He glanced over his shoulder and drew on his power.

  Deirdre, I command you to wake.

  Her eyes fluttered and she groaned. “Janus?”

  Yes, I’m here. Remember I can read your thoughts. You don’t have to say anthing out loud.

  He slumped against the tree, breathing hard.

  You sound different.

  Sun…is draining…me.

  She shifted her right hand and the manacle fell. Tears welled in her eyes.

  My ankle.

  His gut tightened.

  I know it hurts. You can move. Fall to the ground. Trust me.

  Her eyes wide, she gazed at the gazebo.

  He’ll shoot me.

  No, he won’t.

  Janus stepped out from behind the tree.

  “Janus, no.”

  Brandon fired. Hot pain seared into Janus’s right shoulder. He gritted his teeth, biting back a hiss.

  Brandon emerged out of the cabana with a revolver in his hand. “You should have followed my instructions, Morano. You’re dead.”

  Janus forced himself to stand with his shaking legs wide apart. “Aren’t you the least bit interested in how I got here?”

  Deirdre rolled off the lounge chair. “Brandon, please.” Her silky hair shielded her bruised face and she laid on the ground panting. She inched forward as if she could help.

  Janus tilted his head. “Hide, Deirdre.”

  Brandon lifted the revolver and slowly pulled the trigger. “Like I couldn’t find her.”

  Burning hot pain made him gasp. The bullet tore Janus’s chest and he staggered backward toward the pool. The sun’s rays were even stronger glittering off the water. A red splotch spread across his shirt. His strength was fading, his blood slowing. His limbs were turning numb.

  But not his protective instinct. He was a wolf, determined to rescue his mate, even willing to die to save her.

  Brandon walked toward him. “Dead center in the heart. I never miss a shot.”

  Deirdre looked up at Janus with her bruised face and cut lip. Rage and love exploded inside him. He’d never felt anything like this before. His wolf was unleashed. Adrenaline poured into every pore, every muscle, every bone.

  He cracked his neck. “Think again.”

  Brandon’s smirk faded, and his eyes widened. “You should be dead.”

  “You’re right. I am.” Using the last of his vampire power, he flashed over to Brandon who stood dumbfounded in the mango tree’s shade. Janus seized the gun and tossed it into the pool.

  “How…how did you do that?”

  Janus grabbed him by the shirt and lifted him into the air. “I’m a vampire.” He tilted his head. “Deirdre is no longer yours.”

  “You’re crazy.” Brandon beat on Janus’s hand. “There are no such things as vampires.”

  Janus opened his mouth, revealing his long incisors.

  “It’s a trick.” Brandon squirmed and kicked Janus in the gut, but Janus heard the fear in his voice.

  Janus lifted him higher. “Still don’t believe, foolish human?”

  He shook Brandon hard then threw him into the pool. Water splashed onto the cement and splattered onto Janus’s face, cooling his burning skin.

  Brandon flailed in the pool, his clothes dragging him under and gasping for air. “I can’t swim!”

  “Janus.”

  Deirdre’s face was pale and rubbed her forehead. He’s a bastard, but don’t let him die.” She dropped her hand and met his gaze. “I want him to go to jail.”

  Janus nodded. He would have preferred to let the bastard die, but he could deny his mate nothing.

  He dove into the pool. Brandon clung onto him like a frightened child. Pathetic. Janus swam to the side and lifted Brandon out of the pool. The man coughed up water and rolled to his side. Janus jumped out of the water. Steam drifted off his skin from the sun. He headed for Deirdre, every step draining more and more of his energy. He needed sleep or blood.

  Deirdre was propped up against the trunk of the mango tree. She gave him a weak smile, but her eyes grew wide and she pointed.

  “Janus, look out.”

  Janus whirled around, but he was too slow. Brandon sliced his arm with a knife, clear to the bone.

  “Damn you.” Janus gritted his teeth.

  Brandon laughed and wiped the blade on his shirt. “Paybacks are hell. Didn’t Deirdre tell you? I grew up in a poor neighborhood. I’m expert in a knife fight.” He tossed the blade between his hands. “Come on prick. What are you going to do now?”

