Page 57 of Bound by Vengeance
Vicky barely recognized his guttural voice.Then, over his shoulder, she saw movement.
“Nathan, he’s waking,” she said.
CHAPTER 26
Nathan turned as Jordan’s head lulled on hisshoulders and rose. He blinked at them before his hazel eyesnarrowed and a wave of hatred washed out of him as he wiggled hisway into a sitting position against the wall.
Nathan leaned protectively closer to Vickyand rested his hand on the wall beside her head. Jordan’s mouthopened and closed three times. His gaze darted between them beforefalling to his bound ankles; he jerked on his wrists as he gruntedin disgust.
“Is she the reason you sold us out and madethis unholy alliance with the vampires?” Jordan asked.
“I’ve sold us out to no one,” Nathanreplied.
“That bitch attacked me.” Jordan leanedforward and spat a gob of blood on the floor. “I was coming here tospeak with you, and she attacked me.”
Vicky opened her mouth to protest Jordan’swords before closing it. This was something for Nathan to judge;Jordan was one of his people, and if he chose to believe him overher, then so be it.
“Oh, I don’t believe that,” Nathan murmured.“How did you know I was here?”
The tone of Nathan’s voice was calm, yetsomething about it made the hair on Vicky’s nape rise. If Jordanwere smart, he’d start playing nice, but she didn’t think herealized how volatile Nathan was right now.
“I saw you leaving the stronghold one day,”Jordan replied.
“And you followed me?”
“I’d hoped to speak with you privately, butwhen I saw you withher, I didn’t think I could trustyou.”
“Trust me with what?”
Shut up, Jordan!Vicky screamedinwardly as Nathan’s body coiled like a tiger ready to pounce.Jordan seemed to realize Nathan wasn’t as controlled as hebelieved; some of the hostility eased from his features, and hisgaze flicked nervously to Vicky.
“I, ah… I believe some hunters are unhappyabout our new arrangement with the vampires and might be planningsomething,” Jordan stated as sweat beaded his upper lip.
“You don’t say,” Nathan replied in a voicedripping venom. “Who are these hunters? I’ll need names toinvestigate this further.”
Nathan lowered his hand to Vicky’s cheekwhen she shifted against the wall and winced. Jordan’s lips pulledback in a sneer before he composed his face into a blank lookagain. Keeping his eyes on Jordan, Nathan stroked Vicky’s cheekwith his thumb.
“You don’t approve of this, Jordan?” Nathaninquired.
“If you want to bang a vamp, that’s yourchoice.” Jordan’s tone made it clear he’d rather have all his teethpulled out with pliers and no Novocain.
“Itismy choice,” Nathan repliedbefore kissing Vicky’s forehead and rising to his feet.
“Nathan,” she whispered.
“It’s okay,” he assured her before stridingacross the room to Jordan. The man’s head tilted back as Nathanstopped to stand over him. In his mid-forties, Jordan was twentyyears older than him, had more training and hunting time under hisbelt, but Nathan would be the one to end him. “We’ll discuss thislater.”
Before Jordan could reply, Nathan hammeredhis fist into the side of his face. Jordan didn’t make any sound ashe slumped to the ground, unconscious. Retrieving a rope and a ragfrom his supplies, Nathan lifted Jordan’s chin, forced his mouthopen, and shoved the cloth into it. Jordan’s breath whistled in andout of his broken nose.
Nathan tied the rope around the handcuffs onJordan’s wrists before walking over to the kitchen sink. Openingthe cabinets beneath the sink, he tied the other end of the ropearound the PVC piping there. If he struggled enough, Jordan wouldbe able to break free, but Nathan would hear him trying to escapebefore then.
Returning to Vicky, he slid his arms underher and carefully lifted her. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“Getting you cleaned up before we leave,” hereplied. “Are you healing?”
“Starting to.”
“Good.”
