Fire of Betrayal

by Demi Dumond

  That was the exact moment that a wolf broke through the front door and headed straight toward me; bloody fangs bared.

  The beast was brown with black spots and dead, pale-blue eyes that would haunt my nightmares. It moved with a speed and a power that terrified me down to my core. I heard myself scream as I crawled over to get the shotgun and brought it up just in time to blast it in the head as it lunged for me.

  I heard the shotgun blast and then the backfire threw me back against the wall. Then there was a thud. I may have been stunned, but I was alive, and the wolf wasn’t.

  I felt a pain in my left arm and realized that its teeth had grazed me on the way to the floor. That was a close one. I crawled backward as I reloaded the shotgun.

  If I were a normal person, I’d probably be dead, but this wasn’t the first life or death situation I had been in.

  And luckily, very few creatures natural or unnatural can take a point-blank shotgun blast to the forehead.

  What the hell was that explosion? I had to see if Logan was okay. And I’d need a better vantage point if I was going to see what was coming through the front door after me.

  The desk was probably my best bet as far as cover and a decent view. In order to get there, though, I had to crawl around the naked dead guy who had been a wolf a minute earlier. Ew.

  When I saw Logan through the window, I knew he was out of time. There were three wolves slashing at him and they were circling closer and closer to his throat. He was swinging wildly, but it wasn’t doing much good.

  I reloaded and crept forward, keeping the rest of the box of shells close. My only chance to save Logan’s life was to blast as many as I could. Then I had to hope that I could reload fast enough to protect myself once I got the attention of the wolves.

  I moved some of the broken glass out of the way and took up a position. Then I aimed and fired. The wolf closest to Logan’s throat collapsed.

  Logan’s face snapped over to where I was. Try not to look right at me, baby, I muttered to myself. I reloaded quickly, noticing that I had wolf blood on my clothes. I fired again, but now I had the attention of the rest of the pack.

  Logan went running and slammed his body into a trio of wolves rushing toward the front door of the office. I only had one more shot. I steadied the shotgun.

  That’s when I heard the sirens. They were close. The wolves stopped in their tracks. Judging by Logan shifting earlier, their options were to stay in wolf form, not a good idea because the cops might shoot them, or stay and look to the cops like the naked, bloody, nutcases at the scene of an explosion.

  The wolves stopped their attacks and ran off. I couldn’t believe it. It was over so fast. I felt myself take a deep breath and sigh in relief. Then I remembered. Cops. Shit, I’m on probation. What am I, stupid?

  Yes, Bree. You’re an idiot to get yourself picked up in an armed robbery to help a hot, cocky bad boy. Again. Something must seriously be wrong with you. Still, I was glad Logan was okay.

  Logan came running over. “Bree, are you okay?”

  “I am,” I said, “but the cops are on their way I killed some wolves. I’m done for, Logan. I’m on probation. And I have a record.”

  Logan held his hand out for the shotgun. “Hurry up, give me that.”

  I frowned and handed it over. “Logan, what are you doing?”

  “Marco,” he yelled. A moment later a bloody Marco appeared in the doorway.

  “Take the car and get her out of here. Stay at the safe house, okay? Leave the wolf bodies. It’ll help our story of a robbery gone bad.”

  “Logan? What are you doing?” I asked again as Marco grabbed me by the hand and pulled.

  “You’re not going down for this, Bree.” He leaned down and kissed me hard. Then he whispered. “Thanks for helping me. Now get the hell out of here.”

  He gave Marco a sharp look before running out of the front office to the front parking lot to meet the cops.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Bree

  Marco took me out of the shop the back way and behind the corner. We walked a few blocks away where a car was stashed. Smart. By the look of the crime scene, they’d be looking for bikers.

  A minute later, I was being whisked across the city to a safe house with Marco. Whatever the future held, Logan hadn’t sold me out, he’d protected me. That was the thought that I couldn’t get out of my head as Marco and I made our getaway.

