Chapter 25
Leigh was squeezed in between Jamie and a Mr. Sullivan. They stood along the side wall, next to the living room entrance. Leigh had barely paid attention to a thing that had been said so far. The parents were just explaining their break in to the police station earlier. It was nothing important—at least not to her.
Nothing seemed important after what she had just witnessed while working through a college application in Jamie's and Amber's room. She had been sitting by the window when Doug had gone out to sit on the swing. She had tried to faze him out, but hadn't been able to help herself from looking up every couple of minutes. He had started talking to Amber and then…they were kissing!
Leigh was absolutely mortified. After all this time, Doug had shown her nothing but friendship and concern. But then, a few moments around Amber and he'd kissed her? What happened to the whole, you're not old enough argument? Had she really been that pathetic, that he felt the need to lie to her? Leigh felt her cheeks burn just remembering.
She wanted to be angry at him. She wanted to hate him. But how was it his fault if he wasn't interested in her? But she could be angry at Amber for using him. She knew that Amber did this sort of thing all the time. Both she and Alec did. They used each other.
And every time she caught Doug looking at her out of the corner of her eye, her heart throbbed. She even wanted to angry at herself for being in love with him.
As the speech was going on, Porter's dad was moving around the room. He handed her a little vial as he passed. Soon, everyone had a bottle of TryptoKeri within their hands. It was expensive to give out that much TryptoKeri, but necessary. They never knew when they were going to need it—especially if they went after Rollson.
When the police station explanation was finished, Mr. Carlyle spoke up. "But what's this situation with Doug and the Police officer?"
Everyone turned their eyes to Doug and he began to explain—starting with Rollson. A couple of eyes widened at the man's name. Apparently he had a bit of a reputation preceding him.
When he got to the part involving Leigh, she added her voice in. Her voice sounded unused and shaky to her ears. Suddenly, she was being pushed through the crowd to stand next to Doug so that she could be seen and heard. Doug caught her eye when she was unaware and sent her a questioning glance. She didn't bother to respond.
She just turned to face the crowd and continued with her part of the story. She caught sight of her mother's face in the crowd, darkening with horror as she explained the blackmailing. She wished she could leave it out, but it was an important part of the story. When they were finished, she was left feeling exposed.
The only parts they left out were the ones to do with their biting sessions—for which she was grateful. The room was filled with silence. It was so silent that the air conditioning sounded like a revving motor in the background.
"So," a figure from the crowd mentioned finally. "What do you plan to do?"
"We need to fight," Doug responded. "Rollson wants us dead. He wants to destroy the 'wolfs of Lampton Hill, and he will try until he kills us. So instead of waiting until that happens, I suggest we ambush his stronghold!"
There was a giant uproar at this comment. Protests were flying from every direction.
"There's not enough of us!"
"How do you expect us to do that without any equipment?"
"What about the electric fence?"
Leigh saw Doug close his eyes and rub his temples as the noise washed over them. He had never been able to deal with crowds very well. Neither of them was a big people person, but she could handle people better than he could. Despite the hurt that was threatening to overwhelm her, she felt a certain pity for him. She lifted her hands to try to quiet the people.
"All right! All right! He has a plan! Just let him speak!"
Leigh didn't know this fact for sure, but she could bet that if Doug didn't have a plan…he could come up with one pretty darn fast. She hoped, anyway. He and Jamie were both very resourceful when they needed to be.
Doug opened his eyes to take on the crowd. "Okay," he called out. "Does anyone know of some people who would be willing to help us. It's a good point. We would be better off with more numbers."
Leigh turned to look at one person in the crowd. Alec was leaning against the wall, his laughing puppy dog eyes were anything but laughing at the moment and Leigh could pretty darn well guess why. He must have witnessed exactly what she had. He was glowering in his little corner, but at Leigh's glance he straightened. He nodded to her in acquiescence.
"I know of a couple of guys who would be able to help us," Alec spoke up gruffly. "They're not going to like you, though. They don't take well to former slayers. They don't take well to humans in general."
Doug nodded, unfazed by this fact. And unfazed by the fact that Alec was doing his best to indimidate him. "Well?" he asked.
"My old gang from back in Chicago," Alec replied. "They know Rollson well. They've got quite a beef with him in fact. I can speak for them, they'd love to offer their support. Plus, their seasoned fighters."
Doug nodded and began to address the other issues. "As for equipment and the fence--I think I've got some ideas about that. I've got some people I need to talk to on that issue."
"Or threaten," Doug added under his breath. Leigh was near enough to pick up what he had said. She supposed she was the only one in the room who had. She couldn't help smirking at the comment. She thought she knew exactly what he was talking about--but she couldn't be sure. If she was right on her assumption, she'd dearly love to threaten this individual too.
And chances were, he would have some useful equipment for them.
"So when should we make our attack?" Porter's father spoke up.
"As soon as possible," Doug replied. "It'll take us a few days to gather up our resources and think up a strategy...but we should move in right after that. we don't want to give Rollson the chance to get suspicious. Rollson's a smart man and I don't want to leave him any openings."
Murmurings began through the room and people began to speak in their own little groups. Their talk seemed mostly affirmative. The plan was definitely a go. Doug had effectively placed himself in charge of this operation. Leigh only hoped he had some good ideas, because she knew nothing about tactics and strategy.
People began to disperse into small circles.
"Hey, can I talk to you?" Doug asked, regarding her with an inquisitive look.
Her mind started flashing warning bells. She couldn't tell what he was thinking--or even what he was feeling, although enough of his cells were lycanthropic. He was obviously learning how to block himself. It left Leigh feeling nervous and jittery--not knowing what his intentions were.
Hiding up one's emotions was not generally done within a pack of wolves. The telepathy was needed for the hunt. Those who would not share their thoughts were instinctively shunned. Often made outcasts. They were like the lone 'wolves in nature. Leigh had been lucky. Her friends accepted her anyway. Now she was experiencing firsthand what it was like to be around someone who chose to hide their emotions.
She had never been the sociable type--but right now she really wished she could read him.
"Sure," she agreed, although she really didn't want to. She had images in her head of him telling her about the kiss with Amber. Her cheeks colored just thinking about it. It was bad enough, reliving the image in her mind. She didn't need to hear it from his lips. But no, he probably wouldn't tell her about that. It was probably just more business stuff. Doug had avoided getting close to her--right from the very beginning.
Doug took hold of her hand and began to tug her in the direction of the French doors. Shivers crept up her arms. Pleasureable shivers. She ignored them. She expected him to let go as soon as he'd tugged her into movement, but he didn't. She was hyper aware of his fingers, cupping hers.
They never made it to the back door, because it shattered with a rocking explosion. Glass sprayed everywhere. For a moment, everybody stood stock still, not sure what was happening.
Then someone--or someones--opened gunfire from somewhere in the woods, bullets pinging against the side of the house.
