Once Bitten, Twice Burned(92)

“I’m going back to the bar,” Ryder said. He glanced at Sabine’s brother. The guy was pale, but not fighting.

Why would he fight now?

Sabine lightly touched Rhett’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

She kept apologizing to the guy.

Ryder shook his head. “Rhett, I want you to take your car and get out of New Orleans.” The link was effortless. Humans were so easy to control.

Rhett rose to his feet. His gaze drifted to Sabine.

“Go to Memphis,” Ryder instructed. He could just think the instructions and Rhett would obey, but he said them out loud so Sabine would know all of the plans. “Find a club called The Blue Jay. Tell the bartender that I sent you.” Rhett would fit right in there, and Jay would make sure the guy was safe, until Ryder sent for him again.

Rhett nodded. “I can . . . feel you.” He rubbed his temples. Almost clawed at them.

Stop.

Rhett’s hands dropped. “In my head. You’re . . . in my head.” His eyes were wide with horror, but he made no move to attack Ryder.

You want to fight me. You can’t. So you just need to walk out that door. Get in your car. Drive to Memphis.

Slowly, very, very slowly, Rhett started to walk. But then his gaze drifted to Sabine. Guilt was written all over her face.

Tell her you love her.

Ryder didn’t even know why he sent the command, but Rhett’s voice rasped, “I love you.”

Sabine’s eyes squeezed shut, as if she couldn’t bear to look at her brother. “I love you, too, and I swear, I’ll make this up to you. I swear.”

Rhett lifted his hands. Pushed hard against his temples once more. “In . . . my . . . head.”

Stop.

“Hurts,” Rhett whispered, sounding lost.

Sabine opened her eyes, frowning at him. “What hurts?”

Perhaps this human wasn’t as weak as he’d originally thought. Walk away, now. Ryder focused harder and actually got the guy to move. One foot. Another.

A few more steps, then Rhett opened the door.

Don’t look back.

Rhett’s body trembled. The human had one strong will. Stronger than any Ryder had encountered before. “Keep her . . . safe,” Rhett rasped. “Or I’ll . . . stake you.”

You can try. Ryder gave another hard mental push, and Rhett left the cabin.

Sabine stared after him. She didn’t speak until she heard the car crank up. Then drive away.

“Thank you.”

She shouldn’t really thank him. Once Rhett got far enough away, the guy might just be able to fight that compulsion.

And come back.

So they didn’t have time to waste. “We need to get to the bar.”

She nodded.

He crossed to her. Caught her shoulders in his hands. “I’m going to have to kill today.”

Her breath whispered out. “Keith—”

Perhaps, but first he had a few other priorities. “I can’t let my enemies go any longer.” The longer he waited, the more dangerous they became. When you were betrayed, you had to strike back. A fast and brutal strike. “If I don’t go after them, they’ll come for me. And for you.” Because needing her so much was a weakness that others would try to use against him. “Wyatt and his scientists used you against me in Genesis. No one else can do that. Ever.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“Vampires sold me out before, so vampires are dying today.” The trap should be set. He’d given the orders. Put the plan into motion.

Now it was time to kill.

“If you don’t want to watch what’s coming, then you need to stay here.”

“They’re—you think they’re going to try and kill you?”

He laughed at that question. “You’re not the only one with enemies on your trail. They’ll try. They’ll fail. I’ll succeed.” Because the minute he got close enough to the traitorous vamps, the battle would be over.

He’d compel them. Control them. End them.

Maybe he didn’t want Sabine to see this fight. Watching him control her brother had been bad enough. Watching him get a group of vamps to stake themselves . . . well, that wouldn’t exactly be a warm and fuzzy memory for her.

“Stay here,” he said, voice deepening. Not so much a question any longer, but an order.

She shook her head at him. “You need me. I’m coming.”

“I don’t—”

“I’m coming with you, Ryder.” Shrugging, she said, “Besides, if I stay here, all alone, who knows what could happen? Maybe Rhett was followed, maybe—”

Hell. “Just don’t try to stop me.”

She shrugged again. The shrug was no answer. They both realized that.