She noticed Vaulcron was experiencing something similar.
His pupils were dilated to the point where his eyes appeared black. “Go lock yourself in the bathroom before it is too late,” he rumbled, giving her his back.
Mallory stood completely still, her hungry gaze traveling from his massive shoulders to his incredibly muscular ass.
Wetness slicked her thighs. A throbbing began in her center, creating a domino effect throughout her system. Her nipples hardened, her breathing accelerated, and heat exploded between her thighs, nearly crippling her.
She staggered forward, wrapped her arms around Vaulcron’s waist, and laid her head against his back.
A growl vibrated beneath her ear. “I want to take you again,” he snarled, muscles bunching along his torso. “I ache to be inside you.”
Her insides responded to his words. More wetness settled on her thighs. She could feel herself swelling, needing to be filled.
Chills skated across her skin, followed by another bout of heat. “Oh God, Vaulcron. I ache.”
Chapter Twenty
Vaulcron’s entire body vibrated with desire. He glanced down at his painful erection as it pulsed with need.
“Get away from me,” he growled, fighting the urge to toss Mallory onto the bed and thrust into her waiting body again and again.
“I want you,” she whispered in a breathy voice.
Vaulcron’s control shattered. He spun around, lifted her off her feet, and situated her on her knees on the side of the bed in front of him.
Gritting his teeth, he fisted his shaft and stepped in close to her waiting heat.
An explosion suddenly ripped through the building, rocking the floor beneath Vaulcron’s feet.
He threw himself over Mallory’s body as the sheetrock in the ceiling cracked above his head.
“Oh, my God, what was that?” came Mallory’s muffled cry, her face now buried in the sheets.
The sound of gunshots erupted in the distance. Vaulcron jumped back and jerked his shorts up his legs. “Go into the bathroom.”
Mallory rolled from the bed, tugging the sheet with her as she ran. She disappeared inside the small bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.
The sound of footsteps could be heard coming up the hall. Vaulcron braced himself as bullets peppered the iron door in an array of blasts that vibrated inside his skull.
“Vaulcron?” a voice yelled as the door was kicked in, and Braum came barreling into the room.
“Are you all right?” Braum rushed forward, anger etched on his face.
“I am.” Vaulcron turned and jerked open the bathroom door. “Mallory? Come. We must make haste.”
The sight of Mallory climbing from the shower stall with that sheet tied around her tore at Vaulcron’s heart. She shouldn’t have to experience the level of fear she experienced now.
Mallory ran to him, her eyes wild with confusion. “What’s going on?”
Vaulcron scooped her up into his arms. “We are being rescued. Keep your head down.”
“Rescued?” Mallory swung her gaze toward Braum standing in the middle of the room.
A low growl rumbled in Vaulcron’s chest as a small gasp slipped past Mallory’s lips. He pressed her head down to his shoulder and rushed toward the door. “I need a weapon.”
Braum jogged ahead, pulling a pistol from his belt. He turned slightly, handing it to Vaulcron as they ran. “The safety is on.”
Vaulcron nodded his understanding, switched the safety off, and shot off down the hall behind Braum. He kissed the top of Mallory’s head. “I will get you out of here, beautiful one.”
The door to the stairwell suddenly flew open, and two soldiers burst into the hall with guns blazing.
Vaulcron fired his weapon at the man on the right, taking him down with one shot. Braum felled the other.
“This way,” Braum whispered, taking the stairs the soldiers had recently vacated.
Following close behind, Vaulcron adjusted Mallory in his arms, keeping the pistol at the ready.
Gunfire could be heard from below them, ricocheting off the walls in consistent earsplitting explosions.
Braum held up his hand as he came to a stop at the door on the first floor. He eased it open enough to peer out into the corridor.
“Stay close to the wall, and head toward the front door. There is an armored truck waiting around the right side of the building. Get her to safety.”
“What about you?” Vaulcron hissed, touching Braum on the arm.
