Page 103 of Death and Donuts

The bed moved as Shepard sat beside us and ran his hand over my hair. Neither spoke as they tried to comfort me. It sort of made me want to cry more—out of guilt—but I forced myself to focus on deep, calming breaths until the tears stopped.

“I shouldn’t have gone without you,” I managed to say.

“It doesn’t matter,” Shepard said. “You’re safe now. That’s all that matters.”

A fresh wash of tears made me sniffle against Cross. Sure, I was safe, but it’d been so close. Again.

“Are you hurt anywhere?” Shepard asked.

I was. My wrists burned fiercely, and my armpits hurt where my shirt had caught before ripping. And I was pretty sure I had bruises from where Vivian had grabbed me. But I didn’t say any of that.

“I’m fine. What about Harper and her grandpa?” I finally lifted my head to look for them and saw both resting peacefully on a tattered couch spattered with old blood stains. “Did Vivian and Adriel hurt her?”

Cross kissed my forehead. “I’ll find out what happened.”

He passed me to Shepard, who held me just as comfortingly as Cross had and approached the pair. He woke them up then started asking questions. When and how did they first meet Vivian? What were they told to do? Had either Vivian or Adriel done anything to them besides feeding?

I listened to the girl explain that they had been the ones to put the tracking device on my car and had been watching my movements. “Pet,” which I knew was what Vivian preferred to be called, had only fed from them each visit. The most recent being today, just before dawn, when he’d told them how to capture me.

“He said it wasn’t because of the rings,” I said. “It was because of what happened to Adriel at the alpha challenge. He was angry you threw Adriel in a mass grave. That’s why they’ve been dumping those bodies like that too. Revenge.” I started to shake a little. “That's why he wanted me. He wanted you to pay for what you did to Adriel.”

“Do you believe that?” Shepard asked Cross.

“I don’t doubt it. Orphia isn’t one to evoke any sense of loyalty. However, he and Adriel would willingly use Everly to get the rings. I’m just not certain whether they would hand them over to Orphia or keep them for themselves.”

My shaking didn’t stop, and I knew it was bothering Shepard when he kissed my temple and buried his head against my neck.

“This is killing me, Everly. I hate your fear.”

“Me too,” I said.

Cross asked the little girl if she knew where they were.

“This is my master’s home,” she said.

“You may both sleep now.”

After they fell back onto the couch again, Cross picked up my necklace and gently clasped it onto my neck.

“I don’t understand how they took it off,” I said.

“Vivian ensured Harper’s intent wasn’t to hurt you,” he said. “And she had no interest in robbing you. Using an innocent girl was sadly brilliant.” He kissed my forehead while Shepard was still holding me then crossed to the room to check the fridge.

“It does appear that this was their primary home. I wonder where they were, though, if neither was here when you woke.” He inhaled deeply. “The only scents under the reek of exhaust and oil are Vivian’s and Adriel’s.”

Tank came up the steps again. His gaze swept over me, and I saw nothing but concern as it shifted to Shepard.

“We found the trail and followed it to a sewer cap. Do you want us to follow?”

“No,” Shepard said. “It’s harder to pick up any distinct scents down there, and I don’t need anyone else going missing.”

“Missing?” I lifted my head. “What do you mean?”

“One of the patrols I sent out last night still hasn’t come back,” Shepard said.

I could see his worry and returned my head to his shoulder.

“I’m so sorry I left, Shepard. I didn’t mean to add to your stress.”

---