Devoured Read online

  Chapter Thirty-three

  “Yup, that’s him all right.” The red-haired clerk at the Piggly Wiggly had nodded vigorously when Pierce had showed her the picture of the big Kindred with the blue-green eyes. A stab of triumph that went bone-deep pierced through him. He’d known he was on the right track when he found the pawn shop where the big bastard had sold his shirt. But now he was so close he could taste it.

  Yes! Got you, Princess. Got you now!

  “And he had a girl with him?” he had asked, frowning. “This girl?” He had shown a picture of Tess and the clerk had nodded again.

  “Yes, that’s her—poor girl. I think her man’s reaction kind of upset her—even if he was just trying to protect her. Not that nobody needs much protection from RayJay. He’s just an old drunk that likes to look at pretty ladies.”

  “I’m sorry—her man?” Pierce just couldn’t let that pass.

  “Well, yeah…” The clerk looked confused. “Ain’t they a couple? They sure seemed like it. I mean he was ranting and raving that she was his woman and RayJay better not lay a hand on her or some such. I just assumed…”

  “Actually, we have reason to believe that he kidnapped her,” Pierce lied smoothly. “He’s also wanted for beating another woman to death.”

  At least he was pretty sure that cunt, Di was dead. If she wasn’t it wasn’t for lack of trying on his part. Bitch had point blank refused to give him any information on Tess’s whereabouts. It was only after he’d broken most of her ribs, her arm and her jaw with the bat that she’d mumbled something about “Ashville.” Then she’d lost consciousness and nothing he could do would bring her back. Damned inconsiderate of her, as far as Pierce was concerned. But what the hell—was he a detective or wasn’t he? He’d sniffed around, followed their trail, and now he was so close he could almost smell Tess’s perfume…

  “He…he beat her to death?” The clerk’s eyes had been wide and horrified. “But…isn’t he one of them Kindred? I thought they didn’t hit women.”

  “This one does.” Pierce had put an appropriately grim look on his face. “Listen…” He waved the picture of Tess again. “This woman might be in serious danger. Did you hear them say where they were staying?”

  “No, I’m afraid not.” She brightened. “But I can tell you what they were driving. It was an old Ford pick-up, just like the one Old Man Jackson used to drive. He was this old feller who lived up in a cabin on the mountain for, oh…just ages. Until he got the cancer and had to go down to be with his niece in Tampa.”

  Pierce had been in the process of tuning the silly bitch out but this got his attention again.

  “In Tampa, did you say?” he had asked, frowning. “Tell me, did you ever see his niece—I mean, did she ever visit? What was her name?”

  The clerk had pursed her lips. “Let me think, it’s been years…” Her face brightened. “Oh, yes—Dianna—that was it! And he called her Di for short.”

  “I see…” Pierce had nodded, his pulse pounding with excitement though he never showed it. “And can you tell me where this cabin he used to live in is?”

  “Oh, sure I can—I pass it every day on the way to work. It’s…”

  He had taken the directions but the cabin had been a dead end. Though it was clear someone had been there recently, it was deserted. An APB on the truck also turned up nothing—apparently it wasn’t out on the road, at least not around Asheville.

  Pierce had staked out the cabin all night but neither Tess or the big Kindred she was currently fucking had come anywhere near the place. At last he had concluded that they must have moved on.

  He was pretty certain they must have continued their little road trip but before he left town, he wanted to check the HKR building in downtown Ashville. After all, the bastard with Tess was a Kindred. He could leave the entire planet with her if he wanted to—but Pierce didn’t think he would. Tess wouldn’t leave until she’d checked in with Di. And when she found out what had happened to her nearest and dearest friend, she would insist on attending the funeral.

  I’ll catch you there, Princess, even if I don’t find you here, he’d thought. He was certain of that. Still, he’d decided it couldn’t hurt to take a pass by the HKR.

  And low and behold, what had he seen as he was on his way there? A beat-up old Ford truck with two passengers. One of them was a Kindred with bright blue-green eyes. And the other was…Tess.

  Pierce had made a U turn to follow them and now they seemed to be headed back to the cabin.

  Oh, Princess, he thought, a grim smile growing on his face. You don’t know it but you’re in so much trouble…you’re in for such a punishment tonight…

  Chapter Thirty-four

  “There is no need for you to sleep on the couch. It does not look very comfortable,” Garron said, frowning.

  “I want to. I’d rather sleep here.” Tess began pulling the extra set of sheets over the scratchy plaid cushions. To be honest, she couldn’t stand sharing a bed with the big Kindred the way he was now. She didn’t want to lie beside him and think about how they had slept entwined the night before and how they would never sleep that way again. The couch, lumpy and scratchy though it was, was preferable to that.

  Garron simply shrugged, his broad shoulders rolling with the gesture.

  “If it pleases you.”

  “It does,” Tess said. “Besides, Yipper told you to avoid stressful situations tonight.”

  “And sharing a bed might be stressful because…?” He frowned, clearly uncomprehending.

  Tess bit her lip, remembering the way he had wanted her. How desperate he had been to touch her, to taste her. And now the idea of lying beside her completely naked probably wouldn’t even make him break a sweat. Hell, she was wearing the sexiest nightgown she had—it wasn’t very risqué but at least it was made of lace and it molded to her curves—and his eyes had never even left her face.

  “It just would be,” she said, turning away to tuck a corner of the sheet around the cushions. “Or maybe not. But it doesn’t matter—it’s better this way.”

  “As you wish.” He shrugged again. “I will take a shower and get to bed. Unless you would like a shower first?”

  “I’ll take a bath later—after you finish.” The way she felt now a good long soak in the tub was about all she had to look forward to. “Just leave me some hot water.”

  “Certainly. Good night, Tess.” He nodded in a completely civil manner, as though they were casual acquaintances who meant nothing to each other.

  Which is basically what we are, now, Tess thought. And all we’ll ever be again.

  She waited for him to walk away but he didn’t. Instead he stood there frowning.

  “Garron?” she asked after a moment. “Is everything okay? With the, uh, implant I mean?”

  “I think so.” He sighed and looked at her. “I want to say something but I don’t know how.”

  Her heart began to thump even though she knew it was stupid.

  “Yes?” She tried to keep her voice even and steady. “Just say it.”

  “I…” He shook his head. “I hardly know how to put this. I know—I remember—that we were…close to each other. That we cared for each other and had…sexual urges to be together.”

  “Yes,” Tess said carefully. “We did. Do you…are you, uh, feeling any of that now?”

  He shook his head. “No, I feel nothing. Except…”

  “Except what?” Tess leaned forward, hoping against hope.

  A frown creased his face.

  “Except that it…bothers me to know that the cessation of our mutual urges upsets you. I know it isn’t logical or right but it does.”

  “Oh, Garron.” She went to him and put her arms around his waist but it was like hugging a block of warm, breathing wood. He simply stood there and let her hug him without moving. After a moment she looked up and saw a look of confusion on his face.

  “Tess…” he said at last.

  “Do you want to hug me back?” she as