couldn't help it. "You want a fucking date? Why, when neither of us want this relationship?"
"I may not want the relationship, but I want you, and I also want information about this case. And I always get want I want, Riley. One way or another."
I stared at him, hating him more than ever, and yet fearing what he could do. He was a killer without conscience, and the threat he posed to those I loved loomed large in my mind.
"That's blackmail on top of attempted murder, Kye. I can now officially kill you."
He moved with frightening speed. One minute his hand was empty, the next there was a gun in it. I think he pulled it from an ankle holster, but I wasn't one hundred percent certain. "And this is loaded with silver bullets. Don't think I won't hesitate to shoot if I need to, Riley."
My hands where clenched so hard my fingernails were digging into my palm. I forced myself to relax, and gave one short, sharp nod. "Franklins at lunchtime, then."
I turned and walked out. But I was barely through the door when he added, "And Riley? Stay away from Starke."
I didn't ask why. I just got the hell out of there.
Chapter Six
Rhoan and Liander were both home when I got there.
"I'm fine, sis," Rhoan said, the minute I opened the door. "Really, it's just a shoulder wound."
"Doesn't mean I wasn't scared." I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tight, soaking myself in the scent and strength of him. "Maybe you and Liander need to take a holiday somewhere nice while you recover."
Part of me want to warn him about Kye and the threat he posed, but I knew the minute I did that, Rhoan would go on the offensive. And that could get damn dangerous for us all. Right now, the better option seemed to be silence. As long as I kept playing Kye's games, everyone I cared about should be safe.
Rhoan snorted. "And you think Jack's going to let me do that?" He waved his bandaged limb about. "It'll be fine in a day."
"I know, but - "
He placed a finger on my lips, quieting me. "I'm fine. In fact, I look a whole lot better than you. Why is that?"
"I got into a fight with some vamps." I stepped back, not wanting to get into the details of events at Dante's or the warehouse. Too much had happened in too short a time, and I just needed time to sort it all out. To figure out what the hell I was going to do. "And now I need a long hot bath."
"Then go. We'll have the coffee waiting when you finished."
I leaned forward, dropped a kiss on his cheek, then headed for the bathroom. An hour later, feeling a whole lot cleaner but actually no wiser, I twisted around in front of the mirror, trying to look at the wound the vampire had given me. Though it was already healing, it was going to leave a nasty mark. Give me another year in this job, and I probably wouldn't have any unscarred skin left.
Yet short of leaving the job - an option I didn't have - there wasn't anything I could do about it. The more I fought bad guys, the more things would go wrong. And one of these days, that wrong would mean death.
Which was a good reason to say yes to Liander's and Rhoan's request. At least part of me would live on.
But then, there were also people out there who'd be more than willing to use any offspring as a pawn against me. Hell, Kye was showing no qualms about using Liander and Rhoan's safety as a means to secure my obedience, and he was my damn soul mate.
I blew out a frustrated breath then tossed my towel in the laundry basket, collected my coffee, and then walked into my bedroom and climbed between the sheets.
Once again, my sleep was uneasy, but this time the mix of worry and desire blossomed into unbridled pleasure. This time, the dreams were sharp and real rather than just restless sensations. I dreamed of being caressed and kissed, of hands sliding and teasing, of heated flesh pressing against mine, taking me, bringing me to fulfillment, again and again.
My dream lover had no face, and no smell. My dream man could have been Quinn, it could have been Kye, or maybe it was both all mashed up into one. It didn't matter. I just