  Thinking back at the entirety of the day, everything Logan had done was to protect me. Including taking the rap. My instincts told me he was different, but actions spoke louder. I fought back tears thinking about what he had done for me.

  Marco drove carefully, avoiding all the cops, making his way ten minutes or so into the city. Then he pulled into the driveway of a modest ranch home without any lights on. The house was in a normal looking subdivision. It would be the perfect place to hole up.

  When I opened the door of the car, the sound of sirens passing by and heading toward the motorcycle shop still rang out through the night air which now had a chill. I threw my arms around my shoulders to warm them while Marco fumbled to find the right key on his key ring.

  Finally, the front door opened, and we went inside. The house looked comfortable, if a little sparsely decorated. I threw myself onto the nearest couch and put my head in my hands to do some deep breathing.

  Marco went to the fridge. “You want a beer?”

  “Yes,” I said, trying to process it all. A few minutes ago, dragon shifters were fighting wolf shifters to the death. There was an explosion, and I was defending myself and Logan with the last of the shotgun shells. Here everything was quiet, but the quiet made me miss Logan even more.

  Marco handed me a beer and sat on a nearby chair. He was a mess, covered in blood from the fight.

  I stood. “Marco, you’re hurt. Let me help.”

  Marco held up a hand to stop me and shook his head. “You’ve done enough, believe me. I should be helping you.”

  I suddenly became aware that I was also a mess. I was covered in blood, but at least most of it wasn’t my own. Just a few cuts on my hands and legs from the broken glass and the wound in my arm. It was bleeding, but it wasn’t deep. I looked and felt like I survived a horror movie, but I knew my wounds were superficial.

  Marco went to the bathroom and returned with a washcloth and some basic first aid supplies. He knelt down and looked up at me.

  “Where’d you learn to handle a shotgun like that, anyway?” He asked.

  “Oh, here and there,” I answered. “I hate it that Logan stayed to take the rap though.” I sighed, wondering when I’d see him again.

  There was a knock on the door. Marco jumped up to answer it.

  When I saw Logan come in, I jumped up in excitement and ran to him. “Logan! What happened? How did you get them to let you go? Did you escape?” I felt his face with my hands to make sure he was real, avoiding a gash on his left cheek. I had so many questions. “You’re hurt, Logan.”

  He didn’t look upset or worried, though. He just flashed that cocky grin, and it looked great on him. He was a mess, though. His jeans were bloody, and he had gashes on his arms and legs. Still, he was here and for now, that was all that mattered.

  “Don’t worry,” Logan said to me, “I had time to wipe your prints off of the gun. As far as they know a bunch of crazy half naked drug addicts tried to rob us and I defended myself with the shotgun.”

  “Oh no,” I said. “My prints are all over the inside of the office. There’s no way you had time to wipe them all down.”

  “No need,” he said. “We have you on surveillance tape coming into the shop earlier in the day. You’re just a customer, so your prints are fine. You’re in absolutely no danger here, Bree. I promise.”

  “What was the explosion?” I asked.

  “Plan B,” he said. “We planted it over by their bikes. That way we could say they brought it and didn’t know what they were doing, and maybe take out a few of their bikes in the pro
cess.”

  “Oh, that was smart.” I said. “Once the cops heard the explosion, the wolves took off.”

  I frowned. “But what about you?” I asked, smoothing a hair away from his eye. “Are you sure they’re not going to charge you? That was a pretty violent scene.”

  “Not a chance,” he said. “I happen to be a very big financial contributor to mayoral and police chief political campaigns.”

  That surprised me. “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope. I play all of the angles.” He said. He put his arm around my waist and pulled me in closer. I got chills feeling his hot flesh again. “So, your extremely high skin temperature, is that a dragon thing?”

  “Yes,” he answered, “it’s a dragon thing. Hey, look at you, covered in the blood of my enemies. And you saved my life. Marco, what do you think? Did you see her with that shotgun?"