“I will be right behind you. Now go.” Braum threw the door open and darted across the room to draw fire, effectively creating a distraction for Vaulcron’s escape.
Hunching his shoulders over Mallory to shield her body from flying bullets, Vaulcron hurried toward the front door. He burst outside and ran along the front of the building as fast as his legs would move. He rounded the corner in record time, relieved to see the armored truck parked close to the wall.
Vaulcron opened the passenger side door and deposited Mallory onto the seat. “Get into the back and keep your head down.”
Mallory nodded and climbed over the seat. “Don’t leave me,” she pleaded, glancing back at him with wide eyes.
He opened his mouth to assure her that she’d be safe in the truck, just as Tony, Braum, Gryke, and Oz rounded the corner.
“Get in,” Tony barked, jumping behind the wheel.
Vaulcron practically dove into the vehicle, seconds ahead of the others.
Tony threw the truck in reverse, backing up with such force that Vaulcron nearly face-planted in Braum’s lap.
No one spoke until Winchester Industries completely disappeared from view.
“Was anyone hit?” Oz asked, turning in his seat to study the crew seated in back.
Two sets of gazes swung over the backseat to stare down at Mallory.
“I’m fine,” she insisted, sitting up with the sheet held to her chest. “Just a little shaken up, but I’m okay.”
Vaulcron’s mouth tightened in jealousy. “If you value your eyes, you will aim them elsewhere.”
Braum laughed. “I am sorry, Vaulcron. I did not realize that she belonged to you.”
“My sister,” Mallory breathed, meeting Vaulcron’s gaze. “How am I going to find Amy?”
Tony answered before Vaulcron could respond. "We’ve already located your sister. Zaureth is on his way back to Cuba with her and Anderson. They will arrive ahead of us.”
Mallory gasped. “He is bringing the guy that held her hostage back to Cuba?”
“He is,” Tony nodded, glancing up in the rearview mirror. “And I’d love to be a fly on the wall when Hauke finds out about it.”
Vaulcron met Tony’s gaze in the mirror. “What does Hauke know of Anderson?”
“Anderson was the one that filled Hauke’s gut with lead.”
Vaulcron’s brows lifted. “He shot Hauke?”
Tony nodded. “He also took Abbie and Naura hostage. Yeah. Hauke isn’t going to be pleased about this.”
“Zaureth should have killed this Anderson.” Gryke’s quiet admission brought Tony’s gaze back to the mirror.
“Anderson was acting on presidential orders. Besides, he did save Amy’s life. That should be worth something.”
“Of course it is worth something,” Vaulcron piped in. “He did not have to risk himself for a girl he does not know. It shows he had integrity, and we will not repay his sacrifice by ending his life.”
Gryke shook his head. “Tell that to Hauke.”
“Amy is Mallory’s sister,” Vaulcron reiterated.
“Yes,” Gryke agreed. “And Hauke is your brother.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Mallory listened to the exchange between Vaulcron and the one known as Gryke as she fought the nausea rolling through her gut.
A moan escaped, and she slapped a hand over her mouth to hold back the contents of her stomach.
“Are you all right?” Vaulcron leaned over the seat and sw
ept her hair back from her face.
“What is wrong with her?” Braum questioned, concern evident in his eyes.
Vaulcron’s gaze shifted to Braum. “The humans drugged us by placing medication in our food.”
Oz twisted around in his seat. “Do you know what kind of drugs they used?”
No,” Vaulcron responded without letting go of Mallory’s hair.
Oz nodded. “How did it affect you?”
Vaulcron could feel the blood rushing to his face. “I do not remember everything. Scent and sound became magnified.” His heart twisted with the memory of taking her with such force. “I blacked out after…”
“After you had sex with her,” Oz finished for him.
Vaulcron could only lower his head in shame. “Yes.”
“Stop feeling guilty,” Mallory whispered, taking deep breaths to keep her food down. “We were both drugged, and the sex was mutual.”
Vaulcron shook his head. “I hurt you.”
“I told you, I’m fine. I’d feel better if I could empty my stomach.”
