Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Date: 2019-03-19 04:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Paranormal; Paranormal Romance; Romance; Vampires; Demons; Novella; Fantasy; Erotica; Adult; Contemporary
Description: From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti comes a new story in her Dark Protectors/Rebels series… Vengeance and revenge are the only forces driving vampire soldier Noah Siosal since losing his brother to an enemy he’s been unable to find. He’s searched every corner of the globe, going through adversaries and piling up bodies until finally getting a lead. The last place he wants to be is in a ridiculous anger management group with people expressing feelings instead of taking action. Until one fragile human, a green-eyed sweetheart being stalked by danger, catches his
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated

Vengeance

A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella

By Rebecca Zanetti

1001 Dark Nights

Vengeance

A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella

By Rebecca Zanetti

Copyright 2019 Rebecca Zanetti

ISBN: 978-1-970077-39-1

Foreword: Copyright 2014 M. J. Rose

Published by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

Book Description

Vengeance

A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella

By Rebecca Zanetti

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti comes a new story in her Dark Protectors/Rebels series…

Vengeance and revenge are the only forces driving vampire soldier Noah Siosal since losing his brother to an enemy he’s been unable to find. He’s searched every corner of the globe, going through adversaries and piling up bodies until finally getting a lead. The last place he wants to be is in a ridiculous anger management group with people expressing feelings instead of taking action. Until one fragile human, a green-eyed sweetheart being stalked by danger, catches his eye. One touch, and he realizes vengeance can’t be anywhere near her.

Anger and self-preservation are the only motivations Abby Miller needs or wants right now. Falsely accused of attacking the man who’s terrorized her for years, she’s forced as a plea bargain to attend an anger management counseling group with people with some serious rage issues, while learning true self defense on the side. Yet a man, one more primal than any she’s ever met, draws her in a way and into a world deadlier than she’s ever imagined. He offers her protection, but she finds the fight is really for his heart, and she’s ready to battle.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

About Rebecca Zanetti

Rebecca Zanetti is the author of over forty romantic suspense and dark paranormal novels, and her books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times, USA Today, BnN, iTunes, and Amazon bestseller lists. She has received a Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review for Wicked Edge, Romantic Times Reviewer Choice Award for Deadly Silence and Nominations for Forgotten Sins and Sweet Revenge, and RT Top Picks for several of her novels. Amazon labeled Mercury Striking as one of the best romances of 2016 and Deadly Silence as one of the best romances in October. The Washington Post called Deadly Silence, “sexy and emotional.” She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off…and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out. Find Rebecca at: www.rebeccazanetti.com

Also from Rebecca Zanetti

Click to purchase

DARK PROTECTORS

Fated

Claimed

Tempted

Hunted

Consumed

Provoked

Twisted

Shadowed

Tamed

Marked

Teased

Tricked

Tangled

Talen

Vampire’s Faith

Demon’s Mercy

Alpha’s Promise

DEEP OPS

Hidden

Taken

Fallen

REALM ENFORCERS

Wicked Ride

Wicked Edge

Wicked Burn

Wicked Kiss

Wicked Bite

SCORPIUS SYNDROME SERIES

Scorpius Rising

Blaze Erupting

Mercury Striking

Shadow Falling

Justice Ascending

Storm Gathering

Winter Igniting

SIN BROTHERS

Forgotten Sins

Sweet Revenge

Blind Faith

Total Surrender

BLOOD BROTHERS

Deadly Silence

Lethal Lies

Twisted Truths

Acknowledgments from the Author

A huge shout out thanks to Liz Berry, my very good friend, who manages to juggle it all, somehow. You’re an inspiration and I’m very thankful you’re in my life.

Thank you also to MJ Rose, the entire Evil Eye gang, and all of the talented authors in the 1001 Dark Nights collections.

Thanks to Fedora Chen, Kasi Alexander, and Kim Guidroz for their dedication and awesome insights, and to Asha Hossain, who creates those stunning book covers. Thanks also to Dylan Stockton for his formatting skills and KP Simmon for her incredible publicity efforts.

Another heartfelt thank you goes to my good friend, Jillian Stein, the most amazing social media manager in the world.

As always, a lot of love and a huge appreciation for Big Tone, Gabe, and Karly, my wonderful family who is so supportive. Finally, thank you to Rebecca’s Rebels, my street team, who make this job even more fun.

Dedication

This one is dedicated to Asa Maria Bradley and Boone Brux, my fellow authors, good friends, and survivors of Snowmagedon 2019.  Arctic Thunder, Forever!

Discover 1001 Dark Nights

Click here to explore

COLLECTION ONE

FOREVER WICKED by Shayla Black

CRIMSON TWILIGHT by Heather Graham

CAPTURED IN SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

SILENT BITE: A SCANGUARDS WEDDING by Tina Folsom

DUNGEON GAMES by Lexi Blake

AZAGOTH by Larissa Ione

NEED YOU NOW by Lisa Renee Jones

SHOW ME, BABY by Cherise Sinclair

ROPED IN by Lorelei James

TEMPTED BY MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian

THE FLAME by Christopher Rice

CARESS OF DARKNESS by Julie Kenner

COLLECTION TWO

WICKED WOLF by Carrie Ann Ryan

WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham

EASY WITH YOU by Kristen Proby

MASTER OF FREEDOM by Cherise Sinclair

CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner

ADORED by Lexi Blake

HADES by Larissa Ione

RAVAGED by Elisabeth Naughton

DREAM OF YOU by Jennifer L. Armentrout

STRIPPED DOWN by Lorelei James

RAGE/KILLIAN by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

DRAGON KING by Donna Grant

PURE WICKED by Shayla Black

HARD AS STEEL by Laura Kaye

STROKE OF MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian

ALL HALLOWS EVE by Heather Graham

KISS THE FLAME by Christopher Rice

DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster

TEASED by Rebecca Zanetti

THE PROMISE OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

COLLECTION THREE

HIDDEN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

BLOOD ON THE BAYOU by Heather Graham

SEARCHING FOR MINE by Jennifer Probst

DANCE OF DESIRE by Christopher Rice

ROUGH RHYTHM by Tessa Bailey

DEVOTED by Lexi Blake

Z by Larissa Ione

FALLING UNDER YOU by Laurelin Paige

EASY FOR KEEPS by Kristen Proby

UNCHAINED by Elisabeth Naughton

HARD TO SERVE by Laura Kaye

DRAGON FEVER by Donna Grant

KAYDEN/SIMON by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

STRUNG UP by Lorelei James

MIDNIGHT UNTAMED by Lara Adrian

TRICKED by Rebecca Zanetti

DIRTY WICKED by Shayla Black

THE ONLY ONE by Lauren Blakely

SWEET SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

COLLECTION FOUR

ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING by Kristen Ashley

ADORING INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

SWEET RIVALRY by K. Bromberg

SHADE'S LADY by Joanna Wylde

RAZR by Larissa Ione

ARRANGED by Lexi Blake

TANGLED by Rebecca Zanetti

HOLD ME by J. Kenner

SOMEHOW, SOME WAY by Jennifer Probst

TOO CLOSE TO CALL by Tessa Bailey

HUNTED by Elisabeth Naughton

EYES ON YOU by Laura Kaye

BLADE by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

DRAGON BURN by Donna Grant

TRIPPED OUT by Lorelei James

STUD FINDER by Lauren Blakely

MIDNIGHT UNLEASHED by Lara Adrian

HALLOW BE THE HAUNT by Heather Graham

DIRTY FILTHY FIX by Laurelin Paige

THE BED MATE by Kendall Ryan

NIGHT GAMES by CD Reiss

NO RESERVATIONS by Kristen Proby

DAWN OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

COLLECTION FIVE

BLAZE ERUPTING by Rebecca Zanetti

ROUGH RIDE by Kristen Ashley

HAWKYN by Larissa Ione

RIDE DIRTY by Laura Kaye

ROME’S CHANCE by Joanna Wylde

THE MARRIAGE ARRANGEMENT by Jennifer Probst

SURRENDER by Elisabeth Naughton

INKED NIGHTS by Carrie Ann Ryan

ENVY by Rachel Van Dyken

PROTECTED by Lexi Blake

THE PRINCE by Jennifer L. Armentrout

PLEASE ME by J. Kenner

WOUND TIGHT by Lorelei James

STRONG by Kylie Scott

DRAGON NIGHT by Donna Grant

TEMPTING BROOKE by Kristen Proby

HAUNTED BE THE HOLIDAYS by Heather Graham

CONTROL by K. Bromberg

HUNKY HEARTBREAKER by Kendall Ryan

THE DARKEST CAPTIVE by Gena Showalter

Also from 1001 Dark Nights:

TAME ME by J. Kenner

THE SURRENDER GATE By Christopher Rice

SERVICING THE TARGET By Cherise Sinclair

TEMPT ME by J. Kenner

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Table of Contents

Book Description

About Rebecca Zanetti

Also from Rebecca Zanetti

Acknowledgments from the Author

Dedication

Discover 1001 Dark Nights

Foreword

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

An excerpt from Alpha’s Promise by Rebecca Zanetti

Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Six

Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights

Discover More Rebecca Zanetti

Special Thanks

One Thousand and One Dark Nights

Once upon a time, in the future…

I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.

I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and
the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast
library at my father’s home and collected thousands
of volumes of fantastic tales.

I learned all about ancient races and bygone
times. About myths and legends and dreams of all
people through the millennium. And the more I read
the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered
that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually
become part of them.

I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher
and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I
would not be telling you this tale now.

But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off
with bravery.

One afternoon, curious about the myth of the

Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to
see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar

(Persian: شهريار, “king”) married a new virgin, and then
sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written
and I had read, that by the time he met Scheherazade,
the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand
women.

Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived
in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged
places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had
never occurred before and that still to this day, I
cannot explain.

Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have
taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can
protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to
protect herself and stay alive.

Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.

And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a
point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.

And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that
he might hear the rest of my dark tale.

As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new
one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before
you now.

Chapter One

Noah Siosal knew not to answer the door. In his gut, he felt the mistake coming. But the pounding was going to alert his neighbors in the quaint condominium complex, and since he didn’t even know their names, he fought his instincts and yanked the damn thing open. Ah, hell. He was already shaking his head at his distant cousin, when Benny dragged in a half-starved immortal with burning blue eyes. “No. Just, no.”

Benny, all six-foot-eight of him, shrugged the guy into the nearest chair. “Family first.”

Family first? “Absolutely not.” Noah shut the door as quietly as he could, when all he wanted to do was tear the heavy oak free and slam it over Ben’s head. “I don’t want anything to do with you, and I sure as shit don’t want anything to do with this beyond damaged hybrid.” He had just moved to the tiny industrial town in Indiana, and taking in a vampire-demon was the last thing he had time to deal with, especially since he needed to get back to the hunt.

Benny sighed, his dark eyes going into puppy dog pleading. If the puppy was a thousand-year-old hybrid with teeth sharp enough to tear apart a Buick. His brown hair hung unruly around his broad shoulders, and a three-day scruff covered his angled face. His dark eyes were bloodshot, and shadows cast marks above his rugged cheekbones. For the visit, he wore ripped jeans and a lime-green T-shirt with Snoopy dancing a jig on it. “I need help.”

No. Just no. Betrayal heated along with anger down Noah’s throat. “You’re working with the Realm.” A fact the entire extended family, if they could be called such, had not known. The Realm was a coalition of immortal species, ruled nicely by the Kayrs family, and Noah’s cohorts had always quite happily stayed out of organized anything. Benny was supposed to be the wildest outlaw of them all. “I heard the rumors about your working with the Realm and lying to us all of these years.”

Benny sighed and ran hands bigger than platters through his thick hair. “I never lied. I just didn’t tell you I was one of the Seven.”

One of the Seven. Of the elite, dangerous, deadly immortals tasked with either destroying or saving the world at some point. The jury was out on which eventuality, and Noah didn’t even know any other details. Nobody did. Right now, it just didn’t matter. “Get out, Benny.”

“Agreed.” The male on the chintz chair some decorator had chosen pushed to his feet, his expression haggard. He had long blondish hair streaked with an unnatural dark brown, striking blue eyes, and a voice so hoarse he must’ve spent centuries screaming. “I don’t want to be here, and he doesn’t want me here, so let’s take our leave, Benjamin.” The male straightened and hitched toward the door.

“No.” With one hand, Benny shoved the guy back down. “Noah? This is Ivar. We call him Viking or Vike because he used to be one. He’s been through a multiple of hell dimensions, real ones way away from this world, and we’re getting him help, but I have a mission at the moment.”

Noah crossed his arms and tried not to feel sympathy for the obviously wounded immortal. Burn scars covered his neck and trailed down one arm, and considering immortals very rarely scarred, the hell dimensions must’ve been beyond comprehension. And who had even known there were hell dimensions available to travel through? Mostly nobody until very recently. “A mission for the Realm?”

Benny rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry about it. But I need somebody I can trust, and he needs somebody who can plant him on his ass if he goes berserk. You’re more than capable.”

It was true that vampire-demon hybrids were stronger than either species alone, and Noah was grateful for the extra strength in today’s world. He looked more vampire than demon, but at his core, he was mostly demon. “I don’t have time for this, Ben,” he muttered.

Benny grinned, the entire look screaming ‘smart ass.’ “I heard you ran into some trouble hunting werewolves in Russia. This will be decent downtime for you.”

Noah lifted an eyebrow instead of rubbing his just-healed chest that a werewolf had clawed through. Weres were mindless creatures intent on killing, and somehow they kept cropping up in the oddest places. “I’m busy.”

“I figured.” Benny sobered. “I’m sorry about Clyde. He was a good soldier.”

Even the name ripped through Noah with sharp blades. “He was. So you understand why I’m busy right now.” Clyde had been the closest thing Noah had to a brother. Hell. They were brothers. And the bastard who’d killed him would go down and hard. As soon as Noah found him, which was why he’d moved to this small shithole of a town in Indiana. His prey had businesses outside in the overgrown and huge industrial area.

Benny sighed. “You do this for me, and I’ll get you a line on his killer.”

“I know who killed him,” Noah gritted out. “Just have to find the asshole.” A good for nothing feline shifter who was supposedly crazy as hell. It had all, like usual, been over a female. “Petersen attacked Clyde from behind. He had to have.”

“Probably. I’ll find out where Petersen is hiding. I have good contacts now, you know.” Benny’s eyes swirled with emotion. “I miss him, too.”

Clyde had only been dead for a month, and Noah had been hunting at the time. Had just found out, and his gut hurt constantly. His head ached. His hands fisted with the need to avenge. “I don’t want or need your help.”

Ben rolled his eyes. “Sometimes it’s necessary to regroup. I heard the Russians paid you handsomely for that last job. You deserve a break from work.” He edged toward the door.

“Being an independent contractor is a good gig,” Noah snapped.

Benny reached for the doorknob. “Contractor, mercenary, assassin.... it’s all respectable. But now, vacation time.”

He could really use intel on where Petersen was hiding, damn it. Noah turned to look at Ivar, who slumped in a way that showed he just didn’t give a damn right now. “I don’t understand, Ben. I don’t know how to help him.”

“Well, now.” Benny clapped him on the shoulder, and the sound echoed loudly through the airy space. “You owe me, and you know it.”

It was true. Noah blew out air. His friend had saved his life in the last war, without question. “This is how you want to call in your chip?”

“Yep,” Benny said cheerfully. He reached in his back pocket and drew out a folded piece of paper. “The queen looked into this, and I signed both of you up with the appropriate background information. The guy running it is supposed to be an expert in PTSD and trauma, even though he’s a human, and it’s just for a couple of weeks until I get back. Good luck.” He shoved the paper into Noah’s hands, opened the door, and shot outside in a surprisingly graceful move. The door shut quietly.

Noah pivoted and stared at the closed door. “What the hell?”

Ivar chuckled, the sound pained. His hand shook as he planted it on his sunken chest. “He’s one of a kind, right?”

Right. Noah slowly unfolded the paper to read the intake forms. Oh, come on. No way.

* * * *

Abby Miller’s legs shook as she walked into the basement room of the old elementary school. Several scarred wooden chairs were arranged in a circle on the cement floor, while a street level window up high was covered in a grate surrounded by leaves and rainwater. One blackboard, green really, was up front with the name of the group spelled out. Anger management support.

Anger. Oh, they had no clue.

A woman strode toward her from a rickety table holding a coffee carafe and Styrofoam cups. “Hi. I’m Dr. Mariana Lopez.” She held out a hand to shake.

“Abby Miller.” Abby shook the shrink’s hand, frowning. “I thought Dr. Johnson was in charge of this group.”

Mariana sighed, her dark brown eyes sparkling. “Yes, he was. But he had unexpected business out of town, and I’m going to cover for him.” She frowned and looked around the dismal area. “We’re supposed to be in a room upstairs, but the Gamblers Anonymous leader got there first. He’s pushy.”

“I see,” Abby said. The woman had to be in her early thirties to be a shrink, but with her chin-length sassy bob, she looked younger. Her bone structure was straight and her lips full, and she’d dressed in nice black slacks with a white blouse, looking professional and smart. Two-inch heels on her boots put her at about five-foot four, an inch shorter than Abby’s height. Abby tugged at her worn hoodie and tried not to grimace at her rain-speckled light jeans. “Okay.”

“Have a seat.” The doctor gestured toward the vacant chairs.

Maybe it would just be the two of them. That’d be all right. Abby strode for a worn chair and sat, crossing her legs. Bruises along her ribs instantly protested. She lived in a suburb away from the city, and it was fairly small, which had turned out to be a bad thing for her. But perhaps this was all right. “Dr. Lopez? If it’s just us, should we go grab a coffee?”

“Mariana,” the doctor said, moving for a briefcase next to a chair and taking out a stack of blue manila files. “I think we’ll have a few of us.”

As if on cue, two men strode inside. The atmosphere instantly changed, warming and somehow becoming heavy. Abby cleared her throat. Thank goodness she was already sitting.

They were huge. Like hugely huge. Like people out of an Avenger movie. The guy in the lead had dark blond hair, black eyes, and a ripped chest beneath a plain gray T-shirt. His face was such strong angles and curves that compelling was too tame of a word to describe him. “Hi,” he said to Mariana. “I’m Noah Siosal, and this is my pal, Ivar. We were in the service together.”

That voice. Low and gritty and male. Abby gulped.

Then his gaze swung to her. Deep and piercing. Somehow irritated. Whoa. Her body conducted an internal shiver, head to toe, and her heart increased in pace. Yep. Even her breath quickened. That made sense. Her taste in men was horrendous, obviously. And now she’d gone all girly and soft at a guy in an anger management class. That was true to form, unfortunately.

She tore her gaze away to study Ivar. He was muscled, with burn marks down the side of his neck and arm. They looked fresh. He was as tall as his friend, but it was obvious he’d recently lost weight by the way his clothes hung on his frame. His hair was a lighter blond with dark streaks strewn throughout that somehow looked natural and genuine. His eyes were a sizzling blue, and that was definitely anger and pain reflected there.

Her fight or flee instincts kicked in, but she stayed in the seat.

Ivar ignored the shrink and strode to take a chair across from Abby, his gaze wandering vacantly to the barred window up high.

Noah sighed. “He doesn’t talk much. Rough mission.” He prowled forward, all power and grace, to sit next to his friend. He settled his hands on his legs.

Abby swallowed. Those were really big hands. Wide and broad. A guy could do a lot of damage with hands like that. Her body chilled.

He cocked his head to the side and studied her, curiosity glimmering in those midnight black depths.

She focused on Mariana, who’d just sat with her files on her lap.

Heavy footsteps sounded, and another man strode into the room. Holy crap. Who were these people? Did anger make somebody huge and seriously handsome? Or were they that way first and then became angry for some unbelievable reason? This guy was about six-foot-five with black hair and piercing green eyes, and he was just as broad as Noah.

Ivar leaped to his feet and Noah sighed, stretching to his. “What the hell?”

The other guy looked around the room, his gaze landing on the files in Mariana’s lap. “You’re not Dr. Johnson.”

“No,” she whispered, looking as bewildered as Abby felt. “I’m Dr. Lopez. I’m taking over this group for the time being.”

“Huh.” The guy shot a smile at Noah and crossed the room to sit next to Abby. “I’m Raine Maxwell.” He even brought heat with him.

Noah’s chin dropped in an oddly threatening way. “Why are you here?”

“I have anger issues,” Raine said smoothly, sounding...amused?

Mariana cleared her throat. “Do you all know each other?”

“No,” Noah and Raine said in unison. Noah nudged Ivar, and they both sat back down, their gazes locked on Raine.

What in the world was going on?

Raine turned his attention to the shrink. “Different branches of the military—all of us former. It’s a natural reaction.”

Mariana’s dark brows arched. “Is it? I don’t think so. Perhaps that’s why you’re all here.” She flipped open the top file. “Noah and Ivar. Two bar fights in the last year, and you put several people in hospitals. We can work on that.”

The two men didn’t twitch. No reaction. That was odd.

Mariana opened the next file. “Raine? Let’s see. A fight with a landlord and a former client that resulted in thousands in property damage.”

“Landlord?” Noah snorted, crossing his arms. Wow. Those were some impressive biceps.

Raine lifted a shoulder. “Let’s just say it was a hellish situation.”

Silence. A heavy, symbolic, thick silence descended. There was more going on here than Abby could fathom, but wasn’t she used to that reality? Her ribs ached, and her right leg twitched. Yeah. She was accustomed to dangerous men who had ulterior motives and hidden agendas.

This was going to be a long month.

