Aveoth Read online

  “You do smell. You’re just accustomed to the stench from living with them all your life.” Cole smiled. “Have you always been so free with sarcasm?”

  “You mean being honest?”

  He laughed and turned his head to gaze at his scarred fellow kidnapper. “She has no idea what she is. This is what happens when you resist your true nature. Feel pity for her, Boon. She probably experienced bloodlust in her teens and had no outlet for it. It turned her mean and insane.”

  “Oh, I’m feeling bloodlust right now. Forget my teens.” Jill gripped the armrests her wrists were handcuffed to. “And I’d go find a mirror and a good shrink if you want to talk about who’s insane. You abducted me!”

  “Your father protected you.” Cole ignored her words. “He never meant to have you with that woman. She was a college fling and nothing more. Of course, he knew his father would try to use you in some way. Back then, Decon was naïve. He didn’t understand the full scope of what was at stake by hiding your existence or what we could trade you for. Your bloodline makes you valuable. Now he’s wiser, and he’s learned that what’s good for all of us is good for him as well. It was actually quite noble of him to keep you safe.”

  “Squirrel!”

  Scarface sniffed and glanced around, looking for an animal.

  Jill laughed and shook her head. “Great. I’ve been kidnapped by idiots who don’t get jokes. You’re talking bullshit. Never mind. Blather on.”

  “I hope Aveoth tears her apart with his bare hands.” Scarface glared. “He killed his last lover.”

  “Great. Another nutjob. Is this your brother? I figure it must run in your family. If not, you should totally hook up with him if he’s into killing whoever he’s screwing. You need some man-love, Fido.”

  He reached for his seat belt and growled again.

  “Enough,” the lawyer demanded. “I won’t advise you about what you are, Jillian.” He took another puff of his cigar and smiled at his pal. “Whatever you wish to do to her, reality will be so much worse. Aveoth is punishment enough.”

  Uneasiness pitted the inside of her stomach. “I thought you were taking me to the sperm donor. Can you try to at least keep your crazy stories straight?”

  “Your father,” Cole stressed the word, “needs you. You finally have a purpose, because you carry the bloodline that his enemy wants. You’re ensuring our survival by becoming an offering to Aveoth, who currently wishes to track us all down and kill every person associated with our clan leader. That would be your grandfather.”

  “I like him already.” She paused. “I’m talking about this Aveoth, just to be clear. Not the sperm donor or his daddy. Did you say clan?” She glanced down at the stray blonde hairs hanging over her shoulder; Scarface had messed up her braid when he’d grabbed her in the shop. “So, I’m part Irish or something? I wish I’d known that so I could have worn all those cute pins on St. Patrick’s Day.”

  A bell dinged and Cole snubbed out his cigar. “We’re landing.” He put on his seat belt and secured the whiskey glass by dropping it into the side pocket attached to his chair. “Aveoth should be waiting if Decker was able to make the deal.” He stared at Scarface. “Are you prepared, Boon?”

  “To die? No. I will fight until I don’t have breath left if this goes sideways. You escape, Cole. One of us must survive.”

  “I usually hate flying, landings especially, but I’m kind of excited all the sudden.” Jill tugged on her handcuffs but they refused to break. “You know only cowards run, right? Whoever this guy is, I hope he’s some killer freak who hates you. I think one look at me and he’ll know I’m not your friend. You don’t kidnap them.”

  “Aveoth is dangerous.” Cole glared at her.

  “Fantastic. I guess you never heard that saying about the enemy of my enemy is my friend? Want to guess where you stand in my head?”

  “She’s insane.” Boon shot a glare her way.

  “That’s rich, coming from you, dog boy. At least I’m not barking and growling.”

  “I don’t bark!” he barked.

  “Enough!” Cole ordered again, loudly. “We have more important issues to deal with. Aveoth may be out there, and there’s no telling what kind of mood he’ll be in. But he’ll have made the deal with Decker if he is, and he won’t be happy about that—and could take it out on us.”

  “Damn.” A look of fright crossed the other man’s features.

  Jill hid her uneasiness. Both men were mental cases but their fear seemed real. Whoever this Aveoth guy was, he must be bad news to inspire that kind of reaction. Her bravado began to waver.

  “Who is this badass again?”

  “Your keeper, if things go the way we hope.” Shark looked nervous.

  She didn’t like that one bit. “You don’t like this guy?”

  “He’s deadly,” Boon warned ominously.

  “And you’re such a sweetheart. I take it that your lives are in real danger?” She hoped so.

  The jet landed with a rough bump and the brakes made her jerk sharply in her seat—the pilot hit them hard, slowing their momentum. She wished she could see outside but couldn’t. The motion finally stopped and the engines cut out.

  “Is this guy really a threat to you?” She peered at Cole.

  “Yes.”

  “Awesome.” Inside, she was terrified but she refused to show it. Just because the lawyer wore a suit didn’t mean anything. She bet he was far worse than the one who pretended to be all doglike. “Let’s stop sitting here, then. Open the doors and let’s say hello to this guy.”

  Boon unfastened his belt and growled at her again. Rage twisted his features. “I hope he’s not out there and that he refused the deal. She’ll be useless then. I call dibs if that’s the case.” His fingers tapped his belt. “I’ll break you.”

  “You don’t mean that.” Cole stood.

  “I do. I’ll tie her down and whip her until she begs for mercy. I’ll make her bleed. And if she’s lucky, I’ll allow her the privilege of being mounted by me.”

  “I so hope you’re talking about stuffing my dead body and hanging it on your wall next to the deer heads I’m sure you keep in your living room. You totally look the type to kill Bambi.” Her gaze lowered to his crotch. “Because ewww, if you’re talking about sex. I’d rather die.”

  “You will die! That’s a given. You’ll suffer first, and then I’ll fuck you. Hell, I’ll let everyone who wants you take a turn.”

  She hated him…and knew he meant it.

  “Well, if you touch me, I’m sure I’ll appreciate your friends at that point. Anyone would be a step up from you.”

  He lunged at her, but Cole moved faster, stepping into his path.

  The cockpit door opened and one of the pilots entered the cabin. “We have company.” Terror paled the man’s features. “There’s someone out there.”

  “Shit!” Cole reached up and ran his fingers through his hair. “Lord Aveoth took the deal.” He turned and approached Jill. “Be silent if you have any intelligence at all.”

  He unfastened the belts holding her down, unlocked the handcuffs chaining her to the chair, and grabbed her shoulders, hauling her to her feet.

  Jillian fought, but couldn’t get away as the lawyer switched the handcuffs, moving her hands from the front to behind her back. She couldn’t do much when both men pushed her forward as the pilot rushed to open the door at the side of the cabin. Built-in stairs lowered as her heart pounded. She hated the company she kept but she had a really bad feeling about whoever they were taking her to.

  Things could always get worse. Life had taught her that lesson well.

  It was dark and the wind blew, blinding her as loose strands of hair whipped into her face. She couldn’t even push it back since the handcuffs prevented it. She tucked her chin down, turned her face into her shoulder, and tried to see the steps. Fear gripped her over the possibility of falling. She wouldn’t even be able to grab for the railing with her hands behind her back. She was glad it was su