Chaser sat beside me as tears fell down my cheeks.

  “Go away,” I said with a sob. “I don’t need your crap right now.”

  He said nothing, nor did he move. He just let me cry. A biker wouldn’t sit there and watch a woman bawl her eyes out, attempted murder or not. Chaser wasn’t a biker, and he wasn’t human, either.

  “Sloane?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Yeah,” he whispered. “I’m sure you are.”

  I didn’t know what to do anymore, but the one thing I was certain of was the fact that I couldn’t run on my own. Chaser said it himself. He took a bullet for me.

  “That bullet wasn’t meant for you, Sloane.”

  My expression faded. “What?”

  “Those bullets are meant for someone like me,” he said, staring at the floor.

  “The blood bag I found in the bin…” I whispered and his gaze flew to mine. “The fast healing. Your cold skin. The way you took down that guy outside the pub. You’re strong. Fast. You seem to have power over people’s minds…” I swallowed hard and wiped my trembling hands over my face. “Please tell me it’s not real. Please tell me you’re not what I think you are.”

  “I can’t,” he rasped. His expression twisted as if he were in excruciating pain and was trying to keep in hidden.

  “Vampire,” I said. “You’re a vampire.”

  Chapter 11

  Chaser

  I felt my humanity begin to creep in as she spoke, telling me all the things she’d noticed about me since we’d met back in Fremantle.

  At first, it was a slight tug at the back of my mind, an annoying tick that wouldn’t go away. Was it her or me that’d triggered it? I didn’t know.

  It’d been decades since I’d felt anything other than bloodlust and the thrill of the hunt. Letting it all in was too painful to bear—the longer I left it, the more it would sting—so I tried to clamp down on the returning sensations.

  “I’m a vampire, Sloane,” I said, confirming her words.

  “But… Vampires aren’t… You…” She was growing pale, her heartbeat speeding up.

  “Aren’t real?” I scoffed. “Sometimes I wish it wasn’t, but I like being a vampire. I was born for it. My life before…” I trailed off with a scowl and balled my hands into tight fists.

  Damn humanity. I wished I could shut it off again, but the floodgates had already burst open, and I had no choice but to ride the tsunami.

  “H-how does it work?”

  “The things written about vampires are mostly true,” I told her. “The fangs, the blood, sunlight, speed and strength, immortality, stakes…but we can also command humans to do things. Some people call it compulsion.”

  Sloane shuffled away from me an inch. “Like mind control?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have you…” she trailed off, her eyes wide.

  “Have I done it to you?” I snorted. “I can’t do it to you, so don’t get your knickers in a twist.” Truthfully, I hadn’t tried. Sloane hadn’t turned yet, so there was a high chance she had enough humanity that I could if I wanted to.

  “Why?”

  I ground my teeth for a long moment, fighting the twist of humanity growing inside me. It was about time she knew. I could give her that, at least. “Because you’re supernatural, too.”

  Her whole body tensed. “I’m what?”

  Her words came out in a ragged whisper, barely audible except to a vampire. I could hear a pin drop if I listened closely enough.

  “There’s no easy way to tell you this.” I turned to face her. “You’re a werewolf, Sloane. Your father is a wolf; the whole Fortitude gang are wolves.”

  “But— How— Do— Why?” Her mouth flapped uselessly. It was the first time she’d been lost for a witty comeback.

  “By birth. Maybe people can turn into one, but for you, it’s bloodline specific. They go back thousands of years, and there are few who know exactly how far. But I wouldn’t know. I’m a vampire.”

  Sloane let out a strangled moan and began drawing in sharp breaths. “No, I’m not,” she said, shaking her head. “There’s nothing special about me. I’m a nobody. I don’t believe you.”

  “You’re far from a nobody, Sloane.”

  Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m a nobody.”

  “Life is easier for nobodies,” I drawled. “I don’t blame you for wanting to be one.”

  She ran her hands through her long chestnut locks. “Then why don’t I… There’s a full moon in a couple of days… I’ve never…”

  “You won’t transform,” I told her. “You haven’t triggered your wolf side yet.”

  Her eyes widened and I heard the patter of her heartbeat as she began to panic. “Triggered? How… How do I do that?”

  “I’m a vampire, Sloane,” I said again. “I wouldn’t know.”

  Her breathing quickened. “I’m a werewolf,” she mangled to say. “My father’s a werewolf. He sent a vampire to get me. That man… The men at the servo… Who were they?”

  I’d given her an inch and she’d taken a mile. How could I be surprised?

  “Wolves,” I replied. “The two I shot were wolves.”

  “And the guy at the pub. The ginger…”

  “A vampire.”

  She hugged her arms around her knees. “Were they sent by my father?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “They were from a rival pack, not from Fortitude.”

  Her brow creased as her mind ticked over. “They wanted to kill you because you have me?”

  I nodded.

  “And the vampire wanted to take me.” Her gaze met mine. “I’m valuable… Why?”

  “I don’t ask questions,” I lied. It was better she didn’t know what fate awaited her outside of Fortitude…maybe inside it, too. If she knew, she’d hurl herself off a cliff.

  “You’ve got to know,” she argued.