Chapter Two

Well, this was a cluster of all fucks. Noah angled his body toward Ivar in case the Viking decided to leap across the room and tackle Raine Maxwell. Not that Noah didn’t want to take the vampire down, just for fun. But considering Raine was probably there to kill Ivar, or at the very least investigate him, blood was surely going to flow soon.

And the vampire was sitting, rather smugly, next to the fragile human female. Abby Miller. A placid name, a calm roll of the consonants. But the woman. Noah couldn’t stop studying her.

Brown hair to her shoulders, greenish-brown eyes, small build. She held herself at full alert, even sitting, as if expecting an attack at any moment. There was anger lurking in her pretty eyes, but there was a well of alertness. Of fear, as well.

This was the oddest of all self-help groups, that was for damn sure.

Then a demoness walked in. A real one. Pure bred. Long blonde hair, deeper than black eyes, tiny stature. Power wafted around her as she all but glided to the remaining chair next to the shrink. Noah had never met a real life pure-bred demoness. They were incredibly rare and impressively powerful. What the holy hell?

She looked up, scanned the room, and then chuckled. Throaty and sexy, the sound vibrated through the room. “Well. This is interesting.”

Yeah. That was surprise and curiosity in her eyes. She hadn’t known there would be other immortals in the group. What the hell was a real demoness doing in a human anger-management group? The female looked up toward the door and sighed, her pink lips turning down as a male leaned against the door jamb.

Human male. Interesting. A cop with badge secured to his belt. About six-foot-two, brown hair, matching beard, blue eyes that had seen some shit. He glared at the demoness and then turned, lifted his chin, his gaze softening, at Abby Miller.

A growl rolled up from Noah’s chest, shocking the heck out of him.

Abby blinked and returned a tentative smile.

The shrink cleared her voice. “Can I help you?”

“No,” the human said. “I’m Detective O’Connell and I just wanted to make sure Abby and Tabitha made it here safely.”

Ah. So cop ordered. But a demoness would just disappear if needed, so why was she going through this farce? And how did the cop know sweet Abby?

“Tabi,” the demoness muttered. “Call me Tabi.”

Abby and Tabi? Shit. This was like a bad sitcom. Noah started as something close to a smile lifted Ivar’s lips. Oh, it was there and gone faster than a blink, but it had been there nonetheless. Maybe this crazy idea was a good thing. Who knew?

“All right. Let’s get started.” The shrink put some authority into her smooth voice. “I’m Dr. Lopez, and you can all call me Mariana. I’m taking over for Dr. Johnson for the next two weeks, since he’s out of town. We should be in the nicer room upstairs, and I apologize for the inconvenience.”

Noah frowned. “You’re an expert in PTSD?” If the woman couldn’t help Ivar, he was out of there.

“No,” she murmured, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I do have some experience with anger management, but usually I work with children.”

Fucking wonderful.

“Let’s go,” Ivar muttered, not moving.

Noah almost nodded, but his gaze roamed to Abby again. She’d looked relieved at Mariana’s statement. Why? Damn curiosity. There was something about her that he couldn’t place. A sense. So he stayed on his chair. Just for this meeting.

“Why aren’t we upstairs?” Raine asked calmly, his voice not quite as hoarse as a demon’s but close enough. Noah had never met him, but he’d heard of the soldier’s record. The vampire was known as a fierce fighter from a long line of soldiers—not aligned with the Realm. Not opposed to them, either. “Mariana?”

The shrink flushed. “That’s neither here nor there. So. Who would like to start? Let’s get to know each other. How about we talk about the inciting incidents that led to your being here today?”

Ivar grunted. “Listen. I went through hell, am angry, and was supposed to meet with your PTSD dude before I get in to see an expert who’s dealing with some rogue demons in Europe right now.” He nodded at Noah. “Lily. The prophet.”

Man, the guy had forgotten where they were. Noah forced a chuckle. “The rogue demons are just some angry soldiers, so I’ve heard. And everyone calls Dr. Lily a prophet because she has a reputation of being able to help somebody to the degree that she can tell their future.”

Tabi snorted delicately.

Yeah, he was full of shit.

Even Raine pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. The two human females just looked at him, having no clue of the undercurrents in the room.

“Ah, I see,” Mariana murmured. “Well, maybe talking it out to this group will help you, Ivar. At least until you can get in to see the expert.”

Ivar returned to staring at the basement window up high in the wall.

Mariana correctly gauged his expression and slid his file to the bottom. “So. Who’s next?”

The cop coughed. “Tabitha? How about you?”

The demoness cut him a glare that should’ve shriveled the human, but the guy didn’t seem moved. Impressive. “Fine,” she muttered. “I purchased the abandoned assembly plant right outside of town for one of my businesses, and I was out there taking a look when four young men decided to act like jackasses.”

Noah barely held back a wince.

“You put all four of them in the hospital,” the cop drawled.

She rolled her eyes. “They deserved it.” With a huff, she straightened. “Turns out one of them is the sheriff’s kid and the judge’s nephew, so there you go.”

Abby blanched. “Yeah. I know the two of them as well.”

Noah’s stomach tightened. Her tone had been low and sad and furious. What was her story, anyway? Then he turned toward Tabitha. So what? She could’ve blown town. Easy.

She caught his expression. “Part of the, ah, fight was caught on a cell phone video by one of the miscreants. That video is in the possession of Detective Smartass there, and apparently he only keeps things in a bank vault.”

Ah. So she was caught on video and had to get it back before disappearing. It was imperative, considering she’d live forever, probably, and couldn’t remain on video in this timeframe. He gave her a light nod. “Understood.”

Ivar kept his focus on the dirty window. “I know a great bank robber. She’s a demoness, too.”

Damn it.

Mariana turned toward him. “You seem to have an interest with the occult and the otherworld. With maybe hell and repercussions? The demons, Ivar.”

Ivar blinked and looked at her. “The occult? Huh?”

Was now a good time to tell her that Noah and Ivar were both demon-vampire hybrids? Probably not. Noah elbowed Ivar. “Ignore his vernacular. We learned such pseudonyms in the military.”

Yeah, right. Man, this was a disaster.

* * * *

Abby tried not to feel sympathy for the screwed-up guy who looked like one of those actors from the Viking show on Netflix. He really did see demons everywhere. She smiled at the detective. Without him, she’d be in jail right now. The guy definitely had come to her aid, when everyone else was against her.

He smiled back.

The sexy guy next to Ivar pinned her with a look. Noah. Such a nice name for somebody so obviously dangerous. What was it about him? Heat climbed into her face, and she turned toward the shrink. “I’m not sure what all to say.” Nobody believed the truth. Except maybe the cop.

“Just tell us what happened,” Mariana said, clutching her files.

“Well, I agreed to a plea bargain for throwing a pitcher at my ex-husband’s head during a domestic dispute that the asshat started and finished.” The judge had warned her, very sternly, about slander charges if she said anything bad against Monte, so she stuck with the judge’s final Order. It didn’t matter that she’d never even had a chance to throw a pitcher before he’d hit her. She still had bruises on her ribs from that last fight. “The prosecutor was going for a jail sentence, and I took a plea deal that Detective O’Connell made sure I could get.” Abby sat back.

Mariana blinked. “Your file shows several arrests and plea bargains.”

“Yeah. I’ve read my file,” Abby said, not expecting anybody to believe the truth. They never did.

Mariana tapped a file. “I can’t help you with your anger issues if you don’t delve into the full truth about where your anger comes from.” Her voice was soft and kind.

“Nobody can help me,” Abby returned, plucking a string on her jeans.

Ivar looked at her for the first time. “I can kill him if you want. Then you won’t have to throw pitchers at his head any longer.” The total unconcerned way he spoke made his words all the more chilling.

Noah chuckled and elbowed him hard in the gut. “He’s kidding. Bad sense of humor. We learned that in the service.” But his gaze stayed on Abby, searching deep. She could almost feel his intent, and it wasn’t an entirely bad sensation. Warning ticked through her head, even as he spoke again. “Can we read each other’s files?” he asked.

“No,” Mariana said. “But this is a safe place, and we can talk about anything.”

“There are no safe places,” Raine returned, almost cheerfully, his gaze square on Ivar.

Ivar rolled his head. “You have no idea, asshole.”

Mariana lifted a hand. “This has to be a safe place. No swearing or name calling, please.”

If that was the voice she used with the kids she normally counseled, it was probably effective. Abby straightened. “Sorry.” She shouldn’t have cursed.

“She meant me,” Ivar said, still slouching.

Mariana turned toward Noah, her hands tightening again on the manila files. “So. Noah. How about you tell us what motivates you?”

“Vengeance,” he said smoothly.

Her eyebrows rose while Abby leaned back in her chair. Vengeance? To just say the word so casually and honestly. The man had some serious confidence, and that should not interest her. Not in the slightest. So why did it?

“It’s like this,” he began to explain. “My brother was killed, and now I have to avenge his death.”

Raine nodded from across the room. “I heard about Clyde. Sorry. Met him once, ah, overseas on assignment. Was a good guy.”

Noah’s chin lowered. “You have any Intel on”—he glanced at the humans—”the insurgent who took him out?” The look on his face promised bloodshed.

“No. Sorry.” Raine’s gaze flickered to Ivar and then back. “I’ve been on a different assignment. Away from the conflict that involved your brother.” He sat back, his gaze serious, the sarcasm and amusement dropped for a moment. “But I can put out some feelers, if you’d like.”

Noah’s back teeth ground together with an audible sound. “I’m thinking you and I aren’t going to work together.”

“That remains to be seen,” Raine drawled, his sardonic expression firmly back in place.

“Try it,” Ivar muttered, not even looking the vampire’s way.

This was so odd. It was as if the two men were speaking in code. But why? Abby forgot her problems and just watched the two in the hope of gaining more info.

Noah glanced to the side. “I’m not sure you want to be issuing challenges right now, Ivar.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Mariana cleared her throat. “Ivar? What’s your motivation here?”

The Viking straightened and slowly, very slowly, turned his head to face the shrink. “To get right back to hell. As soon as possible.”

Chapter Three

Abby finished carting her groceries out to her small compact, careful not to break the cage-free eggs this time. The small and only grocery store in the tiny town had finally started carrying organic offerings, and she chalked that up as one blessing. The shrink had suggested they all count little blessings before the next meeting, and so far, she was liking the practice. Maybe life didn’t suck as much as she’d feared. She gingerly shut her trunk and turned, stopping short.

Nope. Life totally sucked.

“Hi,” her ex said, standing way too close, his car nowhere to be seen. She’d checked before leaving the safety of the store for her car.

She took a step back and looked up to his clean-cut face. Intelligent brown eyes, slightly shaggy brown hair, rugged jaw. If he never moved or spoke again, she’d consider him good looking. “What do you want?” she asked, holding her purse against her chest.

His brows drew down in a familiar frown. “Why must you be so rude? I just wanted to check and see how your anger management class went. I’m hoping it does you some good.”

She swallowed, looking around the nearly vacant lot. An unfamiliar black SUV sat near the lone gas station. Had Monte gotten a new vehicle? She couldn’t see any other options. Winter had just turned to spring, and small sprouts showed through the wide planters set around the two street lights. There was nobody around to offer help. “You hoped I’d go to jail, and you know it.” She lifted her chin and met his gaze.

He stepped closer, his eyes blazing.

Her breath stopped. She slid one leg back, even though she’d end up in jail if she kicked him. Self-defense didn’t mean anything in this town. “There are cameras on the storefront,” she reminded him, out of pure self-protection.

His chin lifted. “So there are.” His body visibly relaxed in complete opposition to the anger in his deep eyes. “I swung by your apartment earlier and was surprised by the mess in the kitchen.”

A small gasp escaped her before she could stop it. “You broke into my place?”

His chuckle was chilling. “Of course not. You’re so forgetful, Abby. You left the door open.” He sighed, the sound long suffering and seriously irritating. “You know you can’t survive on your own. Why don’t you stop this nonsense and just come home where I can take care of you? Where you have a washer and dryer, for Pete’s sake?”

They’d been divorced for more than two months, and he just wouldn’t let go. “I guess I just got tired of getting the crap kicked out of me.” She was done cowering in front of him. Marrying him had been a colossal mistake, and someday she’d forgive herself for that. But not yet.

He shook his head. “You have such a bad memory and you make things up. You know that, right?”

She was finished doubting her own sanity. How could she ever have trusted him? Sure, she’d been in a weakened state when they’d courted and married, but even so. Where had her brain been? “No. I don’t.”

“You owe me, Abigail,” he said. “How could you ever forget that?”

Yeah, she had once owed him. Maybe. He’d saved her life in a car crash, and their whirl-wind romance had gone on from there. They’d married too quickly, and then hell had descended. “Not anymore. I figured I’ve paid you back or done my penance or whatever. We’re even, and it’s time you moved on.” There. She’d said it.

He clucked his tongue. “I’m never moving on. We belong together, and someday, you’ll realize it. No matter what I have to do.”

Her knees trembled, and she hid the reaction. There had been a time she’d been fearless, and that was too long ago. Living with him had taken a toll, and she was just starting to find herself again. “Shouldn’t you be chasing ambulances or something?”

Surprise shot into his eyes a second before he grabbed her arm. Hard.

“I suggest you release her before I break your entire wrist,” came a low voice from behind her.

She jumped and partially turned. Noah Siosal’s long strides ate up the distance between them, his massive arms carrying two huge bags of groceries. Where in the heck had he come from? She glanced at the doorway to the store. The guy had moved silently, now hadn’t he?

Monte looked over the stranger. “This is a family matter. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll move on your way.”

Noah flashed his teeth in a parody of a smile. “Oh, friend. You don’t want to threaten me. Remove your hand. Now.”

Real chills cascaded down Abby’s spine, and she almost instinctively intervened to tell Noah that things were all right. There was a time she would’ve done so, just to avoid a scene. Not now. Now, she wasn’t responsible for either of their actions. So she kept silent.

Noah’s chin lowered, and his very broad shoulders went back.

Monte dropped her arm.

She blinked. Wow. Okay, then. She took several steps back, leaving nothing between the two men, who stared at each other with equal amounts of derision. Most people backed down when faced with Monte’s wrath. Not Noah. Interesting. If anything, he looked slightly irritated. Did he truly not understand how the town worked?

Monte smiled then. “Listen, buddy. You’re mistaken in your actions here.”

“Buddy? I’m not your ally here.” Noah leaned forward, his body one long and lean line of pure threat. “My buddies don’t mishandle women, and I’ve not once found myself itching to take off a buddy’s head. So that must not be you.” His voice, low and hoarse, wound through the chilly day. “Touch her again, and it’ll be the last thing you do.”

“Is that a threat?” Monte asked, using his lawyer voice.

“You bet your ass it is,” Noah said, not moving an inch.

Abby’s stomach dropped, and she pressed a shaking hand against the cold window of her backseat. “You should leave, Monte.” How was her voice so calm?

“Again, you misunderstand. She has mental discrepancies and needs help.” Monte straightened. “But right now, I’ll go. I’ll talk to you soon, wife.” He turned on his heel and strode toward the store doors, his long steps hitching when Ivar stalked outside, his arms full of green apples, one in his mouth. Shaking his head, Monte passed him and crossed inside.

Ivar paused. “What did I miss?”

* * * *

Noah didn’t like the paleness of the female human or the wide brownish green eyes. Scratch that. Her eyes were stunning. Clear, intelligent, soft. But right now, her pupils had widened as if she’d been hiding from predators. “Are you all right?” he asked.

“Fine.” A soft coral color slid across her angled cheekbones, just beneath that smooth skin. “I appreciate your intervention, but I’m not sure you understand the situation.”

Ivar finished approaching, munching loudly on the apple. “Did he call you wife? You married?”

“Divorced,” she said, the sound relieved. “He’s having a hard time letting go.”

Ivar partially turned to eye the storefront. “He’s the guy who said you threw a pitcher at his head and then actually got you arrested and charged for it?”

She shuffled her feet. “Um, yeah. I guess you could say that.”

Ivar opened his mouth and Noah quickly intervened. “We’re not killing him.” Not right now, anyway.

Ivar closed his mouth, and Abby gave a slight chuckle. “I agree,” she murmured, her body relaxing for the first time that afternoon. “But it was a kind offer earlier. I haven’t laughed in a long time.” Her entire face lit up as she smiled, the sight genuine and alluring.

Ivar finished the fruit and started on another one. “I overheard something about mental discrepancies. What’s up with that?”

Her face lost color.

Noah cut Ivar a hard look. “Dude. Manners.” Being alone for centuries fighting through hell worlds was no excuse for being rude to a tiny human.

“Oh. Sorry.” Ivar kept munching. “My bad.”

The hair on Noah’s neck prickled, and he turned toward the road to see a new and shiny gray truck drive by. The window rolled down, and Raine Maxwell gave a short nod, obviously keeping an eye on them.

“We’re gonna have to take care of him,” Ivar said quietly.

Abby’s head jerked. “What does that mean?”

Noah growled. “I liked you better when you didn’t want to talk, Viking.”

Ivar shrugged. “None of this was my idea, and I might as well enjoy my brief time here. Before I go back.”

“To hell,” Abby murmured. “That’s what you said in group. Does that mean you want to go back overseas? Into combat?”

Ivar finished the second apple. “I left a buddy there, and I have to go get him. It’s that simple.”

“Oh.” She reached out and patted his arm.

What a sweetheart. Noah was oddly jealous of Ivar for the briefest of seconds. What was her touch like? He purposefully turned his attention on Ivar. “You really going back?” The Realm was apparently searching for a way to get him back through dimensions to rescue another member of the Seven by using some sort of teleporting ability that many demons held, but rumor had it the mission was a one-way deal. If that. Noah had always been thankful he didn’t have the ability to teleport. It seemed way too possible to get caught between dimensions. “Ivar? You’re leaving here?” he repeated.

“Yes,” Ivar said, turning and looking at Abby. Really looking at her. “Well now. You’re an enhanced one, aren’t you?”

Ah, shit. Noah bit the inside of his mouth. Of course she was. That explained why he was drawn to her. Well, that and the fact that she was smart, soft, apparently kind, and very pretty.

She blinked. “Enhanced?”

Yeah. Enhanced human females had special gifts like empathy or psychic abilities, and they could mate immortals. Some thought they were cousins to the witches, but Noah had never paid much attention. “It’s his way of giving a compliment,” he said.

Ivar chuckled. “Yeah. Isn’t it though?” He patted her hand and then leaned over to dump the rest of his apples in Noah’s bag. Then he took all three bags. “Meet you in the truck. I have to call in.” He nodded at Abby and stepped lightly over the cracked asphalt to Noah’s truck.

Abby cleared her throat as the wind picked up force. “He appears better already, although sometimes he seems to be in some sort of alternate world. You know?”

Yeah, he did. Noah finally gave in and pushed a piece of wayward hair away from her cheek. Soft and silky, just like he’d imagined.

Her mouth pursed into a small ‘o’.

He smiled. Small cascades of energy came from her. Very light. Was she psychic? Probably not. Maybe empathic? Who knew? Sometimes the gift was so light the human didn’t even know it was there. But it was—without question. Not that it mattered to him. He had two missions on his shoulders right now, and he didn’t have time to dally with a human. “Ivar and I are going to grab a pizza. Would you like to join us?” His mouth worked independently from his brain. What was he doing, asking her out?

She blinked and inched away from him. “Thank you, but I need to get home. I, um, work as a waitress at the Badger’s Bar and Grille, and I have to run home and change into my uniform first.”

Probably a good thing. He nodded and waited until she’d gotten into her car, secured her seatbelt, and driven off, watching her the entire time.

Ivar opened the door of the truck and leaned out, another half-eaten apple in his left hand. He wiped off his mouth. “You coming? I’m starving. We can talk about taking out the vampire over pepperoni. Man, I hope you like pepperoni.” He slammed the door shut.

Noah bit back another growl. He didn’t have time for any of this. “Of course I like pepperoni,” he muttered, stomping toward the truck. Who in the hell didn’t like pepperoni?

Chapter Four

Abby drove up to the dingy two-story apartment complex and quickly scanned the parking lot, not seeing Monte’s car. Good. She parked beneath the carport in front of her place and stepped out, quickly gathering her groceries. The complex was old and weathered, but the owners kept the grounds manicured and the lights on, so she was grateful to have a roof over her head.

She struggled with the four bags across the sidewalk to her dented blue door. When she’d been looking, the only vacancy had been on the street level, but she was on the list to move higher if a place opened up. She twisted the knob. Yep. Unlocked. Her stomach cramping, she walked inside and locked the door behind herself. She had definitely locked it that morning. How had Monte gotten in?

The entryway was made up of six cracked gray tiles that led to the living room, which held a battered brown sofa on shag gray carpet. She’d tried to brighten the room with damask pillows from the dollar store, but the place still smelled like cigarette smoke.

Straightening, she walked past the metal coffee table to the kitchen alcove, where she was able to touch all three walls without moving from the middle dingy tile. It was small, but she kept it very clean. Usually.

Several broken dishes littered the small sink. Damn it. She didn’t have many. Why had he felt the need to break the dishes she’d purchased just last week with her most recent paycheck? Now she needed new dishes. How much did a locksmith cost, anyway? It was probably too expensive to buy new locks.

Tears welled in her eyes and she quickly put away the groceries. Calling the police would be a waste of time. Monte would probably convince them she’d done it herself. Jerk. She’d been planning on leaving town at the end of the month, and Monte had fixed that by getting her put on probation. Now she was stuck for six months, and who knew what damage he could do in that time?

She moved to the sofa and gingerly sat, pain rippling up her side from the punch to the ribs she’d taken. What could she do? If she left town, she’d be breaking the law, and her probation would be revoked. If she kept her head down and tried to survive the next six months of probation, Monte would certainly make another move. She could give in and move back with him, live out the next six months and then leave in the dark of night, but he’d know of a way to stop her.

