Page 23 of Feeding Frenzy (Crimson Coven #3)
TWENTY-THREE
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Maddy kept rubbing her palms against her jeans and readjusting herself next to me. She’d insisted on coming with us. I tried talking her out of it, but she refused to budge. Perspiration beaded at her temples and her eyes continued to flick side to side.
I had no doubt if I breathed in, I would smell her fear. As it was, the rush of her heart pumping echoed like the softest buzzing to my ears.
I sank my nails into my thigh. Fabric tore, and I relaxed my hand, so I didn’t break into skin. The SUV bumped onto the drive and Ren pulled up to the curb behind Crimson Nights. I’d never been to the side of the structure. Brick buildings stretched around us. Lights from a sign flickered in the distance. Nightclubs surrounded the area, but all that would point to Crimson Nights being a nightclub was the line stretching from the front doors.
Considering all the explicit activities on the dance floor the last time we were here, I had no doubt they compelled whatever humans did make it through. A sleek car pulled up next to the SUV. Bastien, Jax, and Asher hopped out. They all scanned different sections as they surrounded the SUV. Bastien had glasses blocking his red eyes. He pulled my door open and leaned his forearm against the top.
Ren shut the engine off. All the vampires seemed on edge and quiet—introspective.
Tobias turned his torso to look at us in the back and the leather seat creaked.
“Maddy, you remain in the vehicle with Cat.” This was news to me.
“What why! I want to go with you!” Panic viced around my chest.
“No, Catalina,” Tobias said sternly. “If anyone remembers you from the last time you were here, there will be questions about your differences.”
“Imogen cannot know you live,” Bastien agreed, and he cupped the side of my neck.
Well, that was true, but I didn’t want to be stuck in the car without one of them.
“Could one of you stay?” I asked in a small voice. Bastien and Tobias shared a look.
“I have not shown myself in decades. I will stay.”
I deflated with relief.
“Let us get this over with,” Tobias spoke like he knew exactly what awaited them inside. They left too quick for me to track. The metal back door slammed shut.
“Will they be okay without you?” I couldn’t tear my eyes away from where they’d disappeared. I would never forgive myself if I asked him to stay, and they’d needed Bastien.
He nodded once, I couldn’t tell if he was looking at me or through the window behind me.
“If Imogen is with a representative and they are here, where there are many vampires present, they are likely serving us with a summons.”
“What’s that?” Sounded ominous and by the twisting of his lips, he was not happy about it.
“I do not know how to explain it.” Bastien frowned, removing his palm from my shoulder to place it on the side of the door. His shoulders rippled under his borrowed t-shirt with each of his movements.
“They’re getting summoned before the Council. Imogen likely put a claim against them,” Maddy offered, side eyeing Bastien. Discomfort bled from her posture.
“And that means . . .?”
“We cannot kill her as we planned.” His teeth flashed with his grimace.
“It basically puts U.S Alliance eyes on Crimson Coven.” Maddy fidgeted. I followed his gaze to the scuffle at the corner of the building. Two men shoved each other, shouting loud enough that their cursing reached my ears.
“Something is not right,” Bastien frowned. The shouting grew louder.
“Go,” I whispered.
“No.”
A loud bang echoed all around us. The buildings were so close together that the sound continued to resonate.
“I’m getting you out of here.” He cupped the bottom of my elbow.
I bunched his shirt.
“You have to check on the others, you have to! What if it was a trick?” Panic made my voice rise a few octaves. “Please, go fast.”
“I—”
“Bastien!”
His teeth clicked together. He looked over his shoulder.
“Please!”
“Do not move from here,” he hissed. “I will be back in moments.”
I nodded.
He slammed the door and disappeared. I slumped against the leather.
“Something is happening in there,” Maddy muttered, hugging herself. “I have a really bad feeling.”
A sharp scream stung my ears. Maddy straightened and peered out her window. I followed her gaze to the high-pitched shouts. Past the large garbage containers, within the ally, a male threw a woman against the wall, shoving her against it. She fought against him as he pinned her hips with his.
“We can’t just watch.” I yanked the door handle open. I didn’t like conflict, I ran from it, but she needed help. And now, I could actually hold my own—or at least not die so easily.
“No!” Maddy shouted, grabbing my arm. I yanked out of her grip. “Wait.”
“I have to help her.”
I dropped my hand from the door handle. Her heart pounded so fast it sounded like it would burst from her chest. I understood the fear in her eyes. It was the same suffocating sensation writhing inside me, bidding me to remain in the vehicle.
“Wear this with the hood up,” she handed me her sweater. She was right. No one could recognize me. I pulled it on as Maddy spoke, “If something happens to me, please protect Syd, my parents are old and can’t care for her.” She took a deep, raspy breath. “She knows about vampires.”
As she spoke, I shoved my head through the sweatshirt, pulling it on in time to watch Maddy yank the door open and run out.
“Maddy,” I shouted. A loud engine roared closer and closer.
Gunshots exploded through the windshield in a rapid-fire. Someone was shooting the SUV. I ducked, taking cover. Finally, the sounds tapered off. Using the lip of the car door to hide behind, I poked my head out and crept to the tail end of the SUV. I reached for a shiny bullet laying on the bumper. Upon my finger touching it I hissed, yanking my hand back. I flicked my hand like I could shake away the fire blazing my fingertips. I blew on the burned tips. Pure silver.
I needed to get away from the SUV, before they started shooting it up again. I reached up to pull the strings of the hood to cinch it closer to my face.
Across the street, Maddy huddled near the large garbage bin with the crying woman. She was alive. Thank God.