Night Fall on Dark Mountain Read online

  “But we have the key!” Emmy said, dangling a ring of keys from a finger.

  Exasperated, Max rubbed a tired hand over his face. “I’m not going to ask how you got past the cops upstairs.”

  Pia’s amused glance slid over him, like she was drinking him in one satisfying gulp. “Probably better you don’t know. You’d just get upset.”

  “You think I’m not?” he growled.

  “We stole Joe’s Taser gun,” Emmy gushed, completely oblivious to the fury building in Max’s tense body. “It’s amazing how well it works on wolves—they didn’t even twitch. Course the two goin’ at it in the back office never noticed.” She tried one key, then another, finally finding one that turned the chamber of the lock.

  Pia swung open the door. “Aren’t you even going to say thanks?”

  “Thanks isn’t exactly the word I was thinking of.” He grabbed her shoulders and kissed her hard, and then shoved her back. “Stupid, careless, insane—”

  “I take it Navarro didn’t sanction your little road trip,” Joe murmured.

  “’Course not.” Emmy wrinkled her nose. “He thinks we’re conducting mop-up in Melbourne. Someone reported sightings of werewolves down the road.”

  “Dylan let you two go out to patrol on your own?”

  A shadow crossed Emmy’s face. “He was a little distracted. Quentin’s disappeared…with Darcy’s body.”

  Joe jostled past Max and grabbed Emmy’s hand. “Come on, buddy. We have to get these two out of here.”

  Pia grabbed his arm and tugged. “Come on, Max.”

  Regret, sharp as a knife blade sliced through his chest. “I can’t, baby. I have to stay.”

  She shook her head, dismay dampening the excitement that had glittered in her eyes like Christmas lights a moment ago. “They put you in a cage, Max. You can’t stay now.”

  Max wrapped her in his arms, knowing this was likely the last time he’d breathe her sweet perfume or burrow against her softness. Their first goodbye had been hard enough; this one was going to kill him. “Baby, I have to stay—and you need to get the hell out of Dodge. The wolves are out tonight, hunting vampires. Don’t make this any harder. Go!”

  Pia’s arms clutched him tightly, her body trembling against his. “I don’t want to go without you. I don’t think I could live.”

  Max smoothed back her hair and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Baby, I have the best chance of surviving. I’m one of them. I still have my mission to fulfill. If they catch any of you, you’re dust. Now, get out of here.”

  “He’s right, Pia,” Joe said. “He’s the only one who stands a chance of living past tonight.”

  Max opened his arms and stepped back, closing the cell’s door between them.

  Pia gripped the bars and leaned toward him. Max couldn’t resist one last kiss and pressed his lips to hers. “Go, baby.”

  Joe lifted his closed fist and bumped it against Max’s fist still gripping the bar, sharing one charged gaze. “Later.” Then he pulled Pia away and followed Emmy’s retreating figure.

  Max waited agonizing minutes while he strained to hear sounds indicating the wolves above had discovered them. Instead, he heard a car pull away in the distance and relaxed.

  Alone in the darkness, he sank on top of the solitary cot and covered his face with his hands, breathing in the fading scent of the only woman he’d ever love.

  Dirt landed at his feet, and he jerked up his head to find Alec brushing off his hands. His bare chest gleamed bright, his trousers were open and sagging at his waist.

  “Did they make it out of town?” Max asked, his throat so tight the words ground like sticking gears.

  “Yeah, radio’s quiet.”

  Max nodded to the dirt at his feet. “Think the others’ll buy it?”

  “He tripped onto my stake. Yeah, they know I hate the bastards.”

  Max swallowed past the lump choking the back of his throat. “Why?”

  Alec’s jaw tightened, a muscle rippling along the curve. “I finally figured out what you have with Pia.”

  Max gave him a slight smile. “Yeah? And what’s that?”

  Alec shrugged, not really wanting to spill his guts. He cleared his throat. “You aren’t…whole without her, are you?”

  Max shook his head, staring into the darkness.