There wasn’t a good way out. No safe way with a guaranteed outcome of her finding freedom the heck away from this town.

It’d be nice to have a friend to call, but all of her friends had sided with Monte in the divorce. They’d been his friends first, anyway. Why had she given up her entire life in Miami to live in this podunk town with him? Just because he’d saved her after a car crash?

Two years of hell made up for that. It had to.

Time to shake it off. She stood and turned for the utilitarian bedroom and changed into a clean pair of jeans and a pink T-shirt. Grabbing her purse, she ran back outside and drove to the other side of town, rushing inside the wooden log building just in time for her shift.

The establishment was a decade-old neighborhood grill with round tables, large booths, and the smell of good food wafting around.

The manager was a frazzled guy named Glen who ran the place for his father-in-law, who had owned the quaint bar for eons. He tossed her an apron as he ran toward the cash register at the far end. “You already have two tables waiting,” he said, not unkindly, his thinning brown hair slicked back and revealing parts of his scalp.

“Thanks.” She caught it and wrapped the material around her waist while walking toward her section. It was her second month on the job, and she had finally gotten the routine down. The first table held a couple of high school girls who’d already spread out books and papers to study. They predictably ordered burgers and milkshakes.

The next table held a family of four with the cutest toddler she’d ever seen. A little brown-eyed boy with a button nose. They ordered quickly, and she took both orders back to the kitchen, where Buck the cook was already sizzling delicious smelling stir fry on one of the burners. Buck was an ex-marine about eighty years old who wielded a spatula like most men would a knife. He did his job, rarely smiled, but didn’t yell, either.

Her stomach growled. When had she last eaten? Smiling, she handed over the orders and hustled back out of the kitchen to see a third table occupied in her section.

A slow roll of heat coiled through her abdomen, and she stumbled. What was wrong with her? Plastering a polite smile on, she moved though the booths and tables toward them. “I thought you two were going for pizza,” she said to Noah Siosal. Why had she told them where she worked? Had she subconsciously wanted to see them again?

Ivar glanced up from his large menu. “You don’t have pizza?”

“You can have a burger,” Noah answered him, his deep gaze remaining on Abby. He overwhelmed his side of the booth where usually three people could sit. What was it about him? Charisma? It all but rolled from him with a hint of sexy danger.

She tore her gaze from him to face the blond. “We have personalized pizzas on the back of the menu. You can get one just for you or get a larger one to take some home.”

Ivar turned the page over and frowned. “Worst part of hell dimensions wasn’t the fire or monsters or even the loneliness,” he muttered, almost to himself, flipping the menu back around. “Was the lack of good food. Man, I missed cheese.”

Abby swallowed. Was he crazy? Truly insane? “Do you hear voices?” The question popped out before she could stop herself.

He looked up, pinning her with that electric blue gaze. “Aye. I hear the screams of the people I haven’t saved.” His eyebrows rose. “Do you hear voices?”

Gulping in air, she slowly shook her head. “No,” she whispered. This was so weird.

Noah gathered the menu and handed them to Abby. “We’ll order a large meat lover’s pizza, two salads with ranch dressing, and an apple pie for dessert. A whole one.”

Ivar made a noise that sounded like a grateful puppy. An oversized one.

Abby took the menus. “Sure.” She turned away, her heart thumping and her head reeling. What was going on? She was halfway to the kitchen when somebody sat at her one remaining table. Her stomach sank. What was Monte doing there?

* * * *

Noah watched the fragile human’s body language go from wary to defeated in an instant, and he didn’t like it one bit. She disappeared into the kitchen with their order, and while she was gone, two more men joined her ex-husband at the table farther down the way. One wore a sheriff’s uniform. Interesting.

“What?” Ivar stopped staring at the sports tickets glued to the table beneath a glass top and turned to look over his shoulder. “Huh.”

“Yeah.” Noah made a mental note to figure out the players in this town. “Not sure I like the sheriff with the ex-husband.” The sheriff looked to be in his mid-thirties with buzz cut hair, sharp green eyes, and the beginning of a beer belly over his brown pants.

“You know, she never did say she hit him with a pitcher,” Ivar said, turning back around.

Yeah. Noah had noticed that fact already. Of course, she also hadn’t denied the charges. “I also don’t like that the ex was at the grocery store and is now here, where she’s working.”

“So are we,” Ivar said.

Well, that was true. “She’s intriguing,” Noah admitted.

“Agreed,” Ivar said. “But she’s not the type you can date while you’re tossing bodies in ravines and looking for vengeance for your brother.” Just fact existed in the Viking’s unconcerned tone. “Just saying.”

Noah focused back on him. “Why are you so calm?” If the guy wanted to go back and save his friend, he should be chomping at the bit.

Ivar shrugged. “The researchers are looking into how to get my job done, and I also have feelers out for human physicists who might help me. As soon as I find the right one, I’m back on mission. Right now, I’m just doing Benny a favor by staying out of the way temporarily. I owe him, just like you.”

“You seem okay,” Noah murmured. But the night before, when Noah paced the floors like usual, he could hear Ivar pacing downstairs. Apparently neither of them enjoyed the peace of sleep.

“I’m faking it,” Ivar returned. “Trying to act normal for now. Every inch of me wants to go rip the head off of that Monte guy just because he made Abby sad, who I see true vulnerability in. But that would be bad.” He paused. “Right?”

Noah wasn’t entirely sure. “I may take him out if necessary. You just hold tight until it’s time to go back to work.”

“I knew you liked her,” Ivar returned.

“Not like that,” Noah said, his body heating with the mere thought of the female.

“Right,” Ivar said, flashing another rare smile. “Keep telling yourself that.”

He would, because the last thing he had time for was a human female. Even one with pretty greenish brown eyes and an ass made for a man’s hands. Curvy and perfect.

She emerged from the kitchen and walked toward the other table, her eyes blazing and her shoulders back. Good for her. Reaching the table, she pulled out a notepad.

Noah tilted his head to hear better. While a human couldn’t hear the conversation at this distance, he’d have no problem with his enhanced hearing.

“What can I get you gentlemen?” Abby asked, her voice ultra-polite.

“You in jail,” the sheriff said, flashing his teeth.

Noah stiffened and started to rise.

Ivar shook his head. “Let it go, buddy. We don’t want to mess with the human law here unless it’s necessary.”

Shit. That was beyond true. Even so, if the guy said anything else, Noah was knocking out his teeth. Maybe just the front ones. No. All of them.

The ex then spoke. “We’ll just have the Hawaiian pizza, sweetheart. And I wanted to check on you. How was anger management?” His voice was low and concerned. Fake as shit, actually. Was he playing a part for his buddies?

The third man, also in his thirties, had thick black hair, intelligent eyes, and a perfectly groomed beard. “I hope you take advantage of the lighter sentence, Abigail. I put my neck on the line.”

“Thanks for that, judge,” Abby said, her teeth audibly grinding.

The sheriff sighed. “Remember that staying employed is part of your probation. If you lose this job, you go to jail.”

She paled. Even from the distance, Noah could see a fine blue vein show along her jawline. “I have a job.”

The judge smiled. “My father is very good friends with the owner.”

“I see. Thanks for letting me know.” She turned on her heel and headed back for the kitchen.

Ivar’s left eyebrow rose, moving his damaged skin. “Her ex, the sheriff, and the judge out for dinner together? Is it just me, or is this a bunch of bullshit?”

Noah nodded, his chest expanding. “It also sounds like she’s about to get fired.” He’d help any woman who needed assistance, but there was something about this one that called to him on a level he so did not want to explore. Not right now.

She strode out of the kitchen with the salads and the pizza on a tray and slid the food onto the table. “Plates and utensils are at the far end.” Her eyes were dull and her voice soft as she began to turn away.

Noah shocked himself by grasping her wrist. “If you need help, I can take care of your problems.” Oh, man. What the hell was he doing?

She paused, and her voice trembled just enough to be noticeable. “You’re sweet, but you can’t help me.”

Oh yeah? That’s what she thought. He released her and cranked his neck to see Monte the Ex staring right at him.

He stared back until the human swallowed tightly. Yeah. Things were about to get interesting.

Chapter Five

Thunder rolled outside while rain pounded from an angry sky. Abby trudged into the anger management group meeting, pausing at seeing a guy with bruise marks around his neck rushing for the stairs leading down. “Excuse me. Is the meeting still downstairs?” she asked.

The man, a portly guy dressed in a faded button-down and wrinkled slacks, paused. “Um, which one?”

“Anger-management,” she said.

He winced. “No. Your group is back upstairs. I’m Dr. Meletoni, and I run the Gamblers Anonymous group. We’re downstairs now.” His gaze darted all around the hallway, and then he scurried off like a scared mouse.

Well. That was weird. Abby looked down the hallway with rusting lockers on either side before turning into the first and only open door. “Hi,” she said to Mariana before noting the wide windows looking out at the vacant playground. A swing haphazardly hung from rusted chains and moved mildly in the cold breeze.

“Hi,” Mariana said, setting papers on each large wooden chair already put in a circle. Today the shrink wore a pretty pink suit with turquoise jewelry.

Abby moved for a chair by the window, took the papers, and sat. “How did you get us back upstairs?”

Mariana shrugged and took her seat. “Dr. Meletoni just dropped in and apologized for taking our spot on Tuesday. Maybe he had a change of heart.”

“Hmm.” Abby stacked the papers on her lap. The guy had looked terrified. But who would scare a psychiatrist over a room? It didn’t make sense. Though lately, who the heck knew?

The men in the group had seemed a little prone to action, especially Noah.

It had been an entire day since she’d seen him at the restaurant where she used to work. Yeah, she’d been fired after her shift that night. The manager had blushed and stammered an apology, but there wasn’t much he could do, since he didn’t own the restaurant.

She’d spent the entire day going through the want ads looking for a job. She’d qualified for a couple, but upon making inquiries, she’d been turned down. Instantly.

Monte had powerful friends in town, and there was no way she’d find a job. So she’d started looking online, but nothing had panned out.

Heavy footsteps echoed down the wooden floors outside. She felt him before she saw him. The air somehow changed, becoming heavy and electrified. Noah strode inside with Ivar on his heels.

Everything inside her calmed for a second and then roared into action. Her heartrate picked up, her breath quickened, and her attention focused and narrowed. Right to the man dressed today in a gray T-shirt and faded jeans with a worn black leather jacket. Her mouth began to salivate.

It just wasn’t fair. Nobody should be that good looking. If they were, they should be an off-limits pastor or something. Not a guy in anger-management classes.

He looked around the room and zeroed in on her.

No. Definitely no, no, no. But he walked through the circle and instantly sat by her side, warming her entire body like he’d tossed an electric blanket over her.

Ivar watched him, shrugged, and then followed to sit on his other side. He leaned over and whispered loudly. “Want me to flank her?”

Heat burst into her face. They were talking about her?

“No. Just be quiet,” Noah snapped, his big hands wrinkling the papers he’d gathered from his seat.

Ivar’s chuckle was a surprise from the serious guy.

Noah looked at her. “Did you get fired?”

She blinked, her eyes widening. “How did you know that?”

Before he could answer, Tabitha and Raine strode into the room and took their seats. The stunning woman was dressed in black slacks with a green designer sweater, and the tough looking soldier was more dressed up today in dark slacks and a button-down shirt.

“You came back,” Noah said darkly.

Abby shivered. What was that tone about?

The shrink cleared her throat. “You’ve all been ordered to appear here twice a week for the next month. Of course he returned.” She smiled at Raine, her gaze more cautious than pleased.

The dark-haired guy looked directly at Ivar. “My job isn’t done here.”

Abby swallowed and looked past Noah to Ivar. “I think you guys should tell us what’s going on. It seems like there are odd undercurrents here.”

Noah’s eyebrows lifted. “Aren’t you a brave one today?”

Well, yeah. She shrugged. “It just feels off.”

“Yeah?” Noah asked. “Tell me about it. In fact, why don’t you tell all of us why you were fired the day before last?” His masculine voice was all grit.

Mariana’s eyes widened. “You were fired? Wasn’t staying employed a condition of your probation?”

Nausea ticked through Abby’s stomach. “Yes,” she sighed. “The manager said the owner had gotten complaints about me, about my being forgetful with orders and rude with customers.”

“Who complained?” Noah growled.

Growled. It actually sounded like a growl. Was it because his voice was so hoarse? Abby licked her lips and ignored the heat springing through her belly from the rough tone. “I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me who complained, not that it matters.” She already knew but couldn’t prove it, and who cared? If the owner wanted her fired, she was fired.

Mariana flipped open the top file on her lap. “Have you tried to find another job? It looks like you only have a week, or your probation gets violated.”

Bile now rose up to Abby’s throat, and she swallowed it down. Her head ached. She would not cry in front of these people. In front of anybody. Worst case scenario, she could handle jail for a year. Right? “Yes, but I haven’t found anything,” she murmured.

Noah straightened. “If you ask me, your ex-husband got you fired and has some sort of hold on the town. What does he do, anyway?”

“He’s a lawyer,” she said, holding her papers tighter. “I’ll find a job. I have to.”

Tabitha leaned forward, her black eyes sparkling. “Tell the truth, just for one second. Did your ex get you fired?”

“Yes,” Abby said instantly. Who cared if they didn’t believe her?

Tabitha looked beyond tiny next to the large Raine. “I’ll hire you.”

Abby jerked and sat back. What? “You will?”

“Sure. I’m trying to get that plant back to operation, and I could use an assistant. You’re hired.” Tabitha smiled. “I don’t suppose you have any sort of connection with the manager at the First Pine Bank in town, do you?”

* * * *

Noah sat back, not sure he liked the new developments taking place. “She is not helping you rob a bank,” he snapped.

Abby laughed instantly, the sound melodious. Soft and soothing and sweet. “You’re funny.”

Funny? Nobody had ever called him funny. Or anything nice, really. He gave the demoness a hard glare that promised retribution if she got Abby into danger.

Tabi cocked her head. “You making a claim, male?”

“No,” he gritted out.

“Fine,” Tabi murmured. “No, we’re not robbing the bank. Work on your sense of humor.” Delight and challenge filled her dark eyes. “In fact, let’s start with you today, Noah. You seem angrier than necessary.”

Oh, the little shit.

The shrink leaned forward. “You actually do, Noah. Let’s talk. What is making you angry?”

He forced a smile to curve his lips to keep from throwing his shoe at the demoness. “Well—”

His words caught in his throat when Benny dodged into the room, his shoulders barely clearing the door frame. The massive vampire looked around, spotted Mariana, and shoved between two chairs to hand over an envelope to her. “You look like you’re in charge.”

She stared at him, her mouth open.

Yeah, most humans reacted the same way to Benjamin Reese. Noah stood. “Benny? What the hell?”

Ivar stood, his entire body on full alert and nearly vibrating. “We going?”

“Yep. Found the woman and you need to take her before they do.” Benny turned toward Noah. “Thanks for the help, but we’ve had a development, and the Viking has to get to work.”

Mariana sputtered. “Wait a minute.” She opened the envelope and quickly read. “Charges were dropped against you, and you’re free to go, Ivar?” She looked up, her gaze bewildered.

Noah pushed a snarl down. “I don’t suppose I have papers?”

Benny blanched. “No.” He leaned in. “Ivar said you might want to stay. Something about a chick with problems.” He whispered it low enough only the immortals in the room could hear.

Tabitha chuckled. “Oh, this is cute.”

Noah grabbed Benny’s arm. “I’m going to kill you for this, Ben.”

Mariana clapped her hands sharply. “Noah. That is exactly the type of language and action we wish to avoid here. You know that.”

Oh, Noah really was going to kill Benny.

Amusement filled Benny’s eyes, the asshole, and he quickly backed away. “My guys are still looking for information for you. Nothing yet.”

“I have something,” Raine murmured, his body still oddly relaxed in the wooden chair. “But I want information in return.”

Benny clapped him on the arm. “I know. I left you a treat in your truck.”

Wonderful. Hopefully it wasn’t a bomb.

Ivar turned and held out a hand. “Thank you, friend. Happy hunting.”

Noah shook it, oddly sorry to see the Viking go. “Ditto. I hope you find what you need.”

Ivar nodded at the other occupants and then strolled after Benny. The air lightened in their wake.

Raine began to stand.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” Noah said, grabbing the vampire’s arm and yanking him toward Ivar’s vacant seat. He’d give his friends a head start, if nothing else. “Why don’t you tell the doc here if you’re doing better with anger?”

Raine jerked away. “I’m out of here.”

“No, you can’t go,” Mariana said, reaching for another file. “You’re supposed to be here.”

The vampire paused, looking at the brown-eyed woman.

Yeah, Noah had felt something between them. Oh, Raine could just leave and disappear, and the humans wouldn’t be able to do a damn thing.

Tabitha cleared her throat. “I, ah, really need to keep this group going.” In other words, she needed her cover protected. “I’d owe you one if you stay, Raine.”

A favor from a demoness, and one of her lineage, wasn’t something easily passed up.

Raine growled and looked at the empty doorway. Then he glanced at the ancient clock on the wall. They only had thirty minutes left. “Fine.” He took Ivar’s vacated seat.

“So, Raine,” Mariana started, “Why don’t you tell us what makes you angry? If we can identify your triggers, that might help you in the future.”

The vampire lifted one jet-black eyebrow. “My triggers? What the hell is a trigger?”

Abby turned toward him. “It’s something that makes you mad. That triggers you into anger or any emotion, really.”

Raine’s expression softened a fraction. “All right. Let’s see. A trigger for me would be somebody being a selfish bastard who’s going to hurt other people. Like a lot of other people.”

Okay. Not unfair, considering Noah had the same concern regarding Ivar, the Seven, and their plans.

Mariana frowned. “So your fight with a landlord and with a former client? They were going to hurt people?”

Raine blinked, obviously trying to remember his cover story. “Yeah. The landlord was trying to evict an elderly woman who couldn’t pay but had paid faithfully for years, and my former client was his lawyer, who is no longer mine. Not a nice guy.” The vampire then smiled, almost angelically.

Noah nodded out of acknowledgment. Very nice cover. The guy was quick.

“That’s awful,” Abby whispered, looking around Noah. “I’m so sorry.”

Noah stiffened.

Raine patted his heart. “I know, right? What was I supposed to do? Somebody had to help the elderly woman. I mean, her husband, God rest his soul, was a veteran, and she sews scarves for the local children when it gets cold.”

Scarves? Seriously? Okay, now he was pouring it on way too thick. Noah shifted his weight in case he needed to punch the guy. Were the humans really falling for this?

Abby’s eyes had softened, and she nodded. A quick look at the shrink showed a different story somehow. Her brown eyes had narrowed, and she studied Raine as if he were a case subject. Good. At least somebody was seeing through the nonsense.

Mariana cleared her throat. “I see, but none of that excuses violence. Maybe we should play-act a better way to work through problems.”

Was she joking? Or teaching Raine a lesson? Noah bit down a grin and sat back in his chair. “You know, doc, I think you’re on to something. It’d help the rest of us if you play-acted with Raine and showed us what he should’ve done.”

Raine coughed. “You’re going to pay for that, hybrid,” he muttered, only loud enough for Noah to hear.

“Looking forward to it,” Noah returned, just as quietly.

Chapter Six

Abby finished helping Mariana put the room to rights after the meeting. Tabitha and the two remaining men had left immediately with a sense of urgency, and frankly, Abby didn’t feel like going home yet. She had no idea where Monte was. While she’d flirted with buying one of those trackers from a store on the Internet, if she placed it on his car, she’d probably get caught. But she’d give almost anything to know where he was at all times—so she could avoid him.

“Thank you,” Mariana said, tucking her manila files into her case. “I’m sorry we didn’t get much time to talk about your life today.”

Abby tried to force a smile, wishing once again she could confide in the sweet woman. “Since this is a group, confidentiality doesn’t apply, right?”

Mariana paused. “There are degrees, but if you want to see me privately, complete confidentiality would apply. Everything is private, unless I’m afraid you’ll hurt yourself or others.”

What if she told Mariana the full truth? While the woman probably couldn’t help her with the law, it’d be nice to have a confidant. They walked out of the room and down the hallway. “I think I’d like to set up an appointment,” Abby said. Maybe Mariana would have an idea or two of what she could do—if the psychiatrist believed her. Most people didn’t, but most knew Monte. “You don’t know my ex-husband, do you?”

Mariana shook her head. “No. I just moved to town a few months ago and haven’t gotten to know many people.”

Rain poured outside, and the clouds had turned a bruised color. “Why?” Abby asked, pausing at the door. “Why did you move here?”

Mariana laughed and shuffled her case to her other arm. “I inherited a small home down by the river from an elderly aunt I barely knew. And frankly, I was tired of the city. So I figured it’d be a nice place to make a fresh start.” The laugh seemed off, and Mariana looked away, but Abby didn’t have the right to pry.

“I thought that once, too.” Abby pushed open the door, her body chilling from more than the rain. She’d been so clueless.

“Okay. Call my office tomorrow and set up an appointment.” Mariana smiled and turned, ducking her head against the rain and hustling down the sidewalk.

Abby blinked away rain and turned in the opposite direction. She’d parked next to a large oak tree that led to a small and vacant park. She was nearly next to her car when she noticed the back tire was flat. Oh, crap. A quick look around the entire car, and she discovered that all four tires had been slashed. She looked up and down the quiet street. Besides the barely used ex-school, there was a closed church, the park, and then vacant land full of scrub brush on either side. No homes or help.

