Vixen: A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella

by Rebecca Zanetti

  Faster than Evan would’ve thought possible, Raine Maxwell had the kid out of his seat and slammed against the wall, only knocking over one chair in the movement.

  Evan reached them instantly, shoving Raine off the kid.

  Raine stepped back, his face cold. “One more word like that, and you won’t need anger management. You won’t need anything,” he said, his voice a bizarre growl.

  Dr. Lopez clapped her hands, her voice rising. “I can see we have a lot to discuss. Everyone take your seats. Now.”

  Evan studied the furious man, his instincts humming. “Apparently I’m not the only one protective of the women here,” he murmured as Raine turned his attention on him. “I think I’ll interview you first about Monte Loften’s murder, Mr. Maxwell.” There was absolutely no doubt in Evan’s mind that Raine could kill. He probably had.

  Raine smiled. “Looking forward to it, Detective.”

  Chapter 4

  “If you need an alibi taking that twerp out, just let me know,” Tabi whispered to Raine as she strode out of the abandoned schoolhouse after the useless anger management class. Johnny Baker was a waste of space, as far as she was concerned.

  “Thanks,” Raine said, not smiling, the darkness surrounding him. The early spring breeze rustled through the night, chilly and unwelcoming. At least it wasn’t raining.

  She nodded and moved down the crumbling cement sidewalk toward her car as Raine turned and jogged across the street to his silver truck. Stopping at her car, she paused, not surprised to see the detective heading her way through the night. “You really have a hard-on for me, don’t you?” she murmured.

  “Yes.” Both of his eyebrows rose. “You sure have a way with words.”

  She unlocked her vehicle, her body flaring to life at his honest response. “I was raised by a woman who called it like she saw it.” Sometimes the pain at losing Janet still took Tabi by surprise. Why did humans have to die? “Unless you’re going to give up my video, I suggest you head to work like your boss ordered you to do.”

  Evan opened her door, his sexy scent of smoked honey wafting around. “I’ll give you the recording.”

  She jolted and turned to face him directly. “What did you say?”

  His blue eyes seemed darker than usual, deep with what looked like pain. “I’ll give you the recording. Come down to the station tomorrow morning for one more interview, and then I’ll take you to the bank myself.”

  It was as if he knew she was going to blow town the second she got her hands on the video, even though her business was here. She bit her lip. If she got the footage, she could meet Abby at the factory and give her instructions before running. Man, she hated to run.

  Evan smiled. “You’re sure thinking hard. Why don’t you tell me what’s really going on? I can protect you.”

  Warmth flushed her. The man truly believed that. The only way he could come close would be if she—no. No way. She shouldn’t even think of that. Was it even possible? Did she want a mate?

  “Tabitha? What’s barreling through your head?” As if unable to help himself, he reached out and smoothed a lock of hair away from her face.

  Shocking electricity zapped beneath her skin.

  His brows drew down. “Did you feel that?”

  She nodded. “Why are you now willing to give me the recording?”

  He sighed and looked across the vacant street. “I don’t like that the sheriff’s kid is in the anger-management group with you, considering you definitely injured his pride along with his body. Chances are, he’ll come after you. Since you’re planning to run, I thought to make it easy for you.” His gaze scouted the area, something he seemed to do often.

  “Do you miss the service?” she asked softly, wanting to know more about him. Abby had told her that he’d served in the navy a while back.

  He blinked. “Yeah.”

  “Why did you leave?”

  His gaze shuttered closed faster than a bank vault.

  “I know you’re ill,” she said quietly.

  He gripped his left hand with his right. “I hoped nobody had noticed the tremors.” Retreating instantly, he backed away. “Go home. I’ll follow to make sure that kid doesn’t mess with you tonight, and I’ll pick you up in the morning to take you to the station. After your interview, I’ll give you the video.”

  Without waiting for an answer, he turned and strode down the sidewalk toward his Jeep.

  Her face still tingled from his touch. Bemused, she slipped into her BMW and ignited the engine, driving down the quiet street. She’d been hidden most of her life, and it wasn’t like she had any close friends. After a quick mental debate, she dialed Abby’s number.

