Lance kept his body close to Emi’s, his gaze finding Auberi and Blaise as they turned in a slow circle, looking around as if they too sensed the dark power sweeping over the area.
“Chilton?” asked Blaise to Auberi.
“Feels like him,” said Auberi, his brows meeting. “But he wasn’t this powerful the last time we ran into him. It’s been what? Twenty years?”
Blaise rubbed his chin and then nodded. “Yeah, about that. But that’s his power. I’d stake my life on it.”
“I’d stake you for fun, so don’t tempt me,” said Auberi.
Thor wrapped himself around Emi, noting instantly that she was cold like she’d been before, when the darkness had scanned the area on Bourbon Street. Whatever the power was, and whoever was doing it, it was affecting her differently than it was the rest of them. He rubbed her arms and kept himself pressed against her, using his body heat to warm her.
She shivered and held one hand on the damn hybrid that she was treating like it was a puppy. Once the darkness passed, Emi released the hybrid and turned into Thor’s embrace, permitting him to hold her as he wanted to.
He kissed the top of her head. “You’re ice cold.”
“I know.”
“Does that happen every time that shit comes around?” he asked, concerned for her, and the toll the energy was taking on her.
Her teeth chattered as she nodded.
Frank stood and put his hand on Emi’s shoulder. Thor’s jaw twitched as the urge to chop off the thing’s arm took root.
Emi closed her eyes a moment and then gasped, cupping Thor’s face. “Frank knows you. He showed me pictures in my head from his past. You’re there, dressed in military gear with other men, training or something. And then he showed me labs.”
Auberi moved toward them quickly. “There is no way this creature was created during the Immortal Ops Program with Toov and the others.”
Thor froze at Auberi’s words. He used to be an I-Op?
“I was an Op?”
Auberi inclined his head.
Thor stilled. “Team One or Team Two?”
Confusion knit Auberi’s brow. “What do you mean by one or two? There is only one team.”
“No. There are two. I’ve shadowed Team Two several times, gathering intel and reporting back to Pierre.”
Auberi shook his head. “There’s been some intel coming in on our end, claiming a second full team of I-Ops was not only successfully created, but put into field action as well, but we’ve had nothing to back that claim up.”
The pain he felt each time he woke from his reoccurring nightmare slammed through his chest, causing him to step back from Emi and grab himself. He swayed, the pain more intense than he’d ever felt before. His vision blurred, and for a moment he was no longer in New Orleans, he was in a big fancy house, and there were others there. A woman with auburn hair.
He had to protect her. She was important to someone who meant the world to him, but who?
Lukian.
The name hit him like a ton of bricks, making him stagger backward as more images from his past assailed him at once. He saw it then—the man with a weapon aimed at the woman. She’d never survive what he was about to do to her.
The ultimate betrayal—killing the mate of a man who once considered you a brother.
Thor couldn’t let that happen. He couldn’t allow Lukian to know happiness only to have it ripped away. Without thought or regard for himself, Thor had thrown himself in the path of the onslaught of bullets, taking each one and then twisting, keeping his body in the path and the woman safely out of harm’s way.
The bullets had kept coming, riddling him full of holes.
More than he would ever be able to heal from.
And then darkness had swept over him, but he’d felt nothing but peace at the time. No regret.
“Amnesia-Boy!” shouted Blaise.
Thor blinked and found himself flat on his back on the street with Blaise there, bent over him, the man’s long hair falling into Thor’s face. “What the hell was that? Some kind of interpretive dance? You started jerking all over the place and then dropped to the ground.”
Emi was there next to him, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her hands on his upper arm. Her lips trembled as she locked gazes with him. “You remember it, don’t you? You remember when you crossed over the threshold to death.”
“Yeah,” he said.
“That blows,” said Blaise. “Now get up. There is a high likelihood someone pissed on that street. If not them, the horses that pull the carriage things.”
“Mules,” corrected Auberi.