  Janus’s arm hung limp at his side and blood rushed down onto the cement. “You’re pissing me off.”

  “Like I care. Bring it on.”

  Deirdre tilted her head. “Brandon, you’re a fool. He’ll kill you.”

  Janus stiffened. “I won’t kill him unless he leaves me no choice.”

  “Right, you’re the big bad vampire.”

  “Yes, I am.” His voice was soft.

  Brandon lunged. Janus easily darted out of the way. He grabbed Brandon’s wrist and twisted. The blade clattered onto the ground. Janus kicked it to the side.

  Brandon screamed and fell to his knees. “My wrist. You broke my god damn wrist.”

  Janus loomed over Brandon. “I’ll do worse than that if you ever come near her again.”

  “Your eyes.” Blood drained from Brandon’s face and his eyes grew super round. “What…what happened to them? They’re…they’re red.”

  “Yes.” Sweat leaked into Janus’s eyes and he swayed. His vision blurred, and he saw two of Brandon rather than one.

  Blood. He needed blood.

  “Janus?”

  Deirdre. She sounded far away. Dizziness gripped him. Janus shook his head. “I’m fine.”

  Brandon dragged himself up and lunged for the knife. “You don’t look fine.” He chuckled. “I’m going to kill you. Stake through the heart, right?”

  The hunger woke in Janus and he shook. “Don’t try it, Brandon. Stay away from me.”

  “Like you’re going to stop me.”

  Janus swayed and gritted his teeth. The damn fool.

  “Janus, what’s wrong?” Deidre’s voice was full of concern.

  “Need…blood.”

  “Blood?” Her voice was barely a whisper, and the tone had changed to fear.

  Janus winced. God, she thought he was a monster.

  Brandon charged. Janus braced himself. Dizziness swept over him and his insides burned as if someone had lit his intestines on fire. He held up his shaking palm, trying to draw on his power. But it was futile. He needed blood.

  Brandon lifted the knife high over his head. “Die, you bloodsucker.”

  “Brandon, no.” Her voice was filled with fear, but he wasn’t sure whether she was concerned about him or Brandon.

  Brandon plowed into Janus, knocking him on his back. Janus gasped for breath. Cold steel clipped his neck. Janus clutched Brandon’s wrist with his shaking hand. Blood trickled down Janus’s throat.

  He gritted his teeth and pushed Brandon’s wrist away from him.

  “She’s mine.” Brandon’s hot breath blew into Janus’s face. His eyes were wild, and he gnashed his teeth like a rabid dog.

  He smelled crazy.

  Janus tightened his grip on Brandon’s wrist. Brandon cried out.

  “Drop the knife.”

  “No.”

  Like a fool, he held onto the damn blade. The sun was zapping more and more of Janus’s energy. His heart and strength were fading. His vision blurred. Brandon split into two frothing Brandon’s. Janus was losing the battle. The tip of the blade inched closer and closer toward his neck. If he cut his aorta with the sun’s rays…God, he’d be dead.

  After all this time, he’d found Deirdre only to lose her again…

  A shot rang out. Brandon lurched forward. His face crumpled. Blood dripped out of his mouth into Janus’s. Janus licked his mouth and a tiny bit of strength surged through him.

  Janus knocked the blade out of Brandon’s hand. Brandon’s eyes rolled into the back of head, and he slumped to the side. Janus twisted away and struggled to sit, gasping to breathe.

  Deirdre clutched a revolver and leaned against a lounge chair. Tears gushed down her pale face. She dropped the gun and it banged on the cement.

  “Shit, I shot him.” Her voice was steady, but Janus could sense her rapid heartbeat and breath.

  She wiped her wet cheeks. “He was going to kill you. I thought…I thought you couldn’t die.”

  “I can.” Did she care?

  He stared at Brandon’s blood that was quickly growing cold. His fangs lengthened. Just one drop. But he forced his desire back.

  Deirdre put her hand over her mouth. “Is he dead?”

  “No.” He studied her. She was shaken, but far from being hysterical. “Are you okay?”

  She shoved her hair out of her face. “Hardly. And you?”

  Janus ran his shaking hand through his hair. “I’ll be fine.”

  “When the sun sets?”