  I did, but I wasn’t telling. She took the hint and her expression turned inwards as she thought over everything I’d revealed.

  “You’re a vampire…” she whispered. “You drink blood.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Last I checked.”

  “Do you…” She coughed. “Do you want to drink my blood?”

  “Don’t tempt me.”

  Sloane tensed, but she didn’t move away. She had some backbone, I’d give her that. Most people would do whatever it took to get away from me.

  “Why did you shoot those wolves?” she asked. “If you’re strong, why didn’t you just use your…uh…your…”

  “Fangs?”

  She flushed.

  “Because I was trying to keep the truth from you,” I told her.

  “How old are you?”

  “You don’t want to know.”

  “How did you become…”

  “Never ask a vampire how they turned,” I snapped, pushing to my feet. Now that she knew the truth about me, I moved faster than her eyes could follow. It was refreshing, not having to hide.

  She gasped, taken aback by my unnatural speed. “Then tell me how you can go out into the sun.”

  “I had a witch put a spell on me.”

  “Now you’re just taking the piss,” she complained.

  “It’s true.”

  Her eyes widened. “Bloody hell, there’s witches, too? What else is there?”

  “Hopefully nothing,” I drawled. “The world is complicated enough.” I scooped up the car and room keys from the table.

  Sloane tensed. “Where are you going?”

  “To get something to eat.”

  Her heartbeat skipped. “You’re going to eat someone?”

  “I wouldn’t put it like that, but yes.” I stalked towards the door. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring you back something edible.”

  I returned with a bag of food and my veins full of fresh human blood.

  Sloane tore open the bag and began eating the hamburger I’d gotten from the local takeaway like she’d been starving, and for all I knew, she might’ve been. I’d forgotten humans and wolves needed food far more frequently than I did.

  I watched her eat with a raised eyebrow. It was messy, just like a wolf. She might not have realised what she was, but her subconscious sure did.

  Sloane wanted a way to escape, and so did I. Until now, I thought it wasn’t a choice on the table. In a way, it still wasn’t. They were still after her, which meant I had to see this through, no matter which way this went.

  I was a master at finding people. I knew their tricks. I could find, but I also knew how to hide.

  No, I couldn’t entertain it. Helping her was bad news. I’d already been shot once.

  Sloane sucked tomato sauce off her fingers. “Chaser?”

  I grunted. We were already a day behind schedule. Even if we got on the road at first light and made up the distance, we would add another day by tomorrow night. At least we would be going in the right direction. The longer we were out here, the more risk there was.

  “I know you weren’t supposed to tell me about all this.”

  I tensed. “Finish your food before you say something you’ll regret.”

  “It’s okay,” she added. “I won’t tell.”

  Grinding my teeth, my mind rolled over. I won’t tell, I won’t tell, I won’t tell… Tell what? That I followed orders down to the letter? Marini hadn’t said anything about not telling her about supernaturals.

  The moment Sloane was finished eating and had gone to bed, I went outside and changed the license plates on the car. Tomorrow, we were going back on the road to Melbourne.

  Chapter 12

  Sloane

  I didn’t want to wake up. Not today.

  Still, my eyes opened to a semi-dark room. Either I was done sleeping or something had woken me.

  The sound of typing echoed through the motel room, and I rolled over, my mind surfacing into wakefulness.

  Chaser was sitting at the table. He was fully clothed, and his hair was damp from a shower. But that wasn’t what made me sit up. He had my computer in front of him, the screen glowing as he not so gently smashed on the keyboard.

  “What are you doing with my laptop?” I demanded.

  “You need to call your blonde friend,” he replied, not even bothering to turn around.

  “My blonde friend?”

  “You need to call her.”

  “Why?” I groaned and rubbed my eyes. They were full of grit after crying myself to sleep last night.

  “She’s filed a missing person’s report.”

  “Huh?”

  I’d believed Yvette would forget about me quick smart, but here she was going to the cops. Thinking about Mrs. Adelstein and the security footage behind the Sailor’s Arms, I screwed up my face. Kinda stood to reason someone might report something.

  “The sooner, the better, Sloane.”

  “You smashed my phone,” I said. “How am I supposed to call when I’ve got no phone?”

  He tapped the table and kicked the second chair out from underneath it.

  Sliding out of bed, I knew I would not like what I saw. He’d had a phone this entire time, along with my money, and it was a glaring indicator to my dependence on him. The illusion I had any say in what was happening was about to shatter, and boy was it going to be spectacular.

  A mobile phone was sitting facedown on the table next to my laptop. Looking at the screen, I saw it was plastered with a police report with my face on it. Missing person, indeed.

  “You looked through my computer?” I exclaimed.

  “Sit down, Sloane.”

  Sitting, I glanced at him out the corner of my eye. All traces of yesterday’s hero were gone. The kind words, the supernatural deep and meaningfuls, the push and pull. He was so closed off, he bore a striking resemblance to a vault in Fort Knox.

  Picking up the phone, he turned it on and handed it to me. I stared at the screen, earning myself one of his trademark glares.

  “Why didn’t you do your mind control thing on her?” I asked.