Vulnerability swamped her. She wiped rain off her cheeks. Monte had taken her cell phone when they’d divorced, and she hadn’t had the money to start a new plan. Who would she call, anyway?

Lightning flashed, and she jumped. The smell of ozone hung heavy in the air.

She shoved wet hair off her face and loped into a jog back toward the school. Maybe she’d get there in time to catch Mariana. She ran past the school and turned into the dilapidated parking lot, where she stopped short in time to see Noah punch Raine so hard that the other man flew across the lot and smashed into the building. Chunks and even a couple of whole bricks tumbled down.

She stopped, her legs freezing.

Raine landed on his feet, ducked his head, and charged. He hit Noah square in the middle, and they rammed into Raine’s truck, denting the back passenger door with a loud crunch of steel. Fists and arms moved so quickly in strikes she couldn’t tell who was hitting and who was bleeding.

What the heck? “Stop it,” she yelled, running for them like a complete moron. But they were going to kill each other with those kinds of hits.

The men, scrapping and scrambling, both froze and stood to face her. Blood poured from a cut above Noah’s eye, and from a split in Raine’s lip.

“What are you doing in this rain?” Noah asked, his voice a dark growl.

She blinked. Once and then again. They were fighting like crazy men, and he wanted to know why she was in the rain? “Are you kidding me?” she whispered.

Raine wiped blood off his lip and looked up at the darkened sky. “Why are you here by yourself?”

What? Now they were in agreement instead of trying to murder each other? She took a step back. They were lunatics. “Forget it. Go back to trying to kill each other.” She lowered her face to keep the rain from hitting her eyes, not surprised when heat suddenly filled the air behind her. Ignoring him, she hurried back to her car. Maybe she could drive far enough to get to a service station.

“What the hell?” Noah grasped her arm, his touch shockingly gentle after his fight, and halted her near the car. Yeah, she’d known it was him behind her.

Raine’s truck roared out of the parking lot and drove in the opposite direction, leaving her alone with Noah. Just how angry was he after the fight?

She pulled away and tried to put some distance between them, her legs trembling. No way could she survive a fight with an angry Noah. Monte was half his size, at least it seemed like it, and she’d never even gotten a chance in a fight with him. Not once. “Um, I’m fine.”

“Abby.” Low and soothing, Noah’s tone wound through the pelting rain. “Look at me.”

She looked up, noting he hadn’t moved from his place near the back rear tire. Rain slashed down over the incredible angles of his hard face and molded his shirt to his broad chest. In the darkened street, with clouds high above, he looked like the most dangerous thing that could be anywhere near them. “What?” she breathed, her legs bunching to run.

“I won’t hurt you.” Blood slid down the side of his face along with rain. “No matter what you say, no matter what you do, I will not harm you.”

She couldn’t breathe. He seemed so sincere and calm, as if he’d stand in the rain forever and not move if she asked him. “I think you should go,” she said quietly. If he was telling her the truth, he’d do it instantly, and then she’d figure out what to do. There was no doubt he was dangerous, and he had anger issues, and he’d just been in a fight. But right now, his concentration was absolute, and it was right on her with the force of a sharp heat. “Just go,” she whispered.

Slowly, surely, he strode around the front of the car toward her. “I can’t leave you alone out here like this. Surely you understand that.”

If life was good or bad, real or fake, then she would’ve understood. But now life was the opposite of what she thought, and she didn’t trust him. Heck. She barely trusted herself, because she wanted nothing more than to let him handle the problem. And she barely knew him. “Leave me alone, Noah.”

Rain plastered his thick hair to his face, somehow making him look even more beautiful. How could a man, one with blood still on his cheek, look beautiful? “I’m not leaving you.”

Every emotion she’d ever had from fear to longing to shock combusted inside her in a second. She reacted, not thinking, just finally losing it. Her punch went right for his gut and hurt like hell. Her entire wrist buckled and pain ricocheted up to her elbow. Ignoring it, forgetting pain once again, she slapped his chest with both hands, sobbing with each hit, no longer even in this moment.

He stiffened and took the hits until she bent at the waist, crying so hard it hurt to breathe. The world was too much, and everything hurt inside her.

“Ah, baby.” He lifted her so suddenly she’d had no clue it was coming. Holding her to his chest, he strode though the rain, back to the parking area.

Warmth and safety and strength surrounded her, and she cried harder, knowing she couldn’t relax against him. Her body completely ignored her mind and surrendered, snuggling into the impossibly hard planes of his chest, her tears not impacting his already wet T-shirt.

They reached his truck, and he set her inside the driver’s seat, her legs still outside.

She wanted to cling to him, but she sat back, releasing his shirt. Her head hurt, her eyes ached, and her body felt like she was a thousand years old. She was spent. Done. Over. She looked down, focusing on his stomach. Were those solid abs through his cotton? Incredible.

One firm knuckle lifted her chin, and she fought him, but finally faced his dark eyes. God, she was exhausted. She’d fight again tomorrow. Tonight, she needed sleep.

His gaze searched her face. “The keys are in the ignition. Take the truck and go wherever you want. You can borrow it until I get your tires fixed.” He started to take a step back.

Going against all reason, she grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled him toward her. “I-I can’t take your truck.” What the heck was he talking about?

He sighed, his body rolling with the movement. “Listen. You’re cold and scared, and you need to get warm. You’re frightened of me, so I’m letting you take my truck to get to safety. Now go, and I’ll handle your tires.”

The words barely computed. She swallowed, looking up at his strong jawline. With the darkness behind him, he appeared even larger than usual, as if that were possible. He’d carried her through the storm, and now he was letting her go. He’d asked for nothing. So she levered up and kissed him.

Shock ripped through her system from one touch.

He jerked and another low growl rumbled up from his chest.

She leaned back, her mouth opened in an ‘o’, her body flashing hot in a way she’d never felt before. Wild and free and alive. Dangerously on the edge of something...new.

His jaw ticked. Tension rolled off him, steaming up the windows, even though the door remained open.

She gingerly reached up and touched her still sparking bottom lip, her gaze seeking his. Had he felt that? If so, what the heck was it? “Who are you?” she asked.

He barked out a laugh and slid one firm hand along her face. The entire side of her face. “I’m the guy you just kissed. Kind of. Care to explain why?”

“Kind of?” She barely kept herself from turning into that heated palm. “What do you mean? Kind of?”

His chin lifted just enough. “That wasn’t a kiss, baby. Not even close.”

Don’t say it. Don’t say it. For the love of all that is holy and sane, don’t say it. “What is a kiss?” she asked. Yep. She’d said it.

“You want me to show you?” he rumbled, his eyes somehow looking even darker than usual.

No. Definitely no. Not in a million years. “Yes,” she whispered.

He didn’t ask twice. Leaning down, he drew her partially up, and his lips took hers. Firm and warm, he kissed her, the touch gentle velvet over hard steel. His lips molded to hers, softly probing, sliding warmth down her jawline to touch every inch of her body.

She sighed, leaning up, opening her mouth in acceptance. Her eyelashes fluttered shut, and she let herself just feel. Something good and strong and hot. Then she tentatively kissed him back.

His hand slid around her face and tangled in her hair, tilting her head back farther.

She sighed and kissed him, warming right up. Her eyelids opened to see his intense gaze on her. She jerked, her body stilling.

Holding her gaze, he lifted lightly, his lips barely a whisper from hers. “You okay?”

She nodded, even though his hand in her hair contained her movement. “Yes. You?”

“Yes. You want more?” He held himself still, like one of those racehorses in a stall right before the gate opened.

Her nipples peaked. Fast and hard. More? There was more? She should think. Take a step back. “Yes,” she said. “More.”

He moved faster than humanly possible, ducking his head and claiming her lips. This time, there was no gentleness or coaxing. It was all fire and electricity and demand. Hard and fast, he took her mouth, kissing her in a way that took her completely out of the moment.

The rain and cold disappeared along with her fear and sadness. Only passion and fire remained. She let him guide her, opening her mouth, wanting everything he was giving. Never had she felt this. Her body went from a slow heat to a full-on inferno, her thighs trembling for more of him. For all of him.

Headlights barely caught her attention. Then a door slamming. “What the hell?” bellowed a familiar male voice.

She jumped, fear instantly swamping her. “No.”

Noah released her and turned as Monte stomped toward them, fury morphing into red blotches on a face she’d once thought handsome. “What are you doing?” he yelled, arms swinging, getting too close.

Noah partially turned and punched him right in the mouth. Monte went down, splashing through a mudpuddle, his arms windmilling.

Abby gasped, her body chilling instantly. Horror caught her. Oh God. “What have you done?”

Chapter Seven

Noah’s entire body was on fire for the small female, and he’d reacted instantly to a perceived threat. Once he’d knocked Monte down, by pulling his punch no less, he pivoted and put his body between the terrified human and the asshole on the ground. “Get up.”

The jerk shoved to his feet, brushing dirty water off his slacks. “Get away from my wife.” His lip had already started swelling, and his words came out with a lisp.

“Ex-wife,” Noah retorted, scanning the area. “Did you slash her tires?” No doubt the jerk had done so and then returned to save her. Or pretend to save her.

Monte’s eyes widened, fury and feigned surprise glowing bright in their blue depths. “Of course not. In fact, if her tires are slashed, it was probably you. Thinking she’d get in bed as a thank you, which obviously she would.”

Oh, the jerk was going to get hit again. “Lies smell like sulfur to me,” he muttered. To most immortals, actually.

“I’m sorry,” Abby said, scrambling to get out of the truck. “It was an accident. He didn’t mean to hit you, Monte.”

The panic in her voice nearly sent Noah over the edge. He pivoted and turned her fully into the truck before shutting the door before she could get out. Her fear smelled like lemons and awoke the beast deep down inside himself that had lain dormant since the last war. Since he’d last fought for home and family. “She’s afraid of you. I’m not. You want to come at somebody a decent size?” he drawled.

Monte brushed his dirty slacks. “You don’t know who you’re messing with.”

True. And he needed to rectify that. Noah reached for a phone in his back pocket and quickly speed dialed a number he’d just gotten. “I need help and will owe you one. Abby’s tires have been slashed, and I need somebody to get and fix her car. And I may need the name of a good lawyer.” He waited for the response. “Thanks.” Then he hung up.

Monte sneered. “Oh, you’re definitely going to need a good lawyer. You just committed battery.”

Noah shrugged. “I knocked you on your ass with one pulled punch. You sure you want your buddy the sheriff to know that?”

Monte’s nostrils flared. He faltered.

“Oh, I’ll make sure every detail ends up in my answer to the complaint,” Noah drawled. “In fact, I may even note that you cried like a baby.” Bullies always liked the darkness and not the light. “You want to play, asshole? I’ll write a blog and letters to the editor. And hey. Just how did her tires get slashed?”

“You did it,” Monte spat.

“Really?” This would be so much easier if Noah could just tear off the human’s head. But that’d scare Abby, and considering she’d just rocked his entire four-hundred-year-old existence with one kiss, he didn’t want her seeing that part of him. Not yet, anyway. “I guess we’ll see. That is, if you go crying to the police because of a simple fat lip.” He let the contempt he was truly feeling show in his expression.

Monte tried to look past him inside the truck, but Noah blocked the way. “Fine. We’re not done, asshole,” he spat, turning on his heel and stomping back to his car.

There wasn’t much chance of that. Noah waited until Monte had driven away before turning and opening his door. “Scoot over. Please.” He wasn’t a guy who said please very often, but it seemed like much had been out of Abby’s control, and he had to make sure she knew she had it. After she’d moved over, he paused. “This is up to you. You can take my truck, and I can wait for my friend to come for your car. Or I can drive you home. To either your home or mine.”

She blinked, her eyes huge in her pale face. “Your home?”

He held up a hand. “Guest room. It’s all yours if you want a safe place to stay.”

She scooted away. “Listen. You’re a nice guy, but you’re way out of your element. You have no idea who Monte is in this town. You just made a huge mistake, and it’s my fault. I can’t stay at your house.”

Great. Just wonderful. “Okay. I’ll drive you home.” He slid inside the cab, trying not to take up as much space as usual. He couldn’t help being big, even for a demon-vampire hybrid. Starting the ignition, he drove slowly away from the parking lot. “Though it’s going to be kind of lonely without Ivar there.” The ring of truth in his words caught him off guard. He had liked having the Viking around for a bit.

She wrapped her arms around herself as if freezing. “Oh, Noah. You just don’t get it. What are we going to do?” She released her torso and buried her face in her hands. “You’re gonna get arrested.”

He glanced sideways. She was incredibly small. Human and fragile. The idea that anybody would frighten her so much pissed him off beyond belief. It took several seconds for him to get his voice under control and not scare her. When he’d finally released his death grip on the steering wheel, he turned to watch the road. “What exactly did he do to you?”

Her body jerked, but she didn’t answer.

That’s what he’d figured. He could smell the fear coming off her. Maybe he should’ve let Ivar kill Monte. Oh, he could do it himself, but something told him Abby wouldn’t like that. “Why haven’t you gotten help?”

“Help?” Her head lifted so suddenly, her entire body shook. “From whom? I’m sure the world seems safe from where you are, but in this town, there is no help. And I can’t leave because of the probation.” She shook her head, her hair flying around. “I was so stupid, Noah. So damn stupid.”

“No.” He didn’t know her story, but she wasn’t dumb. Intelligence shone in her eyes. “It’s okay, Abs. I’ll take you home.” And then he’d figure out what to do with Monte. Once he’d tracked down the whole story.

She looked outside at the darkness flying by. “I don’t want to go home,” she whispered.

His body heated to a full burn. Had she just said what he’d thought? “Okay.” He’d have to put clean sheets on Ivar’s bed.

Abby turned toward him, her chin firm and her skin pale in the lights from the dash. “And I don’t want to stay in your guest room, Noah. Not tonight.”

* * * *

What had she done? The words came from a piece of personality inside Abby that was tired of hiding. Of being afraid and lonely. Once upon a time, she’d craved adventure. Now that Monte had seen her with another man, her days were limited, anyway. Or maybe his were. It was time to fight back, and while she wasn’t quite sure of her path, she was done being a mouse.

This was a first step.

The impressive man driving the truck with such fierce control drew her in a way she couldn’t define. A feeling, down deep, beyond need. Straight to hunger. She deserved to appease that craving at least once.

He turned into a luxury condo development and parked at the far end of the row.

“Why are you here?” she asked. He didn’t fit in the small town.

“Business,” he said, opening his door and holding out a hand.

She hesitated for the briefest of seconds and then scooted over, sliding her much smaller palm against his warm one. He drew her out, shut the door, and kept her hand as he led her up a flight of fancy stone stairs to a thick wooden door, which he nudged open. “You don’t lock your door?” She tried to walk as casually as possible inside.

“No.” He shut the door behind them, and she jumped. Releasing her hand, he leaned back and crossed his arms, looking way down. “Why?”

She didn’t bother pretending to misunderstand. “I’m tired of not living. I like you, you like me, and that kiss earlier still has me reeling. I want more. While there’s a chance of having it. Of feeling something good.” When she started talking, she couldn’t stop.

His eyes glittered with a lust he didn’t bother concealing. “Don’t be sweet.”

Huh? She frowned. “I’m not.”

“You’re the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen, and I can’t handle that right now.” His lips tipped up in a way that made him look like a slightly amused and very hungry lion.

“Okay.” She returned his smile and stepped right into the fire, pressing her hands against his elbows and tugging, making his arms uncross. “I won’t be sweet. How about seductive?” Where her courage came from, she’d figure out later.

“Baby, you’re seductive just breathing.”

The words shot right to her heart. Warming her. Helping her. Healing her. “You don’t have to say things like that.” She leaned up and nipped his whiskered chin.

“I don’t have to do or say anything.” He grasped her arms and partially lifted her, waiting until her startled eyes met his before continuing. “When I talk, it’s the truth. No ulterior motives. I think you’re sweet and sexy, and I want to be inside you so badly my ears are ringing. But I’m not going to coax you, and I’m not going to persuade you. If you say no, the guest room is yours as long as you want it. If you say yes, your body is mine for the rest of the night.” The tone was raw and possessive. Powerful.

Her knees almost gave out. She swallowed and swayed even closer to him.

“But—”

“No but,” she responded instantly.

He grinned. “But, this is just a night or two. I have business, and it’s probably not going to be pretty, and I can’t give more than this.”

She wasn’t complete enough for more than this. Right now. She would be someday, however. “This is all I want.” She meant every word. Well, kind of. She’d never met a man like him, and she couldn’t help but wonder what it’d be like to be a part of his life. Of his heart. “Take me or leave me,” she quipped.

“I’ll take.” He clamped his hands on her hips and lifted her, his mouth descending at the same time.

She yelped and latched on to his shoulders, her knees gripping on his ribcage. The kiss overtook her, and she shut her eyes, trusting him to hold her aloft. This was crazy but she just didn’t care any longer. If she was going to jail, she was taking this memory with her. They moved backward, and she went willingly. His mouth was firm and warm and commanding.

Flames licked down her neck and over her breasts, making them ache with need. Electricity zipped through her, landing between her legs and pulsing. She moved against him, seeking relief, and found herself flat on her back on a large bed, his mouth still working hers.

The mattress was like a steel beam, but she didn’t care. She ran her hands through his thick hair, tugging and playing.

He growled into her mouth, and the vibration shot through her entire body. He grasped the bottom of her T-shirt and she helped him, ripping the material over her head. “Race you,” she challenged, laughing, reaching for the button of her jeans. When had she been this aroused and free? Never?

“You win.” He removed his shirt and revealed a smooth and muscled chest. Was he even real? Then he helped her with her jeans and panties, tossing them over his shoulder. A quick flick of the front clasp of her bra, and that too, flew across the room.

Cool air brushed across her nipples. She paused, suddenly vulnerable.

He leaned over, a huge specimen of a man, and kissed her gently between her breasts. “You’re beautiful, Abby. Don’t ever doubt it.” His warm breath and lips moved against her skin, spiraling desire right to her clit.

She felt beautiful. For the first time in way too long, she really did. “Noah,” she murmured, reaching for his hair again.

“Yeah. You’re going to be saying that a lot.” He levered up and kissed her. Hard and fast and demanding. She took what he gave, letting him go deep, letting him take whatever he wanted. Their touches were frantic, and he knew just where to touch. Her hips, her nipples, even the backs of her knees. He played her like he’d been doing so for years.

He reached her ribcage and paused.

She stilled.

Bending, he looked closer. “You were hit.”

She winced. “I’m fine.” The bruises were almost gone. “Really.”

He lifted up, his eyes burning. “Monte.”

She so did not want to hear that jerk’s name right now. “Let it go, Noah. Here it’s just you and me.”

The expression that crossed his face defied description. Anger, acceptance, sorrow. Just what was he going to do? “All right,” he murmured, leaning down and kissing each bruise with a tenderness that pricked tears to the back of her eyes.

She pulled him up, caressing over his hard shoulders. “Don’t stop. Don’t hold back.”

“I won’t.” He nipped her chin and then kissed her. Hard, fast, deep. Licking along her neck, he kept moving down again.

Desire cut deep, making her forget all about those bruises. She rubbed against him, her body alight, her head reeling. The guy still was wearing jeans. “Now, Noah.”

He laughed around one nipple, sending sparks through her breasts. “You’re not ready.” He nipped and kissed down the middle of her torso and then continued, pausing to lick her clit in one smooth motion.

She moaned and arched off the bed, her eyelids closing. It was too intimate. “Noah, I—”

He licked her again, his tongue rough. Then he went to town, licking and nipping, sliding one and then two fingers inside her. His wide shoulders forced her legs farther apart, and she caught her breath, spiraling higher and higher as he worked her over in the most delicious of ways.

His finger rubbed a place inside her she hadn’t realized existed just as he nipped her clit, and she detonated, crying out his name as pleasure took her away. The orgasm lasted forever, and finally she came down, her body going soft, his name still on her lips.

He kissed his way back up, a satisfied smile on his face. “Now we get serious.”

She shivered. “Your jeans are still on.” They had to fix that fact.

His phone rang out some weird song about zombies and he stilled. “Sorry.” He reached for it, keeping her in place, and quickly read the face. He blanched.

“No,” she said, partially sitting up. “No way.”

He rolled off her and reached for his shirt. “I’ve been waiting for this call for two months. I want you more than breath, but I have to go.” He tugged the material over his head, an obvious and rather huge bulge in his jeans showing he really did want her. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Stay here, where you’re safe, and we are definitely going to pick up where we just left off.”

Then he bolted from the room.

Chapter Eight

Noah couldn’t fucking believe it. He was on fire for the human female, and now he had to go and kill that asshole Petersen? Growling and almost snarling, he jogged out the door and locked it behind himself before running for the truck waiting for him. “Your timing totally sucks,” he said, jumping into the passenger side seat.

Raine Maxwell looked over at him. “We had a deal. I get you the location of Petersen, and you get me all information possible on the Seven. Benny will give you information.” He looked over. “Shit. The woman’s scent is all over you. Did you take advantage of her after the fight earlier?”

“No,” Noah snapped. “I wouldn’t do that, and anyway, you interrupted before things got interesting.” Not true. The taste of her, the feel of her, would be with him forever. Whether he liked it or not. Considering he was about to go fight a dangerous soldier who’d killed more than his fair share of enemies, he didn’t like it one bit. His entire body ached and pulsed. Even his hand burned.

He paused. The world narrowed in focus. In slow motion, his mind already rejecting reality, he turned his right hand over and looked at his pulsing palm.

Raine barked out a laugh. “Oh, you have got to be kidding me.”

