I was confused. "Show me what?"
Lucas' eyes glittered at me. "Ash aren't privy to the inner world of our kind. Tessa will soon find out the vampires have built their kingdom on a bed of deceit, blackmail, and murder."
Goosebumps broke out on my arms, and I swallowed. He was a hell of a scary storyteller, and I was thinking of those files in the room. How much more ugliness could there be?
Lucas waved his hand at Sam. "With your computer skills, you could find out what I'm talking about. You just have to search in the right places."
Sam and I exchanged a look, and I knew he was thinking about that information he found on that message board, about Sanctum. I could practically see the thoughts churning through his mind. No doubt, next chance he was at a secure computer, he was going to have another attempt at finding the dirt on the Hive, following these bread trails from Lucas.
Wrapping my arms tightly around myself, I fought off the shakes, which were partly to do with the freezing water and partly with fear. My world was about to be turned on its head, and no way was I ready for it to happen.
Leaning forward, Lucas kissed my cheek. "Be safe, Charlie. I couldn't save my wife but … I will save you."
My eyes felt hot and damp. But before I could say anything or thank him, he was already out of the shower and gone from the room, leaving the three of us in a heavy, and uneasy silence. I wasn't sure about the boys, but my thoughts were nothing short of tumultuous. I was not ready for this. No way at all.
Chapter 12
After Lucas left, the boys and I got to work on our new plan. Kyle lifted his walkie-talkie. "Shift change. Oliver, Jared, and Markus to Charlie's apartment."
We were on point now. Time to put the "Ryder rescue and escape from Hive plan" into motion. First step, we needed all hands on deck. There were so many different elements to the success of this plan, and if even one got messed up, it could screw the entire thing sideways.
Pushing through the boys, I threw both of them a towel. They were only a little damp in places but I needed to change. Stepping up to my closet, I pulled out clubbing gear. If I was going to play this part, I was going to do it right.
Waiting until Kyle and Sam had left, the boys closing the door behind them, I stripped off my soaked clothing and shimmied myself into new underwear and a short black dress, a dress I had been waiting for the perfect moment to wear.
I'd had this piece handcrafted by an ash who specialized in concealed weaponry. The material was soft, flowing, but still tight in the right places. I could run, climb, and kick ass in this thing without a problem. There were even little sewn-in booty shorts so I didn't crotch flash anyone while laying a smackdown.
I added black tights and calf-high black boots, which had small side inserts for a few knives. I strapped on the thigh holster, and as I dropped the dress down I was more than pleased to see that it was invisible under the dress. That dressmaker ash was a freaking genius.
A few moments in the bathroom for dark makeup and sexy, tousled hair. We didn't want anyone to think we were anything but party people tonight-stupid, drunk, and out-of-control.
By the time I stepped into the living area, six males were standing around, hulking out the place. I gave a bit of a wolf-whistle. "Well, don't you boys clean up nice. I'm totally looking forward to a night of fun. I need a break from all the stress in my life."
I was slipping into my role, hoping like hell that whomever was listening on the other side of the bugs in here was relaying this shit word for word. It pissed me off so bad that we were under constant surveillance and had to watch everything we said. Thank God we'd be long gone from here soon.
Jayden stepped out from the shadows and threaded his arm through mine. "I dressed them up. Poor things can't seem to get out of enforcer black." He kissed me soundly on the cheek. "And don't you look gorgeous. Unlike them, you should wear this little black dress much more often."
I grinned, my eyes shifting across the enforcers as I took much more notice of their clothing this time. Hot dayum, Jayden had done a fantastic job as the stylist tonight.
