Page 98 of Fight
After we'd finished eating, I helped clean up the mess before going back into the bedroom and dialing my brother.
"Hey, how are things going up north?"He answered the call. "You ready to come home yet?"
"Hey, Sunshine, how are you?"I reverted back to a childhood nickname that I knew irritated him.
Raine growled on the other end of the line."You've got to be in some kind of mood to go back to that.What's up?"
"We've run into a bit of trouble and I need some help, but you might not want to give it."
"What kind of trouble?"
"Don't you want to know what I need?"
"Not until I know how much trouble you're in.Do you need me to come bail you out?"
I laughed."No, not that kind of trouble."I took a deep breath, and let it out in a rush.It would be best to just say it, to get it over with.Raine wasn't going to be happy."Someone tried to kidnap me."
"Since you're calling, I assume they didn't succeed."His voice was concerned but calm.
"They succeeded, but I escaped."
"Where was Devon for all this?I thought he was there to protect you."
"He is.He was sleeping.Alexis and I left the hotel together, we were walking down the street to the coffee shop.It's less than a block away, we didn't think there would be a problem."I knew I was justifying our actions, and I stopped.
He was quiet for a moment."So they managed to overpower the both of you.I assume since you said you were kidnapped and not that you both were, that only you were taken?"
"They drugged us both, shot us with darts filled with ketamine.Then all they had to do was pick me up and put me in the van.They just left Alexis laying there.The guys found her still laying on the sidewalk when they got to her minutes later."
"I assume the cops are on this?"
I cringed, not looking forward to this part."Yes and no."
I heard him sigh on the other end of the line."Tell me."
I recounted the entire episode, leaving almost nothing out.If anyone could handle it, Raine could.Besides if he later found something out that I hadn't told him, there'd be hell to pay.
"But you're all right now?"His voice shook with anger.
"I'm fine now.I heal fast, you know that."I tried to calm him.
"I do."I heard him take a deep breath and let it out slowly.When he spoke again he was calmer, more controlled."What is it you need from me?"
"The local pack has a detective on SPD, he's in charge of the investigation."
"So you went to the cops?"
"No.Honestly, it never occurred to me.When it happened I was too sick to think about much of anything.Alexis contacted the local Anikitos.When the detective was assigned a case where he scented Kitsune, he went to the Anikitos as well.That's who put us in touch.So I have an idea of exactly how much the police know."
"There's something you're avoiding telling me, Nickie."He seemed to read between the lines."Just spit it out so I can help you."
"Well," I was reluctant to start."when the local Anikitos brought the detective to talk to me, I learned something.It's something that bothers me some, but under the circumstances I can live with it.I don't know how well you'll take it though."
"The lead up isn't helping.Just spit it out."
"All right, all right.The detective said that when they found the van it wasn't empty, there was a body inside.The guys who kidnapped me were human, and when I hit the one who'd been kicking me, I hit him hard enough that it caved in his skull.I killed him."I realized that I had tears running down my face and wiped them away with one hand.The line went quiet, absolutely silent, and after several seconds I had to ask."Are you still there?"
"Yeah, I'm here, I was just thinking." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly."Did you admit to doing it?"
