by Cynthia Eden
Amber did a double-take. Cass’s family included a vamp?
Gregory made a low, humming noise. “I’m guessing that pretty little piece behind you is one of those Bring-In-Alive bounties…or else she wouldn’t still be standing. Tell you what…how about we split her bounty? I know Luke is the one who wants her, and I’ve been trying to get an in with him for quite some time.”
The vamp wanted to get on Luke’s good side? She dropped another piece of bloody glass. What else is new? Everyone always wanted to play nicely with the Lord of the Dark.
Everyone but her. She just wanted to stay away from Luke.
“You and I can both take her in. Amber…” Gregory seemed to taste her name. “Such a lovely bounty.”
Cass took a lunging step forward. “I don’t share bounties.”
She peeked around at the vampire. His gaze dipped toward her. There was curiosity on his face—and anger. A cold, hard anger. His dark stare swung back to Cass. “Reaper, I’m asking nicely. I’m giving you a choice. We can be partners here…”
“I don’t work with partners, and you know that, Gregory. Your sorry ass has been nipping at my tail for too long. You want to play in the big leagues? Fine, do it, but you won’t get Luke’s attention by stealing my prize.”
She was a prize? So insulting. Amber glanced toward the door. She inched back a bit. She also kept her right hand curled around the last chunk of glass she’d taken out of Cass. It wasn’t much of a weapon, but it was better than nothing.
“Did you follow me all the way from Key West?” Cass demanded. “From Key West to New Orleans? Then here? I thought I smelled some stench in the air. Had to figure it for the undead.”
“Watch it,” Gregory snarled. “I’m giving you a choice now. In about five seconds, there won’t be a choice on the table. I’ll be taking the pretty woman behind you, and I’ll be Luke’s new hunter.”
“You’re lucky I haven’t killed you,” Cass snapped back.
Yes…why hadn’t Cass killed him? Was it that whole “family” thing that Gregory had mentioned?
“Five…” Gregory began. “Four…”
Wait—he was doing a countdown?
Cass took another step toward the vampire.
“Three…” Gregory snapped. “Two—”
“One,” Cass fired right back. “Now get your ass out.” Then he shoved his hands—the gloves are gone!—right at Gregory. Just like in the alley, a bright burst of light seemed to fly right from Cass’s palms. That light hit Gregory and he went surging back. He fell out of the gaping hole that he’d created just moments before in the massive window and his body sank like a stone.
She ran to the window, peering down, and, sure enough, his body was a crumpled, bloody mess below. He’d hit the big statue that sat on the middle of the fountain near the hotel’s entrance, and he looked…Amber swallowed. “I’m guessing that’s a broken neck and back.”
“And Gregory won’t be down for long, so come on.” He reached for her hand, but stopped when he saw she clutched a jagged chunk of glass. “Planning to use that on me?”
“When a vampire flies in a fourteenth floor window, a smart woman holds tight to any weapon she can find.”
He shook his head. “Glass doesn’t work so well against a vamp.”
“It does if you use the glass to cut off a vamp’s head.” She gave him a grim smile. “Works great then.”
“And you’ve cut off a vamp’s head before?” Cass seemed doubting.
“Yes.” He shouldn’t doubt.
Surprise flashed on his face. Then Cass glanced back out the window. “He’s starting to move. We have to go.” He reached out for the glass.
She yanked her hand back. “Your gloves!”
He immediately froze. “Fuck. Fuck. I didn’t think—I could have—”
Could have killed me.
He spun and marched to retrieve the gloves he’d dropped on the floor. He also grabbed for her suitcase again. Good of him. She had a special prize in that bag that she’d truly hate to lose.
“Amber, let’s get the hell out of here.”
She glanced below. The wind rushed through that gaping window. The vampire was moving. Definitely time to get the hell out of here. She kept her glass and she followed the Reaper.
***
Humans were swarming around him.
“Suicide…can you believe it?”