  "I saw her." Marco answered. “Impressive.”

  Logan got down on one knee and looked up at me. That’s when I realized he was holding something in his other hand, the one behind his back.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  “I’m asking you to forgive me for putting you in harm’s way today. I wasn’t kidding when I said I loved you and would do anything to protect you.”

  “I forgive you, get up, Logan,” I said, smiling like a maniac at the gesture.

  “I’m not finished. Will you come to my house with me, so I can rip those close off and make you mine?”

  “Well, if you put it like that,” I said.

  “Is that a yes?” He asked. “Because I have a present for you. What do you say?” He handed me a motorcycle vest with the dragon patch on the back and everything. I looked up at him in surprise.

  “All the guys voted on it and the result was unanimous. That is unless Marco objects?”

  “Hell no,” Marco said. “She’s a badass. Happy to have her.”

  “What do you say?” Logan asked. “Be a dragon?”

  I’d been through an awful lot in my life. Enough to know that if I ever had a shot at real love, at a guy willing to protect me, it was probably worth taking.

  And if it was with an organization where I’d already earned the respect that I deserve, then it was not to be thrown away lightly. Maybe I could make a life here.

  “Okay, yes,” I said, slipping on the vest. It was an incredible feeling. It felt like home.

  “I’m going to take her home, Marco, but I have a job for you.”

  “What is it, Boss?” Marco asked.

  “I’d like you to take a few men and pay a visit to Antonio.”

  Marco’s smile was savage. “Gladly.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Logan

  Driving down the streets at night with Bree with me was the best feeling in the world. Especially since I had grabbed another motorcycle on the way out of the shop.

  I was alive, and it had been an incredible day. I wasn’t lying, we were in the clear with the cops. Even more importantly, rumors were swirling that the dragons could be welcomed into the city soon.

  When I pulled into the gated subdivision, I could see the surprise on Bree’s face.

  “What the hell, Logan? You live here?” she asked as I stopped the bike and tapped in the code to the guard gate.

  I didn’t answer, I just drove slowly up the path that wound around up the driveway, past the pool and to the lit mansion that twinkled in the moonlight.

  “This is it, Bree.” I said, jumping off the bike. “Surprise!”

  Her expression was downright disbelief. “Hang on,” she said, getting off the bike and removing her helmet. “You are a dragon shifter in a motorcycle gang…”

  “So are you, now!” I said excitedly, putting my hand around her waist.

  “Not finished,” she said. “In the worst part of town, in torn ripped jeans and a motorcycle vest.”

  “Like yours,” I said.

  “Yes, like yours. But why? You almost died in a war with wolf shifters tonight. Yet you have a mansion and have connections to politicians?”

  “Welcome to the order of the dragon,” I said with a wink. “We’re an enigma. A bunch of cocky assholes fighting over turf and trying to prove ourselves during the day and returning to our mansions at night to kick back with expensive champagne and a dip in the pool. Speaking of which, it’s a beautiful night for a swim.”

  “You’re crazy.” She said. “Seriously, and keep in mind I really am invested in believing you here, where’d the money come from?”

  “I’m a dragon, baby. We’re hoarders by nature. I’m working on my own fortune right now, but most of this is inherited. Now, if you’re satisfied about the money, I’d like to make love to you, since you are so sexy in the moonlight.” I moved in closer and she pushed me away playfully.

  Then she frowned. “You look like that, and you have all of this money and you mean to tell me there’s no sexy Mrs. Dragon Shifter hiding somewhere?”

  “There is now,” I said, looking deep into her eyes. “And yes, it’s been just me in this huge, lonely house for years, waiting on the right woman.”

  “By right woman you mean what?”

  “Well, on day one you captured my heart, found out I was a dragon, rode off a cliff with me, saved me from wolves with a shotgun, and you’re now covered in the blood of my enemies. That’s a hell of a to-do list, Bree. You’re everything I ever hoped for and then some.”

