Hearts Under Fire (Dragons of Ember Brooke Book 2)

by Victoria Zak

  She did exactly what he said and kept calm. He’d slip up—he was human.

  He guided her down an alleyway between a row of buildings. He forced her arms behind her back and shoved her up against a brick wall. Her shoulder scraped across the brick, tearing through her blazer to her skin. She gritted her teeth in pain. The bastard would pay for ruining her favorite jacket.

  “You have something I want,” he seethed.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she snarled and struggled against his hold.

  His grip tightened as she felt something rip in her shoulder. He shoved his hand under her blazer as if he was searching for something. “Step away from the Dragonkine case. Understand?”

  Cynthia’s eyes widened. Her dragon’s power coursed through her veins. This human had no idea who he was fucking with. “Over my dead body, asshole.” She threw her head back, slamming it into his. He staggered, losing his hold on her. Quickly, she kicked the gun out of his hand.

  Shock spread across his face as she flashed her reptilian eyes. The bastard took off running down the alley. Cynthia pulled the pistol from her waistband and chased him. He had a healthy head start. Every fiber of her being begged her to shift, and she would have, but something was holding her back. She didn’t want to draw more attention to the situation. First, she’d taken evidence out of the station and second, she didn’t want anyone to know she had the thumb drive.

  She reached the end of the alley which opened to the town square. She chased him through the park, dodging around a couple walking their dog and just missed being taken out by the dog’s leash.

  The bastard ran across the street, giving him time to escape. Cynthia stopped at the crosswalk, cursing as a steady stream of cars drove by, blocking her from continuing the chase.

  What in the hell just happened? Her brain raced as she caught her breath. Who was he? And what did he mean he wanted her off the case? “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  Cynthia winced from the pain in her shoulder as she retrieved her cellphone from her pocket. There was one person she knew who wanted her case.

  She dialed his number with rage. She didn’t even wait for him to say hello. She heard the click as he answered. “Nice try. Call your dogs off, Stone.”

  “Cynthia?”

  “No, it’s the Wicked Witch from the East” she panted.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “One of your men just paid me a visit. You should know by now I don’t scare easily.” She paced and began to shake from the adrenaline rush. “This case is mine. By the way, you owe me a new blazer.”

  “Cyn, I didn’t send anyone to scare you.”

  The alarm in his voice stopped her heart. It wasn’t him.

  “Are you okay?”

  Tears pooled in her eyes and her chest ached. She wanted to run to him and find safety in his arms, but that wasn’t going to happen. She could take care of herself. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called.”

  “Where are you?”

  “I can handle this.”

  “No, no, no, don’t hang up.”

  Cynthia gripped her cell, not wanting to hang up. Silence fell between them. The heartache was unbearable. She wanted to open her heart again and tell him how much she missed him. She wanted to be happy to see him again, but she couldn’t. Seeing him and hearing his voice was a wrecking ball straight to her heart. He’d crushed her before, and she’d be damned if she allowed him to do it again.

  “Go home, Stone.”

  5

  “Cyn!” Stone shouted. Shit, she hung up.

  His dragon raced inside, demanding to go to his mate. She was in danger. Stone grabbed his suit jacket and keys. He was just about to leave for the station when she called. He rushed to his car. Slamming it in gear, he hit the asphalt like a bat out of hell.

  As he pulled up curbside, Cyn was walking toward the DFU station holding her shoulder. Panic streaked through him like lightening. He got out of the car and ran to her.

  “What happened?” He pulled her into his arms.

  “Ouch.” She winced.

  “You’re hurt.” Rage billowed inside. “Who did this?” He’d rip the bastard apart.

  Cyn stepped back. “Calm down, Godzilla. It’s a little scrape. I’ll be fine.”

  She cried out when he examined her shoulder. “That’s more than a cut. You sprained your shoulder.”

  “Like I said, I’ll be fine.” She glared at him as she continued walking toward the station.

  Stubborn, woman.

  “Get in the car, Cyn.”