Jared was in a fitted, olive-green shirt. It clung to his honed muscles and brought out the real blond Aussie surfer thing he had going on. Markus wore green also, but it was a different shade, much lighter, and his beard was neatly trimmed, a perfect man-bun on top. He looked extra-bulked and tall tonight, his combat boots topping him out near six and half feet. Oliver was all Latino lover. He had on a dark gray dress shirt, and slacks, and I knew Jayden had drooled the entire time he was picking out that outfit. Sam was still pretty much in black, although I caught a peak of a white cotton shirt beneath his leather jacket. He was epitome of tall, dark and mysterious. The last of the sexy six, Kyle, wore a blue shirt which brought out the lighter highlights in his dirty-blond tousle of hair. As our eyes clashed, I could see how unhappy he was. Like me, he was not taking this thing with Ryder well. But we were going to sort it out tonight.
Our mood was falsely jovial as we made our way to the karaoke lounge. The Hive was pumping tonight, and there seemed to be a great mix of ash and vampires around. I liked that. More victims for us. In a sad way, I was really looking forward to the next hour. I was not only going to let loose in the club, but I was getting my Ryder back. Bastards had messed with the wrong unicorn ash.
I threw my head back and started to dance as I entered the room. The music was blaring, and as we stepped further into the dark room, the beat enveloped me. All of us headed straight to the bar. The plan was in motion, and the next thirty minutes were the most important. We had to be seen drinking. A lot.
There were ash behind the bar, even though vampire females were prowling the floor taking orders. Kyle leaned in and ordered our first round of shots, the special vampire moonshine ones, and also a chaser beer for each of us. The moonshine was potent; it would knock me on my ass, but I wasn't planning on actually drinking it. The second the shot glasses and bottles were in front of us, we gathered our drinks closer. I grabbed my beer first, pretending just to take a sip, before discreetly gulping down half the bottle.
"Ready?" Kyle grinned, flashing those perfect teeth at me. I gave him a wink in return.
The seven of us lifted the clear glasses and took the shot. I made a face, managing to keep the disgusting contents in my mouth, before lifting the bottle and spitting it into the beer.
I shuddered a little. Hopefully these shots weren't so potent that I'd still get drunk from just having it in my mouth, because I was pretty sure I could spit fire right now. We continued this for thirty minutes, ordering beers and shots like they were going out of fashion. The bit of alcohol I was getting was enough to loosen me up, and then it was easy to start acting drunk. We were drawing attention, the enforcers around me were both feared and revered amongst the ash, even tolerated by the vampires, sort of. Not to mention the rumors were running wild about why our security clearance had been revoked and where Ryder was. Vamps were gossiping bitches.
When a new song came on-this group of karaoke wannabes were a lot better than the last-I let out a shriek and grabbed Kyle's hand, dragging him away from the bar and toward the dance floor.
"Wheee!" I squealed, pulling him into the fray, smashing against people as we went. I flailed my arms in a ridiculous version of dancing, even managing a couple of leg kicks which knocked down more than one vampire around me.
Kyle threw back his head and laughed. Somehow he'd managed to bury his anger deep enough to pretend with me. Both of us kept this up, creating more than a little ruckus on the dance floor. Kyle reached out and captured both of my hands, spinning me around. Ash and vamps were diving out of our way, but we made sure to extend our reach and still bump a lot of them. Aim of the game: annoyance. And we were on fire.
Finally, we nudged the wrong vampire. Knew it couldn't be long before their arrogance kicked in and someone decided to put us stupid ash in our place. I anticipated the shove, but because I was supposed to be drunk as a skunk, I pretended to trip and I hit the ground hard. Kyle roared above me, in a pissed off cave-ash type of way. Then it was on.
The vampire I had nudged was now locked into a brawl with Kyle. I allowed myself one quick glance to the far wall and saw Lucas enjoying some blood wine before I jumped up and threw myself into the fight. Forcing my movements to remain staggered and clumsy, I swung around and cracked the vampire, who had Kyle in a headlock, in the back.
I let out a crazy sort of giggle. Everyone had to continue to believe we were hammered. One of the ash bartenders leapt over the bar and came at me full force.
"Break it up!" he yelled, reaching for me.
Sorry, buddy, you're kinda cute, but you're going down. I gave him a strong upper cut to the jaw and he flew back as I let out another fake cackle of drunken laughter. Another bartender flew over the bar, but Sam tripped him before he reached the dance floor.