Page 55 of Map of Pain
Caleb sniffled, scrubbing at his face with the back of his hand, his eyes never leaving his brother for more than a second. “He said… the vampire who took him… took off pieces of him when he tried to escape.”His voice cracked.“And Henderson… Henderson said they found him in a box. That hewaskeptin a box for two years.”He sucked in a ragged breath.“He said Nickhada lot of scars… bad memories to work through… that a five-hundred-year-old vampire kept him as a… a pet.”
As Caleb spoke, Marcus’s gaze slid from the boy’s tear-stained face to Nick’s abject posture, then to Luka. Itwasa look of shared, terrible understanding.
Caleb saw it. His tear-filled eyes darted between them, catching the silent, grim communication. The look that said they knew more, something worse.“What?”he demanded, his voice gaining a hard edge of desperation.“What aren’t you telling me?”
Marcus moved between Caleb and Nick, his expression somber but determined.“Caleb, stay with your brother. I need to speak with Luka privately.”His tone left no room for argument despite its gentleness.
“What? No!”Caleb protested.“I need to know what’s happening to him!”
Marcus cupped Caleb’s face in his hands, pressing a tender kiss to his forehead.“Trust me, my love. I promise I’ll tell you everything once I have more information. Right now, just be here for him.”
Luka’s beast snarled with fierce protectiveness.No. Won’t leave him. Need to stay.The scent of Nick’s fearwasgrowing stronger by the second, his heartbeat accelerating to dangerous levels. Luka knew Marcus could hear it too—the frantic, hummingbird-quick rhythm that signaled distress beyond measure.
Every instinct in Luka’s body screamed against walking away, but Marcus’s eyes held a silent plea. With painful reluctance, Luka followed Marcus a few steps away from the kitchen, still keeping Nick in his peripheral vision.
The moment theywereout of earshot, Marcus’s hands began moving in rapid, agitated signs.«What the hell is going on? How did you end up an hour away from town with Caleb’s brother? Radio silence for days?»
Luka could see the hurt beneath Marcus’s anger—the betrayal of being left out of something so deeply connected to Caleb. His friend’s eyes darted between Luka’s face and Nick’s huddled form, desperate for understanding.
«Why didn’t you call me immediately?»Marcus continued.«What happened every step of the way?»
Luka sighed, his hands forming careful explanations.«Youwereright about Nick in November. He never went to Chicago. Killing Henderson to save you and Caleb painted a target on his back.»
Marcus’s expression softened, though the tension remained in his shoulders. Luka continued, his signs becoming more fluid as he explained.
«It started a few months ago. I noticed a scent Ihadn’tsmelledbefore, buried under gasoline and infection.»His hands paused, remembering that first moment—the distinctive vanilla smell that drew him like nothing ever had before.«It made me follow it. I didn’t realize itwasNick.»
Marcus’s eyebrows rose in surprise, and Luka pressed on.
«The man attacking me would strike once and flee. I thought itwassome rogue hunter.»His hands moved faster, the signs becoming sharper with remembered frustration.«I didn’t know itwasNick until that day in the junkyard.»
Luka glanced back at Nick, still frozen in his submissive posture. The sight sent fresh waves of protective rage through him. He turned back to Marcus, his expression melting fromanger to concern.
«You should have called me,» Marcus said, but the accusation had left his movements.
«I know,»Luka admitted.«But after seeing him like that...»His hands faltered, struggling to express the complexity of whathe’dwitnessed.«He’s so broken, Marcus. I just wanted to help him, but then some people from The Daylight Society showed up at the hospital—»
“In town?”Marcus asked the question aloud before his hands finished signing, his eyes darting back to Caleb.
Luka nodded. «We barely made it out.»He glanced back at Nick’s hunched form.«They knew things about Nick. Used trigger phrases. Nick fought it, but itwasclose.»
Marcus followed his gaze, amber eyes darkening.«And after?»
«We got to the safe house in Secor.»Luka’s fingers flowed faster as the story poured out.«I decided to contact the neutral hunter network. I thought they could hide Nick until we figured things out.»
Marcus’s expression grew grave as Luka’s hands formed the next words.
«When we got to the community center, Haley and Alexei were already dead. Everyonewas. The Society staged it like a message.»His hands trembled.«I don’t know how they found them.»
A soft whimper cut through the silence. Luka’s head snapped toward the sound; Nick remained frozen in his submissive posture, but the soundhaddefinitely come from him. Caleb sat on the floor beside his brother, not touching but close, tears streaming unchecked down his reddened cheeks. The sight tore at something in Luka’s chest.
He fought the overwhelming urge to rush to their sides. Nick needed him, but barging in now might only deepen the trauma response. Marcus’s gazewason him, probing, silently asking the question Lukahadbeen avoiding.
Instead, Marcus’s hands formed different words.«Does he know our connection to Nicoletti?»
Luka shook his head emphatically.«I haven’t brought it up. Didn’t know how he would react.»
«You’ll need to tell him.» Marcus’s expression was grave.