  She stopped and turned around. Her eyes glowed electric blue as they narrowed and impaled his soul. God, he loved those stunning eyes.

  “I mean it,” Stone threatened.

  He was ready for a fight. He didn’t care if she kicked and screamed, she was getting in the car. Someone went to great measures to hurt his mate, and he wasn’t leaving without her.

  Without a word, she walked to his car, opened the door, and got in. He stood there for a brief second not knowing what to do—she wasn’t putting up a fight.

  He got in and turned the engine on. He looked over at Cyn.

  “Don’t,” she warned. “I’m too exhausted to fight. Just take me home.”

  Stone pulled into the cobblestone driveway. He hadn’t needed directions to Cyn’s place—he knew exactly where she lived. He’d been there before, not inside, but he’d driven by a few times. He’d went as far as parking out front one night. He never rang her doorbell, though he’d wanted to. But he’d thought better of it. It was too dangerous.

  Cyn punched a four-digit number into a keypad that opened the door to the lobby of her building. He was impressed at the added security. he’d taught her well. He followed her in, passing a wall of gold mailboxes with black numbers. They took the stairs to the second floor. Cyn opened the door to her apartment and invited him in.

  The smell of new hardwood floors and fresh paint lingered in the air. The foyer was spacious and spilled into the living room. White wainscoting lined the walls, giving her place an elegant, clean feel. The place looked like one of his million-dollar homes.

  She opened a drawer on the foyer table. “Here.” She handed him a pizza menu. “You can stay for lunch.”

  “Great, I’m starving.” He flashed his reptilian, silver-gray eyes. Flirting always seemed to lighten the mood.

  Cyn rolled her eyes. “I like ham and—”

  “I remember, black olives.” Stone shivered and pretended to gag.

  The corner of her mouth lifted. “I remember how much you hate them. Instant Godzilla repellent.”

  Stone smiled. “Black olives couldn’t keep me from kissing you.”

  Cyn shook her head. “There will be no kissing.” She stopped at the end of the staircase. “Make yourself at home. I’m taking a shower.”

  Stone nodded and watched her walk up the stairs to the second-floor balcony. Every fiber of his being pressed him to follow her. If circumstances were different, he’d climb in the shower with Cyn and wash away the heartache and pain he’d caused her. He’d show her how much he’d missed her.

  He shook his head. Nope, he valued his balls too much to confront a scorned She-Dragon.

  Stone followed her intoxicating night jasmine scent into the living room. Traces of Cyn’s personality filled the room. A vase filled with fresh flowers sat on top of the fireplace mantel, reminding him how much she loved it when he brought flowers home for her.

  He took in the watercolor painting hanging on the wall. She loved art. Fire and Ice, he mused. The painting showed two dragons entwined in a passionate embrace. It was a perfect representation of him and Cyn’s relationship. She was his eternal flame that had melted away the ice around his heart. Now, the dragons illustrated something else. He saw love turned to hate.

  A smile spread across his lips as he recalled how excited she had been to outbid everyone at the gala and win the artwork. He remembered the black dress that fit
her perfectly and ended up on his bedroom floor that night. He remembered getting lost in her vibrant blue eyes, thinking he was luckiest dragon alive to have Cyn as his mate. His heart had been whole.

  Being this close to Cyn was challenging his resolve. Perhaps he should be the one taking a cold shower. Get your mind off the shower, asshole.

  He had to get his mind off Cyn and concentrate on finding the thumb drive. The longer she had it, the more danger she was in. Someone else knew about the drive, but who?

  His cellphone buzzed in his pocket. Stone retrieved it. Jensen’s number appeared on the screen under the code name, Einstein.

  “What’s up?” Stone answered.

  “Thought you’d want to know I’ve hacked into Cynthia’s email server. You know she should really choose a better password than Stone is a dick.”

  Stone shook his head. “Let me guess, that was the first phrase you used. Hey, Pat can I buy a vowel please?”

  “Yep, and I won a trip to Disney World, too. Vanna’s hot.”

  “Is that all you got? Or did you call to bust my balls?” Stone knew the answer. Busting balls was priority.

