Burning Ash (Forgotten Brotherhood)

by N. J. Walters

  His suggestion had merit.

  “So the sender sacrificed Vlad the Impaler?”

  Asher’s low, sensual laugh skated over her skin like a caress. Goose bumps ran up and down her arms. “He was nothing more than a pale imitation.”

  “How would you know?”

  His smile disappeared. “I know. He was young. Expendable to a much older immortal.”

  She rolled her shoulders in an effort to ease the tension giving her a low-grade headache. “Where does that leave us? I mean me.” They weren’t an us. She was only giving him a ride.

  “It leaves us with an interesting dilemma.” He put extra emphasis on the word. It did not give her a warm glow in her chest. That was indigestion. “We need to stay together.”

  The warmth disappeared. “Stop right there. That’s not happening. I work alone. I’ll take you as far as the nearest town and then we’re done.”

  “Until the next email.”

  “What are you saying? That the sender wants us together? That doesn’t make sense. We don’t even know each other.”

  “We do now,” he reminded her. “If I leave, I’ll bet you everything in my bank account that we’ll both end up at the same place again soon. For whatever reason, someone is manipulating us. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sit well with me.”

  “You’re damn right it doesn’t. I’m no one’s puppet.”

  “Yet, we were both there.”

  Shit, he was right. “What are you suggesting?” She wasn’t sure she could handle Asher for an extended period. She’d either jump his bones or kill him.

  It could go either way.

  “Give me some time to look into it further. I have contacts I can tap. Whoever is doing this, they put a lot of effort into it. I, for one, want to know why.”

  “If we do this, there are ground rules.” Best to lay them out from the beginning. “I don’t take orders from you, and we keep things professional.”

  “Works for me.” He leaned his head back and shut his eyes. His lashes were long and thick, the kind any woman would kill for. Yet they in no way detracted from his masculinity. “Wake me if you want me to drive or when we get to a decent breakfast spot, whichever comes first.”

  Jo couldn’t believe his audacity. Then she wasn’t sure what she was upset about. He’d agreed to her terms. She should be happy. Right?

  Cursing all men, she focused her attention on the road. He could sleep all he wanted. No way in hell was she waking him.

  Chapter Three

  Jo drove with confidence and decisiveness. It was impossible to sleep with her sitting next to him. Her scent was driving him crazy—spicy with a hint of soap and leather.

  Good thing his coat was covering his erection. He doubted she’d approve.

  Or maybe she would.

  Despite her rules, she was attracted to him. Her sharp intake of breath when he’d climbed into the truck, the increase in her heartbeat, and the way she licked her lips when she stared at his mouth confirmed it.

  His job was to convince her to take a risk. While he should be more worried about who sent the emails, he was more concerned about what it might be like to kiss her. He bit back a grin. She’d probably punch him in the face if he tried.

  Who was Jo Radcliffe besides a vampire hunter? That was something he really needed to know. Had they crossed paths in the past? He didn’t think so. She was not a woman he’d ever forget.

  Dawn was just rolling over the horizon when she pulled into an all-night gas station. “I’ll get this,” he told her as she parked in front of one of the pumps.

  “No, I’ve got it. My truck.”

  Rather than argue, he pointed to the attached convenience store. “You want coffee?”

  “More than I want my next breath,” she muttered. “Black with two sugars,” she replied in a much louder voice.

  He grinned. “I’m on the coffee. You pump the gas.” The look she sent him was heated. She didn’t approve of him giving orders of any kind. So, of course, he couldn’t resist doing it.

  Pointedly ignoring him, she went about the business at hand. He got the message loud and clear. Antagonizing her wasn’t smart. She could abandon him as soon as the truck was filled, but he was playing the odds again.

  A bell rang when he entered the small shop. “Coffee?” he asked the young male attendant, even though he could smell it.

  “Over there.” The guy, whose tag read Mike, pointed him in the right direction and went back to reading the car magazine that was open on the counter.

  He took his time preparing her coffee before getting one for himself. He snagged several packaged cinnamon buns, figuring Jo had to be hungry.

  He’d just put everything on the counter when the bell chimed again. Expecting it to be Jo, he didn’t look. The attendant’s eyes widened, and he swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.

  When Asher turned toward the doorway, a masked man stood just beyond the entrance with a gun in his hand. “Give me all the cash,” he ordered.

  “You…you…you can have it,” the young attendant stammered.

  “Now.” The robber was getting twitchy. Never a good sign. “What are you looking at?” he demanded of Asher.

  He raised his hands in the air, doing his best to appear nonthreatening.

  The gunman took an aggressive step forward. “That’s right. You keep out of this.”

  All he wanted was his coffee and snacks and to get back to Jo before she decided to come see what was taking so long. The attendant was shakily putting bills and change on the counter.

  “All of it,” the robber insisted.

  “That’s it. Honestly. Most people don’t use cash anymore.”

  “Put it in a bag. And you.” He waved the gun at Asher. “Give me your wallet.”