Noah couldn’t speak. A black marking of a jagged S surrounded by fierce Celtic lines covered his entire palm. The marking of the Siosal family. The one that only appeared on a demon or hybrid’s hand when he’d met his mate. When he’d touched his mate. “Damn it.”

Raine turned onto the Interstate. “I felt a connection between you two, but seriously, dude? The mating brand?”

Noah tried to drum up anger and punch the asshole, but he just couldn’t clear the fog in his head. He’d been with more women than he could count, and he knew this one was special, knew she called to him in a way that was different. But the mating mark? They’d just met, for goodness sake. The overwhelming possessiveness and protectiveness he was feeling for her was partially because of the danger that seemed to be stalking her. Right? “You have any demon in you?” he muttered.

“Yeah. Enough,” Raine confirmed. “I’ll probably have a mating mark. In a thousand years or so. But I’m mostly vampire, which you already knew.”

Yeah. Immortals might have mixed blood, but they usually were mainly one species or the other. The guy looked all vampire and no demon.

Raine jerked the wheel around a downed tree branch. “You didn’t mark her, did you?”

“No.” Noah couldn’t stop looking at the brand. Just because it had appeared didn’t mean he had to use it. Sometimes they disappeared if not used. But Abby was enhanced, and she could mate an immortal. The idea of anybody else with her made his other hand close into a fist. Mine. Damn it. He shook his head. Once thing at a time. “How did you find Petersen? I’ve been looking for months and only found his interests in the factories outside of town a couple of weeks ago.”

“Have good connections. Tracked him down to LA a couple of days ago, and followed the trail to his factory here. He chartered a helicopter and should be landing in a few minutes.”

Noah frowned, his blood starting to thrum for a different reason. Revenge. While Clyde hadn’t been his blood brother, he’d been close enough. His death would be avenged, and Noah was the one to do it. “Why now?”

Raine flashed a smile. “There might’ve been a problem at the factory. A slight explosion.”

Noah leaned back. “I didn’t ask you to do that.” Man, he hated owing the vampire.

Raine shrugged. “I’ve struggled finding out more about the Seven, and I’ve been paid well. So this matters.”

Well, hell. Noah made a mental note to call Benny. He needed more information to make this square. “I’ll get you the info, but the Seven has the backing of the Realm. You know that, right?”

Street lights cut hard across the planes of Raine’s face. “I know everything looks good on the surface, but the Realm isn’t in a hundred percent. They’re investigating the Seven as fiercely as are other organizations across the world. If the Realm decides the Seven are too big a threat, King Kayrs won’t hesitate to end them. Well, most of them. He probably won’t kill his nephews. Maybe.” He glanced toward Noah as he pulled into the industrial side of town. “Why didn’t you draw Petersen here?”

“It was in the plans, but I was still tracking down which factory he owns,” Noah admitted. “Who are your connections, anyway?” It took him a minute, it really did. “Wait a second. Only the Realm has resources that could work so quickly. You’re working with the Realm?”

“Hell, no,” Raine muttered. “But I have a buddy who works for the Realm, and he owed me a favor. Quid pro quo across the board, my new friend.”

Friend? Hardly. But it was nice to have backup in case he died. “If something happens to me, look out for Abby, will you? Her ex is a piece of work, and I haven’t decided what to do.”

“Sure,” Raine said easily. “I like the human. She’s sweet.”

She definitely was sweet. Sexy, too. The branding on Noah’s hand pulsed with the need to implant on her flesh. Turning her immortal had definite appeal, too. Then she wouldn’t be in so much danger from the mere humans. “Thanks,” Noah said. “Don’t mate her. In fact, shouldn’t you be splitting town now that Ivar is gone?”

“I need the information from you before knowing what to do next,” Raine affirmed. “Besides, I thought I might need to dog you a bit. You know. Blow up your townhouse if you don’t come through.”

Noah nodded. “Yeah, I get that. But I’ll come through, I promise. And double check that Abby is nowhere around in case you decide to blow something up.” He picked a piece of string off his jeans. “Also, I’ll reciprocate and blow something of yours up at some point, if you do.”

“Copy that,” Raine said, pulling the truck to the side of the road. “My intel shows that Petersen’s factory is the third one down that long lane. He’s supposedly manufacturing new grenades that blow by the right radio frequency.”

Noah looked around the dark night. His shoulders stiffened, and his focus narrowed. Time to fight and kill. “Which one is the demoness’s?”

Raine shrugged. “Dunno. There are about twenty different facilities in this direction, and some a ways past that. It’s an industrial complex that feeds all of the small towns around here, and even a couple of the bigger cities. Who the hell knows what Tabitha is into? I try to stay away from her family. They’re nuts, you know.”

“I’ve heard,” Noah said. But he owed the demoness a solid for so easily offering Abby a job when she needed it. He should probably find out more about Tabitha. Maybe even get her pictures out of that bank so she could blow town if she wanted. If he survived the fight with Petersen, which he would. Memories of Clyde, fighting next to him, ran though his mind. He’d been a good male. A strong fighter and a solid friend. Nobody deserved to die by a knife to the back before a sword through the neck. He growled.

“You armed?” Raine asked.

“Yes.” Noah had stuck a knife in his boot, a small sword really, and had a gun in his waistband. But his hands itched to punch first. Petersen needed to feel the pain of broken bones for what he’d done. The guy didn’t even have a last name. Just went by Petersen. Thought it made him sound scarier.

It made him sound like a human pop star.

The blades of a helicopter cut through the wind outside. Noah craned his neck, watching as the bird set down gracefully outside of a sprawling blue metal building. Three soldiers jumped out, all armed with full automatics, and quickly scouted the area. Petersen then jumped out, looking around.

Everything inside Noah quieted and chilled. Cold as death.

He stretched out of the truck and moved forward, keeping low and to the fence line.

Raine showed up at his side.

He paused. “What are you doing?”

“It’s four to one, and while your fighting skills are legendary, I won’t get my information if you get your head removed,” Raine muttered, drawing a green gun from his waistband.

“Yes, you will. I texted Benny earlier,” Noah said. He always kept his word.

“Good.” Raine didn’t slow down. “Even so, we never finished our fight earlier, so I figure I’ll jump in this time. No charge.”

Fair enough.

The soldiers fanned out, and Petersen unlocked a human-sized door and strode inside, light spilling out.

“I’ll take the one on the right,” Noah muttered, heading for the closest soldier.

“I’ll take left and then the one circling while you head inside,” Raine said, sounding almost gleeful.

Noah lowered his chin and snuck up on the soldier, quickly putting him in a headlock. It was almost too easy. What kind of force had Petersen hired? Did he not know he was being hunted? Noah held on long enough to choke the guy out until death. Well, almost. He smelled like a full vampire, so he’d wake up in an hour or so, but by then, it’d be too late.

Keeping low, Noah beelined for the door and gingerly opened it to see a darkened spacious reception area. The light came from an office down the hallway. He removed his gun and crept toward the light, his boots making no sound on the cement floor. He’d been fighting since his early teens, and even though he tried to keep a low profile, he was known in the immortal world. So why was Petersen in the building without backup? The guy really was an arrogant ass.

Noah turned the corner to find Petersen waiting on the other side of the desk, his arms crossed. The feline shifter, a tiger, was at least five hundred years old with lighter brown hair, electric metallic eyes, and a muscled form. “Clyde was asking for it.”

Anger took Noah and he stepped inside the office, shutting the door behind himself. “Why are you making this easy on me?” He tuned in his senses and could find no other signatures in the building. None of this was making sense.

“I think I can kick your ass,” Petersen said easily, his arms loose at his sides.

A fair fight, then? Excellent. Noah smiled. “To the death?”

“Sure. I’ve never lost in a death match,” Petersen said, shaking out his shoulders.

“No shit, dumbass,” Noah retorted. “You’re still standing here.” What an idiot. “How did you get the drop on Clyde, anyway?” He asked the question calmly, refusing to let anger in again. That had to come after the fight.

Petersen shrugged a muscled shoulder. “I had help. Clyde was almost as good a fighter as you. Didn’t want to take him on myself. Turns out the shifter bitch wasn’t even worth it.”

Fury tried to take hold, and Noah shoved it away. Wait a minute. “Wh—”

In a blur of motion, Petersen pressed a button on the side of the desk.

The ground fell out beneath Noah and he dropped several yards, landing solid on both feet, his knees buckling and rippling pain up to his hips. A couple of his foot bones might’ve broken. He looked frantically around the hole. Pure, smooth concrete lined the round room. “What the holy fuck?” he bellowed.

Petersen leaned over and looked down at least fifteen feet, a black box in his hand. “Did anybody tell you this was a grenade factory?” His smile was fierce. “Say your prayers, Siosal. You’re about to see Clyde again. Tell him hello.” The shifter quickly disappeared from sight.

Shit. Double shit. So much for a fair fight. Noah roamed the wide circle, looking for any toehold. The walls were smooth. Damn it. Gathering his strength, he punched as hard as he could, cracking the side. Good. Fury lancing him, he pounded the concrete like an animal, causing fissures all the way up. The unused branding on his hand propelled him faster, urging him on. Finally, taking a deep breath, he scrambled up, using each toehold the second before it fell back down. He reached the top and rolled over, leaping and running through the doorway.

The sound of a helicopter pounded into the distance.

Damn it. He only had moments. An image of Abby’s sweet face flashed across his vision the second before the entire world blew up.

Chapter Nine

Abby tried to toss and turn, all snug in Noah’s bed, but the thing was too damn hard. It wouldn’t surprise her if the mattress was made of blocks of wood. What was wrong with him? She curled on her side again, her ribs aching now that she wasn’t aroused beyond belief. A pounding on the outside door drew her upright. Oh God. Had Monte found her?

She slid from the bed and padded into the spacious living room, tiptoeing toward the door. If he was on the other side, she’d need to get a knife from the kitchen. Her palms grew sweaty, and her knees started to wobble.

The pounding increased and jarred the entire wall. “Abs? Let us in. It’s Raine.”

Oh. Thank goodness. She rushed forward and unlocked the door, opening it wide. Then her heart stopped.

Noah leaned heavily on Raine, blood matted across his face, his clothes burned and still smoking. He smiled. “Got blown up.” The smell of bourbon came off him like he’d bathed in it.

Raine grimaced and hauled him inside, pushing him onto the sofa. “Had to give him a few drinks to help while he, ah, healed a little bit.” He leaned over to look at the deep purple bruise covering Noah’s left temple. “Well, it was more like a few bottles, I guess.”

Abby’s breath heated as she forced down panic. “We have to get him to a hospital. Do you have a phone?”

“Don’t need a hospital,” Noah slurred, smiling through cracked lips. “I’ll be okay in a little while.” He frowned, making the bruises across his forehead jumble into one large ugly mass. “Hey. You’re only wearing a shirt. My shirt. Go away, Raine.”

This wasn’t good. Not at all. “He needs a doctor,” Abby said urgently. “Please let me use your phone.” Why the hell didn’t she have a phone? Oh yeah. No money.

“No.” Noah grasped her hand and drew her toward him. His knuckles were bruised and cut. “I just need a shower and some care.” He tilted his head to see Raine. “We walked into a trap, and that’s on you.” When Abby tried to pull away, he tugged her closer until she landed on his smoking lap. “Get it fixed.”

“I will.” Raine backed toward the door, taking out his phone and reading the face. “I’ll have a location to you by late tomorrow, no matter what. I owe you.” He disappeared quickly outside.

Abby’s stomach rolled over. “How were you blown up?” She wanted to help Noah, but she wasn’t a doctor. Not even close.

“A lot of grenades,” he mumbled, shoving to his feet and swaying.

She jumped up and settled her shoulder beneath his arm. “Please let me take you to the emergency room.”

“Nah. A shower will suffice,” he slurred, stumbling around the sofa toward the master bedroom and bath, pulling her along easily. He smelled like burned cotton and blood. “Wanna help?”

“Yes,” she muttered, trying to help him along. If she saw one open wound or broken bone, she was stealing his phone and calling an ambulance. Period. They reached the palatial bathroom, and he stood calmly while she removed his clothing, wincing at each bruise and cut. After she’d gotten him undressed, she had to admit his injuries weren’t as bad as she’d expected from his clothing. She tried, she really did, not to look lower than his waist.

She failed.

Holy crap on a cracker, Wonder Woman. The guy was seriously endowed. Gifted. One of the chosen. Heat flushed into her face and she looked up to see a goofy smile on his. She frowned. “Are you concussed?”

“Yep. And seriously drunk.” He reached inside the glass-walled shower and started the water. “I’ll need help.” Without waiting for an answer, he dragged her under the already steamy spray.

She yelped and backed away, shoving wet hair out of her eyes. Seriously. He reached for her shirt and she slapped his hand, taking it off herself. “Would you please just stand there for a minute?” she snapped, looking at the raw bruises across his chest and over his shoulders. “How did you get blown up?” Just where the heck had he been?

“Weeeelll.” He ducked his head beneath the spray, and grime and blood flowed off his hard body to the drain. “I’m after this guy, and he set us up, and then he tried to blow us up. It’s pretty simple, really.”

Guy. “What guy?”

“Man. You’re nagging already,” he complained, soaping up his body and not seeming to mind the painful-looking bruises.

Nagging? “Whatever.” She started to back away.

“Oh, no.” He drew her near, now smelling of soap and male. His gaze was intense, although his smile was a little lopsided. “We never got to finish what we started.”

“You’re drunk,” she said, even as desire began to burn through her again. The play of muscle beneath his smooth skin—everywhere—was a temptation no sane girl could ignore. Even so, she didn’t want to take advantage of him. “And concussed.”

“You are a little blurry,” he admitted, pulling her square into his spectacular body. They both groaned at the contact. “That’s better. I can almost see you now.” He sobered. “Everything hurts, Abs. How about you make it all feel better?” Amusement curved his lips, and he tried to give her a puppy dog expression, but he looked more like a Doberman about to eat a steak. “Please?”

He was terrible. Sexy and smart and sweet...and how could she refuse?

He grinned. “You’re not scared. Here and naked with me—totally alone—and you’re not frightened. That has to tell you something.”

She gently caressed his damaged chest and down his ribs, looking for broken bones. Okay. Copping a feel, too. He’d spoken the truth. She was experiencing a lot of emotions, most of them erotic, and not one of them was fear. “I’m not afraid of you,” she admitted, leaning up and kissing the greenish-yellow bruises beneath his jaw line. It was like they were already healing somehow. “But I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

He swayed and caught himself with one battered hand against the glass. “Feel free. Just take some of the pain away.”

She levered up and slid her mouth against his. “I can do that.” She’d have to be careful of his injuries. “Are you sure you have no broken bones?”

“Not anymore,” he slurred.

“I meant from tonight.” She licked along his collarbone before dropping back to her flat feet.

“Nope.” The light from the ceiling high above reflected oddly in his eyes, giving the black a greenish tint. He dropped his head, his mouth hard against hers. “God, you taste good. So good, Abs.” Then he delved deeper, keeping his balance with a hand on the wall. The other hand speared through her hair and tugged her head back.

He kissed her, his body flush against hers, making her forget reality for a moment. Dark and demanding sensations, ones she’d never felt before, slid through her, softening her muscles and making her ache. All rationality disappeared.

Her body took over, beyond her mind, in a way that had never happened. She tried to hold on to thought, but it disappeared, caught up in an impossible onslaught of passion. Fear grasped her, of the unknown, and she made a sound against his mouth. One of warning. He softened the kiss, his hands sliding down her wet front, those bruised fingers tweaking her nipples. Then he smoothed the small bite, showing her the drugging pleasure to be found from a simple touch.

Steam swirled around them, cocooning them in an intimate dance. There was only Noah Siosal and right here and right now. Her body and his and a craving so sharp it hurt. “Now, Noah,” she murmured, reaching for him and running her hand along his hard length.

He settled his stance as if trying to keep his balance. “I, um, should tell you something.”

“Later. I’m on the pill.” She paused, marveling at his size. “Unless...is there something I should be worried about? Do we need a condom?”

He frowned and his eyes seemed to take a moment to focus. “No. I can’t get diseases. Am totally clean.”

“Me, too.” Though a condom was a good idea. “Do you have condoms?”

“No. Don’t need them,” he rumbled. “Can’t wear them.” He kissed her again. “We don’t have to.”

Her body was on fire, and even the small hint of steam against her sensitized skin was killing her. She was on the pill, and oddly enough, she trusted him. If her life was about to explode, she wanted another moment with him to keep her warm in the future. “I want to.”

“Okay.” He fell back and sat on the wide wooden bench, bringing her with him.

She straddled him, lifting up. There was no way.

His grin took her fear away. “We’ll go slow.” His face didn’t look as purple with the steam swirling around. He positioned himself at her entrance and slowly helped her take him in.

She gasped, and her abs rolled. He was too big. But she was wet and ready and needy. It was exhilarating to be on top of a man this, well, male. Nothing was going to stop her this time. It took forever, and he let her set the pace. Several times she paused to let her body accept him. He brushed a thumb against her clit, once and again, every time she needed a moment. The feeling shot electricity through her, and she pushed down more, still scanning his body for injuries. Finally, her butt rested against his thighs. She dropped her head to his chest, feeling too full. Way too full. “You’re too big.” Yet she wanted him to move.

“You’re perfect.” He grabbed her butt and gently lifted her, pulling her back down as he plunged up.

Ecstasy rippled through her. Her head dropped back. “More. Faster.” Using her knees, she lifted up and then back down, guided by his strong hands on her hips. He held her with a fierce grip. Even if she wanted to get free, she couldn’t, and that thought sent more hunger through her.

She lifted her head, wanting to see him. A raw, possessive expression covered the angled planes of his face, along with a hunger he did nothing to hide. He lifted her and rammed back in. “More,” she whispered.

As if her words unleashed a part of him he’d held back, he snapped, hammering into her, lifting her up and yanking her down, the friction unbelievable. Pleasure swamped her with a strength that forced her to close her eyes. The first orgasm slammed into her out of nowhere, hitting her dead center and making her cry out his name as she rippled around his cock.

He didn’t so much as pause.

She rode the waves, settled, and then started climbing again. Her fingers clawed his chest, and she forgot all about his bruises. He drove harder inside her, hitting that spot that only he had ever found. Sparks flashed in front of her eyes, and she closed them, whimpering from the devastating need.

Close. She was so close to the next pinnacle. She climbed higher and broke with a sharp gasp, her internal walls gripping him with a fierceness that was edged with a hint of pain.

His hand twisted in her hair and pulled her head to the side. Pain slashed into her neck at the same time agony rippled along her right hip and buttock. Then the pain abated.

She came down with a wild shudder, her eyes opening. She turned her head. “Noah?”

He was still fully imbedded in her. “Abby,” he murmured, blinking rapidly.

Then he passed out, his body going limp against the tiles.

She stilled. What the heck? Oh, crap. She’d just had the best sex of her life, and then he’d passed out. How bad was his concussion? She had to get him to a hospital. He was still inside her, for Pete’s sake. Lifting up with her knees on the bench, she levered up to release him. She scrambled to the side, and he slid off the bench and landed on the wet tiles with a loud thud.

Damn it. She rushed for the faucet handle and twisted it off. He fell to the side, his head thunking against a wall tile. She yelped and ducked to grab his head and guide him all the way down before he hurt himself more.

He opened his eyes. “Abs?”

“You’re okay. Let’s get you to a doctor.” Thank God. He was awake. A hysterical laugh nearly escaped her. “Your head is worse than we thought.” Ducking her shoulder, she tried to lift him. “I need your help.”

He grabbed the bench and lurched to his feet. “I’m fine. Just need sleep.”

“No—”

He threw one bruised arm over her shoulders and limped out of the shower and propelled her straight into the bedroom and to the bed. “A couple of hours, Abby. That’s all.” He slid beneath the covers and pulled her with him, spooning her and wrapping both arms around her. A second later, he was snoring in her ear.

She blinked. She couldn’t move. Her body felt all sorts of aches and pains, and her neck really hurt. Had he actually bitten her? His warmth drew her under, and her eyelids slowly closed. Maybe just a few minutes of sleep wouldn’t hurt. If he stopped snoring, then she’d call an ambulance.

Wait a minute. Why did her hip and butt burn like she’d been branded? With that one odd thought, she fell into a light sleep.

Chapter Ten

A muted knock on the outside door awoke Abby. She blinked and turned to see Noah sprawled on his stomach, taking up most of the bed, his head turned away from her. His back only held a couple of bruises, light ones, so at least that part of his body had been spared. She slid from the bed and drew on her clothes that she’d gathered last night in one place. Not caring if she was keeping somebody waiting, she quickly used the bathroom and found a new toothbrush to use. She washed makeup off her face and smoothed back her hair the best she could. Then she walked out into the chilly living room and looked through the peephole.

A second later, she opened the door. “Coffee,” she mumbled, staring at the holder with three coffees.

“Here,” Tabitha said, quickly handing one over. She frowned, scrutinizing Abby. Then she lifted her nose and... sniffed? “Oh my. You okay?”

“Hmmm.” Abby took a big drink of the coffee and backed up, not caring in the slightest that she probably looked a mess. She took another drink. “Are you here to see Noah?” Jealousy reared up hard and fast along with the caffeine hit. Of course other women would be interested in the hard-bodied badass.

“No. I came here for you,” Tabitha said, looking way too put together in her gray skirt, pink shirt, and matching jacket. “I called Mariana, who gave me Raine’s number, who told me you were probably here. It’s Monday morning, and I need you to get to work.”

Work. She’d forgotten all about her new job. She glanced back at the bedroom. “Noah was hurt yesterday, and I’m not quite sure how, to be honest, and he’s still sleeping.” Her body, on the other hand, felt pretty damn good. Relaxed and somehow lighter. No more aches or pains. She rubbed her neck, which still felt a little odd. Bite marks ran along her fingers. He had bitten her! How odd. Sexy, but odd.

