more than a little overwhelming now.
The truck roared up the parking structure, clipping a small sedan out of the way and when we roared up three levels to the top floor, I crawled out of the driver’s seat, legs feeling curiously like jelly.
But we had no time.
The screeching tires, the blasting sirens made it patently clear the one police car had friends.
Friends with guns.
I was good, but I wasn’t that good.
Ryder’s hand on my shoulder, we moved quickly to the elevator.
“They’ll be waiting for us. There’s no other way down,” I sputtered. “We’re trapped.”
Ryder let out a breath and laughed just the slightest bit. “You’re right. We should surprise them, shouldn’t we?”
That sounded ominous.
Too ominous.
“What do you me—”
“Hold on tight!”
The breath left me in a sudden rush as he hooked one arm tight around my waist and jumped three stories from the waist-high concrete barrier.
A scream lodged in my throat and for those three seconds, it felt like floating.
Or dying.
Fingers curled into his thin cotton t-shirt, muscles jerking under my fingertips, I heard Ryder let out a delighted howl.
“Yeah!”
So much for surprise, though.
We landed on the concrete and a fine tremor rode up his body.
He was still for a moment, drawing in quick breaths. “Okay, I would be kidding if I said I wanted to do that again tonight.”
Meanwhile, I was trying to relearn how to breathe. “Jesus.”
Ryder’s arm tightened around my waist, pulling us closer than ever. How could he run so warm?
He was just a dead body.
But this close, face to face, he truly was beautiful.
A car screeched to the curb, sleek and lean and black. It reminded me of a jaguar formed of metal parts.
The darkened windows rolled down to expose a woman I did not expect to see. “You fucking crazy stupid nut! Get the hell in the car!”
Ryder’s arms tightened around my waist, taking my breath away. “No way, Eve. I’m helping Ran. I’m going to keep her safe.”
Vincent’s emissary sighed and rolled her eyes. “Really? You’re going to keep her safe? Are you aware of the APB out on you two? Do you really want Vincent to deal with this?”
He stuck his tongue out at her. “He’s not going to deal with it. You will.”
Eyes thunderous, she slanted a gaze at me. “And you. I thought I warned you about what would happen if you and your fucking vampire stirred up any more trouble. Do you know how much paperwork I’m going to have to fill out because of tonight’s shenanigans?”
My throat went dry. I thought it funny I could be standing skin to skin with a vampire and not be afraid, but be frightened of the non-vampire sitting in a car six feet away. Clearly, I needed to rethink my priorities. “I…I’m sorry.”
“It’s not her fault,” said Ryder.
Her dark eyes narrowed. “Shut the hell up and get the fuck in the damn car.”
I stiffened and tried to wrestle out of Ryder’s grasp. I would’ve had a better chance of working my way out of barbed wire and gave up after three seconds. “I can’t go back.”
“She can’t go,” said Ryder. “Besides, Vincent told me to keep her safe under all circumstances. And Eve, damn it, it’s not her fault. Annabelle started this shit. Did you know the Sanguinate is gone?”
She was quiet for a moment and I fought the urge to squirm under her sharp gaze. “I know. There’s a war going on. And you’re going straight into the middle of it. Do you think that’s the safest thing to do?”
“He can either come with me and watch my back or let me go and watch me die.”
She sighed and rubbed the furrow between her eyes. “Jesus fucking Christ. What a fucking mess.”
“Jason is my Master. I am his Ailward,” I continued. “If I cannot save him, then our contract is in forfeit.”
“Is honor so important to you?” she asked.
I felt a lump in my throat. I tried to swallow it. It wouldn’t go away. “At this point, it’s all I have.”
Her eyes widened almost imperceptibly and she exchanged a few hushed words with the driver.
She turned back to us. “Get in. We’ll take you where you need to go.”
Relief made me sag in Ryder’s arms. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Don’t thank us yet,” she said and then it seemed as though the corner of her mouth spasmed, as though she stopped a smile from appearing. “Thank us after we get you and your Master back. Now get the hell in before