Veilers - Veiled Target Part 8

Hugh lifted his arms and grabbed the Banoth by the horns, pulling as hard as he could. The beast didn't budge. A bitter, metallic taste burned his throat as the beast's fangs continued to puncture his skin. He needed to get the upper hand. Now.

With nowhere else to go, he dug his claws into the animal's cheeks and drew the sharp tips down its elongated face. The Banoth withdrew its fangs and let out a cry. Seizing the opportunity, he grabbed the beast by the horns again, and flung the animal over his head and across the floor. The Banoth landed with a thud against a wall, bringing on a tremor the size of a small earthquake. It got up more slowly this time, looking a little dazed. He watched it amble toward him like a drunken idiot.

Hugh quickly scanned the area for Tess as he got to his feet. She wasn't anywhere to be seen. He hoped like h.e.l.l she'd come to her senses and left the building. Worrying about her took a toll. His mind wasn't as sharp as it should be when she was around.

The Banoth continued its zigzag pattern toward him, so he stayed put. Come on, fella. Come and get me. Things looked to be moving in his favor when the animal wavered. Good thing too. He felt the Banoth's poison circulating in his blood stream like a chill invading every pore. His heart thudded in his ears, his muscles twitched, his senses were off.

Not enough to miss the smell he picked up with a short ragged breath, though. Tess. She was still in the building. Still close by. Dammit.

Pushing away thoughts of her, he zeroed in on the Banoth and took steps to meet the ugly b.a.s.t.a.r.d halfway. Like before, they grabbed at one another and pummeled each other with fists and kicks.

Hugh detected the Banoth tiring while his own body fought for freedom, fought to end the Banoth's life before Tess did something foolish. If he could just get his claws into the beast's jugular, he'd be victorious, whisk the girl to safety and figure out what to do next to find Trey.

Out of the corner of his eye, a flash of blue appeared. It distracted him enough to give the Banoth the upper hand. The beast slammed him to the floor and pinned him beneath its tree-stump legs. Not so stupid this time, the Banoth faced away from him, giving no more opportunity for facial clawing. Then it sank its fangs into his calf.

There wasn't much more poisoning Hugh could take. He dug his claws into the Banoth's back, but the creature barely flinched. He lifted his hips to try and jostle the Banoth. No luck. The G.o.dd.a.m.n animal could probably hang from a tree with its fangs latched onto a branch for hours. Nothing Hugh did made it budge.

Until a large, round blade-no, not blade...potting wheel?-hit the Banoth upside the head and sent him toppling over onto his side. Hugh got to his feet, rolled the stunned creature to its back, and went for the jugular.

A minute later, the Banoth stopped moving.

"I thought I told you to get out of here," he said, panting as he cast a glance at the pair of long, lovely legs even with his line of vision. He kneeled over the Banoth, mustering up enough strength to stand and carry on without Tess noticing he felt like s.h.i.t.

"You're welcome, a.s.shole."

"I had it."

"I could tell." She bent to his level. "Need some help getting up?"

"No," he growled.

While she turned her attention toward the Banoth, he shifted. It took a little extra effort, and when he was upright, his legs almost gave out from under him.

"You don't look so hot," she said, her arms crossed, her tone light, but laced with concern. For him.

He took in her appearance and felt a tiny bit of pain lift. She looked just as good as she had in the bar. None the worse for wear. "Let's get the h.e.l.l out of here."

"What about Scary Hairball?" She kicked the Banoth in the side.

"I'll send someone to clean up."

"Cool." Turning on her uneven heels, she headed for the exit.

Hugh tried to keep up, but wasn't moving too swiftly. That last injection of Banoth poison circulated inside him. His head pounded, his body felt like someone had used a drill on each major organ and they were slowly draining of functioning cells.

She held the door open for him. The cool outside air wiped away the Banoth's stench, and the only sound was the faint whisper of wind. The quiet helped clear his muddy brain. He took immediate stock of the alleyway, sniffed and knew the second Banoth had split.

"This way," he commanded. "Back to the bar." His tongue grew thick, his throat tight.

Tess turned, looking ready to argue, but quickly changed her mind. Her frown vanished and in its place bloomed kind, wide eyes with worry lines etched into her forehead. "Are you sure you're going to make it to the bar?"

"No. Not really."

Chapter Six.

Tess couldn't take her eyes off Hugh. She'd helped save his life, but the fact was, he'd saved hers first. Without hesitation and without a second thought. Now he looked like there wasn't much life left in him. Her heart dipped below her lungs. She didn't want him to die.