  “No.” It was one thing to allow him to rob the gas station. No way was he giving up his wallet to some punk. The money didn’t matter. It was the principle of the thing.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he caught movement through the large window. Shit, Jo had seen what was going on. There was no way she’d walk away.

  He’d have to do something. Usually, he’d let the situation play itself out as long as everyone walked away. This wasn’t his business.

  That was no longer an option.

  “Put the gun down,” he ordered the robber, putting a mild compulsion behind it. Any mental activity sent out waves into the atmosphere. A seasoned hunter might sense them.

  The man shook his head. “Put the gun down?” He frowned and stared at the weapon in his hand.

  Before the man could comply, Jo burst in. “Hands up.”

  She was confident and in control, just as she’d been back at the church. The distraction allowed the gunman to break away from the light thrall, and pivot around so the gun was aimed at her.

  Asher jumped forward, grabbed the man’s hand, and jerked it into the air. Without seeming to exert any effort, he squeezed until he released the weapon. Jo was quickly there to scoop it up.

  “You okay?” she asked the young attendant, who was pale as a ghost and shaking.

  “Yeah, we don’t get much trouble here. I’ve never been held up before.”

  Asher didn’t take it personally that she didn’t seem to be concerned about him. It showed she trusted him, believed him competent enough to handle things.

  “You got any duct tape?” he asked.

  The young man’s eyes widened, and he swallowed again. “Sure. In the drawer. There.” He pointed to behind the counter.

  “Can I have it?” His patience was beginning to wane. He wanted to get this done and get back on the road. They didn’t need to be on the cops’ radar.

  As soon as the duct tape was handed over, she tossed it to him. It didn’t take him long to bind and gag the would-be thief. “
We need to go.” They’d already been there too long.

  “You going to be okay?” she asked the kid.

  “Yeah. Thanks. That was badass.” He grinned at them both.

  “Call the cops.” Asher placed the tape on the counter. Then he withdrew a fifty from his wallet and put it beside the tape. “We were never here.” He added a compulsion behind the suggestion, keeping his touch light, to ensure the young man would keep his mouth shut.

  “You were never here,” he repeated as he stuffed the money in his jeans’ pocket.

  “Right.” He dropped a ten to cover the coffee and snacks. “Let’s roll.”

  Jo glanced at the young man and then down at the assailant who was lying on his side on the floor. “Keep an eye on him until the cops come.”

  Asher waited until she left before staring at both men. There was too much at stake to take any chances. “You don’t remember our appearance or what we were driving. It all happened too fast.” This time he pushed the compulsion hard and deep. There was no choice, not if he wanted to protect Jo’s identity.

  “Too fast,” the kid repeated, his eyes glazing over.

  He’d done all he could without taking his blood. It would have to be enough. He collected their snacks and hurried to the truck, which was already started. “How did you pay for the gas?” he asked. If it was credit card, they were screwed.

  “Prepaid card. I’ll ditch it. Not much left on it anyway.” She pulled out onto the main road but kept the speed just shy of the limit.

  “Good. That will eliminate any problems.” He handed her one of the coffees. Her hand was rock steady when she took it. No small-time thief was going to rattle her.

  She took a sip and moaned. His pants were suddenly way too tight.

  “Good coffee for a gas station. Or maybe I’m just desperate.”

  He was desperate, too, just not for coffee. But since it was there, he took a mouthful. It was already cooling down.

  “Cinnamon bun?” he asked.

  “I’ll never say no to pastries.”

  He filed that little detail away before bringing up something that was bothering him. “You should have let me handle it.”

  She stiffened, her fingers tightening on the wheel. Yup, he should have kept his mouth shut, but the primal need to protect her overrode the common sense that warned him not to piss her off.

  “I wasn’t sure you could.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Sorry, but I don’t really know you.” She gave a shrug, seemingly unconcerned, but her breathing was elevated as was her heartbeat. Curious that their conversation was bothering her more than the altercation.

  “FYI, in the future I can handle a punk with a gun.”

  “Noted. Hopefully, there won’t be any more. We need to stay under the radar. The last thing I need is to get pulled over.” She barely had the words out when a cop car came flying toward them, lights flashing.

  “You think the kid will keep his mouth shut?” she asked about the attendant.

  “I do. It went down fast. I doubt he’ll remember much.” No need to tell her that he would definitely not remember any details. Asher didn’t like to permanently change anyone’s memories, but sometimes it was for the greater good.

  “Where are we headed?” He opened one of the rolls and held it out to her. Satisfaction sang inside him when she took it. Providing for her filled some deep void inside him.

  There was no doubt that she was the most dangerous foe he’d ever faced. She could be the death of him. A hunter to her core, she’d try to kill him if she ever found out what he was.

  …

  Jo licked cinnamon and icing from her upper lip. She was starving, having not eaten since lunch yesterday. When she was on the road, she often forgot.

  Having a partner, even a temporary one, was useful but unsettling. Not what she’d expected when she’d hiked into the woods earlier tonight.

  Asher was unlike anyone she’d ever met. He was somehow more…everything.