“Your knowledge of the difference is kind of freaky.” Blaise grunted. “Remember that time I found you in the stables behind that French brothel? What were you really doing in there?”
“Do shut up,” said Auberi.
“I’m with Frenchie there,” said Thor, rubbing his chest, chasing away phantom pains.
Thor laid there a moment and then swatted at Blaise as the man reached down to tickle the tip of his nose.
“Who’s a good little op boy? That’s right, you,” said Blaise in a voice one would use to talk to a baby.
Thor snarled, allowing his fangs to distend.
Blaise drew back slightly. “I’m impressed. Didn’t know they came in that size.”
Thor permitted his mouth to return to normal and smiled. “What you’re saying is, mine is bigger?”
“One way to find out,” said Blaise, going for his belt buckle.
“I will rip off anything that you whip out,” warned Thor, meaning every word of it.
“As will I,” said Auberi.
“Your dick was in my face earlier,” said Blaise, before groaning and turning red. “I didn’t mean it that way. I just meant he was naked in his hotel room and I came in and flopped on the bed and he was standing there, in all his naked glory, and, well—shit—my explanation isn’t helping any.”
Thor looked between the men. “I had no idea you were a couple.”
“We’re not,” they said together, and loudly.
Blaise appeared offended at how quickly Auberi denied him. He shot Auberi a nasty look. “I like to think I’m your type.”
“Think again,” said Auberi with a grin. His attention went to Emi, and he licked his lower lip seductively. “She is most certainly my type.”
“Careful, the guy formerly known as Amnesia-Boy bites, and I saw what he’s packing. I’d avoid fucking with him or his woman.” Blaise tapped Thor’s head and then stood fully.
Thor laughed and sat up slowly, his body still sore.
Emi stayed close to him, looking like she might burst into tears at any moment. He touched her cheek and was about to tell her that he was fine, when she leaned and pressed her lips to his, silencing him with a passionate kiss. Her tongue found his, and she climbed partially onto him, kissing him with so much wanton abandonment that he forgot where they were and growled, eating her mouth, his hands roaming over her upper body.
There were too many articles of clothing between them. He was about to fix that issue when someone tapped on his shoulder, drawing him out of the moment. He glanced up to find Blaise there, giving him a hard look. He motioned his head to Auberi. “Really want to take your woman’s clothes off in front of him? He’s already picturing her naked.”
Emi touched her swollen lower lip. “I’m not his woman.”
“Yes, you are,” said Thor.
Her lips set a thin line before she spoke. “No. I’m not.”
“Yes. You. Are.” He pushed to his feet and then bent, lifting her gently. He smoothed down her skirt and made sure she was fully covered from Auberi’s prying eyes.
Emi gave him a tiny shove. “Stop talking about me like I’m property.”
His temper flared, and he found himself standing tall, glaring down at her. He’d never hurt her, but the shifter in him wanted her to be very aware he was in charge. “You’re my mate. I’ve waited all my life for you, and now
Auberi and Blaise drew in huge breaths and stepped back.
“Dude, did he just say outright that she’s his mate?” demanded Blaise, sounding more like he was about to take up surfing in place of devil worship, or whatever the hell it was he did in all that black leather.
A small grin touched Auberi’s lips, and his blue gaze found Thor. “I believe he did.”
“Buttercup? Yours? Tell me, did you happen to buy any drugs for sale on these streets?” asked Emi, her gaze narrowing on him. The harder she stared at him, the less alpha he felt. His panther retreated quickly, tucking tail and hiding from the woman’s blistering stare. “I’m only asking because whatever you’re on must be some good stuff if you think for a minute that macho line of crap is going to fly with me.”
Shit.
“I really like her,” said Blaise. “I’d like to put in an order for a feisty woman.”
Frank grunted.
Thor looked at the hybrid and thought about what Emi had said. The thing knew him from his past, when he’d been an I-Op. While he couldn’t remember much of his time then, he knew in his gut that any man he’d served with wouldn’t want to exist as the thing before him.
