Touched By A Marine (Book 1)

Chapter Fifteen: USMC Birthday Ball

"What's with the syringe?" I asked.

"It's time for your weekly dosage. You're starting to feel like your old self again."

Vlad rose from the bed as I took a step back. "Vlad, wait a minute. Please don't do this."

"I am sorry, James, but this is the only way that I know you'll return to me. You belong to me after all."

I eyed the syringe very carefully as Vlad used his other hand to grab my arm and to pull me towards him. Fear shot through me as I took action and punched him square in the chest with as much strength as I could possibly master. He fell to his knees as the wind was knocked out of him. The syringe rolled on the floor next to my bed as I picked it up and stood behind Vlad. Rising my hand high above my head I drove the syringe straight into the side of his neck as he grunted and rolled onto his back looking up at me with hate filled eyes. "I'm sorry" I said as I walked to the door. I sprinted to the elevator and pushed the button for Noah's floor. Not waiting for an answer I burst through the door just as Noah emerged from the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist.

"James? What's wrong?"

"I...I...I stabbed Vlad with a syringe." I stuttered. "Noah, he was going to use it on me. Just like he did before. I'm sorry, I had no choice."

"Hey, it's going to all right." He said as he hugged me. "What do you need me to do."

"I need you to get dressed and to come with me. We're going on a little trip."

I never saw Noah dress himself so quickly before, the guy was like a tornado as he spun around putting on a black muscular shirt with dark blue jeans and his pair of big black shitkickers. He went into his closet and armed himself as he grabbed his leather jacket from off the kitchen chair and escorted me from his room as he lead me down the hallway to the basement. That's weird, I thought to myself. I wasn't even aware this place had a basement expect for the dungeon that is. A string of lights led the way down a long stone tunnel where at the end was an old wooden door with an iron latch for a handle and a wooden support beam for a locking mechanism. On the other side was a parked car that faced the on-ramp to the outside world.

"What is this place?" I asked as Noah shut and locked the door behind me.

"This used to be an old underground parking garage from back in the 50's."

"The 50's? Wait a minute, isn't that like, from back in your days?" I teased him.

Noah snorted. "Hell no! Now, come on, we don't have a lot of time. Where are we going?"

"Babcock Lake. It's in upstate New York near the boarder into Connecticut. The Cullen brothers have a lake house up there."

"And how do you know if they're still going to be there when we pull up?"

"I don't. Give me your cell phone."

Tossing me his phone, Noah hopped into the driver seat and started the engine as I slid into the passenger seat and dialed Brad's number to text him.

Hi baby.

Who is this?

Are you serious? You don't even recognize your own boyfriend's text's. I'm hurt.

James!? Are you alright? Is everything okay? What are you doing with this number?

Brad, listen to me. I'm on my way to the lake house with Noah. Don't worry he's on my side. I trust him. Where are you?

I'm at parents house with Roman getting for the ball tonight. Which by the way, you should be too.

I know, I won't miss the limo. Look, something happened between me and Vlad. I really need to see you. Can you come please?