Page 14 of Ruthlessly Mated (Shared Mates #2)

“So he’s going to try to kill me, and the rest of you because you’re all targets now. Anybody close to me is in danger. If anything, you should let me go. We should get to the next big population center and you should go your ways and I should go mine. It’s the only way to ensure your safety.”

Damon turns me over to face him. His lips brush my cheek in a little kiss, followed by a firm head shake. No. He’s not going anywhere. And neither are the others. They’re too possessive. Too stupidly male.

I don’t know when I fall asleep. It must be at some point in declaring that I am absolutely not tired and do not need sleep. All I know is that when morning comes, I am still wrapped in Damon’s arms. One of his limbs is snug around my hips, and the second I move he opens his eyes.

“I’m not running away,” I say. “I just need to pee.”

Peeing in the desert always feels a bit like doing a public service. There’s some unexpected H2O for whatever little creatures or plants are around. Sure, it’s rich in nitrates, but what are you going to do. That’s a bonus if you’re a plant.

There’s something very beautiful and freeing in this moment.

The quiet of the morning, the contentment of knowing I have absolutely gotten away with many of my crimes, and am likely to get away with many more yet to come.

The sun is rising, casting a golden glow over the rust bucket we’re driving to freedom.

Conroy and Tailor spent the night next to the fire.

My stomach is growling. I didn’t get anything to eat last night.

The truck might have something to eat inside it.

I’m pretty sure I asked for it to be stocked with a few little supplies.

The guy who sold it told me to go fuck myself, but that doesn’t always mean that he didn’t do it.

Before I can head back to the truck, Conroy is on me. He moves silently sometimes, surprising for someone as big and burly as him.

“Morning,” Conroy says. “I wanted to talk to you before the others got up.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah. I appreciate you saving my life. I appreciate you saving Tailor’s even more.

But don’t think that means you get away with things now.

If anything, it’s going to make me even more strict with you, you understand?

You’re not going to get away with anything on my watch.

And yes, that’s probably going to mean you get a sore ass and a sore pussy and sore thighs… ”

“Thighs!” I exclaim.

He smirks a little, as if that was designed to get a rise out of me.

“I’m just giving you a warning. I’m still here. Still looking out for you, and that…” He leans down, making eye contact with me in a way that makes my insides quiver. “Means that you are going to be taking my cock like a good little girl. Understand?”

“Fuck off,” I say.

“I thought so. You’re warned. That’s fair. What happens next is on you.”

I hate that the little conversation we just had made me feel safer. I wish I meant the ‘fuck off’ more. I want to stay in control, two steps ahead. I want to set the agenda. So I change the subject.

“Today I’m driving to Rock City. No vampires allowed. That was supposed to be my first stop. It’s a good place to refuel and we won’t be tracked there because of the no vampires.”

“No shifters either.”

“Well, they can tell vamps because they sparkle in the sunlight. But they can’t tell shifters unless they see us turning into wolves.”

“They shoot on sight.”

“So stay in your human forms. It’s not that hard. I have a contact there. I had plans, you know. Before I got kidnapped by you. Before I almost got caught by the ancient vampire who has been stalking me for years. Do what I tell you.”

Conroy rubs his hands together, and I know I am walking a fine line before he thrashes me.

“I know you’re sore. I know you’re scared. But I swear to god, if you don’t start moderating your tone, I’m going to make you scream.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” I quip, off-hand, before instantly regretting it. “Rock City will be safe.”

“Rock City is a stronghold of religious zealots who would burn us if they discovered us,” he argues. He makes a good point.

“I’m not saying we buy property there. I’m saying we go there because Alexander won’t be able to get in. I’m saying that’s where my next stop is, and I’m saying you three can come with me or dig a den out here.”

I go to the truck and start the engine.

“Coming?”

Damon was already asleep in the truck, and Tailor is not far behind in terms of clambering up and in once the engine starts. These men have a good sense of self preservation.

“You want to stay here by yourself, Conroy?”

He glowers at me, but sits in the passenger seat without another word as I get the truck back on the road.

I like this sense of power. I know there are a lot of questions they must have for me, but they’re actually being pretty chill about the whole what the hell I’m doing thing.