“I saw the guy jump right out of the window…”
“Oh, God, I think he’s still alive…”
Gregory’s eyes opened. He couldn’t move his legs, not yet, mostly because he was sure his spine was severed. Dammit. Cass could be such a bastard. A selfish bastard who wanted to keep all the glory to himself.
Too bad, asshole. Time for a new lead hunter. I’ve got plans for Amber…and for Luke. Plans that have been in the works for a very, very long time.
A woman scrambled toward him. Her eyes were wide and worried and the faintest odor of alcohol clung to her. “We’re going to help you!”
Because he was still half-in the fountain, she had to slosh her way to his side. Gregory turned his head and realized the water around him had turned red.
Such a waste of blood.
“I’m a nurse,” she said quickly. “I need you to lie still. You’ve got some serious wounds so please, don’t try to make any sudden movements—”
His hand flew out and he grabbed her wrist. In the next breath, he’d yanked her against him and shoved his teeth in her throat.
That sudden enough for you, baby?
“What’s he doing?” A man’s voice barked out.
Getting my ass stronger, that’s what.
Her hands fluttered against his chest. He kept drinking and the humans around him—they didn’t even try to stop him.
That was the thing with humans. Emotions controlled them too much. Shock, fear. Horror. They didn’t want to believe what they were seeing. And when they finally did believe…it was too late.
Chapter Seven
The ding-ding-ding of a winning slot machine filled the air. Their hotel lobby connected with the nearby casino, and Cass was using that connection to his advantage. He raced through the maze of slot machines and then cleared the blackjack tables. Gregory would need time to heal. The vamp would probably have to find a blood donor, too, so that gave Cass and Amber the lead they needed.
“Wait, dammit, just wait!” Amber dug in her heels.
Growling, he turned back toward her.
“Who was that guy?”
“Gregory.”
She gave a quick little eye roll and muttered, “I got that part. I also got the vamp part.”
“Then you know everything that’s important. And we’ve wasted enough time.” He pulled her forward and they rushed out of the emergency exit. They were in an alley, a dimly lit one, and he saw a motorcycle just waiting a few feet away. He pulled her toward the bike.
“Are you stealing that motorcycle?” Her voice was scandalized—and far too loud.
He looked down at the suitcase he’d lugged all the way from New Orleans. “That item you took from Luke…is it in here?”
Her lips clamped together.
Hell, maybe that was a yes. It was probably a yes. He took out the contents and shoved them into the saddle bags.
“Hey, be careful with that! That’s everything I own!”
Then she didn’t own much. And the thought pissed him off. He tossed away the suitcase and hopped on the motorcycle. Cass tried to figure out exactly how to hot-wire it. It had been at least five years since he’d had to hot-wire a Harley.
Amber didn’t climb onto the bike with him. She just kept standing there, looking all scandalized. Given their current situation, he didn’t think there was really a need for scandal.
Hello, I’m Death. And you’re surprised that I steal because…? Cass sighed. “Newsflash, sweets. The other ride we were in happened to be stolen, too.”
Her lips formed a little O.
“No
w, we need to get our asses out of here. Gregory doesn’t give up easily, and if the guy thinks he can take you, he is sure going to try.”
She pushed his hands out of her way. “Let a professional work.”
A profess—She was trying to hotwire the ride?
Less than thirty seconds later, the bike’s engine growled. She gave him a satisfied smile. “I tinker. It’s my thing.”
That smile…the way her eyes lit up…Gorgeous. She rose and, not even thinking about it—his hand sank into the thickness of her hair. He pulled her head close to his and his lips locked on hers. The kiss was fast, hard, and not nearly deep enough. But that taste of her—that blend of honey and champagne—sent his blood boiling.
Reluctantly, his head lifted. His hand stayed in her hair. “Sorry about the roses,” he rasped. “I’ll get more. More chocolate, too.”
Her eyes widened. Her lips were swollen and red and wet from his kiss. “Will that happen before…or after you turn me over to Luke?”
His jaw locked. “Get on the bike.”
