Page 3 of Vampire Soldier
I inhale as thunder crashes over the sky, bracing for the inevitable blow.
Except it never lands, as something bolts around me. A hand tugs me, and not expecting it, I stagger back. I’m left gaping at a broad expanse of black for an instant before it’s moving again, blocking the irate male from my view.
A sound from nightmares, a lethal combination of a hiss and snarl, comes before a voice that surely must belong to the devil himself. “Give me one good reason, mutt, why I shouldn’t rip out your throat for touching my girlfriend.”
ChapterTwo
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I’m too stunned, frozen at the turn of events as one of the other males runs to hide behind their leader.
“We didn’t do nothing,” comes the wheeze of an answer. “We were just trying to get her somewhere safer, honest. Didn’t know she was a Nightshade’s girl.”
The male—a vampire, I realize—snarls again. I’m not sure how I know, but this vampire is about to kill the male in his grip. I don’t even think. If I did, I’d have stopped myself from touching him. Everyone knows you don’t try to pet a pissed-off grizzly bear.
I touch the vampire, resting my hand gently above his lower back.
His body freezes, turning as hard as a marble statue. Then he shoves the male back with another snarled command. “Get the fuck out of my sight.”
I lower my hand, watching the two skate around us and run up the empty street. I never saw the vampire toss the third one, and I have no sympathy as the two struggle to help the injured third up. They’d have done much worse to me, if it hadn’t been for… him.
He’s still got his back to me, and dang he’s tall. I come up to his chest, maybe. My hand throbs and the rest of me starts to shake as I come down from the adrenaline high.
“Thank you,” I say, remembering my manners even as I shake out my hand. I’ve never actually had to punch someone for real, and it hurts way more than I expected.
I jump when he pulls my hand away, and I’m left gaping as he checks over my hand with an efficiency that speaks of years of experience. Then I’m gaping because the man is attractive, to a degree that seriously cannot be real.
He’s all olive skin, dark hair, and angular face with lips that Tonya would say are begging to kiss a lady’s other lips. He has a goatee that on anyone else would scream douche, but for him, it works. Because of course it does. He looks like he’s an Italian model, fresh off the latest photoshoot, especially with the suit that hugs his body.
He’s the type of client ladies dream of dancing for, hoping to catch his eye in hopes that he’d be interested in having a sugar baby. He’s the type of client I always avoided, knowing I’ve already given everything to Charlie.
Even if the idea of being the one taken care of for once is sometimes all I dream about. I’ll never risk it, though. Arrangements like that don’t suit women about to turn thirty with a pre-teen daughter.
Never mind the fact that those arrangements involve sex, which is something I’ve never actually done.
But when he runs his fingers over my hand, the pads rough enough to suggest he’s more than a pretty face, heat fills my cheeks before traveling lower. His golden eyes meet mine, and I’m trapped in place.
“Nothing seems to be broken. But you’ll want to get ice on that tonight, and it’ll probably hurt like a bitch tomorrow. It was a good punch, though. Solid.” His voice, full of dark violence before, is softer now. Like he’s worried he’ll alarm me. Considering the display of unnatural strength and the fact that he’s a vampire, I probably should be afraid. Instead, I feel safe.
No, I mentally scold myself. I’m responsible for my own safety, and more importantly, Charlie’s. I pull away from him, and he lets me go. I offer a brittle smile.
“I know. It’s not the first time I’ve punched someone.” A small lie. I’ve punched Johnny’s palms and stomach, but never that hard.
I can’t break my gaze from his, even when the logical part of me is screaming to leave. That this beautiful, handsome man is pure danger no matter if he just saved me.
He clears his throat, breaking the spell he seems to have cast over me. “So, not to sound like those jackasses”—he inclines his head in the direction the three males ran—“this end of Blood Street really isn’t the best place for a human woman on her own.”
I blow out in exasperation as the whole reason I’m here in the first place comes rushing back. I pull out my phone again. Of course, now there are messages from Sam.
BTS promise
gotta drop off a package to get the last of what i owe u.
shit is going down. might be later
u not checkin ur phone???
everything is fucked. cant do tonight. Ill take u and C-girl out for breakfast tmr????