  Alec stared at the wall too, watching his brother from the corner of his eye, waiting for a reaction. “Stasi drives me nuts, makes me madder than any other person on the planet, but I can’t imagine being without her.” That hadn’t been so hard to say.

  “Do you love her?” Max asked, spearing him with his gaze.

  Alec’s throat tightened. He thought back over his stormy relationship with Stasia and realized the strain between them had started a long time ago—when Stasi still belonged to Max.

  For the longest time, he’d thought he wanted her because of Max, because he’d been jealous. But now, he knew he’d cared about her all along. Seeing them together, seeing her love for his brother, had twisted his insides. “Yeah. I guess I do.”

  Max raised one dark eyebrow. “She’s not an easy woman to be with. She keeps secrets.”

  Alec snorted. “If she was easy, I probably wouldn’t have looked twice at her.” He drew a deep, ragged breath. “I’ve never been…the way I am with her. Sometimes…I think, I could hurt her.”

  “She likes it wild,” he said, nodding.

  “Do you ever think about her?”

  “You asking me if I’m still carrying a torch for Stasi?”

  Alec straightened. “I guess I am.”

  “No, little brother. I never loved her.”

  Alec blew out the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. “Good. ’Cause I’d fight you for her.”

  The corners of Max’s mouth curved upward. “Think you could take me?”

  Alec grinned back. “Let’s never find out.”

  Chapter Seven

  ‡

  “He let that vampire bastard go!” Todd said, slamming his fist against the kitchen table.

  Stasia jumped and slid out of her chair to face him. A lifetime of experience taught her never to stay within striking distance when her brother was on a tear. “That’s not possible, Todd. He dusted him, and the vamp who tried to free them. Alec hates vampires. Besides, I was there. Don’t you think I’d have noticed a little thing like Joe Garcia sneakin’ out of the station house?”

  His dark glare held a world of scornful fury. “You were so busy getting your brains screwed out, you wouldn’t have noticed if a tornado dropped on top of you.”

  “Keep your voice down—Anna’s still sleeping,” she hissed. “And I was not screwing at the station house.”

  He stalked toward her, crowding her back against the counter, gripping it on either side of her hips to trap her. “How do you think the other one snuck up on Danny and Garret?” he asked, his hot breath gusting over her face. “Those two had their ears glued to the fuckin’ door listening to the two of you goin’ at it.”

  Stasia’s face flushed hot—so much for keeping her embarrassing proclivities private. She pushed at his arms and grew alarmed when he wouldn’t release her. “I’m telling you, Alec wouldn’t let a vampire go. Maybe Max, but not a bloodsucker.”

  “And I’m tellin’ you that’s exactly what he did,” he spat, from between gritted teeth. “He knew that Mex’can asshole was gonna be dusted, and he let him out.”

  “Cuban,” she said faintly. “Alec said Joe was Cuban.”

  “I don’t give a fuck. And you shouldn’t either. Or are you lusting after vampires now?”

  His hips brushed hers and Stasia lifted her knee in warning. “Back off, Todd! I hate the bastards same as you.”

  “But you like bein’ Weir’s whore, don’t ya?” he said, his lips hovering just above hers.

  Her eyes widened, and she pushed against his chest. She hated it when he came onto her. “I’m not a whore!”

  Todd dropped his head to sniff along her s
houlder and neck, and then drew back to meet her gaze. “You think he’s gonna marry you? You may stink from his loving, but you can’t give him cubs. Your womb’s useless.”

  Stasia bit her lower lip to prevent it from trembling. Hearing her brother spew acid on her wounds only deepened the hurt she already felt. He was right. Alec still wanted the breeder in his bed.

  He lifted one hand, and she flinched, but he only trailed a finger along her cheek. “What if I told you there might be a way to change your destiny, little sister,” he said, his voice smooth as silk.

  She turned her face away. “What are you talking about?”

  “What if there was a way to make you able to breed?”

  “Since it’s not a possibility, I’d rather end this conversation.” She slid out from under him and circled the table. Line-breeding might be acceptable when the pack was thinned, but incest still made her skin crawl. Brother or no, she’d never submit. “I’ve got better things to do. And you know I don’t like you touching me.”

