“I wasn’t the one trying to eat her.”
“No, you’re just the one who wants to fuck her.”
Cain’s eyes narrowed. It was true, but the words still pissed him off. It wouldn’t take very long to kill the parasite. Just a few seconds.
But time was already running out for them. The smoke was rising high into the sky. Others would see the blaze. More humans would come. Cain wanted to be long gone before their arrival.
He knew some of the Genesis personnel kept their vehicles in the garage to the east. He’d take one of those cars.
The vampire was blocking his path. He’d give the guy fair warning, then he’d attack. “If you don’t move, you’re dead.”
The vamp’s eyes narrowed. “You can’t—”
The fire was raging inside Cain. That blaze might not hurt Eve, but he could incinerate this jerk. And the vampire had been ready to bite Eve before.
Didn’t that mean he deserved to get singed? Even if he was trying to do some lame-ass white knight bit? You don’t fool me.
The vamp wasn’t leaving. No, the guy was actually coming closer.
Cain let the fire rip from his hand. It flew right at the vamp, tumbling end over end in a deadly ball. The vamp yelled and threw his body to the side. Cain let the fire circle the ground around the vampire, trapping him within the blaze.
Cain walked right by him. The flames would keep the vamp contained, for now. But he left him with a warning. “If you ever come at her again, you’ll feel the full force of my fire.” Cain would make sure of it. “And you won’t have time to scream then. You’ll just die.”
While the vamp froze within his temporary prison of fire, Cain made his way to that garage. He wasn’t the only paranormal with the plan to steal a getaway vehicle. That was obvious. Only two trucks and a motorcycle were left, and some guy with red hair was making his way toward the nearest truck.
“Don’t even think about it.” Cain shifted Eve so that she lay over his left shoulder. Probably not the most comfortable position for her, but he had to be ready to attack. His left arm curled around her legs as he lifted his right hand. He let the man see the flames he carried. “Unless you’re in the mood to burn.”
The guy shook his head and frantically backed up. Ah, smarter than the vamp. Then he jumped on the motorcycle and roared out of there.
Some folks were so afraid of the fire.
Cain eased Eve inside the truck. He pulled the seat belt over her, and she seemed to stir, just a bit. But her eyes didn’t open.
He figured she’d been dosed with the SP-tranq. He’d seen that tranq kill a weak paranormal once. His fingers slid to her throat. Felt the faint pulse. “You aren’t dying on me.” An order.
But … it was one she couldn’t hear.
Her breath whispered out.
Hell.
More paranormals were rushing their way. Shouts and screams filled the air.
Cain jumped in the truck. Some helpful human had left the keys under the dash, so no hot-wiring necessary. The engine revved to life, and he jerked the vehicle into reverse, making several of the paranormals leap out of the way.
If they hadn’t moved, he would have happily gone through them.
“C-Cain?” The softest rasp of Eve’s voice.
His hands tightened on the wheel. Her lashes were fluttering.
The SP-tranq never kept the most powerful paranormals out for long. It had only kept him unconscious for a few minutes.
She’d been out about fifteen minutes. Not long …
“You’re safe,” he told her. Wasn’t that all she needed to know right now? He yanked the wheel to the right. He knew this area. Another mistake for the Genesis assholes. They were playing in his backyard. He’d just needed to get away from the facility and those chains, and, now that he was out, he’d be able to vanish almost instantly.
He drove them down a twisted, dirt road. Turned to the left. The right.
The blaze behind them vanished, but the smoke still thickened the air.
“What’s … burning?” Eve’s voice. Soft. So lost.
Everything. He felt a grim smile curl his lips. Genesis was dead—and it was about fucking time.
The cabin was easy to find only if you knew where to go. The Blue Ridge Mountains held plenty of secrets, and this safe house was one that Cain hadn’t shared with anyone else. Trust wasn’t exactly easy for him.
And when he was betrayed, as he’d been betrayed by that worthless shifter Jimmy Vance, Cain always made sure to seek his vengeance. Jimmy wouldn’t get away with selling him out.
The deception would prove to be a fatal mistake for the shifter. A fatal and oh so painful mistake.
“W-where are we?”
Cain killed the engine at the sound of Eve’s voice. Her eyes were open, but the blue of her gaze looked cloudy, and the faint line between her brows showed her confusion.
At least she was back with him. For a little bit, he’d almost … worried.
As a rule, he didn’t give a shit about anyone.
“A safe house,” he told her. The place would do, for now. They needed to hide out until the fire died. Those flames would bring more humans—humans who wanted to investigate. They’d stay hidden until the flames and the smoke vanished.
Her breath rushed out. “You … saved me.” Shock coated the words.
He shoved open his door. Stalked around the truck and paused near the passenger side of the vehicle. She frowned at him and fumbled, trying to open the door. Eve couldn’t seem to get the lock to disengage.
He yanked open the door, shattering the lock, and pulled her into his arms. Why the hell did she seem to fit against him so well?
His whole body tensed as he lifted her against his chest.
“I can … walk.” She sounded disgruntled.
Would a little thank-you have killed the woman? He had hauled her ass out of a nightmare and gotten her to safety. But if the woman wanted to walk …
Jaw locking, Cain eased her onto her feet and backed up.
Her dark hair fell around her face, but he saw her shoulders straighten. Then she took a step forward.
He caught her before she slammed, face-first, into the dirt. The little growl of frustration that she gave shouldn’t have sounded sexy.
But every damn thing about her was sexy to him.
She can stand the heat.
He lifted her right back against his chest. Her head eased onto his shoulder, and her hair brushed lightly against him. She should have smelled like smoke and ash. They’d gone through hell.
But she still smelled like candy to him. Sweet. Light. Delicious.
I want a bite.
He’d be taking that bite before he let her go. Cain carried her inside the cabin. Set the security system. Turned on the lights. The cabin wasn’t big. Not fancy, but the place had a bed. Four walls. Food.
What more did they really need right then? Just a place to lay low.
He headed toward the bed.
Eve’s body stiffened in his arms. “Um … wait … what—”
Carefully, he put her down on top of the covers. She looked right in his bed. She’d look even better naked. The woman did need to get out of those burned clothes. “Genesis is gone.” Did she remember that part? The flames? The screams?
Her eyes widened. She glanced down at her clothes. Had to see the ash. The fire had burned part of her clothing, but the flames hadn’t marred her flesh. “You … took me out.” Her voice was stronger. Still husky. Still like a hot stroke right over his groin. “Got me out of the flames after …” She sat up slowly, sliding over the covers with a hiss of sound. “After that bastard shot me.”