Abraham’s brows furrowed for a second. Suddenly, his tail whipped toward Julian. It sliced through the zip tie on around slicing through the zip tie on Julian’s wrists. “Understand that I could have hit your throat as easily as the restraints. Where’s the tablet? The disk?”
“Help me move Ramon’s body out of the basement and to his apartment. I’ll tell you then.” Abraham studied him and Julian watched, fascinated as he shifted back to a human. Julian held his breath. “You could kill me or torture me or whatever, but all I’m asking is for a little help. You’re saving my life here.”
With a sigh, Abraham pulled out his phone, sending off a quick text. Then he grabbed a roll of duct tape from one of the shelves and taped Julian’s mouth shut. And then taped his hands around the heavy metal shelf.
“I’m going to help you but not at the risk of my own skin. I’m going to go check on your guys, make sure they’re safe, quiet,and secure. Then I’ll be back. Hard to move a body in daylight anyway.”
Julian leaned against a mop bucket and resigned himself to waiting.
He might have dozed off again because he was stiff and sore when Abraham came back and pulled the tape off. “Let’s go.”
Julian stood up, his legs tingling as the blood started moving again. His stomach growled and he was thirsty. The duct tape had left his skin sticky and raw.
Abraham ushered him into the hallway. “No tricks.”
Julian nodded and went ahead, avoiding his own security team as he led Abraham into the basement. He unlocked the door and they looked at Ramon. The body was curled on the floor, partially wrapped in a tarp.
Abraham glanced at Julian. “You couldn’t even leave his clothes on? You’re one cold son of a bitch, aren’t you?”
“Not as cold as he is,” Julian muttered.
The man beside him clicked his teeth and rolled his eyes. “A comedian, great.”
“Aw, come on, you walked into that one. I found him that way, okay? Naked, stoned, and you can see—” He gestured at the faint symbols drawn on Ramon’s arms and legs. “I’ll get a blanket.”
Julian discovered that along with having a tail like a Ginsu knife, Abraham was extraordinarily strong, picking up the half-wrapped body and tucking him into the crook of his arms. “Where’s your car? And don’t think of running. Even carrying dead weight, I’m faster than you.”
“Right.” Julian led him upstairs and into the garage, stopping him at the top of the stairs. “My car’s over there.” He pointed to a Honda Acura. But we need to avoid the cameras.”His finger swung to the security camera overhead. “There’s a blind spot along this side and behind the pillar if we move fast.”
Abraham’s eyes flicked at the camera for half a second and then he was gone. Only a blur of movement until he popped up behind Julian’s car. Julian followed at a slower pace and opened his trunk. Julian drove and they were well underway before Abraham spoke from the passenger seat.
“How did you dodge the cameras when you brought him in here?”
“Access to the security tapes is password protected. And I have the password. After I hid the body, I deleted my presence on the tapes before they were viewed. Can I ask you something?”
“Ask away.” Abraham scowled out the passenger window.
“What are you, exactly? I mean, if that’s not a rude question.”
The man scoffed. “Sure, kidnapping, attempted murder, but by all means don’t be rude. I’m a Lyncus. More feline than canine, so I’m not related to the wolves at all, but also not entirely feline-ish either.”
“Do I have to worry about you guys? I mean are there more of you?”
“You definitely have to worry about us. All of us. Regge and Hunter are well liked in our little community. If your fuckup comes back on them in any way, you’ll really have something to worry about.” He took a deep breath. “Me specifically though? I’ve met only one other like me. In a very long life. Six hundred years, give or take a decade.”
“Oh. Hmm. You look good for your age.”
Abraham’s scoff reflected in the window. “Are we almost there?”
“Yes. Right here.” Julian turned in to Ramon’s neighborhood entrance. They passed the golf clubhouse on the way. Ramon’s place was at the very back of the neighborhood,the backyard abutting forested land. A black Mercedes was parked across the street.
Abraham instructed him to keep driving and park around the corner. The house was much different than Julian’s high-rise building. Ramon was particular about his space. A single-family house in an upscale community but secluded and surrounded on two sides by old-growth trees.
“It’s almost dark,” Abraham said. “Here.” He handed Julian a bottle of water and two granola bars. “We’re going to wait a bit.” He adjusted the seat back and relaxed.
Julian ate the oat bars and finished the bottle of water before kicking his own seat back.
“The Englishman? Is he something? I mean like—fuck. What do you call yourselves? Creatures? Nonhumans?”