  “I love you, Stasi. I’m the only one who does.” His voice lost its mean edge, and his face softened, giving her a poignant glimpse of the litter-mate she’d adored as a child. “You think I’m happy with the way he treats you? Don’t you think I’d do anything to make you happy?”

  Tears welled in her eyes. Weary to her toes and desperately unhappy, she shrugged, just wanting the discussion to end in a hurry so she could lock her bedroom door and sleep. “I don’t understand what you’re saying, Todd.”

  “Those vamps have found a way to breed more born bastards—winged vampires. Don’t you think if they can do that, they could make you a whole woman?”

  Stasia’s body trembled at the possibility. She could breed—she could give Alec everything he needed. He wouldn’t have to bring another woman into their bed. “How…how can we get them to help us?”

  Todd stepped toward her and fell to his knees. He put his arms around her hips and pressed his cheek to her belly. “Stasi-girl, I know some folks down south a piece from here. They’ve got hold of the scientists those vampires are lookin’ for.”

  Her spine stiffened, and she grabbed his hair to pull back his face and capture his gaze. “Todd, are they the same wolves who attacked the vampires’ compound in Florida?”

  His expression grew sly. “Alec tell you all about that? Imagine that. Do you really care about what happened down there?”

  Alec hadn’t told her—she’d eavesdropped with her ear pressed to the floor of his office. She pulled Todd’s hair hard and leaned down. “They killed a human woman,” she bit out. “A pregnant one. They broke our laws, too.”

  “They were fetchin’ our breeder. The one that got away from Garrett in New Orleans. The human just got in the way.”

  Stasia shook her head. “There is no excuse. Alec has to know.”

  Todd’s embrace tightened, and his expression beseeched her to understand. “Alec’s gonna help his brother take the scientists back to the vampires. Think about that, Stasi. His actions will help them breed more of the bastards. We’re already losing territory; our packs are thinnin’ fast. Alec’s gonna betray us.”

  Her heart raced. Not Alec. He was strong and pure—by-the-rule Alec. “He would never do that,” she said, although she felt doubt creeping in due to the strength of Todd’s conviction.

  Todd’s gaze pleaded, his hands caressed her back, soothing her now. “Maybe Alec doesn’t understand what they plan. They’re gonna build an army to destroy us—wipe us off the face of the Earth once and for all.”

  Stasia shook her head again. “I’ll talk to him.”

  “He’s gonna follow his brother, Stasi. He did before—all the way into vampire territory. You’ve defied him every step of the way. Why would he believe you now? He may not even understand the conspiracy they’ve hatched, but he’s gonna betray us just the same. There’s not a damn thing I can do.”

  Everything he said was true. She’d fought Alec, ridiculed him, acted like a spoiled bitch every time he’d sniffed around her. Why would he listen to her? Her heart squeezed. “He’ll be cast out,” she whispered. Alec would be alone. She could follow him, there was nothing holding her here…except for her little sister. She could never leave her in Todd’s care. Her shoulders slumped.

  Todd shook his head sadly. “The overlaird will kill him. Unless…you help me. We can stop them. We can save Alec from himself.”

  She eyed him, suspicion rearing its ugly head. “You hate Alec. Why would you want to save him?”

  He kissed her belly. “I love you more.”

  “Stop it!” she said, shoving his face back. “You’re asking me to betray him?”

  He tilted back his head and nodded. “It’s the only way to save him. Do you love him?”

  “He won’t ever forgive me,” she said, her voice breaking.

  “It’s the price you’ll pay to save his hide. Do you love him enough to give him up?”

  A dull, thudding pain pounded behind her eyes. “That’s what this is all about, isn’t it? You want to separate us.”

  “I…love…you,” he said, tears filling his eyes. “I know you’d never forgive yourself if you didn’t give him this chance.”

  She stared out the kitchen window into the bleak, gathering dawn. “What do you want me to do?”

  “What you do best.”

  *

  “I don’t like this one damn bit.” Alec slammed the telephone back in its cradle and cast a worried glance across the desk at his brother.