  “I’m headed to Brooklyn,” she finally told him. “I can drop you off anywhere along the way. Just let me know where.”

  “I like Brooklyn.” Coffee in hand, he settled back against his seat.

  It had pissed him off when she’d questioned his ability to handle himself. She’d expected anger, but he’d let it go far more easily than she would have if the situation were reversed.

  Impulse had sent her into gas station. All she’d seen was some guy holding a gun on Asher, and she’d reacted, not even considering her own safety. It was a rookie mistake. One she never should have made. It would have been smarter to scout for a back entrance or to at least try to catch Asher’s attention. But no, she’d gone in ready to defend him.

  Definitely dangerous.

  Her intelligence seemed to drop several points around him. That couldn’t continue. As soon as they figured out what was going on with those emails, their association would come to an end.

  She took another sip of the now lukewarm coffee and contemplated banging her head against the steering wheel.

  With two combat knives sheathed at her waist and a 9mm holstered beneath her arm, she was far from defenseless. “I only have your word about the email. How do I know you didn’t send it? You’re a hacker.” It probably wasn’t smart to confront him, but she’d rather have it out here and now in an isolated area where she could fight if necessary, without worrying about innocent bystanders.

  “Just considering that now, are you?” He ripped open a cinnamon bun and took a bite.

  “It’s been a rough few hours. And I needed coffee.” But the lack of caffeine was only an excuse. It was the man himself who muddled her thinking.

  He gave a snort of laughter. Not a sign of someone planning to kill her.

  “No, I didn’t send the email. It’s up to you if you believe me. Or you can head to Lower Manhattan. I have a place in Soho. My computer is there.”

  “Soho? And you hitched a ride to Kentucky?” That address also cost a pretty penny. Unless… “Did you inherit it?” Maybe a grandparent or parent had left him a place. Prices were astronomical there.

  “In a manner of speaking.”

  He wasn’t going to tell her. Fine. “Don’t you have a cell phone?” The email should be there as well.

  “Clever hunter. Of course I have my phone. I just wanted to see if I could get you to my place.” Humor tinged his voice.

  Glad one of them was enjoying their conversation. She was tired and not thinking straight. “I’ll drop you off when we get to the city. We can hook up later.”

  He immediately straightened in his seat. “No. We stay together.”

  “What are you worried about?” And the fact that he was concerned her greatly. He didn’t strike her as the type to get overly worked up about much. Killing a vampire and being held up hadn’t even fazed him.

  “I don’t know. And that’s what bothers me. There was no reason for us to come together, but someone went to a lot of trouble to arrange it.”

  “I get that, but I need downtime.” About eight hours of uninterrupted sleep followed by a shower and all-day breakfast from her favorite diner would set her to rights. And no way could she rest with some stranger napping a few feet away.

  “All the more reason to stay together. Safety in numbers.”

  She had to be exhausted, because he was starting to make sense. Stubborn to the core, she dug in. “I’ll drop you off and call you after I’ve gotten some shut-eye. Give me your number.”

  Gripping the wheel tight, she waited for his objection.

  He shrugged. “Up to you. I can reach out to my contact. See if he can shed some light on the situation. No need for you to be there.”

  Shit, he was pushing all her buttons. She pressed her lips together to keep from telling him she’d take him home with her just so she would
n’t be out of the information loop.

  His voice was barely a whisper in her ear. “Let me help you.”

  “Why?” That was bothering her. “You don’t know me. What’s in it for you? What’s your agenda?”

  His frown was fierce, his dark eyes practically glittered with anger.

  Whatever.

  She turned her attention back to the road. The weight of her weapons helped center her.

  “My loyalties are my own. The standards to which I live are my own.” Each word was hard, dropping between them like rocks.

  “That’s your business. Mine is looking out for myself.” And she’d been doing it for a very long time. Ever since—

  Nope, not going there.

  She couldn’t get home quick enough to suit her. Asher was making her crazy. She might not trust him, but she might need his help to get to the bottom of this. And she wanted him. That hadn’t abated one iota. If anything, being in such confined space for such an extended period was pushing her body heat up several notches.

  She downed the last of her coffee, hoping it would jolt her back to her senses.

  He swore under his breath in a language she didn’t recognize. “I’m sorry if I upset you. That was not my intent.” He touched her leg. It was through her coat, and her jeans, but it still felt like a brand.

  She’d been cold and alone for so very long. That was how she lived. It was how she’d long ago convinced herself she liked it. But the truth was, being alone all the time sucked. Never having anyone to depend on sucked.

  “Let me come home with you.”

  “I’m sorry.” As much as she wanted him, she couldn’t let down her guard. She had her rules and she wasn’t breaking them—not even for him.

  Chapter Four

  Hours later, they stood on the sidewalk in a slightly rundown neighborhood in Brooklyn. Short of shooting him and dumping his body—which she’d seriously considered—she was stuck with him.

  They were actually a few streets over from her building. The only way to get him out of her truck had been to drive him here. Now it was time for them to part ways, at least for a while.