“Since you asked so nicely…” She climbed on behind him. He’d thought that he might need to tell her to hold tight, to urge her to move that delectable body closer to his.
But he didn’t have to tell her anything. Her legs curled behind his, her breasts flattened to his back, and her arms locked around his stomach. “Haul ass, okay?” Amber urged him. “Because I don’t exactly have a good track record with vampires.”
His gloved hands curled around the handlebars. “So…you’re a human who’s managed to behead a vamp and piss off the two most powerful paranormals out there?”
She gave a faint cough. “What can I say? I have talent.”
She had lies. And he didn’t want them. He turned his head so that he could see her beautiful golden eyes. “You will tell me your secrets.”
She smiled at him. “Only in your dreams.”
His jaw locked. “Sweets, you don’t want to know about my dreams.”
“No.” Sadness tinged her voice. “You don’t want to know mine.”
“Give her to me!”
The bellow came from the right.
Cass wasn’t particularly surprised to see Gregory lunging out of the back exit and stalking toward them. Gregory never stayed down long. That was one of the things Cass had admired about the guy—back in the day.
Blood dripped down Gregory’s chin. And he was dragging his back leg—that leg still looked broken.
“Someone’s a fast healer,” she muttered.
When someone had fresh blood, yes, he was. And Cass was betting that blood dripping down Gregory’s mouth had come from a recent victim. “The Lord of the Dark doesn’t like it when paranormals call attention to themselves!” Cass shouted the reminder at Gregory. “So Luke is going to be pissed if you’ve left a trail of bodies in your wake.”
Gregory stopped. He lifted one hand and pointed at Amber. “I want her.”
“Tell him that he’s not getting me,” Amber said, her lips moving close to Cass’s ear.
Cass’s lips almost twitched. “You’re not getting—” he began.
“I want her!” Gregory bellowed.
“Over my dead body.” And his lips weren’t twitching any longer. Red hot fury filled him and he held out his right hand. Power pulsed, trailing from his tattoo to his hand, growing, surging…
“Um, what’s happening?” Amber asked. Her hold on him tightened. “Because you just got a whole lot warmer.”
Yes, he had. “I won’t hurt you, just keep holding on.”
He spun the motorcycle so that he was facing Gregory. Cass drove toward him, gaining speed. He knew the vamp would try to jump out of his way.
So he was bringing in a new weapon.
His scythe appeared in his right hand. He saw the fear flash on Gregory’s face. Gregory had seen him use the scythe in the past, so the guy knew just how dangerous it was…particularly to a vamp.
Are you in the mood to lose your head? Because Cass was betting that Gregory wasn’t.
“Holy hell!” Amber gasped.
The vampire was running, moving at his super human speed, so Cass threw the scythe, and it hurtled, tossing end over end in a fast arc, right to his prey. It sank into the vampire’s back and Gregory fell to the ground.
Cass clamped both hands around the handlebars and turned the bike to the left. He didn’t look back.
But Amber must have because she suddenly cried out, “That…that thing just vanished!”
Yes, the weapon would have vanished after it found its target.
“You have light that shoots from your hand, and a magical scythe? A tattoo that turns into a real weapon?”
“I have a few more tricks,” he growled back at her. Maybe his words were a warning. And maybe he was just bragging because Amber had sounded impressed.
“Damn, Reaper, you are scary.”
Yes, he was.
But she was still holding him tight. So maybe he wasn’t too scary for her.
***
Fucking hell.
Gregory groaned as he pushed himself to his feet. Cass had actually used the scythe on him. Talk about hitting below the belt.
Or stabbing me in the damn back.
And to think…they’d once been best damn friends.
Friends always made for the most dangerous enemies.
He rubbed his back. The scythe would be gone now. He knew how that shit worked. Cass had that freaking magical tattoo on his back, and it let him call up the weapon whenever he wanted it. The weapon was his alone to command—another gift from Luke.
Talk about being the teacher’s pet.
Gregory rolled his shoulders. His back hurt. He’d need even more blood now, but at least that blade hadn’t severed his spine.