  “Hi, Tabitha. Are we getting to work tomorrow?” Abby immediately answered, sounding happy. Very happy.

  “Yes,” Tabi said. “Let’s meet at noon at the factory, okay?” She’d hired Abby as her assistant when the woman had needed a job, and Abby’s organizational skills had turned out to be phenomenal.

  Abby chuckled. “A job that starts at noon. I love working for you.”

  Tabi turned a corner, keeping track of Evan’s headlights behind her. “Can I ask you a question? It’s kind of personal.”

  “Sure,” Abby said, her voice light. She’d once been an enhanced human, and her mating with Noah was still fresh. “Ask me anything.”

  All right. Tabi took the next corner a little fast and forced herself to slow down, since a police officer was tailing her. Evan would probably give her a ticket. “When you mated Noah, or when he mated you, did you change a lot? I mean, did your personality change? Are you even done changing yet?” There was so much she didn’t know about matings, considering she’d been raised by a human.

  Abby was quiet for a minute. “I’m not sure if I’m done changing, and I haven’t tried to heal myself of an injury yet. Other than that, I don’t think I’ve changed personalities or anything. Shouldn’t you know all of this stuff?”

  Tabi winced. “I should, but I don’t.”

  “Aren’t you like a couple hundred years old?” Abby whispered.

  Tabi jerked upright, her foot pressing harder on the gas pedal. “No,” she snapped, oddly affronted. “Do I look centuries old?”

  Abby coughed. She’d better not be laughing. “No. You look like you’re in your mid-twenties, but I wouldn’t think my mate was more than thirty or so, and he’s four hundred years old. I just assumed. How old are you? In years?”

  Tabi rolled her eyes. “I’m twenty-five. In years.” Geez. Like she didn’t know what Abby meant.

  “Seriously?” Noah’s voice came clearly over the line. “You’re really only twenty-five?”

  “Yes, vampire,” Tabi snapped. “Or demon. Or hybrid. That’s my real age.” For goodness’ sakes.

  Noah cleared his throat. “Shit, Tabi. Don’t you have family?”

  “No,” she said, trying not to hurt at saying the word. “I don’t have anybody, Noah. I was raised by a human who I loved, and humans die.” Like Evan O’Connell. He was going to die and probably soon.

  A sleek luxury car swerved out of a driveway blanketed by trees, skidding in front of her.

  “I have to go.” She clicked off, prepared to ram the vehicle and beat the crap out of Johnny Baker. Until she saw the light hair of the driver. Holy crap. It was Richard Goncharov. So much for giving her three more days. She almost slowed down, until she caught Evan’s headlights.

  Panic seized her lungs. She had to get him out of danger. Taking a deep breath and forcing those lungs to work, she slammed her foot on the accelerator and swerved around Richard’s town car.

  * * * *

  Evan flipped on his siren and punched the gas as the black car did the same, both of them chasing the white BMW. He drew abreast of the black car, seeing that Richard asshole driving. He lifted his flashlight and made a motion for the man to pull over.

  The guy smiled, tightened his hold on his steering wheel, and shot forward into the darkened night.

 
Damn it. Evan set the flashlight on the seat, his adrenaline flowing and his temper blowing. He lowered his head and sped up, a primitive power filling him as he gave chase. Protocol dictated he call for backup, but for once, he let his instincts rule. He’d figure out why later.

  The tail lights of the BMW flashed as Tabi took a corner fast, whizzing around a set of trees and heading toward the more industrial part of town. Smart. There would be fewer people in that area, and she could get out of the way and let him handle this jerk.

  He reached for his phone and pressed her number, having taken it off her the night he’d arrested her.

  “I’m kinda busy right now, Evan,” she said, her voice gritty and determined.

  So much for reassuring her. He grinned. “Listen to me, darlin’. Drive two miles and take a fast right into the Mills Pond Industrial Park.”

  “I don’t need help here,” she muttered, whipping around another corner like a Formula One driver.