“Um, okay.” Tabi backed away. “So. You’re with Noah. That’s great. I mean, wonderful. Did he, ah, explain about his, well, family?”

“No.” Abby frowned, sipping more coffee. “Why? Does that matter?”

The stunning blonde just stared for a couple of moments. “Yes. That matters,” she breathed. She looked at Abby’s neck. “He bit you. Did he say anything about that?”

“No.” Abby rubbed her neck again. So there was a mark. “That’s odd, right? But he was concussed and drunk, and I guess he lost control a little bit.” It felt weird to be talking about such intimate moments with a stranger, but it wasn’t like she had friends in town.

“Oh. Okay. Well, how about we start tomorrow? You and Noah should probably talk, and then we can, you know, start working?” Tabi’s eyes widened, and her face paled.

Abby sipped her coffee. “What’s wrong with you?” She looked back toward the bedroom and then to the small woman. “I mean, we’re both consenting adults.”

Tabi snorted. Actually snorted. “Right. Well. Hmmm.”

What the heck did that mean? “Are you judging me?” Irritation rose along with Abby’s awareness.

“No.” Tabi wetted her pink lips. “Not at all. Don’t care, in fact. But I wanted to make sure I wasn’t interrupting an important discussion, you know?” She kept backing away until she was outside and on the sidewalk, looking like she was about to bolt. Fast.

“I know.” Abby followed her, taking control for the first time in way too long and shutting the door behind herself. “I could use some space, and he needs more sleep. How about you take me to my place, I shower, and then we can get to work.” She paused, her chest filling. “I really do appreciate the job, Tabi. I’ll do a good job. I promise.”

Tabi hesitated, looking at the now closed door.

“Come on.” Abby linked her arm through her new boss’s, and led her toward a brand new and sparkling white BMW waiting by the curb. It had to be Tabi’s car. “I need a little time to think before seeing him again. Surely you understand that.”

“Well. I’ll take you to your place for a shower in a bit. First we have a quick stop to make.” Tabi sounded unsure, but she unlocked her car and strode around to the driver’s side. Once they were both safely inside, she looked over at Abby. “How are you feeling, anyway?”

Wasn’t that sweet? Maybe they could be friends. “Pretty good.” Abby finished her coffee. “Oh, shoot. I should’ve left him a note.”

Tabi peeled away from the curb. “You know what? It doesn’t hurt to play a little hard to get.” Her smile held both amusement and dare. “I mean, he just fell asleep last night without talking to you, right? Let him wonder a bit.”

“I didn’t need to talk. I was tired, too,” Abby protested.

Tabitha sighed. “Oh, honey. I’m here for you. I mean, I know we just met, and in anger management group, no less. But if you ever need to talk, I’m here. Just remember that in the wild times to come.”

Wild times? Abby partially turned. “Do you know about my ex-husband?”

Tabitha frowned, zipping right through a stop sign. “The guy you hit with a pitcher?”

“No. I didn’t hit him. He hit me.” Abby tried to calm her movements as she reached for the seatbelt in almost pure panic. She finally relaxed when it snapped into place. Her new friend drove like a maniac.

“What exactly was the deal with you two?” Tabitha asked.

It felt good to talk to somebody. Finally. Abby cleared her throat. “Two years ago, I quit my job and was exploring the States a little. One day, I was driving through town and hit a cow. They have free rein in the county law, and if you hit one, it’s your fault.”

Tabitha pressed harder on the gas pedal, and trees flew by outside. “You hit a cow?”

“Yeah. And I was knocked out, with gas pooling under the car. Monte came along and got me to a hospital. He saved my life.” It was the truth, and she’d go with it. “I had left the city after a bad breakup, was pretty much alone after my grandmother died, and had some memory problems for a couple of years. Monte was there for me. Brought me flowers the first week—different ones each day.” She’d felt so alone and yet saved by him.

Tabi sighed. “Your hero, right?”

“Yes.” Abby wiped both hands down her jeans. “We started dating quickly in a whirlwind romance that was very exciting and somehow reassuring. I thought I needed him.”

Tabi tore around a corner on two wheels. “And he wasn’t Prince Charming?”

“No,” Abby whispered. “For a while, he convinced me my head injuries made me unreasonable. That I had mental problems.”

“Dick,” Tabitha spat.

Amusement shocked Abby, and she laughed. “Yeah. Then I got my feet under me, figured out he was manipulating me, and I argued back.”

Tabitha turned toward her, those black eyes glittering. “Then he hit you.”

“Yeah.” Shame and embarrassment heated Abby’s face. “I should’ve left, but I kept thinking it was my fault and I could fix it. Finally, one day, I just left. Enough. Got a divorce, and well, here I am now.”

“How?” Tabi asked.

“He’s a lawyer, and he’s best friends with the sheriff and the judge,” Abby sighed. “So no matter what I do, I’m kind of screwed. At some point, he’s going to win. Unless I take him out.” It was the first time she’d said the thought out loud.

“That’s probably the way to go,” Tabi said, driving through the wooden arches for the main part of town.

Abby blinked. “What?”

Tabi shrugged, slowing down and driving past the upscale businesses. “If you kill him, he can’t bother you any longer. It’s pretty simple, right?”

Abby’s mouth dropped open, and she partially turned, facing her new friend. Was she crazy? “Are you joking?”

“No.” Tabi drew down very fine light eyebrows. “If it’s you or him, it’s definitely him.”

Abby’s stomach cramped. There was a truth to the statement, but the blonde had said it so matter-of-factly and without any malice. Her life had gotten so bizarre lately. “You don’t seem like you have an anger problem,” she mused. If anything, her new boss was way too cold.

“I don’t. Well, usually,” Tabi acknowledged, slowing to the speed limit and even pausing to let a couple of older women cross the street from the knitting store to the diner. She finally parked the car across from the smooth brick building holding the only bank in town.

Cold prickled down Abby’s back, even though weak sunlight finally emerged through the heavy cloud cover. “Um, Tabi? Why are we here?”

Tabi took sunglasses out of her Hermes bag and plucked them on her smooth face. “We’re going to rob the bank, Abby. I really need that video of me.”

* * * *

After a quick shower, Noah threw on old jeans and a blue T-shirt, already dialing Raine’s number.

“I haven’t found him yet,” Raine said, by way of answer.

“Don’t care right now,” Noah returned, jogging through the condo and out the door. “Do you have Abby?”

The sound of helicopter blades punctuated the sudden silence through the phone. “Why in the hell would I have Abby?” Raine snapped.

Noah halted at seeing his truck parked in its spot. “Because she’s not here, and my truck is.”

“Oh. Well, Tabitha was looking for her. Maybe she has Abby?” Raine asked. “Hey. I’m about to get on a chopper to go find that asshole, but if you need me in town, say so now.”

Damn it. They were friends now. When a guy helped you escape a bunch of live grenades, he became your friend. Even if he was one of the crazy Maxwell vampire clan from Montana. “No. Keep on the trail. I’ll find Abby.” He clicked off. One problem at a time. He looked down at the lighter stamp on his palm. He’d mated the female. Full on, forever, mated. And she had no clue.

He shook his head, protectiveness hitting him square between the eyes. Or maybe that was possessiveness. He’d mated Abby, and she was his. If there was danger to her, it would end bloody. She’d be safe.

He jumped into his truck and drove away from the condo. Where would the demoness take her? To the factory? If so, which one was hers? He quickly dialed Raine again.

“What?” Raine snapped, quiet around him.

“Aren’t you in the chopper?” Noah asked. There should be tons of noise.

“Yes. It’s one of our own designs. What do you need, Siosal?” Raine sounded slightly irritated, for some reason.

“Tabitha’s factory. Do you know where it is? I’m afraid she’s with Tabi.” Noah had to explain about the mating before anybody else did. “I was out of it last night, big time, and I mated her.”

Silence. Dead, heavy, full silence. “You fucking did what?” Then the sound of something crashing hard against metal. Was Raine hitting his head against the side of the craft? “Damn it, I’m sorry. I knew you were hurting, and you drank three bottles of bourbon, and I left you alone with her. I’m so sorry.”

Noah shrugged, turning down another lane. “Not your fault. I wanted her, she wanted me, and I think I may have passed out a bit.” From the first second he’d seen her, he’d wanted her on a level even he couldn’t comprehend. This was why. “It’s early, and it’s way too fast, but she’s mine. I know it, and on some level, she knows it.”

Raine chuckled, the sound pained. “You have a tough road ahead. My advice? Go easy.”

It was too late for easy. “Do you know where Tabi’s factory is? Which one it is?”

“No, and that woman is obsessed with that video of her. If I had to bet, I’d say she’s cooking up a plan to rob the bank. Start there, and if she’s nowhere around, look for a fancy car by the factories. You know how demonesses like fast cars.”

Noah hadn’t been aware of that fact, but the advice was good. He clicked off. If Tabitha took Abby to rob a bank, while Abby was already on probation, they were going to have a serious problem. He flipped a U-turn and sped toward town, clearing the wooden arches in a blur. He caught sight of a pristine BMW, and his heart just up and stopped. The rare car in this small town had to belong to Tabi.

He pulled his truck up next to the car, right in the middle of the street. Two seconds later, and he was out of the truck.

Tabitha rolled her window down, her smile cat-like. “Noah. How nice to see you.”

He stomped toward the vehicle, peering down to look inside. Relief mingled with irritation inside his chest as he found his mate, still dressed in her clothing from the day before, her hair kind of braided to the side. She didn’t even know her body was undergoing an incredible change at the moment. “Abby? Get in the truck.”

She blinked, and then her chin set in a stubborn line. “No. I’m working.”

He cut the too-happy Tabitha a hard look. “You will not involve my mate in a bank robbery.”

“Mate?” Abby snapped from the passenger seat. “What are you? Eighty years old?”

“Four hundred and twenty-one,” he snapped back.

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

Oh, they were going to have a good talk and soon. “You are not robbing this bank,” he snarled through gritted teeth at the demoness.

“I’d agree with that statement,” a low voice drawled around the other side of his truck as Detective O’Connell strolled from where he’d parked his nondescript cop car against the other curb.

Noah stiffened.

Abby gasped.

And Tabitha smiled, danger in the twitch of her lips. “Why, Detective. How fucking nice to see you,” she murmured.

Chapter Eleven

Warmth slid through Abby as if a heated rolling pin moved just beneath her skin the second Noah spoke. That voice. Low and gritty and hoarse. And the night before, her name had been all he’d said. Hearing it now, even though he was giving orders, unleashed a sense inside her of belonging.

After a one night stand.

Yeah, she was a complete and utter dork. Just like one of those silly high school girls all giggly over the hot rebel boy who’d given her a nod in the hallway. Okay. She had been that girl at one time, and she’d enjoyed those days. Now she was all grown up and needed to act like it, damn it.

“Abby?” Noah partially leaned down to see her beyond Tabitha. “We need to talk.”

Oh, crap. For the brushoff? Wait a minute. Nobody went looking for somebody to give the brushoff. If Noah didn’t want to see her again, he sure the heck wouldn’t be standing in the middle of the road. “Okay.” She looked at Tabitha. “How about I go take a shower, and we meet up later today for my first day of work?” She really needed this job, but a shower was imperative at this moment. Her hair felt like a disaster.

The detective stood next to Noah, his gaze shrewd. “I’d like to know what you two ladies are doing casing the bank.”

Well, that’s what they’d been doing, apparently. Abby licked her lips. Tabi didn’t really want to rob a bank, did she? The woman had to have been kidding. “We’re not casing anything,” she said, sliding from the car and standing, stretching her back slightly.

A police car stopped in the middle of the road between the detective’s car and Noah’s. The sheriff stepped out and hitched his belt up over his beer belly. “Why the hell is there a truck parked in the middle of the street?” he snapped.

A lump formed in Abby’s throat. Crap. The guy hated her.

The sheriff’s gaze caught hers. “You’re under probation, Mrs. Loften. Do we have a problem here?”

Noah started to move for the man just as the detective cut him off. “My fault, Sheriff,” O’Connell said easily. “I asked Mr. Siosal to stop for a second, and I wasn’t clear with directions. He’s just about to move the truck ahead and park.”

“Actually,” Noah drawled, striding around the front of the car and taking Abby’s hand in his, “I was just going to take my girlfriend to breakfast. And her name is Miss Miller, not Mrs. Loften, Sheriff.” He paused and looked down at her. “Or do you prefer Ms.?”

Abby stumbled. “I, ah, Miss is fine.” Noah felt solid and strong next to her. Had he just said girlfriend? Was it to piss the sheriff off, or did he mean it? They hadn’t discussed dating. Maybe that was why he wanted to talk. The temptation to let him take over was almost too much to resist, but she was done hiding and done being terrified. Yeah, being wanted by a guy like him might’ve given her some of her newfound pride, but she’d been heading that direction anyway. Anger did that to a gal. So she removed her hand from Noah’s and stepped in front of him to face the sheriff. “I’m finished with you trying to intimidate me.”

The sheriff’s eyebrows went up, and his chin down. “Excuse me?”

She put her hands on her hips. “My ex is an asshole, and you know it. And even though he’s your childhood buddy, you can’t use the law to hurt people. Not anymore.”

“Really. You’re a criminal on probation. Exactly what do you plan to do?” the sheriff spat, his bulbous nose twitching.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But I’ll call everyone with a phone. FBI, CIA, Attorney General. I’m done with this nonsense.” Her stomach cramped and her head ached, but she faced him squarely.

Noah leaned down, his mouth near her ear. “You done making a stand? I’m starving.”

She shivered from his warm breath and then rolled out a laugh, feeling lighter than she had in years. “I could eat, after I head home for a quick shower.” Then she took his hand as if she had every right to do so and tugged him toward the street. “You’re blocking traffic.” Well, if there was any traffic. Some might be coming. “Breakfast is on you.” She pointedly ignored the sheriff as Noah opened her door and she climbed up.

Noah slid into the truck and sped off, veering just close enough to the sheriff to make the guy jump back. “We have a lot to talk about.”

She rubbed her neck. “You bit me.”

His hands tightened on the steering wheel as they drove between quaint looking businesses and out of the main area of town. “Yeah. That’s one of the things we need to discuss.” He glanced her way, his black eyes serious. “But first, I want the entire story of your marriage, the sheriff, and why it felt like you just drew a line in the sand.”

Yeah, if they were going to date, he deserved the entire story. Plus, she found herself wanting to share with him. He was a nice man and she could trust him. It wasn’t like he’d hidden anything from her, which was a lovely change. The guy was an open book.

“Well, it started with a car wreck when I hit a cow,” she began, settling into the warm seat.

* * * *

Abby finished swiping on lip-gloss after a warm shower, her tattered terrycloth robe wrapped around her. She’d been a little embarrassed to bring Noah into her crappy apartment, but he’d headed right for the kitchen and found a yogurt to eat. He still wanted to talk, and it was his turn. She felt so much better after having shared her story. Sometimes she felt stupid or weak for staying with Monte, but Noah seemed to understand.

She moved into her bedroom and threw on a green sweater that brought out that color in her eyes. Then she grabbed jeans and paused. Her hip was still burning. Looking down, she stilled. What the hell? Leaning over, she looked closer. Her hip and part of her butt showed a tattoo of an S surrounded by rough knots and lines. A brand?

Stumbling against her dresser, she tried to grab ahold of reality. What? How? It had happened in the shower. She remembered her hip hurting during sex. But what the holy hell of holy hells? She began stomping toward the door when male voices caught her attention.

Something crashed against the wall.

Damn it. She jumped into her jeans and ran toward the living room, zipping them up on the way. Had Monte come by after the stupid sheriff called him?

She dodged into the living room just as Noah flew past her to hit the fridge, denting it in three places. The door opened, and her other two yogurts fell out, hitting the floor and exploding. Blood covered his chest and poured from three distinct holes. Had he been shot?

Her mouth dropped open, and she turned to see a massive man with odd metallic eyes. He smiled, a glowing green gun in his large hand. “Hello.”

With a roar, Noah leaped between them and tackled the man, hitting him so hard they impacted the wall by the door and crumpled it outward. Plaster rained down, dust spinning through the air. The guy shot Noah again in the neck, and Noah bellowed, grabbing his bloody jaw.

“Noah,” Abby screamed, panicking. She looked frantically around for any weapon.

Noah stiffened and then kicked the guy’s hand, sending the gun spiraling beneath the couch. “How dare you come to my mate’s home,” he growled, his voice sounding inhuman.

“Figured I’d catch you off guard.” The guy slammed the edges of both hands down on Noah’s neck. “Too bad she’s about to be a widow.”

Noah punched the guy in the throat, stood, and lifted him to throw into the fridge. He turned, blood still pouring from his wound, his eyes an unreal green and...fangs. Fangs slid down from Noah’s mouth, sharp and deadly. He jumped for the guy and slashed those deadly points into the other guy’s jugular, ripping deep.

Abby screamed, backing toward her bedroom. This wasn’t happening. She’d fallen asleep, and this was a nightmare. Noah did not have fangs.

The other guy yelled, and fangs dropped in his mouth. His eyes turned a bright gold, and he turned, punching and trying to sink those weapons into Noah’s flesh.

Noah rolled them over, his mouth still working. He twisted his head and ripped out part of the guy’s neck. Growling, nowhere near human, he yanked a huge knife from his boot and plunged it into the guy’s throat. Straddling the guy, he slashed with the sharpened blade, back and forth. The guy struggled fiercely, but his eyes soon closed.

Noah finished the job, slashing all the way through muscle and bone. The guy’s head rolled away from his body and through the spilled yogurt to land near the cupboard beneath the sink, blood mixing with blueberry and crumbles.

Abby couldn’t move. Her body froze more solid than a deer on a country road in headlights. Her mind just stopped working. Completely.

Noah shoved off the corpse and stood, turning to face her. Blood had splattered across his rugged face, mingling with the red now trickling from his neck. Blood covered his gray T-shirt with more sliding from the smoking bullet holes across his chest.

She backed up, her butt hitting her door frame.

His fangs slid back up, and he tucked his thumbs in his bloody jeans. “So. Guess we should talk.”

She frantically shook her head. No talking. Noah had just murdered another fanged creature in her kitchen. “You’re, a, vampire?” Her voice shook so hard the words each held extra syllables. How was it possible?

“Just half,” he said, his voice grittier than normal. Harsh, even. The green in his eyes slowly disappeared to leave the all black hue. “Part demon. I’m a hybrid.”

She inched toward the door opening. The lock on her bedroom door sucked, but it was something. “Hybrid,” she whispered.

He shrugged, and the hole in his neck slowly closed. “Yeah. We’re just different species from humans. Nothing crazy or anything.”

She coughed, the sound hysterical. Not crazy? “I, ah, don’t want to be a vampire. Or a demon.” God. Was she food to him? She reached for the door and then paused as he straightened from his casual pose in a warning that was too clear to ignore. “You should go.”

“You can’t be a vampire or demon, Abs,” he said. “We’re a different species, and we only take blood in extreme situations like sex or war. We eat steaks, drink wine, and are fine in the sun. Some legends are true, but most are just stupid. We live among you, and we have no reason to hurt you.”

Her hip began to burn. “Wait. You bit my neck.”

“Yep.” His eyes glowed green through the black. “You taste like hope and sunshine.”

Oh. Well. She frowned. “My hip. You branded me?” Her voice rose on the last along with a hysteria she was finding increasingly hard to keep at bay.

Now he blanched. “Yeah. Well, it’s like this. When a demon finds his mate, a brand appears on his hand. Mine appeared after our first night together and most of my people believe in fate. I never really did until I met you, and now I’m rethinking that. During a mating, the brand is transferred to the mate. Usually we can control it, but after being blown up and drinking three bottles of homemade bourbon, I wasn’t myself. My skull and brain took another whole day to fix, to be honest.” He wiped blood off his cheekbone. “We have healing cells that we send to injured areas. It’s quite handy.”

Mate? “What does mating mean?” She rubbed her hip. How was any of this real? “I’m a demon?” How had she even said those words? But she’d seen the fangs and she now had a tattoo on her ass.

“No. You’re a mate. Your chromosomal pairs will increase until you’re as immortal as I am. Only beheading can kill you.” His eyelids lowered, giving him a primitive look that was right at home on his hard face. “And mating is forever. Period.”

Chapter Twelve

Noah hated dealing with dead bodies. He finished cleaning up the mess in Abby’s kitchen as she lay down in her bedroom after a truly impressive time retching over her avocado green toilet. In a million years, he’d never figured his mate would puke for thirty minutes upon learning that she’d been mated. It was enough to give a guy a complex.

He viewed the now pristine kitchen—except for the body now wrapped in garbage bags that smelled like the ocean somehow. Duct tape held it all together, even the head, which he’d put by the jackass’s feet. He’d avenged Clyde’s killer, but the moment felt hollow.

His phone chirped, so he drew it from his back pocket. “Siosal.”

“Hey. It’s Raine. My intel says Petersen is headed back your way. The guy wants your head.” Boisterous music sounded in the background.

“I took his,” Noah returned, staring down at the still form.

The music shifted to hard rock. “Well, congrats. You avenged your friend,” Raine said. “You splitting town now?”

“Not quite yet,” Noah said. “A few things to work out.”

“Good luck. I still owe you one,” Raine said.

Noah stiffened. “Wait. Any chance you have connections in town with the coroner? Or anybody with an industrial powered fireplace?” He could bury the body if necessary, but burning it was easier and cleaner.

“No,” Raine said. “Bury it. Even if he’s dug up, humans wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.”