They’ve barely questioned the legendary ancient vampire tracking us.

I guess they’re used to chaotic things and terrible events.

Anyway, at some point, I am going to have to explain myself. I’m not looking forward to that point.

Rock City is probably only a day away, which is going to give us plenty of time for on-road bickering, but I plan to stop at a proper truck stop as soon as I see one. It’s time to blend in again. Time to change things up.

“Are you feeling better, Tailor?”

“Yes,” he says. “I shifted last night and that helped restore the missing pieces.”

“I’m so sorry that happened,” I say. “Next time you see Alexander, please run. Don’t stand in front of him and tell him how much you like his coat. He doesn’t care how much you like his coat.”

“How do you know Alexander?”

Oh, I hate that question.

“Just barely,” I lie.

“What’s in the truck?”

“Three curious puppies,” I say.

Conroy growls. “I think you owe us some answers.”

“Maybe,” I say. “Okay. Sure. Soon. I’ll tell you all soon, but I don’t want to talk right now, and seeing as Damon never talks I feel like that’s enough of a reason for you to wait.”

“Is the vampire going to be coming?”

“Yes,” I say. “Well. For a bit. Then he’s going to stop.

Honestly, the three of you should get away from me.

I am going to be an absolute liability for quite a while.

Tell you what, why don’t you let me handle this and I can drop you guys off somewhere, and then I can hook up with you later once this is over. ”

“I am not going to leave you in whatever mess you are in,” Conroy says.

“Neither am I,” Tailor says. “I’m all in.”

“You shouldn’t be,” I say, looking at him in the otherwise pretty redundant rearview mirror.

“You almost fucking died. You all almost died. He would kill you happily. Actually, you being around me gives him something to hurt me with. He’ll think you’re leverage.

And it will make me more trackable. One girl who could be mistaken for a boy if she wears a big enough hat and jacket is hard to find.

One girl and three massive wolves who keep running around and trying to mate or beat her is going to draw so much more attention. ”

Food

You never think about how good a sign like that is until you’re four hours into a drive with three men you barely know who all have very good questions you don’t want to answer.

“Look! Food!” I say. “We need to eat. I need gas.”

“You need to tell me what’s in the container,” Conroy says.

“I’m not telling you anything yet. I don’t want you involved. I can drop you off at this truck stop and we can all connect later.”

“That’s not an option, Kita,” Tailor’s voice comes from the back seat.

He really does seem well recovered. He also seems like he’s almost as annoying as Conroy.

I really like Damon. Damon is my favorite.

Damon doesn’t ask questions, and he doesn’t judge me as far as I can tell, and right now he’s napping, which is the sensible thing to do. I wish the others would fall asleep.

We’ve joined the main drag now, the major highway that runs up through the center of the country. There’s a lot more traffic, a lot of trucks, a lot of cars and vans. I like that. It’s making me feel as though I’m camouflaged.

The off-ramp exit is easy enough to take, and we stream off toward the small complex where there’s gas to be bought, food to eat, and a small store that oddly contains the same sorts of things anybody who needs to change their appearance would need.

“What are you doing?” Tailor asks the question as I exit the shop with an armful of things.

“It’s going to be a lot easier if you don’t constantly ask me what I am doing,” I tell him. “Go and get some cake.”

He gives me a long look down his nose, a sort of inspection that I know is probably a cross between an attempt at intimidation and a genuine attempt to understand me.

I go into the bathroom and bleach my hair, and give myself a haircut.

Short to my chin. I slip in a pair of colored contacts to get blue eyes—not from the shop, but something I got earlier in preparation for just this moment.

These guys are getting caught up in something they never asked to be part of, and a big part of me wants to give them the slip to save them from the consequences of my actions.

While I’m thinking deep thoughts, I ditch the goth aesthetic clothes in favor of pink sweatpants and a bejeweled tank top.

I look cute, but not too cute, and definitely not too recognizable.

My mates are in the trucker diner. I walk past them and go and order myself something to eat. Pancakes and bacon with a chocolate milkshake. The lady behind the counter is lovely and warm, the sort of person sent from the heavens to make weary travelers feel better about their often lonely lots.