  “Yes.”

  “But you need blood?”

  Why lie? “Yes. My powers are drained.”

  “So, you kill people to sustain your powers?”

  He sighed and tilted his head back. Why couldn’t he read her thoughts? He could read her fear, confusion, and frustration but when it came to thoughts, he could only read them when she opened her mind to them. If she locked her mind, he failed every time. Just like before, everything was difficult with Deirdre. “I know you don’t believe me, but I don’t kill people to take what I need. They’re woozy but not dead.”

  “So you’re a gigantic mosquito?”

  He laughed, his shoulder throbbed, and he winced. “Something like that.”

  She bit her lip. “What about Brandon?”

  “What about him?”

  “If you take his blood, will he turn into a vampire?”

  “No, a human must be near death. He’s lost blood and passed out, but far from dead.”

  “What will happen?”

  “Nothing. He’ll be unchanged.”

  “But you’ll be able to track him like you did me.”

  He arched his eyebrow. “Up on vampire lore, are you?”

  Her face reddened. He knew she blushed all the way down to her toes, and despite the pain in his arm and blisters on his skin, he wanted her. Admit it. He’d always want her.

  “So, can you?”

  “Yes, I can.”

  She pushed her hair out of her face and rubbed her cheek. “Then do it. I don’t ever want him coming after me again.”

  His hope died. She didn’t want him. A monster. “You want me to be your bodyguard?”

  “I almost killed someone for you. I think we’re past being strangers.”

  He turned and crawled over to Brandon. He didn’t want to see loathing form on her sweet face, but he couldn’t resist. She was right. He needed blood. And he’d be able to track Brandon and protect Deirdre.

  He fought back the disgust of having to feed from the louse. He snatched Brandon’s limp wrist and sunk his fangs into his flesh. Brandon moaned, but didn’t wake.

  Sweet life flowed into Janus and his veins thickened. Blood pumped through him, tingles rushed over him. Blisters healed. His skin stopped smoking. He feasted until he heard the beating of Brandon’s heart and he licked the tiny pricks on his skin. He dropped his meaty hand.

  He wiped his lips on his sleeve. He wished Deirdre hadn’t had to witness the hunger.

  “Feeling better?”

  He hung his head. “Yes, I’m sorry Deirdre, I’d give anything for you not to have seen this.”

  “Janus, if you hadn’t been a vampire…”

  He lifted his head.

  She gestured to Brandon. “I’d be his prisoner and God knows what he would have done to me. You gave me the courage to survive.”

  No fear or revulsion reflected in her beautiful eyes, but he couldn’t be sure. He didn’t move. Too afraid to move. She had the power to destroy him.

  “Janus.”

  He didn’t answer, not sure what to say.

  “Take me home.”

  “Home to Colorado?”

  “No, your condominium.”

  Chapter 10

  Deirdre stared at Brandon’s motionless body stretched out on the pool pavement. He released long breaths. The bastard was alive. Janus sat next to him watching her warily. His mouth and shirt were both stained with blood. Nausea rolled around in her gut.

  She turned away, needing to look at anything else. A bird flitted around in the mango tree as if nothing horrible had just happened. She couldn’t get the slurping sounds out of her head. Nothing in a vampire movie had prepared her for the sound, the hunger, the undead.

  She lifted her trembling legs onto the lounge chair. Pain throbbed in her ankle. Every piece of her body ached.

  Janus sat in a lounge chair across her. He was a bloody mess. He cast his gaze over her.

  “We need to call an ambulance. You’re hurt.” He tilted his head. “And he needs one.”

  “I don’t feel like answering questions.”

  “There will be more questions if we leave here and the man dies.”

  She nodded. “Call them.”

  Janus cupped her chin. “As soon as this is over, I’ll take you to my condo.”

  Deirdre stared into his eyes, not able to look at the blood on his lips.

  “I’ll be back in a minute.” Janus went inside the house.

  Brandon moaned and she immediately snatched the gun, afraid he’d attack her. Her heart was pounding, and her hands were shaking.

  “Let me have the gun, Deidre.”

  She jumped.

  Janus stood next to her with his hand stretched out.