They hadn’t in the past, but human science was catching up too quickly. At some point, the secret of their existence was going to be out. It was inevitable. Well, unless the apocalypse happened and humans returned to an earlier age. Totally possible. “Okay. I’ll be in touch.”

He slipped his phone back into his pocket and moved silently toward the bedroom. Abby lay on her back, a washcloth over her eyes. In her T-shirt and jeans, she was curvy and fragile. His heart thumped. Hard. He’d told her the truth about fate, but now he wondered. It felt like she was meant for him. The idea of letting her go prodded the beast at his core, but she’d been through so much, her life had to be her choice. The good news was that he had thousands of years to court her, if needed.

And he fully intended to keep her.

It just might take some time to convince her that she wanted to keep him. He was one of the most talented hunters on earth, and patience was in his arsenal. It had to be.

She moved the washcloth from her eyes. “How is this so easy for you?” she asked, her gaze direct.

He straightened. “What?” Killing? He’d been taking out enemies his entire life. She probably wouldn’t understand, and he had no idea how to explain it to her.

“Mating. Forever. You and me.” She sat up, her T-shirt tightening across her full breasts.

Desire rolled through him, landing in his groin. He forced himself to concentrate. “My people believe in fate. It’s in our genes.” He dug deep, trying to make her understand. “I feel you. In here.” He placed a hand over his heart. “The second we met, the moment we touched, something awoke in me for the first time. I understand if it’s different for you.” Some things made sense on a level to demons that others just didn’t get. The words were hard to find.

“What does that mean?” she whispered.

She had every right to ask, and she deserved the truth.

“You’re inside me, Abs. I know it’s fast, and it doesn’t make sense to you, but you’re here. I’d die for you, and no doubt I’ll kill for you. In an instant and without question.” It’s what he knew and who he was. “My people court wars, and danger always lurks. You’re safe. No matter what, you’re safe.” The vow was absolute, and he could only hope she’d learn to trust it and him.

She tossed her head, and her glorious mahogany hair flew. “I won’t be told what to do. Forced to be somewhere.”

“I can protect you from afar, but that’s not my choice,” he returned. “But you should probably know, as your body changes on a cellular level, you’ll want me more than you do right now.” He lifted his nose, scenting the air. Her arousal was sweet and spicy. “And you want me pretty badly right now.”

She blinked.

He didn’t press her, but he did smile. “I can make you feel better.”

Her eyes widened. “You want to have sex with a dead body in the other room?”

He paused. Good point. That was probably uncomfortable for her. “You know, I’ll go take care of that right now. I’m not going to ask much from you, but for now, please stay here until I get back. Mating takes a toll, and you’re going to need to sleep more than you probably realize.” Then he paused and frowned. Wait a minute. “Check that. I’m taking you to my place.”

“I’ll stay here,” she mumbled.

“Not until I handle Monte,” he returned.

She pulled her legs up to sit crossed-legged. “Handle? Exactly what do you mean by that?”

He kept his gaze stoic. There was a man still walking the earth who’d hit what was his. He’d managed to stay calm while she told him the story, but inside, he’d raged so hard his blood pressure had tripled. Didn’t matter one iota that it had happened before Noah had met her. “That’s irrelevant. Stay here for the moment, and I’ll be back for you.” He turned on his heel to get the body out of the house before she saw it again. He threw Petersen over his shoulder and walked outside, not seeing any witnesses. After setting the corpse in the cargo hold beneath the lid, he strode back inside. She probably wouldn’t want to ride in the truck, but he didn’t have a choice. “Come on, Abs,” he called.

Silence. Complete and utter silence.

He sighed. Her stubbornness was a turn-on, actually. But he was on the clock here. “Abby. Come on.” He strode through the demolished living room to the bedroom. It was empty. A quick search of the bathroom had his temper rising.

She’d gone out the back door.

He ran for the small slider off the kitchen and looked in both directions. Nothing. Damn it. He obviously hadn’t explained matehood well enough to her yet.

That was going to change.

* * * *

Abby finished shoveling in a bag of veggie chips at the mini-mart at the end of her block. She was starving. The white BMW skidded into the lot, and she waved, running and jumping into the passenger seat. “Thanks for picking me up,” she said.

“Sure.” Tabi spun out of the parking lot, sending water from mud puddles spraying. “I almost didn’t answer the phone. Whose number was that?”

“The clerk at the store,” Abby said, her stomach grumbling. “Sorry.”

Tabi pushed her glasses down her straight nose. “Want me to grab lunch?”

Abby shook her head. “No. I’m good.” She sure wasn’t making a very good impression in front of her new boss. “I’m sorry about all of this. I’m sure my life will slow down soon.” Yeah, right. She’d just mated a demon-vampire hybrid and her chromosomal pairs were somehow changing. And he’d been a little insistent that she stay safe.

Tabi zipped out of town. “Abby? Why did I have to pick you up at a gas station?”

Because there had been a pissed-off hybrid and a dead body at her apartment. “I just thought I’d go for a walk, and then I decided I needed chips,” she said in lieu of the truth.

“Uh huh,” Tabitha said, pressing harder on the gas pedal. Businesses and then homes and finally trees sped by outside too quickly to gauge. “Anything you want to talk about? I’m a great sounding board.”

Abby snorted and then quickly recovered. “No, but thank you.” If she told the pretty blonde the truth about demons and vampires and matings, the woman would probably scream and run for the hills—after calling for the guys with straitjackets. It was too bad Abby had lost touch with her friends from before the accident. It’d be nice to reach out to a couple of them, but it wasn’t like she could tell them the truth, either.

Tabi drove through the industrial park, going to a sprawling maroon colored metal building in the back. “I need an assistant, and I think you’d be fantastic. Somebody to organize me as we get things off the ground.”

Abby craned her neck, curious. “What are you going to manufacture here?”

Tabi shot her a secret smile. “I’ll show you.” She stepped out and frowned as rain started to fall. Sighing, she slid her sunglasses onto the dash and then hustled for the nearest door, using a keypad to unlock it.

Abby followed. She should probably get a better idea of her duties, anyway.

Tabi moved inside, and Abby stepped gingerly over a large mud puddle before crossing through the doorway into a reception area built with hand-cut wood and heavy dark granite. “Tabi Enterprises,” she murmured, reading the wide wooden side that arced across the reception desk.

“Yep.” Tabi flipped on lights and walked beyond reception to a long hallway. “These are all offices.” She moved to the left down another hallway and pointed to a pristine lab. “Research and development.” Then she pointed down to a wide metal door. “Design is to the left, and manufacturing to the right. We’re almost ready with the product.”

Abby blew out a whistle. The metal outside really hid the updated interior. “This is fantastic. What are you researching and developing, anyway?”

Tabi turned to face her in the quiet hallway. “Better spray and even masks that prevent cameras from recording faces. We have some elementary ones in the market, but it’s time for some much better devices.”

Abby paused. “For the government?”

Tabitha sighed and shook her head. She looked down and then back up. “No. For immortals.” Slowly, sharp fangs slid down between her perfectly pink lips.

Abby backed into the wall and quickly righted herself. “Are you kidding me?” she yelped.

“No.” Tabitha retracted her fangs and smiled.

“You’re a vampire.” Abby shook her head. Were they all around, or what?

Tabi scoffed. “Of course not. Vampires are male only. I’m a demoness.”

Well, of course. Why wouldn’t vampires be male only? How silly of her to ask. Abby put her hands on her hips. “Why are you telling me this all of a sudden?”

“Because you mated Noah,” Tabi said easily, brushing invisible wrinkles out of her silk blouse. “You’re on the inside now, girl.”

Abby’s eyes widened. “He told you?”

“No.” Tabitha’s laugh was a soft tinkle with a hint of hoarseness.

Well. “What is there? Some sort of mate registry?” Irritation she couldn’t quite define ticked through Abby and made the hair stand up at the base of her neck.

“No. I can smell him on you.” Tabi licked her lips. “Noah has a bit of a reputation for being a deadly assassin, you know. Those kind of guys usually are shockingly good in the sack. He as good as I think?”

Abby’s mouth gaped open. “Assassin?”

“Mercenary, soldier, sniper, assassin,” Tabi said easily. “Same thing in our world. You didn’t answer my question.”

“Yeah, Abby,” came a low voice from down the hallway. “How about you answer the question?”

Abby jumped, turning to see Noah lounging in the doorway. Her mate.

Tabi walked toward her and looked between them. “Why am I getting the caveman mate vibe?” She glanced at Abby. “Wait a sec. Why exactly were you waiting at the Minimart for me?” She bit her lip as if trying not to laugh.

Abby turned to face Noah. “I had a job to do, and here I am.” She edged next to Tabi. Girl power and all that.

Tabi laughed. “Oh, my friend. My newly mated friend who decided to poke the bear, or rather the demon, on the first go around.” She patted Abby’s shoulder. “I like you, quite a lot. Good luck.” Winking, she sauntered down the hallway, nodded at Noah, and headed out the door. “The first crew arrives in two days, so please leave the place as you found it.” Then she shut the door behind herself.

Abby watched her go, her mouth agape. What in the world had just happened? She lowered her chin, facing Noah.

For the first time, he didn’t look amused or even lazily irritated. He looked...primal. His eyes glowed a warning green rimmed with black, and he appeared even bigger than usual. More animalistic—all muscle and strong sinew. “You said you understood all of this was my choice.” She wanted to sound reasonable, but challenge edged her tone.

“Your life is your choice. Your safety is mine.” He loped toward her like any predator playing with prey. “If there’s a threat out there, and I tell you to stay put, you do it until I clear the path. It’s the only thing I ask.”

Her head jerked. “You’re not asking.”

His smile was an impossible mix of danger and sin. “Now you’re getting it.”

Chapter Thirteen

Noah’s relief at seeing his mate safely with the demoness had nearly taken him to his knees. Never in his life had he lost his control like he had when discovering she was out there, alone, with her jackass of an ex on her trail. He now owed the Realm computer techs, those in charge of satellites, more favors that he could count.

But he’d found her. Small and fragile and still dressed in that light sweater and dark jeans. She smelled like potato chips and raspberries, and his mouth started to water just from her presence.

She opened her mouth, no doubt to argue with him, and he held up a hand. When his voice was under control, he finally explained her new reality to her. “No. This world is different. You don’t understand the rules, and you don’t know the lines yet. When I tell you to do something, it’s to keep you safe. Otherwise you’re free to do whatever you wish.”

Her nostrils flared, and a lovely pink slid beneath her cheeks. She put her hands on her hips. “I neither asked for nor need your protection. Don’t think for a second you’re in charge.”

He stilled. Even he could feel the air heat around him, vibrating out. He was trying to be reasonable and gentle, and she was all but taking a bat to his good intentions.

She swallowed but didn’t back down.

He’d be impressed if he wasn’t fighting his temper with both hands. His eyes ached as they no doubt changed from black to his secondary color of deep green. The color that only emerged with great emotion or fury. “Are you sure you want to challenge me?”

She slowly, very much so, tilted her head. “Yeah.”

“Oh, baby.” He couldn’t help the timbre of his already hoarse voice going gritty. She wanted to play? He could play. “What is it about a newly mated female that all but asks for a taming?”

Her gasp was followed by her chin lowering and that pretty pink turning a deep red. “Taming?” She tossed that glorious hair. “Maybe you’ll be the one tamed.”

She was challenging him. Full on, and with complete focus. God, she was spectacular and more than perfect for him. He’d wanted to ease her into his world and help her find herself again. Maybe if he showed her who he really was, she’d know herself as well. “I’m going to give you one chance to walk out of here and get into my truck.”

“Or what?” she whispered.

“Or I’m going to give you what you’re asking for.” All of him, basically. He moved to the side, allowing free passage. “It’s your choice. The truck is waiting.” There was no doubt in his mind that he’d let the beast inside him loose with her someday, and he was fine waiting. Making sure she was ready and had her eyes wide open and willing. But as she challenged him, her chin set in a stubborn line, the animal he kept at bay began to roar.

Then, she started to walk toward him and the exit, one sure step at a time.

A stab of disappointment shot through him and he quelled it. Someday they’d be on the same page. Hunters hunted and predators planned. He was both. If it took hundreds of years for her to be ready, he’d wait, keeping her safe the entire time.

She reached him and stopped, turning to face him, her scent of raspberries wafting over his skin.

What the hell? A whirlwind of heat spun into a tornado inside him, heating every cell in his body. His blood pounded, and the marking on his palm burned with a raw heat. A desperate one.

Her gaze was direct. “Think you can handle me?”

His cock jerked wide awake and ready to play. Oh, she’d gone from a scared mouse to a brave lioness rather quickly, hadn’t she? It appeared she’d found herself again after a brief absence. Maybe he had something to do with that, and maybe he didn’t. Either way, the fierce creature in front of him was more than he could’ve ever hoped for.

He gently traced down the side of her face, and she turned into his touch. Faster than a thought, he spun her to face the wall. Her surprised gasp only spurred him on. He bracketed her there with his stronger body, holding her in place, tuning in to her harsh breathing. No fear. Only need hinted in the air. He leaned in and nipped the shell of her ear. “Yeah. I can handle you.”

Her butt pushed back against his aching cock, and he bit down a groan. His fangs dropped hard and fast, and he struck, going deep in her neck and drinking. Her taste filled him, completed him. Every part of her landed inside him with a wildness only a hybrid could ever feel. Possessiveness caught him around the throat and choked, digging deep to his true being. The beast inside him that now lived solely for her.

She gasped in pleasure, stretching on her toes, turning her head to allow for better access. “I want fangs.”

He retracted and licked her wound clean, instantly healing it. “You can bite me any time you want.” But she’d never have fangs. She started to turn around, and he grabbed both of her hands, pulling them above her head and holding them there. “Oh. The taming has just started,” he rumbled.

* * * *

His scalding breath at her ear nearly propelled her into an early orgasm. Oh, she was challenging him, no doubt. He was bigger and stronger and more likely meaner. Definitely meaner. She’d never torn the head off an enemy before, and he acted like it was a normal Monday for him. But she felt safe with him on a level she couldn’t explain. Purely instinctively and she trusted it. Trusted herself and even him. She rubbed her ass against his hardened groin again.

His groan made her smile, filling her with warmth. Even so, a girl had to give some warning. Her hands were trapped, but she could kick back. She nailed him in the knee and let out a small chuckle of triumph.

He snarled an expletive and kicked her ankles apart, forcing her legs wide. Her clit rubbed against her zipper, and she moaned. The steel hard line of his erection pressed against her butt, and she let her forehead rest on the cool wall, her nipples hardening into diamond points. “No kicking, little female,” he said, flicking a deadly fang against her earlobe.

Oh yeah? This all felt pretty damn good. She tried to kick him again, but he held her in place. Her moan was more need than frustration, but it was close.

He bit her lobe, spiraling electricity through her body. “I’m not a male you want to challenge.”

“Yes, you are,” she breathed out, her body craving him in a way that had to be unhealthy. She wanted all of him. Nothing held back, nothing hidden. She’d push him to lose control, to share all of him, even if it was more than she could handle. “I’m not hiding from life any longer,” she said, her voice breathier than she’d ever heard it.

“Good.” He reached around her and cupped both breasts, his touch firm and powerful. “Understand that I handle all danger, and you stay out of the way. It’s a simple request, but I’ll make it a mandate if you wish. Don’t push me, Abby.” He tweaked both nipples, the bite of pain so delicious she nearly dropped to her knees. Only his muscled body held her in place.

Words. She needed to say something. To show him she couldn’t be so easily overtaken. “Noah, I think—” Then she lost all sense of the moment.

“Stop thinking,” he ordered, his nimble fingers sliding down between her legs and beneath her plain cotton panties. He zeroed in with ruthless aim to her clit, rubbing against it with a friction that propelled her back onto her toes. So much and so good. “See how well your body obeys? Watch this.” He twisted a finger inside her, brushing her clit hard with his thumb. “Come. Now.”

Her body obeyed instantly, flashing her into an orgasm that flared out from his fingers and shook her head to toe. The waves took her, sending sparks behind her eyelids. She came down with a muffled sigh. That had happened so quickly and just because he’d commanded it? How was that possible? Need rippled through her again, and she wanted more. Wanting everything.

He ripped her shirt over her head, and a second later, her jeans were down to her ankles. Even beyond turned on, she couldn’t help but laugh as she stepped free of them. He made her laugh and gave her incredible orgasms. It was almost too good to be true.

He flipped her around, shoved his jeans down, and picked her up. One hard push, and he impaled her against the wall.

She cried out, pain and pleasure mixing into another orgasm that left her breathless. She flattened both hands against his muscled chest, marveling that the bullet holes were gone. So much power and strength, and it was all hers. Just hers.

Then he started pounding inside her, his hands rough on her bare butt. She looked up, committing his image to her memory forever. Greenish eyes rimmed with black this time, fierce angles in his face, hard jawline. Full lips, possession in every line of his body.

She could feel it.

He tilted her pelvis, changing his angle and hitting her clit. Pleasure spread out through her extremities, tingling along the way. She bit her lip, pressing her head back against the smooth wall.

Jagged sensations ripped through her, hard and fast and fierce. She fought against a third orgasm, trying to keep control, wanting to triumph.

He chuckled, the sound a low warning. “Baby. You’re gonna learn.” His hands tightened on her ass, fingers spreading over the marking that still heated her left hip. Fire spread out from the brand, shooting straight to her clit.

She moaned.

“You’re gonna come now—because I want you to. Now, Abby,” he ordered. He tilted again, hit a spot inside her that belonged only to him, and she exploded into a trillion pieces, spinning away from earth and reality and anything else that wasn’t centered directly on Noah Siosal.

Chapter Fourteen

Noah kept his mate’s gaze as he zipped up her jeans, his heart full of her. “You okay?”

She blushed and nodded. “You?”

“Yeah. Better than okay.” There were probably soft words, kind words, he should use right now. But he didn’t know any. “I’m possessive and protective and kind of abrupt.”

Her eyebrows arched, and those pretty hazel eyes sparkled. “Yes. I’m aware of that.”

He swallowed, brushing her soft hair off her shoulder. “I belong to you. Completely and in a way I’m not sure you feel yet.” It was the most he could give anybody in this world. All of him. “Mates have a connection, and someday we’ll be able to share thoughts if we wish. When you hurt, I hurt. When you rage, I rage. And when you get frightened, I worry. When you’re in danger—”

“You turn into a beast?” She grinned.

He nodded. “Kind of. More like I let the beast loose.” Was it just him, or did that sound dirty? He chuckled. “Immortals are more animalistic than humans, and we’re fine with that. When a mate is threatened, it’s not pretty.” That was as much as he could clean it up for her. “We’re as much instinct as thought, even though we’ve had a millennia to increase our intelligence beyond those of humans. But at our base, our main core, we’ve never softened.”

She leaned up and kissed his chin. “I’m not afraid of you.”

“Good.” The words weren’t enough. “For us, it happens fast. I love you, Abs.” He took her hand, more than happy to give her decades to catch up with him, and started walking for the exit.

Her hand felt small and fragile in his. How long would it take for her body to change and become immortal? He’d heard the timeline was between a day and a couple of weeks, and there was no way to know hers. So he’d have to be extra vigilant for the next couple of weeks. By the way she leaned against him, brushing her breast against his forearm, that wouldn’t be too difficult.

She tripped and caught herself, holding his hand tighter. “You’re a mercenary. How is that going to work?”

He grimaced. “I own several businesses around the world, and we could run those.” He was tired of hunting and killing, and he’d been looking for something to do. “One of them is a charity. Actually a few of them are.” He glanced down as they reached the outside door. “I’m loaded, by the way. You don’t need to work.” Money hadn’t ever meant much to him, but if she wanted to shop, he was happy to give her all he had.

“Loaded, huh?” She waited as he opened the door. “If you don’t mind holding still for a bit, I’d like to work with Tabitha. Get some experience, at least while I wait for my probation to end.”

He’d forgotten. “Speaking about that, you need a decent lawyer.” He’d better find a couple.

“Maybe, but I signed the agreement, so it’d be hard to overturn. Much easier just to live out the probation, which then will go away. If Monte leaves me alone.” She worried her bottom lip with her teeth.

Oh, the human was going to leave her alone. Without question.

She stretched her neck. “Hey. What’s up with your rock hard bed?”

He paused. “Hard? What do you mean?”

She rolled her eyes. “Come on.”

He hadn’t noticed. “It came with the apartment. I’ll get a new one if you’d like.”

“Yeah. I’d like,” she said.

He liked her planning for their future. Rain splattered down as he opened the door and pulled her out, heading for his truck.

A bullet pinged off the metal building next to his head, and he reacted instantly, ducking over her and hauling her in front of his vehicle. “Stay down.” A bullet could still kill her. He levered up, looking at a dark van near the fence. A man partially rose, firing wildly. Shit. It was Monte. Where’d he get the van? He reached for his gun and remembered he’d lost it in the fight with Petersen.

Abby looked up at him, her eyes wide and frightened. “Who’s shooting?”

“Monte,” Noah said grimly. “Does he own a van?”

She shook her head. “No, but his cousin in Grangeville owns a body shop. He borrows cars once in a while.” She paled to beyond white. “We’re pinned down.”

Yeah. Their vantage point sucked.

“Abigail? Come out and come with me, and I won’t kill this piece of shit you’ve picked up,” Monte yelled.

Abby started to rise.

“Stop.” Noah pressed a hand on her shoulder. “What the hell are you doing?”

She blinked away tears. “If I go, he won’t shoot you. Call the detective, the good one, and maybe you can find me. I can’t let you get killed.” She wiped her eye. “I love you, too.”

