Page 50 of Obsessed in Blood
“I don’t have the means to save you. I can barely save myself.”
“You can’t leave me here. Please. Don’t leave me.”
I had no idea who this person was, but I had a good idea where they were being kept. “Do you know where you are?”
“I don’t remember. Please. Don’t leave me.”
“I’ll be back. I need to get help. I’m only one person. I don’t know how to find you.”
“Venizi.” Then the headache stopped.
“Are you still there?” My question was greeted by silence. Whoever it was, and wherever they were, they were out of my reach. Every fiber shouted to jump out and get to that building. But it would be suicide by myself.
For one crazy moment I considered jumping out and racing for my room. Maybe it was better to stay and find a way into the building. But then I remembered Lorenzo’s words. I was supposed to sleep with him tonight. And that was going a bit too far in my book. He would definitely have to mesmerize me for that shit to happen. Thank god he couldn’t do that anymore.
I had to stick to the plan. And as the container was removed from the vehicle and pushed over grates, then rolled across a rough surface, my own freedom became more important. It killed me to think I was leaving a dreamwalker behind. And tears fell as I felt the subtle rocking of the boat.
This was the hardest part. The minutes ticked slowly as I waited for the boat to depart. I expected shouting and a mad search at any moment. With any luck, Asshole would still be asleep.
After minutes of sweltering heat and grasping for whatever air I could get, the boat began to move. We were barely away from the dock when I heard what I thought was another boat. The motor faded as the boat I was on picked up speed as it crossed the narrow channel. Had that been Lorenzo returning home?
Once he found me gone, they’d search the island. How soon before he thought to have the boat searched? That wouldn’t be good. I’d expected him back later. Maybe it was someone else, but it was best to plan for the worst.
When the boat slowed and came to a stop, I heard the yelling. Whether it was from Lorenzo alerting his vamps to have everything searched or from some other problem, I didn’t know. But I had to wait for the container to be unloaded before I could climb out.
From what Devon had shared, there were at least a dozen vamps that ran the boat launch. I should have thought to bring a knife. The infirmary would have had a scalpel. My martial arts would have to be enough.
The sound of squealing wheels made me think the container next to mine was being moved. A lid opened, a minute went by, then the lid dropped shut. Either someone dumped more trash, or they were searching.
I moved deeper into the sludge, pulling whatever I could reach over the top of me, using the sleeves of my jacket to grip items, hoping not to get stabbed or cut by anything. Then, my container was being moved, and my heart was in my throat when the lid was thrown open. Even deep in the muck, I could sense the light streaming in. Garbage was moved around, and items above my head shuffled. A pole or something similar poked my side before I shifted enough to let it pass. If they moved it just a few inches to the right, they’d find something with more mass. Then the lid slammed shut, and I would have sighed with relief if I had enough air in my lungs.
The container was rolled a fair distance. If they emptied it into a dump truck, that would be problematic. The trucks had hydraulics that compressed the garbage. I needed to get out before that happened, but I had no idea if the container was shoved into an area that wasn’t monitored or if it was sitting out in the middle of the activity.
A bark came from my left. It was a high-pitched sound that went abruptly silent. Then it yipped again. There was muffled yelling, and I thought I heard running. It was impossible to tell, and I dug my way out to the top of the heap. With all my strength and nothing stable to stand on, I managed to push the lid open enough to see.
Fresh sea air hit my face, and I sucked it in. The yelling increased, as did the barking. When I peeked out, a dog was being chased. It zigged then zagged as vamps, which I assumed based on their speed, tried to corner it. The dog was faster.
Something seemed odd, and it took a moment before my garbage-addled brain caught on. It wasn’t a dog—it was a wolf.
I scanned the area before glancing back at the wolf. There was a second one now, and everyone was focused on it. Something lay on the ground. It looked like a bag from one of the sandwich chains in the city, the big blue and red lettering clear on the packaging. Did the wolves take someone’s lunch?
No one seemed focused on the containers, and from what I could tell, the unloading of the ship had stopped once the wolf action began. I smiled as I gathered items to shove between the container and lid to lift it high enough to squeeze through. It wasn’t easy, as I couldn’t find anything firm enough to stand on to help with the height I needed to pull myself up.
I scrounged around, wiping sweat off my face with the inside of my blouse, until I found a couple of compacted trash bags then laid pieces of cartons on top of them. Once my footing was stabilized, I pulled myself up until I got a leg out of the container. I kept an eye on the wolf and vamp action as I pushed my muscles past the limit to shift my body to the outside of the container so gravity could do the rest. If I had better shoes, like something with traction, it would have been easier.
I was still heaving, my eyes watering from exertion and the stench, as I watched the wolves find a gap in the fencing when arms grabbed me and hauled me out, depositing me on the ground.
“Keep quiet.”
I thought I recognized the voice but must have been delirious from low oxygen and the stink of rotting everything. The garbage that held the lid open was pushed back in, and the lid quietly closed.
A hand gripped my upper arm and pulled me up. I didn’t make a sound as I was dragged away, half stumbling as one of my shoes slipped off. I tripped over ropes and buoys, the sea air now filling with the scent of decaying fish, which smelled better than me.
I was beginning to focus on my surroundings when I was shoved toward a large box freezer. The lid was open.
“Get in.”
I balked and turned. “Simone?”