  “Yes, and…” Jensen paused as if he had to think long and hard about the second part of the question. “Yes.”

  “Well, mission accomplished. Listen, we have serious problem. Someone attacked Cyn today.”

  “What?”

  “He was after the thumb drive. Cyn thinks I had something to do with it.” Stone shuddered at the thought of his mate thinking he’d do something to hurt her. Yes, he wanted her off the case, so she’d be safe.

  “That’s some cold shit right there, brother.”

  “Can you work your magic. Maybe check security cameras. She wasn’t far from the coffee shop.”

  “Yeah, I’m on it.”

  Stone released a breath. Stress was a bitch. Even though this was his mate and his problem, the Guardians were a tight brotherhood. If someone hurt one of their own, they all banded together and took them out. If a dragon was going through some shit, they were there to help.

  “So, are you with Cyn now?”

  Stone imagined Jensen on the other end of the line wiggling his blond brows with a damn smirk on his face.

  “That’s classified information.”

  “Oh, come on,” Jensen exclaimed.

  “Don’t wait up, honey. I’ll be late tonight.” Stone hung up.

  “Who was on the phone?”

  Stone turned around. Cyn stood in the living room, running a towel down her wet hair. Her white button-down shirt lifted exposing her bare thighs. Words escaped him. Her beauty stole his breath away.

  “That’s right. I forgot, you can’t tell me.” She walked away. The hem of her shirt teasing him as it barely covered her ass.

  “Wait.” He followed her into the kitchen.

  “Look, you don’t have to stay. I’ll be fine.” She placed her towel on the bar stool.

  His eyes narrowed in on the red stain on her right shoulder. “You’re hurt.”

  She looked at her shoulder.

  “Sit down.” He pulled out a barstool from the kitchen island. “Where’s your first aid kit?”

  Cyn sat. “In the cabinet, next to the microwave.”

  Stone grabbed a bandage and a bottle of peroxide, then returned to Cyn. He took off his suit jacket and draped it on the back of one of the bar stools. He rolled up his sleeves as if he was going in to perform surgery. He reached for the top button of her shirt but was quickly pinned with a glare. He backed off.

  His eyes followed her hands as she slowly unfastened the first three buttons of her shirt. Fine, he agreed to himself. Independent woman, I get it.

  He couldn’t stop himself from wetting his lips as he watched her fingers work the buttons like she was giving him his own personal strip tease. Her shirt gaped open, revealing the valley between her breasts. Christ, her nipples were hard. His eyes widened with desire as he imagined taking one of those nipples in his mouth.

  Her soft scent filled the room, catching him off guard. Her dragon was coming in loud and clear; she hungered for him. Stone swallowed hard and balled his hands, holding onto what control he had left.

  She slid the shirt off her shoulder, exposing the laceration. The lust building inside him came to a halt as he eyed the gash that marred her perfect skin. “Cyn, you’re not healing?” He grabbed a kitchen towel and proceeded to pour the peroxide over the cut.

  She winced.

  Like a lightning strike straight to his heart, his instincts kicked in and he blew over the wound, sending his healing magic into her. “There.” He examined her skin. It was healing. “This should ease your pain.”

  “I know what you’re trying to do,” her soft whisper drifted past his ear. “It’s working.”

  By the way her blue eyes sparkled, he was liking where this was heading. “Is that so?” Running his hand up her inner thigh, he leaned in and nuzzled her neck. “How about I take you upstairs and make up for lost time?”

  Pain shot across his hand. Quickly, he tried to take back his slick move, but his hand was stuck. He looked down. Cyn’s legs were crossed and squeezed tight like a vise.

  “Back down, Godzilla. There’s one problem.”

  “I don’t see your point.” Ignoring the throbbing pain in his hand, he went in for a kiss. Surely, he could make her forget about the problem she had. He brushed his lips against hers. She opened her mouth. Fuck yeah!

  “You’re still an asshole.” Her hot breath drifted across his lips.

