Page 2 of Broken Trust

“Don’t have too many drinks,” his dad said when Atlas passed the living room.

“How do you know where I’m going?”

His father grinned. “It’s where you always go when you deal with your mom.” His smile faded. “Driving drunk is a good way to—”

“Kill myself or maybe an entire family,” Atlas finished for him. He’d heard the speech a million times in the six years since he’d turned twenty-one. “Love you, Dad.”

“Same, son.”

Atlas jumped into his car and drove into town, irritated at the look his mom had given him. He was sick and tired of constantly feeling like a letdown to her.

After he parked and got out, he headed right inside the bar and glanced around for Braylon. He spotted his best friend in a booth, two shot glasses and two beers already on the table.

Atlas headed straight for him then slid into the opposite seat. “She gave me that look when I went back into the kitchen.”

“The one that says you’re more disappointing than a stale donut?” Braylon slid the shot glass toward Atlas. “Bottoms up. Maybe if you get tipsy enough, you’ll think about what I said. There are plenty of guys in Midnight Falls who fit the bad-boy description. Hell, if you have to, pay someone to go with you. They’ll get a free meal, and you’ll show your mom you won’t hide in no stinking closet with the mothballs.”

Atlas tossed back his shot, hissing as the liquid burned his throat on its way down. “Did you order some food?”

“Two dozen wings and a heaping plate of fries. You’re not the only one who hasn’t eaten today.” Braylon downed his shot, burped, and slammed his glass on the table. Then he raised his beer bottle. “A toast.”

Atlas raised his.

“May ignorant people be blessed with at least one gay encounter so they can finally shut the fuck up and stop judging us.”

Atlas clinked his bottle against Braylon’s, laughing his ass off. He took a sip, and said, “Please don’t ever wish my mom to have a lesbian experience. No kid wants to think of their parents having sex, and my dad would have a heart attack.”

“Ugh.” Braylon took a long drink of his beer. “I wish I didn’t know my mom had sex. The walls are paper-thin at my house, and I reach for the nearest trash can with each gut-wrenching moan when I hear her and her boyfriend getting it on. Someone get me some earplugs or, better yet, an escape route.”

Atlas fell to his side laughing. He’d met Lenore Yalland. She was a bigger flirt than Glen, and that was saying something. It seemed every six months she was dating someone new. Her skirts were so tight they could double as tourniquets, paired with tops small enough to fit a Barbie doll and big hoop earrings. At least she kept things interesting with her bold lipstick and outrageous eyeshadow choices.

Atlas liked her. Lenore was always sweet to him whenever he came over, and she didn’t care that he was gay.

When their food arrived, Atlas switched to soda, but once he was full, he ordered another beer. He wasn’t going to drive home drunk. If Atlas got too wasted, he would just sleep in his car or call his dad to pick him up and drop him off at his apartment.

Tonight, all Atlas wanted to do was forget about finding a date for his sister’s wedding and his mom’s disapproving stares.

* * * *

Kellen Segar ripped the vampire’s heart out and then took off, knowing he had more bloodsuckers after him. One day he was going to learn to keep his mouth shut. Even though the vampires had been talking a lot of trash to him, Kellen could have just ignored them and walked away.

When one of them had something about his mom, a red haze had fallen over Kellen, slinging him into his past, a past he wished to god he could forget. Now, he found himself trapped in the demon realm, desperately trying to reach the black river without alerting the three vampires who were after him.

Kellen could fight his way out of a lot of situations, but he also knew when to get ghost. He was currently in an alley on the side of The Melting Pot, trying to contact his brother. For the fifth time, his call went straight to voicemail.

Too bad he couldn’t call Morgan Savani, but the polar bear shifter was on vacation at some beach house with his mate.

After Kellen quickly tucked his phone back in his pocket, his head snapped around, scanning the area behind him. His heart raced and his senses were on high alert as he cautiously stepped out of the dark alley, his gaze darting around as he searched for any sign of those pricks.

The city lights cast an eerie glow over the streets, creating shadows that seemed to dance and taunt him. Distant voices filled the air, but there was no sign of the bloodsuckers who’d been chasing him just moments before. He wondered if he had managed to lose them or if they were simply biding their time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

The black river was across the street on a hilly mound. Taking a deep breath, he propelled himself forward, his feet pounding against the pavement as he raced like the devil was on his heels.

Kellen caught a glimpse of them—the ravenous, bloodsucking bastards. Vampires could move faster than any preternatural, making it goddamn imperative for Kellen to move even faster if he wanted to avoid being tackled and drained.

He ran up the grassy incline, the black river twenty feet ahead. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a hand reaching out to grab him. Without hesitation, he swung around and unleashed a powerful punch into the bloodsucker’s face. The satisfying crunch of bone filled his ears, and a grin spread across his lips as the guy stumbled backward. Shit, the other two were almost on him.

“Time to go.” He spun, unsure if he was going to make it. Kellen didn’t look back, but he felt them bearing down on him.

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