Broken Blood by Heather Hildenbrand Page B

her voice and I knew, at least when it came to Steppe, she wouldn’t condemn me for a single punch. I picked myself up and sat on the edge of the bench seat, turning my back on Steppe. I needed distance. But my mind wasn’t something I could run from.
    Victoria slid onto the seat, and I felt her eyes running the length of me. I didn’t know what she was looking for, but I wasn’t capable of giving anything of value. Not when I was barely hanging onto myself as it was.
    Then just give in and let go. It’ll make you stronger. Clearer. And you need that if you’re going to lead.
    The anger was a dull ache now, mixing with my homesickness and my despair. Muddling the fury I felt at Victoria for her forced betrayal. For the disdain I felt for Olivia and Lexington and even Alex. Every negative emotion melded into one and it made me sick. My stomach rolled with nausea. I needed out of this van. I needed Wes.
    One thing my most recent failure had taught me was that I needed help and support. Someone on my side. My friends and family. A team. Not the one I was currently stuck with. Two Lexingtons, an enemy, and a mad scientist were not enough support for the mental war I waged. And maybe that team could think thoughts of victory for me since I wasn’t capable. I was lucky just to hold up and not give in against the whispered offerings of sharing world domination. How would I ever defeat an enemy that knew my every thought even as it entered my own mind?

Chapter Nine
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    T he phone rang three times before someone picked up. Enough time for me to lose patience and begin pacing. I was more focused on finishing the conversation so I could hang up and dial the next person than to even hear her voice. I was only calling her first because if she ever found out I didn’t, she’d skin my wolf hide.
    “Hello?” I heard after what felt like forever.
    “Grandma?” I said. The wind seemed to rip the word from my throat as I offered it.
    “Tara? Oh my God, Tara, is that you?” Before I could answer, there was muffled movement and then I heard, “Elizabeth, get over here. It’s your daughter.”
    My mother’s voice in the background sent waves of relief through me. I hadn’t even realized the stress of worry until it unraveled at hearing them bickering in whispers over who got to hold the phone. Some things never changed.
    “Tara?” my mother shrieked.
    “It’s me,” I assured them. “I’m okay.”
    “Where are you?” Grandma demanded. “We’ve been searching high and low.”
    “I’m with Mr. Lexington and Steppe. In a van—”
    “Tell us exactly where,” Grandma said. “We’ll be there faster than you can say tough titties.”
    “Does he know you’re calling us?” my mother demanded.
    “Just stop for a second,” I said and they fell silent. “Yes, he knows I’m calling.” I threw a glance back at the van in the darkened lot behind me where I knew Steppe waited, still tied and gagged. Which was mostly for everyone else’s benefit since I could still hear him loud and clear in my mind. Ragging on me for being “that girl who called her mommy when she got into trouble.” I ignored him and concentrated on filling them in.
    “There was an ... incident. Astor helped. It’s kind of a long story. The important thing is that I’m free,” I told them.
    “What kind of incident?” my mother asked, worry coating the words until they were barely recognizable out of her mouth.
    “I’ll explain when I see you, I promise. I’m with Mr. Lexington. He’s helping me. And I have Victoria and Astor and—”
    “Don’t trust Lexington,” Grandma warned.
    “He’s working against us,” my mother added.
    “Guys!” I let out an exasperated sigh. Two months of captivity, of not speaking to them, of them probably wondering if I was dead, and this was their idea of a reunion. “I can’t stay on the phone long. Mr. Lexington says we have to keep moving. It’s not safe. We’re going to