  She took a step forward and leaned up so I could lean down and kiss her. Our tongues entwined and my hands couldn’t wait any longer. They were exploring her body as we made our way over to the pool.

  The pool looked awfully inviting after the day we had. “What do you say?” I asked. I took off my vest and placed it on a nearby table. Bree did the same.

  She jumped in first and I jumped in after her, bloody clothes and all. The water washed over us. To me, it felt like a new beginning.

  I swam over to her and kissed her again. We were in the deep end of the pool, so I held her above the water with one hand while the other was desperately tearing off her clothes.

  I got her wet shirt off and then her bra. My need for her was all I could feel, and inside, my dragon roared again.

  Even in my haste, I had to take a moment to admire the breathtaking view of my mate, beautiful under the light of the moon. Her breasts were perfect, like they were made for me.

  I dove in and started sucking one nipple and then the other and she let out a moan that made me even harder than I already was.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Bree

  As the two of us splashed into the gorgeous pool on a perfect, moonlit night, I couldn’t help but stare at those brown eyes that made me so hot and for him.

  It all felt too good to be true. A life beyond anything I had ever hoped for with the man of my dreams. The water felt so refreshing, washing over my body and cooling me off after the insane day Logan and I had just had.

  I felt a chill run through me as his hot hands explored my body and our tongues danced together in rhythm.

  I moaned and my hands went to his muscled chest. I kissed him harder, feeling my need rise with each touch. Then my hands dipped below his chest and started undoing his jeans. His huge bulge made them harder to unzip, but it was worth it.

  Then I felt the thrill of the cold water on my body as his hands freed me from my jeans.

  One more kiss and he pulled my panties off. I gasped and felt a surge of heat between my legs. He lifted me out of the water and set me on the pool’s edge. Both of us were completely naked, and the night air hitting my body sent chills everywhere.

  He paused to smile at me before kissing me again as I ran my fingers through his hair. Our moans filled the night air as his hands explored my body dipping below my breasts, ever further. Then his head dipped down between my legs. Before long I was lying back on the deck of the pool, my back arching and writhing in pleasure. “Take me, Logan!” I whispered.

  He got out of the pool and carried me
to a lounge chair, throwing me down on it with a growl that sent tingles of delight through my body.

  Then I was riding him. We both moved in unison as we rode waves of pleasure. Until we both collapsed in the throes of ecstasy.

  Once we both collapsed into a contented snuggle, he leaned over and nibbled my shoulder. Not enough to injure me, but I knew it would leave a mark.

  “Logan,” I said, nibbling his ear. “You didn’t tell me you were a biter.”

  Logan laughed. It was a happy, deep, contented sound. “That’s a mark. In the dragon shifter world, it means you’re mine forever. I will always love you and protect you, no matter what.”

  Later, we went inside his mansion and got take-out pizza before lying in his king-sized bed and watching the flat-screen television.

  I felt a tingle in my shoulder, the one Logan had nibbled on. I crossed to the mirror. “Hey, Logan. Why is my shoulder healing so fast?” I asked, checking it in the mirror.

  “Dragon magic.” He said. “When we mated, some of my magic passed to you.”

  “Huh. What does that mean? Am I turning into a dragon?” I asked.

  “I don’t think so. But you will change a little. All I care about now is that you’re mine,” he said.

  He got up and crossed the room to me and kissed my shoulder. Then he kissed me on the lips. This was a life I could get used to.

  Epilogue

  Logan

  Every morning when I walked into the motorcycle shop and saw Bree there working the front office in her vest and her drop-dead gorgeous body, I still felt chills.

  It had been months and every day I was so thankful for the day that we met. I broke into a cold sweat and my cock twitched just looking at her. I wasn’t kidding when I said she was all I ever wanted. Even though we had been inseparable ever since, I was still nervous. I wanted her forever.