Not yet.

Not like this.

She had a job to do.

Just do it. Get it over with. So what that you didn't do any investigating? This is your last chance, Tess. Your. Last. Chance.

"I'm going to kill Kensie and Francesca," she muttered under her breath. Because really, it was their fault. If they hadn't sent her on a blind date, none of this would have happened. She would have met Hugh on her terms, as her mark, and nothing else. Right?

They walked side-by-side, a strange feeling of giddiness and grat.i.tude flooding her because he'd cared more about her safety than his own. She heard every breath he took, felt them too. She barely had a scratch on her body, but the front of his shirt was torn and blood trickled out. Slashes covered his leather jacket, a bruise colored his jaw.

Something heavy and tight and uninvited filled her chest.

"Why are you going to kill them?" he asked, putting one foot in front of the other with careful deliberation.

Tess couldn't stand it. She fastened her arm under his and gently pulled so that he'd lean on her before she answered. "You heard that?" She'd barely whispered it. Granted, the sidewalk and street were deserted, but still.

He didn't flinch at her touch, didn't reject her help. His cooperation both frightened and thrilled her. Then he nodded and asked, "You okay?"

"Sure. Why?" Criminy. Asking why was like asking him what he thought about the two of them.

"Because your heart's beating a little fast." A coy smile spread across his very kissable lips.

She squeezed her eyes shut for a second. "You cannot hear my-"

"Can."

"Cannot."

"I can also-"

"I don't want to know," she snapped, trying to keep any palpitations in check. "Let's just get to my d.a.m.n car."

"Something we finally agree on."

They turned a corner and the abandoned sidewalk gave way to life. A few parked cars lined the larger street. Farther down, a traffic signal blinked green. Best of all, the bar stood within view.

The safest thing for her to do at the moment was get away from him. She had to ignore the attraction that threatened to weaken her, forget about his concern, and pay complete attention to The Job.

When she was seven years old, her mom and dad had told her she was adopted as an infant, but she hadn't cared. Her mother and father had shown her so much love she couldn't imagine anyone else loving her more. They were the fearless threesome, every weekend going on exciting adventures. She learned how to snorkel, surf, rock climb, ski, s...o...b..ard, even hang-glide in tandem with her dad. Her parents instilled in her a no fear mentality. They laid the foundation for her desire to experience life to the fullest. A week after her eighth birthday, they died in a boating accident.

For the next six years, she bounced around foster homes, growing more and more disobedient and difficult with each family. Until she moved across the street from Jason. He'd been through the same difficulties and understood. For two years, they were inseparable, and once again she became a weekend warrior, doing all the things she loved to do as a child. When she was recruited by P.I.E. and told she had to give up contact with him, she was devastated. But slowly she realized she'd been given a second family.

Finding Jason on the beach a couple years later had been a dream come true. She'd never felt happier. And this time they fell madly in love. Then, just like her parents, he died and left her alone. If not for Kensie and Francesca, the pain and grief would have destroyed her. She rebuilt the wall around her heart and swore nothing would penetrate it again. Not to protect herself. To protect them.

Deep down, she was terrified if she ever loved someone like that again, they would die too.

"If I knew I only needed to agree with you to get you to be quiet for longer than a minute, I would have done so a lot sooner," Hugh said, breaking the silence between them and pulling her from her thoughts.

Their pace, she noticed, had slowed considerably while they'd quietly walked, and when she refocused on him she almost gasped. His cheeks had lost all their color, and his posture had slackened considerably.

"You really don't look that great. Maybe I should take you to the hospital."

"I'm fine. Just a little beat up."

"I saw the Banoth put its fangs in you. A few times. That can't be good." G.o.d, she didn't want to care. She didn't want to feel her heart ache for him. Want for him. Beat and pound and flutter for him.

He leaned on her less. "I said I'm fine."

"What about Dane? Maybe the other Banoth got to him. He didn't have a kick-a.s.s sidekick like you did." She nudged him with her shoulder, hoping some playful banter might p.i.s.s him off. Make him eager to argue. Surely he'd stay strong in order to put her in her place.

"He'll show up."

"How do you know? Maybe he walked into an ambush too. That was an ambush you know. The Banoth was waiting for you."

"I agree."

"You agree?" Tess wasn't sure to what. And she really hated that he didn't look at her when he spoke.

"Yeah, so will you shut up now?" He didn't even give a slight peek in her direction to see her reaction.

