Page 37 of Redeemed
I’ve already got one message, from Sheena. She doesn’t sound angry, but then it’s hard to judge fromCall me when you get the chance.
I text Lydia first, saying it’s been a while and we should have a chat over the beverage of her choice. Then, with a reasonable amount of trepidation, I dial Sheena’s number.
“He’s not answering his goddamn phone.”
I inhale, sorry I hadn’t done some yoga before calling her. “You’re right. He hasn’t answered it since he left last evening. My best guess is that he turned it off so no one could find him.”
“But don’t you have thatfind my iPhonething?”
“He doesn’t have an iPhone and the app just shows me where he was when his phone was turned off.”
She huffs and I take a moment to just…breathe. Sheena’s worried about her best friend, and she doesn’t have a lover to fuck when she’s feeling bad.
Or maybe she does and she’s just discreet. I shouldn’t make assumptions. At any rate, I give her time to get herself sorted.
“You have no idea where he is?”
I stifle a sigh. “That’s why we called you. Figured you might have some idea where he’d go to hide out.”
“I don’t…hell. If I think of something I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks.”
“Yeah, and I’m sorry if I was rude last night. Tell Connor I still think he’s an asshole, though.”
I give an exaggerated nod, even though she can’t see me. “Will do. Call if you think of something.” Useful, I almost add. Connor really shouldn’t have called her a princess.
Sheena ends the call and the phone immediately buzzes with a text message. Lydia would be happy to share a beverage and could I meet her at eight?
Is it okay if Connor tags along?
Lydia doesn’t have anything against Connor, as far as I know, but if she wants to meet at the ladies’ bar, I should probably leave him home. Since I’m an honorary lesbian and all.
Sure. Be at the Tangle in an hour. It’s a block or so away from the usual place on La Brea.
I text a confirmation and rap on the bathroom door. “Dude, we’ve got a date with a werewolf.”
Chapter Fourteen
Trajan
THE FIRST THING that greets me is the smell of wolf. Muscles rigid with tension, I lay still on the cave’s floor and listen. The only thing disrupting the desert’s evening song is the soft whuffing of a sleeper’s breath.
Straightening, I ignore the stiffness in my joints and survey the space. There. There’s a hump near the entrance that’s a different color than the cave’s floor. I stand on creaking knees and stumble over to the hump.
It’s a wolf, curled up and snoring softly.
Not my wolf, however. My belly twists with disappointment. This one’s a roan and its fur is matted and dirty.
I poke the beast with my toe and get a baleful glare for my trouble. “Am I in your way?” I ask.
The wolf bares its teeth. I bare mine.Vampire. I win. The wolf huffs, scrambling to its feet. In a flash of light and heat the creature shifts. I take a step back to avoid the sparks, muscles tense and my guard up.
The clerk from the motel stands buck naked in front of me. She’s all muscle and sinew and uncombed hair. After a quick once-over, I stay locked on her eyes so I’ll know if she’s going to do anything shady.
It doesn’t take long before she dodges my gaze. “Had a weird visitor last night after you left.”
Chills run over my skin. “So?”
