The Pack's Tainted Angel

Chapter Five: Linda

Linda slinked through the hallways her every step as light as she could make it. If she got caught her brother would no doubt lock her up. 

He had been insane since her kidnapping. It didn’t matter she was back now safe and sound, no. He didn’t want to let her out of his sight most days. 

Thankfully for her though, Ivon was still required to be at the hospital and fill out paperwork and the like for his position. Which left her much needed time alone away from the nag.

She slipped through a doorway and grinned as she saw her prey just sitting out on a table. She scooped her precious laptop into her arms and heard a tiny click as something hit the floor. 

Raising an eyebrow she set her precious down and bent down and picked up the small device. Why in the world did her laptop have a USB device in it?

She pocketed the thumb drive and grabbed her baby. She eased the door back open and tensed as she stole a glance down the hallways. 

Good, no sign of him. With a grin, she closed the door behind her and hurried as much as she could back to her car.

As soon as she was in the driver’s seat she let out a pent up sigh of relief. She wasn’t about to let her i***t brother steal her laptop again, especially if the guy didn’t even know how to use it. 

It wasn’t her fault that she was the tech-savvy one in the family. She just hadn’t expected him to go through her history and take the laptop like she was a child. 

Her fist clenched on the wheel and with one hand she threw the car in reverse as she eyed her rear view mirror.

Once Linda was safe back at the house she kicked her shoes off at the door and rushed to her room. She tried to lock the door when she realized that her awesome brother had taken out the pins to let her do so. 

Being too curious to get too annoyed at the moment she plopped down on her bed and pulled out the laptop. She rummaged in her pocket, slapped in the stick, and waited for the screen to appear. With a few clicks, she had a video going.

As she watched, Linda really wished she had some popcorn. She grabbed a package of gummies out of her drawer and ripped it open with her teeth. She threw a few into the back of her throat and as her attention returned to her laptop she swallowed one and started to choke. 

There on the screen with a nasty gash on her head was her, at one time, best friend in the entire world, August Foreman.

Linda watched the video several times in a row trying to memorize every word, every movement that came from those displayed. Fury lit up inside of her and her fingers clenched around her mouse so hard it started to crack. With a curse, she let go but she couldn’t take her eyes off the scene.

A knock interrupted and Linda tore her eyes away to see who in the world was bothering her now. 

The young vampire was leaning against her door frame and studying her. “Linda, did you go to the hospital and grab that back? You know how Ivon is going to react when he finds out.”

“Right now I couldn't care less about my brother,” she retorted. She patted the spot on the bed beside her. “Here, come watch this.”

“In your room?” he swallowed and took a step backward. “I’m not sure that’s a great idea.”

“Oh come on, Ollie. He’s at the hospital he’s not going to know you sat beside me, calm down.”

“You’ve never been threatened to have your entrails pulled out through your nose,” Ollie retorted but took a seat. “What are you staring at?” He leaned closer until he spotted those on the camera. “What the hell are wolves doing sending you a video?”

“It’s not for me,” Linda protested with a roll of her eyes. “Do you really think a pack of werewolves would bother with me?”

“Yeah, they just asked for you.” He pointed out with a wave at the tape. “You know that’s what they’re talking about. That stupid organization wants you back and they’re using whoever this August person is to get it.”

“I know, but what you don’t know is who that girl is.”

He waited for a moment before motioning at her. “Well go on, don’t leave me in suspense. Who is this mystery woman?”

“August was my very best friend.” Linda smiled at the memories. “Before Ivon was a vampire we were all together all the time. She would have ended up with him, I know it.”

Ollie snorted.

In answer, Linda elbowed him and watched as the immortal tumbled off her bed. “You’re really bad at being a vampire.” She observed with a tiny shake of her head. “Aren’t you supposed to catch yourself or something? Be a master of your surroundings, and all that other crap brother is always spouting?”

“My surroundings didn’t include the possibility of a mortal elbowing me off her bed. I stand by my assessment, there’s no way in hell your brother would ever be tied down to anything or anyone. He’s the last one around here that cares about relationships.”

Linda chuckled and shifted closer to the edge of the bed. Her eyes sparkled as she held out a hand. “So, does that mean you care about a relationship, Ollie?”

The young man paled and using his legs scooted as far away from her as he could. “I’m not crazy. I’m not dealing with Ivon because he thinks I have the hots for his little sister.”

“I’m more than his little sister.”

“Not in his eyes.”

She scowled and turned her attention back to the laptop as she hit play again. She started to gnaw on the edge of her thumbnail as she studied. “I’m going to save her.”

“Wait, what now?” Ollie had gotten to his feet at this and jerked as he looked around to make sure no one had heard the girl’s words. “Are you f*****g serious?”

Linda grinned. 

“Language! What would dear big brother say if he knew you were saying that word around his precious innocent baby little sister? Yes, I’m serious. August was my best friend and her family made her move right before we had that big scandal. It didn’t help that was the time brother got turned into the whole vamp thing either. Kind of put a wrench into the falling in love and getting married thing those two would have stumbled on eventually.”

“I’m not going to let you leave this house. I don’t want to die.”

It was Linda’s turn to snort. “Oh come on, you’re already dead. Do you really fear death that much?” as he turned his head away she frowned and slipped off the bed. She grabbed his hands and smiled as she had his full attention again. 

“Okay, maybe that one was a low blow. But you could come with me, Ollie. We could both leave this place and try to find and rescue my friend. I can’t trust brother to not look through my stuff again and try to stop me. But you know, there’s this really wonderful thing that normal humans have. It’s called a library and it’s a place where you can get information. I bet we can find something about August there and start to figure out why in the world a group of wolves took her in the first place. I can’t just let her be left to them. I won’t do it.”

Ollie groaned but his eyes kept going back to their joined hands. “If we get caught-”

“Then I’ll deal with it. Come on, Ollie. I thought you were always on my side.” She pulled him a little closer until her breath fanned his cheek. “Please? I don’t want to go all alone.” She pressed her lips against his cold cheek and felt him melt at her touch.

Ollie sighed and dropped Linda’s hands as he turned away from her. 

“If you really want me to die that much, how can I refuse? But please, can you stop being affectionate to me to get your way? I’m going to be dead enough over going with you on this hunt of yours. I don’t need to make it worse because your brother thinks there’s something going on with me and you.”

“Would that really be so bad?” Linda demanded with a frown. “I’m not going to put up with you dodging me forever, Ollie. There are other guys out there, you know, alive guys that would take the risk to be with me.”

Ollie’s smile flashed revealing his fangs. “You don’t think I’m taking a risk? I guess you’ll learn when Ivon rips out my heart, but whatever, let’s go to this magical library of yours then.”

Linda packed her laptop up and threw a few changes of clothes in the bag. She gave Ollie a side-eye as she opened up her stash drawer and dumped all of her bags of candy into the bag as well. 

“I am not sharing,” she informed as she ate another piece of candy and the two left the room.