  Nice. The woman could drive. “Go to the farthest building—the one with the red metal roof. Then swing around it, and I’ll take out this guy. Meet me at the station.” He’d plow the luxury car right into the metal fence, once Tabitha had gotten safely out of the way.

  “Um, this is weird for you, I’m sure. But I can handle my own problems.” She slowed down and then zipped across a set of railroad tracks. “How about you go to the station?”

  Was she joking? At a time like this? “Knock it off, Tabitha,” he ordered. “Do what I said.”

  She drove right by the entrance to the Mills Pond Park, heading deeper into the darkness. “I’ve got this.”

  What the hell? She had this? “I mean it, Tabi,” he snapped, driving faster toward Richard’s car. If Evan couldn’t get her cooperation, he’d have to come up with Plan B. “Turn into the next industrial complex.”

  “No.” She drove right past it, with Richard right on her ass.

  That was it. Evan punched the gas, swerved, and clipped the back of Richard’s car. They both spun away from each other, correcting, and getting right back on track.

  “Damn it, Evan,” Tabi yelled, slowing down. “You don’t understand any of this. Get out of here. Please.” She flipped around and stopped.

  Richard’s tail lights flared as he skidded to a stop, facing the lights of the white BMW.

  Evan slowed down. What the heck was going on? Some sort of weird game of chicken? Not on his watch. He slammed his foot on the pedal and lurched forward just as Richard did the same, both of them headed toward the BMW. Tightening his hold on the wheel, Evan jerked again, this time aiming for the left front of Richard’s car. He spun them both into the metal fencing of another industrial complex.

  His airbag exploded into his face, and he shook his head, jumping out of the vehicle while grabbing for his weapon.

  The white BMW skidded to a halt next to him, and Tabi was out and running for him. “Evan!”

  He grabbed her arm and pushed her behind him, trying to see through the steam hissing from the front of his Jeep. “Stay down.” Then he crept to the side, his gun at ready, pointed at the innocuous black car. “Put your hands outside the vehicle. Now!” he yelled.

  Nothing.

  He crept closer, looking for movement.

  Tabi came up on his side. “He’s gone.”

  Evan’s ears rang, and he shook his head, leaning down to confirm that the car was vacant. He levered up, looking around the area. “Where did he go?” There wasn’t even any sound.

  “Heck if I know.” She sighed, sounding more put out than frightened.

  Evan turned to face her. “What the hell is going on?” He’d just wrecked an official vehicle, and he hadn’t even called it in.

  Tabi looked him over, her eye gleaming through the darkness. “Are you all right?”

  No. His brain was fried. None of this made a lick of sense, and that included his own actions. “Tabi—” he started.

  She ran for him, jumping and wrapping her arms and legs around him. “You tried to save me.” Then her mouth was on his. Soft and sweet, her tongue slipping inside his mouth with the taste of strawberries.

  He clamped his hands on her tight ass and took over the kiss, going deep with no thought. For the briefest of moments, there were no thoughts, no fears, no pain. He forced himself to reclaim reality and leaned back, when all he wanted to do was bend her over the car and take what she was offering. “I have to call this in,” he said, his voice gruff.

  She smiled and leaned in to nip his bottom lip. “You’ll never find him, and who the heck cares? Don’t you want to take whatever pleasure you can right now? Just one night? You and me?”

  His left leg began to tremble, and he shifted his weight to keep her aloft. A year ago, he would’ve said no. Even a month ago would’ve been a different situation. Fuck it. If he was going to die, he was going to have this night. “My place or yours?”

  The trill of sirens jerked him out of the fantasy he was already living. Lights came into view—red and blue and swirling. He let her slide to the ground.

  She put her hands on her hips. “Somebody must’ve seen us speeding.”

  “Right,” he said, turning and rubbing the back of his neck. Yeah, he was going to get fired for this. No question about it.

  “You didn’t have time to get to your radio. It all happened so fast,” she said, facing the oncoming lights.

  He glanced down at her calm face. Just who the hell was Tabitha Rusko?