  Stone dropped his head. The rekindled flame doused; his cock deflated in defeat. He should have known better. Cyn wasn’t the kind of person to forgive easily.

  “Here.” She handed him the bandage. “A little sleep and I’ll heal just fine.”

  Regaining his composure, he stuck the bandage on the wound. “Are you in any pain?”

  She rotated her shoulder a couple of times. “No. Your magic did the trick.”

  Inside, Stone gloated in victory. Like a good mated dragon, he’d taken care of her.

  “I should make you leave.” Cyn stood and stepped away, creating space between them.

  “There’s no way in hell I’m leaving. Someone is out there who wants to hurt you.”

  “I have my big girl panties on. I can take care of myself.”

  Panties? His attention shot to his mate. He raised a brow as his eyes roamed down her body, settling between her thighs. He knew what kind of panties big girls wore.

  Cynthia stood behind the barstool, shielding herself from his smoldering gaze. “You are unbelievable,” she scolded. “I think it’s best you leave.”

  “I’m not leaving.”

  “Then stop looking at me like that!”

  “Like what, Cyn. Like a dragon looking at his mate. You used to like it.” Stone was heading down a rocky trail straight into the past. But, fuck it. He wasn’t here to play nice. Not when Cyn was in danger.

  She picked at the fabric on the back of the barstool. Her temper softened and sadness washed across her face. “A part of me doesn’t want you to.” She averted her gaze as if it hurt to confess she’d missed him. “You can stay, but you’re sleeping on the couch.”

  She had missed him. Warmth filled his heart. Perhaps things weren’t so bad between them. “Deal.”

  “And you’re leaving first thing in the morning.”

  “Fine.” I’ll leave with you and return tomorrow night.

  Her mood grew serious. She looked at him as if she wanted to say something else but couldn’t decide if she should or not. “What brings you to Pinewell?”

  He expected that question. He couldn’t tell her the real reason. It was crucial the mission was kept top secret. Keep to the story, Stone. You’re here for the dragon. Which wasn’t completely a lie. “You know why.”

  “No, I don’t.” She folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t know why you showed up at my crime scene demanding to take over.”

  “A crime involving Dr
agonkine occurred. It’s my job to investigate.”

  “Yeah, if you were in Ember Brooke. Those rules don’t apply here.”

  “Cyn.” He sobered. “I can’t—”

  “Forget I asked.” She shook her head.

  They stood in silence, tormented by the same problem that had destroyed their relationship. He was so close to finishing the mission. All he needed was a little more time, then he’d spend an eternity making it up to her.

  A dragon needed their mate to make them whole, without it, they were never fulfilled. He closed the space between them and caressed her cheek. The grief on her face made him lose hope that they had a future together. She’d given up on him.

  “Please, Cyn, you have to trust me on this.”

  He searched her eyes, praying he’d find the love she had for him once. It couldn’t be over.

  The door buzzer rang, breaking the moment. “Saved by the bell.” Cyn stepped away, heading toward the door.

  Stone let out a heavy sigh. He shoved his hands though his hair. Fuck! He refused to give up on her. He’d find the damn drive and finish this assignment right now. No more wasting time. He had ten minutes tops before she’d come back. Plenty of time to search her bedroom.

  A soon as the door shut, Stone charged upstairs and followed Cyn’s scent to her bedroom. The clothes she’s been wearing were on the floor by the bathroom door. Quickly, he picked up her blazer and searched the pockets—nothing. He did the same with her slacks and blouse—nothing.

  It had to be there. Stone knew Cyn, she’d never leave something that important at the station. Where could it be? He walked over to the bed and looked under the mattress—nothing. He looked at his watch. Five minutes. He rummaged through her dresser drawers.

  Where could it be? A sly smile spread across his mouth. Cyn must have the drive on her.

  6

  Cynthia shut the door behind. Her body collapsed against it as she blew out a frustrated breath. Nothing had changed. How could she have been so naïve to think he would tell her everything? The same damn secret still haunted them. She fisted her hands, angry for allowing him to get to her.