Emi grabbed his hand. “No, you don’t.”
“Don’t what?” he asked, attempting to play innocent, though he was fairly sure his mate could read his damn mind.
My mate.
He liked the sound of that.
“Someone want to fill me in?” asked Blaise.
“He wants to kill Frank because he feels bad for him,” said Emi.
Thor tipped his head, curious if she really could read his mind or if he was simply that transparent. If so, Pierre was a shit signal reader.
At the thought of his master, Thor stiffened. His gaze snapped to his mate. While she had yet to realize how important she was to him, he knew. And he knew he couldn’t protect her from Pierre and live. If he killed Pierre, he’d die too. He was blood bound to him, and without ingesting his blood, he’d perish.
He knew on a primal level that if he did as instinct demanded and claimed Emi for himself when he killed Pierre, he’d die and Emi would suffer.
“We should handle Frankie there and then regroup with the others at the hotel,” said Blaise.
Auberi withdrew his cell phone and placed a call. “Malik, we have the girl. Yes. All is well. We have a situation to attend to first, and then we will meet you back at the hotel before sunrise.”
Emi rushed to stand in front of Frank. “He’s not a situation. You can’t just handle him.”
“Sweetheart,” said Thor, hating seeing her upset and knowing he was part of the cause of it. “We can’t let him live this way. Look at him. He’s rotting. He’s dying a slow death, and soon there won’t be anything left of him mentally.”
“I don’t care. And I don’t care that it’s what he wants. It’s not right! He’s not a threat. I understand about the others. They were killers. Frank isn’t. Don’t hurt him.”
Auberi moved in close to Emi. “You are young and idealistic. It is a good quality to have. Never lose it…but in this instance, you are wrong. We cannot permit a fellow brother to remain this way. We’d demand better of our brethren, should it be us. It is only right we give him the peace he desperately seeks.”
She shook her head, tearing up more.
Auberi touched her cheek, coming away with a tear. “Look away, and let us do what must be done.”
“No,” she whispered, her shoulders slumping slightly.
“Go to your Thor, permit him to ease the pain,” said Auberi, something off in his voice. “I will do what must be done.”
Emi kicked Auberi in the shin and, to Thor’s shock, the vampire looked as if it hurt. “Stop calling my man Thor. His name is Lance!”
Grunting, Auberi bent and rubbed the spot where she’d kicked him. “You have fire in you. That’s good. You’ll need it to help Thor find his way back to Lance fully. Now that you are indeed agreeing he’s your man.”
Emi looked like she was about to kick him again. Feeling bad for the vampire, Thor rushed in and lifted his woman, carrying her a distance from Auberi. “It’s okay, sweetie. I don’t mind being called Thor.”
That wasn’t entirely true.
The name made him think of Pierre.
But Lance didn’t feel right yet, either.
The look on Emi’s face said she was going to cry. He couldn’t have that. Dipping his head, he captured her lips with his.
Instantly, she eased in his arms, letting him explore her mouth. His cock responded in kind, wanting to find solace in her. Now wasn’t the time or the place. Reluctantly, he drew back, staying close to her. “I need to get you out of New Orleans and somewhere safe. Somewhere Pierre can’t find you.”
“We can help,” said Auberi. “We’ll get you both out of here and far from him.”
Thor didn’t argue with them, there was no point in it. He couldn’t go with them, but Emi could. “I’ll take Emi to pack her things and then I’ll bring her to you.”
“What?” demanded Emi. “I’m not leaving the city. This is my city. This Pierre guy can just try to make me go. He’s gonna have to get in line behind that Chilton guy you were all talking about. Hell, there’s apparently a long list of people after me, so really, what’s one more?”
Blaise snorted. “I like her. She knows Pierre is a blowhard.”
