Crashing into Fate (Maple Grove #25) - Lynn Hagen Page 0,18

attack had happened that morning, and the two vampires were dead. Goddamn it. Malik Burrows. He was the only other person there. “Malik.”

“Yes,” Christian said. “He’s been paid handsomely to keep an eye on you.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.” Lewis gnashed his teeth. Getting mixed up with vampires was what had gotten him in this mess in the first place, and Lewis didn’t want any more help from them. He’d just called to give Christian a heads-up that Mena had sent some vampires after him.

“This morning argues otherwise,” Christian said. “I’ve put protective measures in place, and I will not pull Mr. Burrows from his assignment. Now, was there anything else you needed?”

Lewis ground his teeth. “No, that was all.”

It wasn’t so much that Lewis couldn’t use the help. He just didn’t want to sink further into the botched mess. He also knew better than to argue with Christian, a member of the Ultionem. He didn’t want to be on the bad side of the prince.

Lewis hung up and sighed as he rubbed his forehead. He had to not only watch out for any vindictive vampires but also keep an eye on Arlan.

Just because they’d solved the mystery of who the dead guy was didn’t mean Arlan was completely safe. Lewis had a gut feeling about that crime, and he refused to take any chances.

He called Mike and let him know that he was going home to shower and change. Lewis also wanted to make sure no one had been in his house. It might not hurt to get a few cameras so he could keep an eye on things until he was finished wooing Arlan and had talked his mate into moving in with him.

“I got it,” Mike said. “I have a few men coming today to look at the room that was destroyed so I can get an estimate on how much it’ll cost to fix it. They will be plenty of people around to help me keep an eye on him.”

“Thanks.” Lewis tossed his cell phone onto the passenger seat and drove back to town. He didn’t want to be gone long, even though Mike said he’d watch over Arlan.

When he arrived home, Lewis saw his front door was ajar. He reached into his glove box and pulled out his gun before making his way to the front porch.

He eased the door open and stepped inside, sniffing the air as he looked around. He cursed up a storm when he saw his living room was a wreck.

There were slashes in the cushions on his couch and pictures thrown from the wall. Everything that had been on his bookshelf was now discarded on the floor. Knickknacks had been crushed or thrown into the wall, leaving behind large holes.

His large television lay shattered behind the stand.

As he walked, broken glass and shards of ceramic crunched beneath his feet. The kitchen hadn’t fared any better. Broken dishes were everywhere, along with glasses. The fruit bowl had been knocked over, and the apples were crushed into the linoleum.

The floor was sopping wet with water.

This hadn’t been a simple break-in where the culprit was looking for valuables. Whoever had done this had been out to destroy everything Lewis owned.

Dread pooled in his stomach at the thought of his bedroom. He didn’t want to see the destruction in there. But Lewis forced himself up the stairs, the wood squeaking under his feet.

The smell hit him as soon as he reached the second floor.

Vampire.

From the potent smell, more than one.

Still in the hallway, Lewis turned toward his bedroom when a blur rushed toward him, knocking him into the wall. Rapid gut punches were delivered before Lewis growled and shoved forward, but before he could return the blows, he was attacked from behind.

Now both vampires were on him, delivering powerful blows that left Lewis breathless and fighting not to crumple.

He got a shot off, and one of the vampires staggered backward as a blossom of blood spread outward from the center of his chest. That wouldn’t be enough to kill the son of a bitch, but it might slow him down.

Lewis’s back and right side were killing him, but he spun and used his clawed hand to plunge into the vampire’s chest and yank his heart out.

As soon as the vampire dropped, the other one screamed as he came at Lewis, using his inhuman speed to lay into him. The blows just kept coming, wearing Lewis down.

“You’re going to die,” the vampire said in a