“I’m sorry, we can’t stop yet,” Tony announced, making an expert turn onto a clay road. “If you can hang on a little while longer, we’ll be arriving at the boat in a few more minutes.”
Mallory leaned forward and laid her head against Vaulcron’s shoulder. Unwilling to speak in front of the truck’s occupants, she reached out to Vaulcron’s mind. “Please don’t feel bad about what happened in that room. I wanted you just as much as you wanted me.”
“What if I have impregnated you?”
Her heart damn near stopped. “Let’s pray that didn’t happen. If it did, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
Vaulcron stilled. “Would it be so bad? I would be honored to father a child of yours.”
“I have no home, Vaulcron. No job, no access to my money. I have nothing.”
“You have me.”
Mallory lifted her head and met his emerald-green gaze. She silently admitted her feelings for him, feelings that were growing by the day. But something deep inside continued to hold back.
“You hold back out of fear, Mallory. I will take care of you and any children we create together. You have my word that I will never hurt or betray you.”
Mallory blinked back tears of sorrow as she stared into Vaulcron’s amazing eyes. The world as she knew it would never be the same, and this giant Bracadyte was offering her a new life. So, why was she terrified?
Maybe she did fear the unknown. Mallory had lived her life being in control of her emotions. She’d spent years trying to live up to her father’s expectations, attempting to prove to him that she could be just as good as any son he might have had.
Mallory had grown hard over the years, clawing her way to the top of the corporate ladder. It hadn’t been easy to get where she was, and she couldn’t count how many people she’d stepped on to get there.
Amy had been Mallory’s only solace in a world of cutthroats. How could she run off with Vaulcron and leave her sister to fend for herself?
“We’re here,” Tony announced, throwing the truck in gear. “Everybody out.”
Mallory twisted around toward the back as Vaulcron jumped from the truck and opened the hatch. He scooped her up and hurried to the boat docked a short distance away.
The rest of the crew followed suit, releasing the ties that held the vessel immobile before jumping on board and aiming their weapons toward the shoreline.
“Mallory?”
The sound of Amy’s voice brought tears of relief to Mallory’s eyes. She wriggled free of Vaulcron’s hold and ran into her sister’s waiting arms.
“Oh, my God. Amy,” Mallory cried, squeezing her younger sibling tightly. “I have been worried sick about you.”
Mallory ran her hands up and down Amy’s arms and then pulled back. “Are you injured? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“I didn’t hurt her,” Anderson muttered, stepping out from behind a large crate.
The crack of Mallory’s palm landing on Anderson’s cheek could be heard clearly over the hum of the boat’s engine.
Anderson’s head jerked from the force of the blow, but otherwise, he didn’t move.
Amy positioned herself between them. “Mallory, stop. He saved my life.”
“Your life wouldn’t have needed saving had it not been for him to begin with.”
“That’s not true. He was only following orders,” Amy defended. “He’s not a bad person.”
Vaulcron stepped in close to Mallory’s side. “He was responsible for shooting Hauke, along with the capture of Abbie and my sister, Naura.”
“And for that, I am deeply sorry. I had orders to bring them in. As far as we knew, they were dangerous.”
“We are dangerous,” Vaulcron growled, his fangs peeking out from beneath his top lip.
“No one touches the human.” An incredibly handsome Bracadyte suddenly appeared in the doorway of the cabin. His ink-black hair was pulled back into some kind of ponytail at the base of his neck. White streaks of hair ran from his temples to disappear behind his head. His face was clean-shaven, appearing porcelain in its beauty. But nothing held a candle to his eyes, as pale green as the gulf.
Another growl rumbled from Vaulcron. “You defend him, Zaureth?”
Mallory couldn’t take her gaze off the ethereal creature gliding toward her. His very presence demanded respect from everyone he passed. She wondered if he was their leader.
Zaureth came to a stop in front of her. “You must be Miss Cahill.”
Vaulcron’s arm came around her shoulders. “She is.”
