Page 37 of Patrick’s Seduction (Scanguards Vampires #19)

37

W illiam Gallagher who stood in front of the fireplace suddenly whirled his head toward the door, clearly having heard the sound of the creaking hardwood floor. He stared directly at Patrick, who didn’t dare move. The man with him looked over his shoulder too, and Patrick recognized him instantly. It was Cameron.

“I won’t do it!” Cameron said with a raised voice, picking up his conversation with his father.

The older Gallagher glared back at him, the sound from the door clearly forgotten. “You listen to me now, you ungrateful little pup!”

He underscored his superiority as the Alpha by jabbing his son in the chest.

“It was one thing killing those stupid hikers out here in Marin where I can do damage control. Do you have any idea how many palms I had to grease, and how many favors to call in to take the heat off you?”

Cameron opened his mouth, but his father continued without pause. “I can’t fake your death twice! I had to find a homeless man who wouldn’t be missed so I could blow him up in your car. I can’t keep doing that! Don’t you get that?”

Just like he’d thought: the Gallagher pack was complicit in Cameron’s crimes. Patrick exchanged a quick glance with Virginia who gave a nod.

“I didn’t ask you to fake my death in the first place!” Cameron snapped, snarling. “I had it handled. They didn’t suspect me. I was careful!”

“Don’t be an idiot! Killing two hikers on our property? You didn’t think that made the cops suspicious of us? You endangered the entire pack! How many times do I have to tell you not to hunt in our woods? I don’t care what you do somewhere else. As long as it doesn’t put the pack in jeopardy!”

Gallagher was on a roll, dressing down his oldest son.

“But now you’ve done it! You brought vampires to our doorstep! Are you out of your fucking mind? Biting a woman who can identify you, and letting her live?”

He smacked his son so hard that Cameron’s head whipped to the side and a loud cracking sound echoed against the walls of the living room. With defiance in his eyes, Cameron faced him again, and Patrick caught a glimpse of the violence that hid only skin-deep beneath the exterior of a man many women would have found attractive. He was sure that this was what Fallon had seen when he’d attacked her because he wasn’t getting his way. Just like he wasn’t getting his way with his father now.

“Fallon is mine!” Cameron’s voice was but a snarl and barely human.

“You did this on purpose? Turning her?” This seemed to be news to Cameron’s father, and a mask of disgust spread on his features. “You should have come to me first!”

“So you could forbid it? I’m not an idiot! I know how you feel about humans. That’s why I turned her into one of us.”

“Don’t bullshit me! You didn’t turn her for my sake or the sake of the pack! And now you’ve put us on a collision course with a bunch of fucking vampires! Even worse, vampires who can be out in daylight! But no, you never think of the pack when you do anything. It’s always you, you, you!”

“Like you’re any different! No wonder Mom killed herself!”

“Don’t you dare bring up your mother!” William Gallagher yelled and lunged for his son.

But Cameron was prepared and punched him first. As they exchanged vicious blows, the scent of blood started to permeate the room, and Patrick’s nostrils flared, while his fangs extended. Sounds from outside drifted to his ears at the same time: car engines as well as footsteps approaching the living room.

Virginia put a hand on his forearm, reminding him that they couldn’t be part of this fight. Not with more people coming. Nodding at Virginia, Patrick looked out the window that overlooked the driveway. Several SUVs were pulling up, stopping in front of the house.

Before he could concentrate on them, somebody threw the door wide open and charged into the room. It was a woman, but not one of the ones he’d seen in the kitchen. She was dressed in riding gear.

“Dad! Cameron! What the hell are you doing?”

But the two didn’t answer and continued their fistfight.

“Damn it!” she yelled and turned toward the open door. “Spencer! Owen! Get in here now!”

Heavy boots trampling on the old wooden floor followed her order, and several men ran into the room. Patrick moved out of their way swiftly, using the noise they made to cover his movement. Virginia did the same.

The three newcomers put an end to the fight between father and son, subduing Cameron who resisted. William Gallagher took a breath, while he smoothed his hair back and righted his shirt. He glared at his son.

“You’re leaving on the Alberta at midnight. And you’ll stay in the Philippines until it’s safe for you to come back. We’ll take care of the vampires and deal with the woman, and—”

“If you kill her,” Cameron interrupted. “I’ll—”

“It’s none of your fucking business what I do with her. It’s pack business. And I’ll do what’s best for the pack!”

Then he looked at the men holding him prisoner, while four more entered the room. It was getting too crowded for his liking.

“Now get him out of my sight, and secure him, until it’s time for him to leave,” the older Gallagher commanded.

Patrick’s wristwatch suddenly vibrated. He looked at it. Fuck! They had ten minutes left until their scent would give them away. They needed to get out of this room and this house to get far enough away before the werewolves could smell them and realize they had intruders. He made eye contact with Virginia, indicating the watch. She understood.

As quickly as he could, Patrick walked toward the door, but he wasn’t fast enough. Two of the werewolves stood there like sentries, clearly expecting trouble from Cameron.

“You’ll regret this!” Cameron yelled over his shoulder as two werewolves dragged him toward the door. He hadn’t reached the door quite yet, when he kicked out toward one of the men guarding the door, thrusting the guy in Patrick’s direction.

Only his vampire speed saved him from colliding with the massive man. However, the man’s hand brushed across Patrick’s jacket, before he hit the wall. For a second, the werewolf seemed confused. He stared in Patrick’s direction. Patrick didn’t dare move, didn’t even breathe, worried that the werewolf realized that there was an intruder.

“Damn it, get him out of here,” William Gallagher demanded with a booming voice.

Everybody sprang into action, and the werewolf who’d brushed him aided in getting Cameron out of the room. Relieved, Patrick looked at Virginia, who made a motion toward the door. He understood. It was vital that they left now, while plenty of sounds would drown out their footfalls.

In the hallway, Patrick followed Cameron with his eyes. Three pack members dragged him to a door beneath the stairs. The basement, he assumed. A tug at his shirt sleeve made him pivot. Virginia gave the sign to leave. He didn’t have to look at his watch to know that their time was almost up.

Another minute, and the werewolves’ nostrils would twitch and give away his and Virginia’s presence. He didn’t like the odds: at least nine if not more werewolves against one vampire and one Stealth Guardian. But at least now they knew what they were up against.