Something About Harry(102)

Her chin lifted, the silhouette of it against the coming night sharp and sure. “For now . . .”

Panic began to rise in Mara’s chest, so tight she was afraid it would explode. “Why did you send Harry to the lab that night, Leah? You could have chosen any other venue. Why at Pack?”

She rolled her eyes as if it were obvious. “Because, you dimwit, I couldn’t let him go home to Mimi and Fletcher when he was going to turn. What kind of mother would I be if I let them see that? It would frighten them, and I wanted to be there with him when it happened. And Pack was the perfect place. It was where we met—where we would have fallen in love if not for you!”

Mara heard nothing else but one word. Mother? Leah thought she was Mimi and Fletcher’s mother? If she was granted more time, she was going to kick herself for never picking up on a single clue about just how disturbed Leah really was. She kept her next question as casual as possible. “So are the kids with Jeff?”

“They’re hiding,” she taunted, grinning wide, her eyes flashing like they were playing out some game.

Hiding. Okay. Mara fought to stay sharp—aware, flexing her fingers to keep the ache of the cold away. “You did such a good job of hiding them. You’re so smart.” Praise—validation—recognition. Wasn’t that what every mad genius secretly wanted?

Leah was back at attention again, standing erect, waving the gun at Mara under the setting sun. “You don’t mean that, liar! You want the children. You want to be their mother. I saw you tubing with them. I know! But I won’t let you, Mara! You’re dirty, so dirty! If I can’t have them, you can’t have them either!”

Mara held up her hands. “No! You don’t have to give them to me, but don’t you want to tell Harry where they are, Leah? You can’t be a whole family without him, right? He completes the picture.” Just saying those words made her want to gag, retch until her stomach was empty—she fought the bile rising in her throat.

“He’s so handsome, isn’t he? We’d make a perfect couple,” Leah cooed, her eyes far off and glazed now, a teenager this time. One with a crush no one had ever suspected.

Darkness was coming, and the temperatures would drop to the teens. If the kids were somewhere around here, they’d freeze to death.

Praying for patience, Mara continued to play the game. “You would. So let’s go get the kids and you can bring them to Harry yourself. He loves them so much, just as much as you do.” Mara moved even closer, pressing her knuckles against the rocks inches from where Leah stood. She held out her hand, forcing it to still. “Why don’t you give me the gun, and you can go find Harry, okay?”

Leah stiffened, visibly tensing. In a flash, the gun was pointed at Mara’s chest. “You lie, Mara! You’re never going to let me go. I could’ve made Harry love me, but you ruined everything. You took him from me. You used your slutty charms and stole him away. You’re unclean, dirty, dirty Mara. I hate you!” she screamed, her finger reaching for the trigger.

“Nooo!” a familiar voice bellowed. Just before Leah screamed her rage, a body fell from high atop the crag of rocks onto her.

Leah was knocked to the ground, the gun dropping from her fingers, her head crashing against a sharp edge on the face of the rock.

Mara went for the gun just as Guido rolled to his side and grabbed it, but Leah was stronger—so much stronger than him.

She rose and pounced on him, fighting him for it, clawing at his fingers until she had it aimed at his chest. Her screams angry, her howl frenzied—she pulled the trigger before Mara could blink—the blast of the gun earsplitting, cracking and echoing in the open space.

Guido’s anguished cry rang in Mara’s ears as a pool of blood began to form at his shoulder.

Sorrow at Guido’s still form mingled, danced, warred with rage until rage won the battle. “I’ll kill you!” Mara howled, racing toward Leah’s back, preparing to launch herself at it.

Out of the inky darkness, Nina was there, her warrior cry a high-pitched roar of wrath. She fell on Leah, tearing her from Guido’s body just as Harry ran to his side, ripping his shirt off and pressing it into the oozing wound.

Wanda and Marty pulled up short behind him, dragging him from Guido and replacing his hands with theirs. “Go!” Wanda ordered with a harsh bark. “What Leah says is true. Arch says she has the kids! Find the kids and Jeff!”

Nina hauled Leah up by her neck, shaking her like a rag doll. “Where are the kids, you fucking fruit loop?” she hissed in her face, jerking her body, flashing her fangs.