24. VANYA: MY HEROES

I trashed beneath the man leaning over me.
He was trying to blindfold me, but the movement of the car and my trashing body was making it hard for him.
A cry of pain cut of my screaming when the man lost his balance and fell on top of me. His elbow dug into my ribs for a few seconds until he managed to push himself up. The pain left me motionless, and it gave him just enough time to slip the blindfold on and to cover my mouth with a piece of duck tape.
I started trashing once the shock wore off and managed to kick him before he moved to the front of the car.
My hands were tied behind my back with zip-ties that were digging into my skin. The pain eventually made me stop trashing.
It had been easy to escape from the car the first time because the men had been fighting. I was still trying to formulate a plan when I had seen Ezra stepping out of the building.
He was coming for me right? I had caught a glimpse of him running towards the car before I had been thrown into it again.
All I wanted to do was get some fresh air after the video Chief Curry had shown me. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I had soon realized my mistake when the car had parked. I had turned, ready to enter the building again, when I was grabbed from behind.
“That fucking cat-thing animal is following us, dad.”
I focused on slowing my panicked breathing and listen to what they were saying.
“Shoot it.”
“No! Are you crazy?”
“Do it!”
The man whimpered, followed by a few seconds of fumbling and then some more curses.
A gasp fell from my lips when the car swerved, making me slide along the backseat and hit my head on the door handle.
“Shoot it!”
I screamed when the gun went off. Two more shots were fired but it suddenly stopped. The car swerved again and then came to a sudden stop.
“Get to the safe house!” the man hissed.
“I—”
“Get moving!”
Doors opened and slammed shut. Seconds later a hand gripped my ankles and pulled me down the seat until my feet hit the ground. I screamed and the moment he pulled me to my feet I started fighting. Or more like tried. A fist to my stomach had me doubling over in pain.
“I should’ve fucking killed you when I had the chance too,” he hissed in my ear as he gripped my arm and jerked me up.
“What are you going to do to her, dad?”
So they were father and son.
“I’m going to do what I should’ve done from the start.”
The air got caught in my throat when I felt the press of the cold blade against my skin.
“Wait! Take the car and take them on a wild goose chase while I get rid of this bitch.”
There were a few seconds of silence and then the sound a door opening and slamming closed, followed by the car starting and then driving off.
Something inside me was urging me to fight. Ezra wasn’t so stupid. He’d find me any minute now and kill the son of a bitch.
“He’s going to kill you,” I rasped.
“Shut up.”
“He’s here and he’s going to kill you for taking me. He’s—”
The man did something I never expected. He injected me with something that knocked me out within seconds.

***

“Vanya? Can you hear me, sweets?”
I knew that voice. Where had I heard it before? Why couldn’t I remember?
Panic threatened to overwhelm me, but fingers brushed my neck, instantly calming me.
“Come on, rosebud.”
Another hand brushed strands of hair from my forehead.
“Here. This is where the bastard injected her.”
“Orion!”
My body jerked in fright.
“Alpha?”
“Search for a syringe.”
Twigs snapped as someone moved. I felt the bodies that were pressed to my sides tense.
“Better get her to the hospital.”
Someone growled. “No. You’re not taking her.”
“She needs to be questioned!”
“She needs—”
“Enough!”
I moaned when hands slipped underneath my body and pulled me up and against a warm chest. Opening my eyes was a struggle but I managed, even if they wouldn’t open all the way. I opened them just enough to catch the glimpse of a man’s face hovering inches above my own.
“I’ve got you, Vanya.”

***

“Easy.”
Firm hands pressed me back against the bed.
I licked my parched lips and swallowed. My tongue was sticking to the roof of my mouth.
“Here.”
Something wet and cold was suddenly pressed against my lips. I reached up and wrapped my hands over his as my lips parted. Cold water slowly slipped down my throat as I swallowed.
“Not too much or you might get sick.”
When I opened my eyes, it was to a spinning room which thankfully stilled but not before upsetting my stomach.
“You might still feel some dizziness and drowsiness, but it will fade within a few days.”
I sighed. “D-did you catch t-them?”
Devrim hesitated and then shook his head. “They got away. We’re still trying to figure out how they managed to disappear.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “You t-told me not to go anywhere alone.”
“We are all mad at you, Vanya.”
“E-even Ezra?”
“Even him.” Devrim reached out and wiped a tear away with his thumb. “Get some more rest.”
“Stay,” I whispered when he stood.
He pursed his lips and swallowed. When our eyes locked, I could see the urge to run which confused me. I swallowed as his rejection made pain flash through me.
Closing my eyes, I bit my lip as I turned onto my side with my back to him. If he didn’t want to stay then I wasn’t going to force him. Devrim had rejected me once before, maybe he just wasn’t interested in me.
The bed suddenly dipped at my back and a second later a hard body was pressed along the length of mine.
“Our females don’t like cuddling,” he said softly. “I’m unsure if you’re the same.”
“Your females suck.” I smiled and turned my head to look at him over my shoulder. “I like cuddling, but can’t say the same for other humans.”
“Good.” Devrim wrapped and arm around my waist and gently pulled me closer. “I like cuddling too.”
Turning my head back, I reached down to grip his wrist. A sigh fell from my lips when he pressed his face against the back of my neck and started purring.
“I love when you do that.”
“Yeah?” His purring increased. “Wait until I use my tongue on your—”
His words were cut off when the bedroom door was thrown open. Surprisingly Devrim didn’t react like he usually would. He only sighed.
“Dev.”
“What?”
There were a few minutes of silence. “Is she okay?”
“I’m fine,” I answered before Devrim could.
I only managed to turn my head a bit but it was enough to make out Ezra hovering near the door.
His eyes locked with mine for a few seconds before trailing down my body and up again. When our eyes locked again, his were filled with questions and. . .guilt?
I took a leap of faith and hoped that I wouldn’t be rejected again.
Reaching out, I patted the empty spot in front of me. Ezra didn’t hesitate. He walked around the bed and laid down in front of me. Gripping his shirt, I tugged until he moved closer and then wrapped my arm around his waist.
All that was missing now was Obsidian.