  Chapter 5

  Tabi stormed out of the police station after giving her statement for the third time to a detective who didn’t seem to understand English. Either he would arrest her or not, and she’d made enough of a threat about her lawyers that she’d probably bought herself some time. It was a good bluff, anyway. She could find lawyers if she needed them. Either way, she was clear that the car chase and wreck had been the blond stranger’s fault and not Detective O’Connell’s.

  Hence her shock when she ran into him right outside the brick building, and he was holding a box of his possessions. “Oh, they did not fire you,” she exploded.

  Evan turned toward her, his eyes dark. “Yeah, the sheriff has been looking for a way to get rid of me for a while.” He jerked his head toward her BMW in the lot. “Why don’t you give me a ride home, and you can tell me what’s going on and exactly who this Richard is.”

  Heat nearly blew steam out of her ears. “Why are you taking this so calmly? Get in there and fight, Evan.” She could see he was a fighter—especially with the bruises now down his neck from the wreck.

  He turned to walk to her car and waited for her to unlock it before shoving his box in the back seat and settling into the front.

  She slipped into the driver’s seat and turned toward him. “Evan?”

  He rested his head back. “I would fight it, but there’s no use. I’d have to quit soon, anyway.”

  She reached out and put her hand over his. That electricity from the one kiss arched between them and she marveled at the feeling. Was it because he might be enhanced? Or maybe something was happening to her. Who knew. “Why?”

  He opened his eyes, and the blue was fathomless. “I have Huntington’s Disease. The tremors and limb weakness started about six months ago, and if I’m anything like my dad, I’ll go downhill fast.” His lower lip lifted in a wry smile. “I’d hoped to last long enough to get you and Abby out of probation and town, but it looks like I’ll have to do so without my badge.”

  Man, she wanted to cold-cock that sheriff. “I’ve never met anybody like you,” she admitted.

  He grinned full-on this time, looking almost boyish. “A washed-up cop in a small town? We’re a dime a dozen, beautiful.” Now he sounded rueful.

  She shook her head. “No. You try to save everybody, and you want to do the right thing. I bet you were a good soldier.”

  He sighed. “I did my job, and it wasn’t pretty. I miss the teams, though. Got sick and had to leave.”

  The teams? He’d been a Navy SEA
L? Figured. “So you got this job?”

  He nodded. “I served with the governor way back when, and he did me a solid. I like it here. It would’ve been a good place to settle down and raise kids.” He turned and pinned her with a look. “Now start driving and tell me what kind of trouble you’re in. I can fix it before…”

  Before he died.

  She started the car, her mind spinning. A lot of immortals mated for political reasons. She’d never thought much about mating or love or forever before. What she did know was that Evan O’Connell was a good man who belonged on this planet a lot more than many immortals did. “I can save you,” she whispered, turning and driving away from the station.

  “Take the next left, and go for a while until Shavers Avenue turns into Fourth Street,” he said quietly. “Nobody can save me, sweetheart.”

  She followed his directions, her hands shaking lightly on the wheel. Was she crazy to even think about this? “If you could live, possibly forever, what would you do?”

  He rolled his neck. “Forever? I don’t know. First, I’d run for sheriff and turn this county around. Clean out the bastards screwing everything up. Then I’d settle down and have some kids. Then, who knows. Forever is a long time, and there’s probably a lot to do.” He chuckled. “What about you?”

  She’d never really thought about helping other people. “I’d, ah, try to survive, I guess. And I’d start a lucrative business.” Which she’d already done, if she could just get the prototypes finished. Safety came from money, and she knew it. “You’re a better person than I am.” Than anybody she’d ever met.

  He chuckled. “Honey, I’m not even close. I did things in the military that keep me up at night, but I’d do them again if I had to. You’re meeting me at the end of my life and end of my illness. At full strength, I would’ve probably already beat the crap out of the sheriff and his son. The judge, too.” He sighed. “I would’ve liked to have known you before all of this. Of course, you probably wouldn’t have liked me. I wasn’t so easygoing.”