  He didn’t bother looking at me. “There wasn’t time.”

  “Well, I don’t know her number by heart,” I complained. “Nobody knows phone numbers anymore. It’s not 1995.”

  Showing me the laptop screen, my mouth fell open. There was an address book that must’ve synced from my phone to the computer at some point. There was an entire list of everyone I’d ever called or texted. It felt like he’d glanced up my skirt, the pervert.

  “You went through my stuff?”

  His eyes narrowed. “Call her, and don’t let on about…”

  “About what? Because I’ve got a lot to say about dead bodies, kidnapping—”

  “Sloane.”

  “Fine.” Tapping in the number, I pressed the call button and slapped the phone to my ear.

  It rang three times before Yvette picked up.

  “Hello?”

  “Yvette, it’s Sloane.”

  “Sloane! Where are you?”

  “I’m around,” I replied, glancing at Chaser.

  “It’s been a week, Slo.”

  “Sorry. I was busy.”

  “Busy skipping out on me?”

  “It’s complicated.” Chaser nudged me with his boot.

  “I saw the security footage from out back,” she began, her speech stilted as if she was reading from a script, and my hackles rose.

  “A guy tried to grab me when I went to take the rubbish out,” I said, attempting to throw her—and whoever was listening—off the scent. “It was nothing. He was off his face and couldn’t even stand up straight. You know what people are like at the Sailor’s Arms. He ran off, anyway.”

  “You should’ve reported it,” Yvette complained.

  “Maybe, but it was nothing. The cops would’ve taken a report and never gotten back to me. A never-ending cycle of paperwork with no resolution. Besides, I’ve had worse. So have you.”

  “Still…”

  I paused, listening to the background noises. There was someone there, heavy breathing and shuffling papers. It wasn’t Yvette.

  “I’m sorry I worried you,” I said after a moment.

  “Where are you, Slo? Are you coming back?”

  “Nah. I didn’t think anyone would miss me.” That was partially true. I’d never allowed myself to get too close to anyone considering who my father was. A broken childhood instilled certain fail-safes in my brain.

  “I miss you!”

  “Well, I’ll call you when I get settled. Maybe you can tell me how Brittany’s going and all the pub gossip.”

  “Slo? Where are you settling?”

  “I don’t know yet. I’ve just gotta find a happy medium, you know? Work, cheap rent, internet access.”

  “You still studying?”

  I glanced at Chaser. “I’m trying to.”

  “I’m worried about you, Slo.”

  “You don’t have to be. I’m cool. Totally sweet or whatever the kids are saying these days.” Chaser made a cutting motion across his neck. “Listen, I’ve gotta go, but I’ll call you when I’m all settled, okay?”

  “You better.”

  “See ya.”

  Hanging up, Chaser took the cell out of my hands and opened the back. He took out the SIM card and snapped it in half.

  “We’re in trouble, aren’t we?” I asked, watching as he tossed the pieces into the bin.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “One, you’re not making eye contact, and two, that call was totally traced.”

  Chaser raised his eyebrows and made a point of looking at me.

  “There was someone in the background,” I replied. “Breathing heavy like a total creep.”

  “We have to be careful until we get back to Melbourne.”

  “Do I have to cut my hair?”

  He scowled and curled his lip. “What?”

  “They do it in the movies. When people are on the run from the cops, they cut and dye their hair. Mainly to avoid security cameras, surveillance, and facial recognition.” I flipped my hair over my shoulder and twirled a strand around my finger. “Do you think I’d look good as a blonde?”

  “You don’t have to change your hair.” Chaser stood and crossed the room, gathering our things and shoving them into bags.

  I watched him with a blank expression, weighing everything in my mind.

  We were in trouble. He knew it and was having a hard time covering it up. Chaser appeared to be torn up about something. Join the club.

  “We need to go,” he barked, throwing my boots at me. “Now.”

  “Chaser…”

  Something in my voice must’ve slapped him back into reality because he paused, and a little of the guy who’d surfaced the night before shone through.

  “Are things going to be better once we get to Fortitude?”

  Silence stretched between us. Outside, I could hear the residents of the motel waking up and moving around. A door slammed, a TV switched on, and something thumped against the wall. Beyond, the sounds of traffic swishing past were muffled by the building at our backs.

  Chaser scowled and picked up his bag. “Get in the car, Sloane.”

  Sighing, I tugged on my boots. Anywhere was better than here, I supposed.

  Chaser was back behind the wheel, obviously recovered enough to take charge again. Considering he healed so fast, I wondered if he felt pain at all, if the agony was so fleeting that it hardly even registered.

  We were headed north again, taking the highway towards the Eyre highway that crossed the Nullarbor Plain and into South Australia.

  All I could do was curl into the passenger seat and watch the flat, arid landscape fly by, my mind full to bursting with everything Chaser had told me the night before.

  There was nothing I could do about that, either. I knew nothing. I was so far from being in control it wasn’t even funny.

  “Who are they?” I asked, breaking the three-hour cone of silence.

  Chaser glanced at me, then turned back to the road.

  “C’mon, what’s the harm in telling me?” I complained. “Who are the vampires that after me?”