  “I didn’t hear you approach.”

  “I know. Please let me have the gun.”

  “But he…”

  “Will never hurt you again.” He gently put his hands over hers and slowly took the gun from her. “I’ve got to move my Jeep and open the gate. You’re safe.” He stroked her hair. “Stay here.”

  She nodded but didn’t answer.

  He hobbled out of the backyard. His hair was matted, and his shirt torn and bloodied. The man had been through hell.

  Brandon’s chest rose up and down. God, was this nightmare finally over?

  The sun had lowered, and she estimated it was about three or four o’clock. Janus stumbled back to her and sat. He had wiped the blood off his lips and chin, but still wore the stained shirt. “How are you feeling?”

  Sirens wailed in the distance and weariness gripped Deirdre. Questions, more questions. She hung her head.

  “About the same as you. I thought the blood healed you.”

  “Enough to keep me from passing out. The sun drained more of my energy than I’d planned.”

  “Plus, you lost a lot of blood.”

  “You care?” Hope brimmed in his eyes.

  The words stuck in her throat. Yes, she cared. But she couldn’t get the image, the sounds of him feeding, out of her mind.

  Janus turned his head away. She clasped his hand and ran her thumb under his palm. He squeezed her hand. Why was she being such a coward? He’d risked his life for her.

  And she did care for him.

  But this was happening so fast.

  Shouts bellowed inside the house, which saved her from facing her emotions. Police, paramedics, and firemen, rushed toward them. A female detective scanned the scene and frowned. “I’m Detective Akao. What happened?”

  Deirdre tensed and prayed she wouldn’t be chained to a hospital bed or worse, thrown into a jail cell.

  Before Deirdre could answer, Janus waved his hand. “He kidnapped Deirdre and threatened to kill her. We fought. And now you’re here.”

  Detective Akao’s frown lessened, her eyes turned glossy, and she stumbled backward. She shook her head and blinked. “I see.” Her voice was more robotic than crisp.

  Janus’s face had paled to a lighter gray, and his jaw was tight. He’d done something. Drawn on some more vampire powers, but it obviously had drained him further.

  Deirdre should be appalled, but she really, really didn’t want to go to jail.

  A young paramedic frowned as he worked on Brandon. “He’s got a gunshot wound through the back of his chest. He’s lost a lot of blood, but he’s still alive. Barely. We need to get him to a hospital.” The paramedic gave Brandon an IV, and he and his partner lifted Brandon on to a stretcher.

  Janus squeezed her knee. “He’ll be fine. I promise.”

  Deirdre nodded. But what if he wasn’t? She’d be charged with first degree murder. Maybe she’d get lucky and be charged with second degree murder. Shit. Life imprisonment, twenty or thirty years. Either way, she’d come out an old chewed up woman.

  She wanted to cry but no tears came.

  A paramedic knelt next to Deirdre. “Miss, can I look at your ankle?”

  She nodded and clasped Janus’s hand, needing to feel his strength.

  The paramedic examined it and frowned. “It’s broken.” He waved his hand. “We need a stretcher.”

  Deirdre looked at the paramedic. “Can he come with me?”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Janus murmured.

  “Yes, you are,” the paramedic said. “To the hospital. Stretcher.”

  Janus’s eyes were still closed, and he didn’t argue with the paramedic. Was he going into the shadow sleep? His breath was shallow.

  She rested her head on his shoulder. The paramedics put a brace on her ankle. Pain burst through her and she stiffened.

  He looked at her apologetically. “Sorry.”

  Two stretchers were brought over to them. She was put onto one and Janus on the other. She reached for Janus’s hand, but he was wheeled away from her. She shivered uncontrollably, and her teeth chattered. She wasn’t sure whether it was from the cold, shooting Brandon, or Janus moving away from her.

  She brushed back a tear. Janus was put in a different ambulance and loneliness nearly choked her.

  A blonde female paramedic rode in the back of the ambulance with Deirdre and injected her with pain medication. She made small talk, but Deirdre stopped listening and closed her eyes. She wanted Janus, to listen to his breathing, knowing he was near. Why couldn’t they ride in the same ambulance?

  Blissful sleep swept over her…

 

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