The words hit him like a hammer, and he let himself enjoy them for the briefest of moments. “You’re a moron, sweetheart,” he finally said.

She reared back. “Wh-what?”

He’d been clear. He’d been more than clear. “I handle danger and protect you. Not the other way around. Ever.” He shook his head. “And I’m immortal—pretty much. Remember?”

She paused. “Yeah, but bullets hurt you, right?”

“Well, yeah. And they can incapacitate us for a while.” Frankly, they hurt like hell. He’d taken a human bullet between the eyes back in the fifties, and it had taken him two weeks to fix his brain.

“Now, Abigail,” Monte yelled, shooting into the building for emphasis.

There was only one way to get the gun, and it was going straight for it across the parking lot. There was no other option or route. Noah would be completely exposed. “You’re going to have to trust me on this, Abby. Promise me you’ll stay down.”

“I won’t let you get shot in the brain, damn it,” she muttered.

He turned and pinned her with a gaze, letting his eyes go full on demon green. “In there, inside, we had fun. You disobey me this time, and you won’t like the results. It won’t be fun.” He kissed her. Hard. “I’d never hit you, and I’ll never harm you, but I have no problem with you not being able to sit for a week. Take that to heart, mate.” He took a second to memorize her beautiful face and the spirit that had glimmered in her eyes.

Then he turned and leaped up into a flurry of bullets.

* * * *

Rain pounded down, plastering Abby’s hair to her face. The asphalt was rough beneath her hands, but she crouched low, her heart thundering. The bullets pinged off the truck and building, ricocheting in different directions. She was protected right in place, and if she moved an inch, she might get hit.

But how could she let Noah face her ex, her biggest mistake, on his own?

Immortal. He couldn’t die. But he could get hurt. Though he’d asked her, ordered her, to trust him. She kept low, her face against the front grill, and crept around the side.

Noah ran full bore, head down, right at Monte, who kept shooting.

A bullet ripped right through Noah’s shoulder, throwing blood and continuing on to hit the door of the building.

“Noah,” Abby screamed.

He was a blur of motion, almost too fast to follow. Several more bullets hit him dead center and he hitched, paused, and then lunged the rest of the way. He leaped over the van and took Monte down and out of sight.

A scuffle echoed, then a high-pitched scream.

Then silence.

Abby’s hands shook and she forced herself to stand, looking over the wide expanse of wet asphalt. “Noah?” she croaked. He had to be okay. He had to be telling the truth about being immortal. God, he had to be all right. “Noah!”

He stood up on the other side of the van and walked around the front, blood once again pouring from holes in his chest and one in his cheek.

She ran toward him, and he met her halfway. The hole in his cheek revealed his teeth and upper jaw bone. Her stomach lurched, and she swallowed down bile. “How badly are you hurt?” Her hand trembled as she gingerly touched his jawline.

“I’ll be fine.” A whistle sounded through the hole in his face.

She winced. “Heal that, would you?” Then she looked toward the quiet fence line. “Monte?”

“Not going to be fine.” The bone and muscle began to stitch together in Noah’s face as he reached for the phone in his back pocket and quickly dialed. “Tabi?” he asked. “It’s Noah. How do you feel about ditching a van for me?” The skin slowly healed over his cheekbone, turning an angry red. “Yes, I’ll owe you one. Yes. Thanks.” The red turned to his bronze skin tone.

Abby watched, fascinated. “That’s amazing.” One day she’d be able to do that.

He kissed her, his face whole again. Thank goodness. Then he levered back. “I have to take care of another body.”

She frowned. Shouldn’t she feel something, anything, that Monte was gone? They had been married, although he’d been a jerk the whole time.

She wiped rain off her face. “I’m sorry. I made my own problems, and you cleaned them up. I’ll help you.” How did one get rid of a body? “If he just disappears, I’ll be the prime suspect, you know?”

“Maybe, but without a body, there’s not much of a case. And I have a couple of great lawyers. We’ll get them on the line.” He gently turned her toward his truck. “Go sit inside. You don’t help with bodies. Ever.”

That was a plan she could agree with, but this time was different. She’d caused some of this. “Noah—”

The slap to her ass propelled her two feet forward. She partially turned, her eyes widening.

He cocked his head. “There’s more where that came from. Just to the ass and to get you to take me seriously. It’s your choice or not.” His grin was pure sin. “Who knows? You might like a good spanking. Current literature shows that some girls do.”

She gasped and then coughed from the rain. And yes, her entire lower body was now on fire for him and anything he wanted to dish out. But she couldn’t just admit that. Good thing they had several lifetimes to play and have some fun. She gave him a look that hopefully promised retribution. With a huff, a good one, she turned and stomped through the rain to the truck, jumping in and getting his nice leather seat wet.

Her mate, even though she did love him already, could just handle all the dead bodies by himself. So there.

Chapter Fifteen

Abby settled into her seat in the nicer upstairs room of the old school and smiled at Mariana. The woman smiled back and lifted her eyebrows at seeing Abby holding Noah’s hand. He felt just right sitting next to her. After he’d gotten rid of Monte’s body, somehow, they’d decided to act normal for the remainder of her probation. But he had a couple of good lawyers ready to go, just in case.

Tabi rushed inside and slipped her sunglasses atop her blonde hair. “Hi.”

Abby smiled. Then she frowned. Now she worked for Tabi, and now she realized that the demoness really did want to rob the bank and get that video. Of course, now Abby understood why. She shook off the unease. She’d deal with bank robbing another day.

Mariana looked up, focused on the doorway behind Abby, and turned a light pink.

Abby partially twisted to see Raine Maxwell loping inside holding a tray of donuts. A bit of powdered sugar remained on his bottom lip. “The gambling guys were kind enough to donate these to us.” He placed the tray on a desk and took his seat over by Tabi.

Noah leaned forward. “What are you doing back here?”

Raine grinned. “I’m a multi-tasker, you know. Your buddy wasn’t my only job in town.”

What in the world did that mean? Since Noah stiffened next to her, Abby paused.

Raine rolled his eyes. “I’m not interested in either one of you. Don’t worry.”

“Me?” Tabi asked.

“Negative,” Raine assured her, kicking back.

Well, that was interesting. Considering Noah had informed her that Raine was mostly a vampire, why would he be in the small town now that Ivar was gone? The vampire looked to his side. “Doc? You gonna have a donut?”

“No.” Mariana looked around the circle, her gaze intelligent. She definitely knew she was missing something, but as a human, there was no way she’d figure it out.

Bootsteps sounded, and the sheriff came into the room followed by Detective O’Connell. “Mrs. Loften? We need to talk to you.”

Abby jerked. “Miss Miller,” she corrected.

The sheriff hitched their way. “You need to come down to the station. Now.”

Noah partially stood. “I have two lawyers staying at the motel at the edge of town. I can have them there before we arrive. How about you just talk to her here?”

“Fine.” The sheriff’s beady eyes narrowed. “Where were you last night at six in the evening?”

Abby swallowed. That was about the exact time Monte had died. “I was—”

“With me at my new factory,” Tabi said instantly. “Why?”

“Her husband died at that time, according to our coroner. His body was found, stabbed to death, in his apartment.” The sheriff glared at Abby.

Detective O’Connell cleared his throat. “Along with a kilo of coke, which apparently he’d been taking for a while.”

The sheriff snarled at the detective. “Shut up.” He looked at Abby. “Anybody else able to corroborate your statement?”

“I was there,” Noah said. “The whole time.”

“Me, too,” Raine added, smiling smoothly. “I’m interested in Tabi’s business and might invest. We all met up and then came to my place for pizza. It was a lovely evening.”

Abby stared at the group. They were all covering for her? Her heart warmed. For Noah, too.

The sheriff stood straighter. “You’re all lying. You’re all in this together.”

Raine snorted. “We just met last week, Sheriff. For the first time. Feel free to conduct background checks on all of us. You won’t find any connections, because there aren’t any. No way would a bunch of strangers commit or cover a crime together. That’s just silly.”

Detective O’Connell looked around and then grasped the sheriff’s arm. “He’s right. The alibi is solid. Let’s go.”

“For now,” the sheriff snapped, turning and storming from the room.

The detective looked at each one of them in turn. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but I will find out.” Intelligence shone in his too blue eyes.

Tabi winked at him.

His head went up, he gave her a look, and then he followed the sheriff.

“Is it just me,” Noah murmured, “or does our detective there not like his boss very much?”

Abby frowned. “Is he—”

Noah shook his head and leaned in for a kiss. “No. Human.” He took her hand and helped her up. “Can we do group Thursday? This has been emotionally draining.”

Mariana looked around, her gaze bewildered. “I think that might be best.”

Raine smiled at her. “I’ll stick around, doc. Maybe you and I could chat.”

Noah drew Abby from the room and into the hall, pulling her into his arms. “You okay?”

She leaned back, her heart full. “Yes. I take it you thought making him disappear would create too many problems?”

“Yep. This is the best route.” Noah leaned down and kissed her, taking his time. Taking a lot of time. When he lifted up, she’d forgotten every concern she’d ever had. “I love you, mate.”

* * * *

Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Rebecca Zanetti, discover Blaze Erupting, Tangled, Teased and Tricked.

Alpha’s Promise

Dark Protectors Book 10

By Rebecca Zanetti

Coming June 25, 2019

Click here to purchase.

READ IVAR’S STORY in ALPHA’S PROMISE:

To hell and back…

Though he has vampire, demon, and Viking blood rushing through his veins, Ivar Kjeidsen’s soul-crushing trip to hell broke him in ways he can barely fathom. One vow keeps the deadly immortal standing: To rescue the vampire brother who had sacrificed freedom for him. To do that, Ivar needs the help of a brilliant physicist with wary brown eyes, fierce brilliance, and skin that's way too soft.

Dr. Promise Williams understands the underpinnings of the universe but has never figured out the human beings inhabiting it. Her function is to think—and not feel—until she’s touched by a vampire who’s nowhere near human. The primal hunger in his eyes awakens feelings in her that defy calculation. As she shows him the way to step between worlds, he brands her with a pleasure that could last more than a lifetime…

* * * *

Across the windy cemetery, beyond the rows of gravestones, a man leaned against a pine tree and watched her. Even at the distance, the deep blue of his eyes cut through the day. He stood to at least two meters, his chest broad, his legs long. His gaze was almost physical and alight with something that caught her by surprise. A rare tingling, one she’d never been able to explain to herself, much less to anybody else, morphed into an instant headache at the base of her neck.

Dr. Promise Williams shivered and broke eye contact to focus in front of her.

Meager September sunlight glinted off the coffin as it was lowered into the wet earth. The clouds had finally parted and stopped dropping rain on the mourners. She closed her umbrella and tucked it into her overlarge bag, wet grass marring her smart boots.

“It was a nice service. Earlier, I mean,” Dr. Mark Brookes said at her side, wiping his thick glasses on a handkerchief. He wore a tailored black suit with a muted tie, his eyes earnest and his thinning hair wet from the rain.

“Yes.” The wind picked up, brushing across Promise’s face. She shivered. Who did she have? If she died tomorrow, who would attend the burial part of her service? Unwittingly, she looked toward the pine tree.

The man was gone.

Not a surprise. The funeral soon ended.

She turned and strode across the uneven ground for her car, starting the engine and pulling away from the curb, winding through the lonely cemetery.

She sped up slightly, and her doors locked. Her shoulders relaxed.

The wind picked up, and rain splattered against the windshield again. Several roads spread out in different directions. She hadn’t been paying close attention when she’d driven in. How stupid of her. So, she took the first left, allowing her mind to wander as she drove among the peaceful dead. She flicked on the wipers and turned down another road in the sprawling cemetery.

Suddenly, her passenger door was wrenched open and the damaged lock protested, emitting a screech-popping sound. A man forced his way inside, rocking the car, and slammed the door. Droplets of rain wettened her leather seats.

She reacted in slow motion. How was this happening? How had he broken the door lock of her new car? Her eyes widened, and she turned her head to fully face him. That quickly, she recognized him. “You were watching me.”

“I was.” His voice was low and mangled, gritty and surpassing hoarse. Those blue eyes were even darker inside the vehicle.

Adrenaline flooded her, and she finally reacted, slamming on the brakes and reaching for her door. Her seat belt constricted her, but she fought it, silent in her desperate bid to escape him.

He manacled one incredibly strong hand around her arm and yanked her back into place. “Drive.”

Her shoulders collided with her seat back, and she opened her mouth to scream. Her headache blasted into a migraine instantly.

He pressed a gun into her rib cage.

Her scream sputtered into a whisper. She looked frantically around, but the road ahead and behind her was empty.

“I said drive,” he repeated, no infliction in his raw tone.

She swallowed, and fear finally engulfed her. The sound she made was so much of a whimper that she winced. “My purse is on the floor. Take whatever you want and get out.” Her voice shook almost harder than her hands on the steering wheel.

“I have what I want. Drive.” The gun and his hold on the weapon remained level. He took up more than his own seat, his arms and torso solid muscle. His face was hard and angled—cut in a way that almost looked unreal.

His words chilled through her. How was she going to free herself from him? She pressed the gas pedal again and drove along fresh graves, spotting the exit farther ahead. Her heartbeat increased its force, and her ribs ached. “What do you want from me?” She held her breath.

“Just your brain,” he said, the sound raw.

She jerked, her head turning to him again. “To eat?” she gasped.

He blinked. Once and then again. “No, not to eat.” His wince drew his cheeks up and his darker brows down. “Geez. To eat? Why would I eat your brain? Ick.”

Her kidnapper had just said “Ick” and looked at her like she was insane. She eyed him with her peripheral vision so she could better describe him in a police report—if she survived this. At least six foot six, long dark blond hair with even darker streaks strewn throughout, handsome face. Somewhat rugged but also sharp, and with healed burn marks down his neck. His eyes were world-weary and wounded, and he’d obviously survived hell. Now she had to survive him.

Wait a minute. His words registered even deeper. Her brain? Heat spiraled through her chest. “Did you want Victory Rashad’s brain too?”

“Yes.”

Oh, God. He was going to kill her—just like Victory Rashad. Panic took Promise again, and she slammed her foot on the gas pedal.

“Wait,” he said, grasping her arm. “I won’t hurt you. I’m here to help you.”

Affirmative. Yes. The guy with the gun was interested in providing assistance. Right. She ducked her head and floored the gas pedal, bumping out of the cemetery and speeding down the quiet road.

“Slow down,” he hissed, his hold tightening enough to bruise.

She zipped around a corner and into traffic, driving as fast as she could.

He swore and grabbed for the key, which wasn’t in the dash. She’d used the starter button. She swerved around a minivan and finally spotted a police cruiser up ahead. Slapping at him, knowing if he got her out of the car, she was dead, she took the chance of being shot in order to gain freedom.

Yelling, finally, she slammed into the rear of the police cruiser.

Everything stopped for a second and then sped up. The crash was thunderous. Her passenger bellowed and flew through the window. The airbag deployed right into her face and propelled her back into the seat.

She blinked, her ears ringing as the bag deflated with a soft hiss and a smattering of dust.

A police officer ran up and opened her door. “What in the hell?” he muttered, blood on his chin.

She coughed and shoved the airbag down. “Where is he?” she gasped, her eyesight blurry. Her assailant lay sprawled on the pavement, blood coating his face as the rain pelted down to make the red flow to the ground. The other officer leaned over him, talking into a radio at his shoulder.

Then the kidnapper jerked awake and leaped to his feet. Blood covered his face and his neck, while his left arm hung at an unnatural angle. He stood several inches above the officer. “What did you do?” he bellowed. His eyes were so dark they appeared black, and his gaze was piercing.

She screamed.

The cop tried to grab him, but he shoved the officer into the side of the car. Before the officer next to Promise could draw his gun, the kidnapper turned and ran into an alley.

The police officers quickly pursued him. She panted, her mind buzzing, her body aching. The cops soon returned, both shaking their heads.

Oh, God. He was gone.

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DRAGON CLAIMED by Donna Grant

A Dark Kings Novella

ASHES TO INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

A Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs Novella

ENSNARED by Elisabeth Naughton

An Eternal Guardians Novella

EVERMORE by Corinne Michaels

A Salvation Series Novella

VENGEANCE by Rebecca Zanetti

A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella

ELI’S TRIUMPH by Joanna Wylde

A Reapers MC Novella

CIPHER by Larissa Ione

A Demonica Underworld Novella

RESCUING MACIE by Susan Stoker

A Delta Force Heroes Novella

ENCHANTED by Lexi Blake

A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

TAKE THE BRIDE by Carly Phillips

A Knight Brothers Novella

INDULGE ME by J. Kenner

A Stark Ever After Novella

THE KING by Jennifer L. Armentrout

A Wicked Novella

QUIET MAN by Kristen Ashley

A Dream Man Novella

ABANDON by Rachel Van Dyken

A Seaside Pictures Novella

THE OPEN DOOR by Laurelin Paige

A Found Duet Novella

CLOSER by Kylie Scott

A Stage Dive Novella

SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS by Jennifer Probst

A Stay Novella

BLOOD NIGHT by Heather Graham

A Krewe of Hunters Novella

TWIST OF FATE by Jill Shalvis

A Heartbreaker Bay Novella

MORE THAN PLEASURE YOU by Shayla Black

A More Than Words Novella

WONDER WITH ME by Kristen Proby

A With Me In Seattle Novella

THE DARKEST ASSASSIN by Gena Showalter

A Lords of the Underworld Novella

Also from 1001 Dark Nights:

DAMIEN by J. Kenner

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Rising Storm

Liliana Hart's MacKenzie Family

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Discover More Rebecca Zanetti

Teased

A Dark Protectors—Reece Family Novella

By Rebecca Zanetti

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The Hunter

For almost a century, the Realm’s most deadly assassin, Chalton Reese, has left war and death in the past, turning instead to strategy, reason, and technology. His fingers, still stained with blood, now protect with a keyboard instead of a weapon. Until the vampire king sends him on one more mission; to hunt down a human female with the knowledge to destroy the Realm. A woman with eyes like emeralds, a brain to match his own, and a passion that might destroy them both—if the enemy on their heels doesn’t do so first.

The Hunted

Olivia Roberts has foregone relationships with wimpy metro-sexuals in favor of pursuing a good story, bound and determined to uncover the truth, any truth. When her instincts start humming about missing proprietary information, she has no idea her search for a story will lead her to a ripped, sexy, and dangerous male beyond any human man. Setting aside the unbelievable fact that he’s a vampire and she’s his prey, she discovers that trusting him is the only chance they have to survive the danger stalking them both.

* * * *

Tricked

A Dark Protectors—Reese Family Novella

By Rebecca Zanetti

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He Might Save Her

Former police psychologist Ronni Alexander had it all before a poison attacked her heart and gave her a death sentence. Now, on her last leg, she has an opportunity to live if she mates a vampire. A real vampire. One night of sex and a good bite, and she’d live forever with no more weaknesses. Well, except for the vampire whose dominance is over the top, and who has no clue how to deal with a modern woman who can take care of herself.

She Might Kill Him

Jared Reese, who has no intention of ever mating for anything other than convenience, agrees to help out his new sister in law by saving her friend’s life with a quick tussle in bed. The plan seems so simple. They’d mate, and he move on with his life and take risks as a modern pirate should. Except after one night with Ronni, one moment of her sighing his name, and he wants more than a mating of convenience. Now all he has to do is convince Ronni she wants the same thing. Good thing he’s up for a good battle.

* * * *

Tangled

A Dark Protectors—Reece Family Novella

By Rebecca Zanetti

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Now that her mask has finally slipped…

Ginny O’Toole has spent a lifetime repaying her family’s debt, and she’s finally at the end of her servitude with one last job. Of course, it couldn’t be easy. After stealing the computer files that will free her once and for all, she finds herself on the run from a pissed off vampire who has never fallen for her helpless act. A deadly predator too sexy for his own good. If he doesn’t knock it off, he’s going to see just how powerful she can really be.

He won’t be satisfied until she’s completely bare.

Theo Reese had been more than irritated at the beautiful yet helpless witch he’d known a century ago, thinking she was just useless fluff who enjoyed messing with men’s heads. The second he discovers she’s a ruthless thief determined to bring down his family, his blood burns and his interest peaks, sending his true nature into hunting mode. When he finds her, and he will, she’ll understand the real meaning of helpless.

* * * *

Blaze Erupting

Scorpius Syndrome/A Brigade Novella

By Rebecca Zanetti

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Hugh Johnson is nobody’s hero, and the idea of being in the limelight makes him want to growl. He takes care of his brothers, does his job, and enjoys a mellow evening hanging with his hound dog and watching the sports channel. So when sweet and sexy Ellie Smithers from his college chemistry class asks him to save millions of people from a nuclear meltdown, he doggedly steps forward while telling himself that the world hasn’t changed and he can go back to his relaxing life. One look at Ellie and excitement doesn’t seem so bad.

Eleanor Smithers knows that the Scorpius bacteria has and will change life as we know it, but that’s a concern for another day. She’s been hand-picked as the computer guru for The Brigade, which is the USA’s first line of defense against all things Scorpius, including homegrown terrorists who’ve just been waiting for a chance to strike. Their target is a nuclear power plant in the east, and the only person who can help her is Hugh, the sexy, laconic, dangerous man she had a crush on so long ago.

On behalf of 1001 Dark Nights,

Liz Berry and M.J. Rose would like to thank ~

Steve Berry

Doug Scofield

Kim Guidroz

Jillian Stein

InkSlinger PR

Dan Slater

Asha Hossain

Chris Graham

Fedora Chen

Kasi Alexander

Jessica Johns

Dylan Stockton

Richard Blake
and Simon Lipskar

Table of Contents

Book Description

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen