use your help. There is much strength in you, like there is in me."

"Meh. I think I've got a little more." I winked at her, but when she didn’t take the bait, I continued. “Fine. You want me to trust you? Let’s start with why you want to destroy Dominic.”

She looked at me pointedly. "Because he wants something I’ve been looking for, for a long time.”

“And what’s that?”

“The Abydos.”