“I can answer for myself,” Mallory gently scolded, secretly flattered by Vaulcron’s show of jealousy.
Extending her hand toward Zaureth, Mallory sent him a small smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Zaureth accepted her outstretched palm. “The pleasure is mine, Miss Cahill.”
Vaulcron suddenly tugged Mallory back a step, forcing her to let go of Zaureth’s hand. “I will take you to the cabin to rest. I am certain that Oz has food and water on board.”
“I could use a drink,” Mallory admitted, allowing him to guide her toward the cabin. “And a bathroom.”
She slowed her steps and gazed back at her sister. “Amy? Would you like to come with me?”
Amy turned her face in Mallory’s general direction. “I’d like to stay out here a little while longer. I’ll be along shortly.”
“Okay. But I want to catch up soon.” Mallory entered the cabin and took a seat on the nearest cot. She tightened the sheet around her body and leaned back against the wall.
She watched as Vaulcron rummaged through some bags sitting on the counter and produced a bottle of water.
“Here. Drink some of this.” He handed her the water before grabbing one of his own.
Mallory uncapped the bottle and took a healthy sip. The precious liquid slid down her parched throat in blissful euphoria.
She took another drink in an attempt to fight back the dreaded nausea threatening once again.
“Perhaps you should slow down,” Vaulcron suggested, taking a seat next to her. “I do not wish to see you become ill.”
Mallory handed him the water and closed her eyes. “Vaulcron?”
“Hmmmm?”
“I don’t regret any of this.”
He ran a fingertip along her neck, near the place he’d bitten her. “My only regret is that I hurt you.”
“It doesn’t hurt,” Mallory assured him. “I just wish I could remember it.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Douglas Jefferies hung up the phone and staggered around the room to assess the injuries to his men.
There were twelve known casualties, six injured, and two missing.
He stumbled over to Willie’s desk to find him lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
“Damn it,” Jeffries growled, his gaze sweeping the area for any sign of life.
“Sir?” Fredericks ran into the
room, wild eyed and bleeding from his face. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Jefferies snarled, checking the ammunition in his weapon. “Any sign of our missing?”
Fredericks nodded. “They’re dead, sir. I found them upstairs.”
“Son of a bitch.” Jefferies motioned for Fredericks to follow him to the front door. “We have troops on the way. They’ll take care of the injured. I don’t want Cahill and that creature to get too far ahead of us. Let’s go.”
Fredericks ran along beside him. “Do you know which direction they left in, sir? Or where they may be headed?”
“My best guess is to Cahill’s sister’s place. But I can’t reach Anderson on his cell to give him a heads up. I’ll have his ass for this. The idiot.”
* * * *
“Son of a bitch,” President Howell snarled, slamming the phone receiver down with more force than necessary.
Trevor Sparks glanced up with wide eyes from the morning report he’d been going over. “Sir?”
“They’ve escaped again.”
“The alien and Miss Cahill?”
With a jerky nod, Rueben ran a hand down his face. “That damn Anthony Vaughn was behind it.”
“What happened?” Sparks asked, laying the papers aside and getting to his feet.
Rueben stared back at him for long moments before answering. “Vaughn and a handful of those aliens attacked Winchester Industries, killing fourteen of our best men.”
Trevor paled. “And Jefferies?”
“He’s gone after them. He figures they will head over to Brighton’s place in search of Cahill’s sister.”
Rueben rested his palms on top of his desk. “Notify every law enforcement agency in all surrounding counties, including Walton County. I want an APB on Vaughn and Cahill. Roadblocks set up on every major highway. Notify the CIA and FBI as well. I want eyes in the sky. Drones, satellites. You name it. I want them found, Sparks.”
“Right away, sir.” Trevor snatched up his papers and turned to go, stopping before he reached the door. “Perhaps we’re going about this all wrong?”
“What’s your point?” Rueben barked, pinning the guy with an intimidating stare.
Vaulcron (Enigma Series Book 3) Page 9
