Deceptive Changes: Kat LaMond Book 1 by R A Baker

shower, discarded my bloody undies and bra, and stepped under the hot water.  Gosh, that felt good, well except the water hitting all of my wounds.
    I let the water wash away the blood and when it was all gone I soaped up.  I hissed as the soap got into the wounds.  I put my fluff away and sank to the ground as emotion overwhelmed me. 
    I was still crying when all three came into the room.  The glass door opened and they walked into the shower stall; it was big enough to hold five adults comfortably.  They cuddled me as the water rained down on us.
    I stopped crying but couldn’t stop shaking. 
    Todd washed my hair three times before he called it good, then they helped me from the shower, and wrapped a towel around my body. 
    Trace carried me into the bedroom, and they surrounded me on the bed.  Trace laid between my legs and Todd and Erick laid on either side of me. 
    I was starting to warm up with their body heat.  “Do you want to talk about it?” Trace whispered. 
    “Not really.” 
    “I’m here, we’re here, if you want to talk.” 
    I stroked his head and fell asleep.  I dreamed about what had happened but this time I didn’t win.  I could feel the blood ooze out of my wounds, my life slowly fading.
    I woke with a start as I was just about to die. 
    “Are you okay?” Todd whispered. 
    “Mmhm.”  I lay back against the pillows.
    The other two were snoring softly.  “Did you want to talk, Kat?” 
    I think he was truly worried about me.  “Why did you bend to their demands?”
    “I just said that to buy time.  Charles and everyone were out looking for you.  Charles found your car in the woods not too far from here.  When the video came in and I saw them torturing you, I was furious.  I have to buy you a new kitchen.  I destroyed most everything in it.  The fridge is dented and won’t open properly, than the stove lost the battle too.”  I chuckled.  It felt damn good to laugh.  “What happened, Kat?  Please tell me.” 
    I groaned.  “If I tell you, you can’t get mad at me.  I was doing the only thing I knew how.”  I was afraid that he’d be mad at me for what I did, especially at the end.
    “I won’t get mad, babe.  Just tell me.” 
    I told him, everything, even the part about me seducing Caplin.  Gasps came from Trace and Erick.  I guess I had woken them up.  I hadn’t meant to. 
    “Now that you guys are awake, let me up.  I need something to drink.”  They moved off the bed in silence.  I got out of bed and whimpered as my cuts sizzled as they split open. 
    Todd wound his arm around my waist and helped me into the kitchen.  He guided me into a chair and asked what I wanted.  “Anything strong.”  He went to the wet bar and pulled down some whiskey.  He poured a double shot for everyone and brought the tray to the table. 
    We each took a glass.  I downed the whiskey in two swallows.  I breathed out fire as the whiskey hit my throat and stomach.  I handed Todd the glass and he refilled it.  “Slow down, Kat.  This isn’t a race to rid the memories.”  I nodded and took my time on the second glass.
    “I am so glad you are who you are.”  I looked at Erick and was going to ask what he meant but didn’t.  I understood what he meant.  If I had been anyone else I might not have been here now.  Most women are afraid to use their powers of seduction and their ruthlessness to gain an upper hand on their attackers.  I wasn’t one of them.  I closed my eyes and snapped them open when I saw Caplin’s eyes looking at me like I was the world.  I started to tear up again.
    “Kat,” Todd said softly.  Todd and Trace put their hands on my back and lightly rubbed. 
    “It’s not that, Todd.  It’s that I had to kill Caplin.”  They looked at me, confused.  “I’ve never killed another vampire, after Antreas, where I knew their names.  Caplin seemed to trust that I wanted him.  I feel that I betrayed that trust by killing