Great, unicorn hadofficially stuck as a nickname. Sirens could be heard coming down the street.
Kyle looked me in theeyes, both respect and a glint of something extra there. Like acceptance. “Whatdo you expect from someone trained by Ryder?”
Since the humans were ontheir way, we needed to bail. Oliver scooped me up into his arms, which Ididn’t love, but walking was out of the question. Kyle and silent Sam liftedthe newly-turned ash by the armpits. He was groaning and just beginning towake.
“Come on, you know thedrill. We need to leave so the human medics can help the mom.” Kyle ushered usall outside and we loaded into the two Hive vans just as the paramedics pulledup. There was an awkward moment as our two groups crossed paths, the humanmedics glaring us down. Really? We just saved her life. Well … we wouldn’t havehad to if one of our monsters hadn’t bitten her. Okay, point taken. Humanshated us, and rightfully so.
The new ash was takenwith some of the enforcers back to the Hive to await a transfer to another city,whichever one was still taking ash, or had a culling coming up. Poor guy, hehad no clue the shit storm that was about to be his life.Good luck in thekilling – I mean culling – buddy.
Oliver and Kyle let mestretch out on the back seat, resting my leg for the trip home. Truth be told, myleg hurt like hell, but that was the most fun I’d had all week. Screw answeringphones, I wanted to be an enforcer.
Later that day, as I was hobbling aroundthe enforcer locker room, I heard the distinct clip of shit-kicker boots. I hada moment to wonder which of the males it was, then Ryder strode in. He did adouble-take as our eyes met. The silver around his iris started to glow andswirl, and the air between us thickened. I watched his breathing grow deeper. Heseemed to be working on controlling himself. Did he already know what hadhappened? Had he heard about the call out?
I managed to blink a fewtimes when he wrenched his gaze from mine and strode back out of the room. Notone word had been spoken, but the air felt heavier now. The tension waspalpable. Within minutes, I heard steps again, and Kyle, Oliver, Markus, Sam,and Jared followed the hard-as-stone lead enforcer into the locker room. Asthey stood there in a line like that, I realized how different each of themtruly looked from one another, and yet the way they moved … it was fluid, likea team that had been together for a long time. There was history there. Truefamily style.
Still, that didn’t stopRyder from losing his shit.
“Someone better explainto me right the fuck now why Charlie is not only injured, but rumor has it shewas out on a call today?”
Uh oh, the lead enforcerrarely raised his voice, and he never swore. He seemed to be able to command aroom with no more than a few tersely spoken words, but today his cool wasmissing.
I did find it kind of hotto hear him say fuck.
Kyle, who was allcasually leaning back against one of the gray metal cabinets, met his bestfriend’s eyes. “I had no choice. This was an emergency call – a new ashattacked a human, his mother. We both know that a second’s hesitation couldmean the difference between life and death.”
Ryder’s jaw clenched.“You brought an untrained ash to a dangerous situation? It could have been lifeand death for her. And you thought it was an even better idea to give her agun? What the hell, Kyle?”
A slight pink floodedacross the tips of Kyle’s cheeks, and his eyes darkened even further. “I wasthinking I took an oath! I was thinking of my best friend visiting his fiancée’sgrave today and how I didn’t want this new ash to live with killing his mother,like you live with killing Molly!”
Holy Shit. That was sonot what I’d expected Kyle to say. The enforcer’s dirty-blond hair hung forwardas he dropped his head. I could tell he was already regretting using such harshwords with his friend. But still, that was freakin’ deep. Ryder sort of lookedlike he’d been punched in the gut. More than one of us in the room were staringat our feet now – except for Sam, who was staring at the far wall like hewanted to put his fist through it. I struggled to hold back my tears. That’swhere he had been, paying his respects to the fiancée he killed years ago?
The room remained in thisbubble of uncomfortable silence for a few minutes, but then the strangest thinghappened. Instead of another explosion of anger from Ryder, he simply steppedforward, clapped Kyle on his shoulder, nodded to the rest of us and walkedaway.
“Ryder…” Kyle’s handsomeface fell as he called out, but Ryder didn’t stop. He exited the locker room,leaving us all to our silence.
“Dammit!” Kyle slammedhis fist into a locker and I winced as I heard the crunch of bone. Tragedyaffected so much more than just one person. Molly’s death took something fromevery person who cared for Ryder. I wondered then if Kyle had known the couplebefore the ash thing. How far back did their ties go?
Deciding it was time to give everyone amoment to cool off, I slowly hobbled back to the control room. Walking was notpleasant. God, these assholes could create superhuman freaks with their sperm,why the hell couldn’t they invent ash pain meds? I at least needed some vampiremoonshine to take the edge off of my shattered ankle. Although, I was told bytomorrow it would only be slightly bruised and nearly fully healed. Another ashperk.
Opening my email, I sawJayden had sent out an invite. It was addressed to Ryder, Kyle, Oliver, Sam,Jared, Markus, and a few other random ash.
Dear Bitches,
I have recently comeacross some fabulous information while gossiping in the feeder room. The Hivehas just opened a brand new club and it features karaoke. Join me tonight forlaughs, drinks and a damn good Diana Ross impression. Level 55.
Sincerely,
Jayden AKA Diana Ross
I smiled. If God werereal, then he’d created Jayden just to keep me sane in this hellhole. I lovedkaraoke and needed to take my mind off everything. I replied with a big fat yes.I highly doubted Ryder would be attending, and couldn’t believe Jayden referredto him as one of his bitches. That alone was enough to brighten my mood.
After finishing my boring-ass shift, Ihobbled home to get ready for karaoke. My leg was feeling better already and I wasso pumped for tonight. Hells yeah. A little Celine, a few Whitneys – not tomention some Cindy Lauper – and I’d be in song heaven. Yeah, I had a penchantfor 80s power women.
I chugged a bottle of O-negativeand then put on some low-rise black skinny jeans, tucking one side into a knee-highflat boot, and the broken ankle side into the walking boot. I then threw on avintage cut-offStar Warsshirt that exposed my stomach. RememberingRyder’s compliment last time, I decided to leave my hair down, shaking out thekink from my ponytail. The front door closed and I walked out of my room tofind Jayden just getting home from work. He looked at my outfit and I bracedmyself for his comment about how shitty it was.
“Hmm, it works … in atomboy, grunge, gothic way.”
I rolled my eyes, butthen he eyed my walking boot and his face became serious. “Oliver told me whathappened today.”