  “So, they want someone else to transport me to the meeting,” Max said, his voice deadly calm.

  “Yeah. Todd,” he snorted. “I guess they don’t trust I’ll get you there.” Alec felt a deepening dread that something more was at work here—the hairs on the back of his neck lifted, warning him.

  “And you don’t trust Todd? I know he holds a grudge against me for mating with his sister all those years ago, but do you really think he’d betray the clan?”

  “He’s the same weasel he ever was. And big brother, he hates me more. Not only did I take Stasi for a mate, I kicked his ass in the trial.”

  “I still don’t see the problem. He wouldn’t dare try anything along the way—not if he ever hopes to win back the pack alpha position.”

  Alec rubbed the back of his neck. “Still…something doesn’t feel right.”

  “Doesn’t mean you can’t follow him. You plan on being there, right?”

  “It’s an open meeting. I wouldn’t miss it.”

  Max’s mouth tightened. “Maybe you ought to,” he said quietly.

  Alec’s gaze fell away, and he took a deep breath. “If they decide to put you down, I want to be there.”

  Max leaned forward in his chair. The hard edges of his face were sharper than ever. “Just don’t try to be a hero. I knew what I was walking into when I came back.”

  Alec read acceptance in his brother’s flat gaze. “I’m no hero. I leave that role to you.” He tilted his head back, fighting to keep his composure. “He’ll be here soon.”

  “Guess this will be it. Maybe the last time we have to talk.”

  “Yeah.” Alec cleared his throat and met his gaze. “I wanted to tell you this for a long time. I’m sorry about what went down in Florida. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  “You were thinking you wanted it over, and you wanted to come home.”

  Alec snorted. “I guess. I went about things ass-ways. Turning wolves. I thought I could control them.” He wished he could walk around the desk and fold his brother in his arms—but Max wouldn’t like that. He was stronger than that.

  “So, you made a mistake. I did too. I should have explained what was happening, what I was learning about the vampires.” The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile. “So what about you and Stasi? You gonna marry her?”

  “If she’ll have me.” And he meant it. Enough playing around—let someone else save the pack from extinction.

  “Way it seems to me, you shouldn�
�t ask her.”

  Alec gave him a startled glance and flushed at Max’s rueful grin. “Yeah, it’s probably not the best approach—to ask.” He grinned at the thought of just how he ought to approach popping the question. Handcuffs might do the trick.

  “I’ll give you a hint,” Max said his voice sliding into a low, teasing growl. “Buy her a collar. She’ll love you for it.”

  Alec didn’t like thinking about how well his big brother knew his future wife. “Did you ever…?”

  “No!” Max shook his head. “I never took to the time to figure out what rang her bell. I was a purely selfish bastard.”

  “Good. Don’t want her comparing.”

  A single dark brow lifted above Max’s twinkling eyes. “Think you’ll come up short?”

  Alec narrowed his own gaze. “Not a chance.”

  His office door was flung open, and Todd strode in. “Ready, Weir?” he asked, his lips curling in a snarl as he approached Max. “Hey, he’s not cuffed!”

  “You don’t need ’em,” Alec said, rising from his chair. “He asked for this meeting.”

  “Still, law’s the law.”

  Max shrugged and held up his hands. “Wouldn’t want you getting nervous on the drive.”

  Todd grabbed one arm and twisted it to bring it around behind Max’s back.

  Alec stepped forward to reprimand him for his unnecessary roughness, but Max shook his head as Todd finished. “I’ll be right behind you, Todd. No detours.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it, boss,” Todd smirked. “The sooner this one gets to the town hall, the sooner he’ll be pushing up daisies.”

  Max’s jaw tightened, but he remained silent as the deputy led him out of the station house to his cruiser.

  Alec followed on their heels, the sick feeling in his belly growing stronger by the minute. He climbed into his cruiser and peeled out of the parking lot, determined not to let Todd and his brother out of his sight.

  Darkness was falling fast, and he flipped on his lights. When Todd’s cruiser left the hardtop to follow the gravel road, his jounced along behind it.