“Who can kill her with ease,” said Auberi, looking at Thor. “Gather what she wishes to leave with and then meet us at the hotel we’re staying at.” He gave the hotel’s name and reached out for Frank. “We can handle this matter.”
Frank reached for Emi, and Thor prepared himself to argue more with her. She went to the creature, stepped in close and then hugged it. When she drew back, she was nodding and crying fully. “I know it’s what you want. I just wish we could do something to fix you.”
Thor sighed. Krauss was behind Frank’s creation, and there was no going back from what that mad scientist had done. No fixing it. The man played God but was truly the devil.
Emi’s face scrunched, and she eased back from the hybrid. “I understand.”
“Total hybrid whisperer,” said Blaise, partially under his breath. “Think she can talk to my houseplants? They keep dying.”
Auberi appeared unamused. “Because they require sunlight. Something you avoid.”
“Oh,” Blaise replied, nodding and then walking to the other side of the hybrid. “Time to follow us.”
Emi sobbed. “I’m sorry.”
Frank bent and patted her shoulder in an awkward manner. He then faced Auberi fully. One second he was calm and huggy, and the next he lunged at Auberi, rows of teeth flashing, spittle flying.
Auberi reacted and killed the hybrid quickly—much faster than he’d dispatched the others.
Emi screamed, and Thor caught her, pulling her back. She shook her head and Thor pressed his lips to her ear. “Shh, sweetheart, Frank attacked Auberi knowing that Auberi’s instincts would be to protect himself. Frank wanted to die.”
“I know,” she said, going limp in his arms. “I want to go home.”
“I’ll take you home,” he said, knowing she wasn’t up to hearing that he planned to pack her things and leave with her.
Blaise and Auberi stood side by side, blocking Emi’s view of Frank’s body on the ground. Auberi called for a cleanup crew and then pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket. He wiped away what was left of Frank from his hand. From the look in his eyes, he regretted having to take the kill in front of Emi.
Thor nodded to him, appreciating what he’d done for the hybrid and that he hadn’t left Thor to take the kill shot. Emi wouldn’t have forgiven him.
Chapter Fifteen
Emi sat in a refurbished kitchen chair that she and Taylor had salvaged on one of their trash day hunting expeditions. They’d then spent an afternoon painting the table and chairs and recovering the ripped vinyl seat covers. It had been fun and had left them laughing—a happy moment.
Unlike now.
She was just thankful Taylor was long gone. If he could see her now, he’d cause a scene, and he’d likely get himself killed in the process. How had everything gotten turned upside down in her life so suddenly? She’d been on her way to get dinner for Hector and Cherry, and then her world had flipped on its head. Just like it had when she was little.
As much as she didn’t want to admit it out loud, Emi knew the time to leave New Orleans had come. The boogieman had found her. She’d stayed too long in one place like she’d been trained not to do.
And then there was Frank.
Poor Frank.
She hiccupped and nearly started to cry again as she thought of the creature who had once been a man. Someone evil had done that to him. That person needed to pay. They couldn’t be allowed to continue.
It had taken Lance nearly thirty minutes to get her to stop bawling like a baby when they’d first entered her house. And he was currently doing his best to avoid any sudden movements, as if that might set her off again. He placed a cup of chicory coffee in front of her. He’d made a phone call, and she wasn’t sure how much he’d paid the person on the other end, but by the time he was done, the restaurant suddenly offered delivery of food and coffee.
He eased the coffee closer to her. “Drink.”
He’d been so incredibly sweet, and he’d not said a word about the way she lived, though she could tell it bothered him greatly. He’d been unable to mask his look of shock when she’d confessed she didn’t have a refrigerator, or lights that weren’t running from extension cords, illegally hooked up to the building next door. Basically, she didn’t have much of anything.
Cocking his head to one side, Lance looked far off for a moment before standing quickly. “Stay here. Don’t move.”
She caught his wrist as he stood to his full height, his long hair falling partially free from the tie. “What is it?”
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