This time.
Once the scythe found its target, it vanished after impact. Very powerful magic. Magic that Cass shouldn’t possess. He’d done a few favors for Luke and been rewarded too well.
I’ll have those rewards. I’ll be the one who sits at the devil’s right hand.
Then…he’d be the one to take out the devil.
He could still hear the growl of the motorcycle, but he could barely stand, so chasing Cass and the mysterious Amber wasn’t an option. Not then.
But I know how you think, Cass. You’ll want the fastest mode of transportation. You’ll want to fly away with your prize. Cass was heading back to Key West. Back to Luke.
I just have to stop you before you get there.
“Hey…buddy…you okay?”
A human male had just appeared to his right, clutching a garbage bag.
Gregory smiled at him. “Not yet, but I will be…” After I take a bite.
***
Cass drove fast and he drove hard and he took them away from the city and down a long stretch of dirt road that seemed to shoot into the middle of absolutely nowhere.
When Cass braked the bike, Amber knew her reckoning had come. She’d been trying to think of lies to tell him.
She’d just come up with jack.
As soon as the engine died, she jumped from the motorcycle. His hand flew out and locked around her wrist. “Going somewhere?”
“I wish,” she mumbled, but then she notched up her chin. “I can’t, remember? ‘Cause you used some kind of mumbo jumbo magic on me, and now I’m practically chained to your side. Not cool, by the way. So incredibly not cool.”
He stared at her. His blue eyes gleamed. “I want to know everything.”
Trust me, you don’t.
He shoved down the kickstand. “You aren’t going to tell me, are you?”
“Tell you what?” She yanked her wrist free of his hold. “My life story? Sorry I don’t feel like sharing with the man who has basically kidnapped me.”
He rose and faced her. His arms crossed over his chest. “I would think you’d want to spin me some sympathetic story, maybe try to get me on your side so I won’t hand you over to Luke.”
Like she
hadn’t already considered that idea a dozen or so times. She glanced around the woods—they were dead silent. Almost eerily so. Amber swallowed. “Would that work? Would you really want the big, bad Lord of the Dark as your enemy because of me?”
He didn’t answer.
She gave a bitter laugh. “I thought so. I mean—he’d destroy you. I get that you have to look out for your own life. Besides, if you made a deal with him, then you’re bound to Luke. There isn’t a choice for you.”
A muscle jerked in his jaw. He hadn’t liked her answer. Sometimes, the truth hurt. In this case, the truth had hurt them both.
“So you’re just going to surrender to me now? Return to Luke like a good bounty?”
Her teeth ground together. “I’m not good. You shouldn’t forget that. And, no, I’m not going back. I’ll get away from you.”
“No, you won’t.” Cass took a step toward her and he seemed to surround her. He was big and strong and his scent was oddly seductive. It was that danger-bad boy attraction again—her weakness. She was literally flirting with Death, and it made her feel alive.
Had Luke known? Had he realized she’d be drawn to her captor? Luke was such a schemer, always planning his moves so far in advance.
“Tell me what you took from him,” Cass said.
“Are we back to this?” Her gaze dipped to his mouth.
“Tell me…or I’ll find out on my own.”
Doubtful.
The silence stretched between them. Too long.
“Fine,” he gritted out, then he whirled and was grabbing for the saddle bags. He started yanking out the items—tossing her shirts, her underwear, her jeans.
“Stop it!” Frantic, she grabbed the clothes.
He didn’t stop. A scarf was thrown next. Her favorite scarf. Then he was reaching for the black bag she’d actually hidden inside one of her shirts. He’d found that too easily. He opened the bag and pulled out a knife sheath.
Oh, hell.
He withdrew the knife from the sheath, and the bracelet she’d taken from him at the bar—that bracelet fell to the ground. For once, Amber didn’t worry about her bracelet. Her gaze was on the knife. A real beauty of a knife. One with a gleaming blade and a big, thick emerald in the handle.