"You're not going to go back and look for Trey after you drop me off at my car, are you? Because I don't think that's a good idea." She couldn't begin to figure out all the emotions swirling inside her like a tornado. The way she was acting, the words she was saying, sounded so utterly unlike her she wondered if the Banoth had put some sort of hex on her when he'd stared so lovingly into her eyes.

Since when had she become a mother hen? Jesus. She needed to say goodbye to Hugh and fast, before she did something stupid. Offering to take him to the hospital was bad enough. What was she going to suggest next? Personal nurse? Because really, her mouth seemed to have a mind of its own at the moment.

"I don't think so either," he muttered, growing heavier on her arm again.

"In your weakened state, you really should just drive home and get into bed."

"That an offer?" Finally he gave a feeble glance in her direction.

Even if it were, she'd never admit it. "You wish, big guy. Now which one's your car?" They'd reached the corner across from the bar. Both the parking lot and street were full of parked cars and she breathed a sigh of relief. As happy as she'd been to avoid the bar scene the past five years, she was glad for the comfort it brought now.

Hugh snickered disapprovingly. "I'm walking you to your car."

"That didn't work so well last time." She shifted her weight to accommodate his lethargy and let him know she planned to take him to his car. Not the other way around.

He pulled back. "This time I'm watching you drive away."

She didn't argue. The man was in a lot of pain, yet still thinking of her first. The least she could do was let him win on the terms of her departure. Because she was leaving. Was going to walk away from him. At least for tonight.

As they crossed the street, Tess felt him perk up before he fully withdrew his body from hers. "Something wrong?" she asked, noting he'd risen to his full stature, but his lips were set in a firm line. She'd wager it took everything he had to stand up straight.

"Dane's nearby." He picked up the pace for the first time since leaving the warehouse, ushering her more quickly to the parking lot.

"Where?" She looked around, but only saw a few people ambling out of the restaurant, their voices loud enough for her to catch several four-letter words. She recognized one of them-the guy who'd so eloquently tried to buy her a drink. She steered Hugh away from confrontation.

They crossed the parking lot and small side street, and reached her car without incident. She punched in the code on the driver's door keypad and the car unlocked. Decisions-stay, go, help, don't help-bounced around her head as she contemplated her next move.

"I think I should wait with you until Dane shows up," she said.

Hugh slouched against the car, his chin practically in his neck. To pa.s.sersby, he'd look like he'd had one too many drinks. She wished that were the case. That he'd recover from.

"Not necessary." He pushed off from the car, but immediately fell back.

"Tough s.h.i.t. I'm staying." She leaned against the car door. "Can't you like howl to him or something?"

"Not necessary," he repeated.

They stood in silence for one minute. Then two.

Tess hated feeling helpless. She hated not knowing what to do. Her insides churned, making her stomach clench. A sharp pain on the right side of her head came and went like clockwork every thirty seconds. Perspiration trickled down her sides. The last time she'd felt this anxious was when Jason lay in her arms. Dying. There'd been nothing she could do about it. She'd gotten to him too late.

As much as Hugh dropping dead beside her would solve her business responsibilities, she didn't want him dying like this. Or maybe she did. No. No, she didn't. But it was for reasons completely inappropriate, completely unsettling.

Her thoughts of Jason, and comparing the situations threw her for a loop. Yes, she had some sort of connection with Hugh, but death was part of her job, so why did it bother her so much this time? She needed to remember he was her a.s.signment and nothing more.

Get in the car, Tess. Drive away and don't look back.

Or stay in the agonizing quiet. She always got uncomfortable hanging out with someone in silence, but h.e.l.l if she knew the right thing to say. She should start her investigation of him this instant with questions about his job, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. He looked too vulnerable.

Too human.

Diverting her attention to a spot of oil on the street seemed like her best bet at the moment. She stared without blinking until her eyes protested. Then she looked across the street to find Dane heading toward them.

"Hey," Dane called, crossing with long strides and looking like he'd been in the bar all night, not out prowling the streets in search of a friend.

Hugh lifted his head and stood taller. Maybe he'd just needed a few minutes to rest. He looked glad to see Dane, but Tess could swear she saw a hint of anger there too.

"Dane."

The one word acknowledgement spoke volumes. Hugh didn't ask how he was, he didn't ask about Trey. Instead he waited for Dane to fill him in without prodding. "Dane" had been a command, not a greeting.

"What the h.e.l.l happened?" Dane asked, looking Hugh up and down before turning an eye on her.