by Adrian, Lara
The next morning, Leni opened the commercial-grade refrigerator in the safe house kitchen and peered inside at the plethora of choices. Anything she could possibly crave or need had been recently stocked ahead of their arrival and ready for use.
She’d found the same was true of the bathroom and shower. There was even a full wardrobe of brand-new casual clothes in various sizes in the bedrooms, and a mudroom closet outfitted with a variety of seasonal outerwear and boots. Even a few sized for a child.
Riley had spotted the winter gear before she had. His first order of business when he hopped out of bed was to wheedle a promise out of her that they would build a snowman after breakfast.
Leni retrieved a carton of milk and a package of eggs from the fridge. “What kind of pancakes would you like, kiddo? Blueberry or strawberry?”
“Blueberry!” Riley shouted from his seat at the island counter.
“Coming right up.”
They were alone in the spacious kitchen. After an amazing night in Knox’s arms, Leni awoke feeling as though she could take on the world. Not only because of the blood bond that still thrummed through her, strengthening every particle of her being, but because she also had the incredible gift of Knox’s love.
Peace and contentment enveloped her as she gathered the ingredients and other supplies she’d need to make Riley’s breakfast. As for herself, she had never felt so nourished or sated. She hungered for nothing this morning . . . except the next opportunity she had to lose herself in Knox’s arms.
Her mate.
A slow smile curved her lips as she made Riley’s pancakes, then delivered his plate to the counter where he waited. He practically pounced on the short stack, humming and bouncing in his chair as he ate.
“Take your time, little man. And don’t forget to drink some orange juice too.”
He nodded, reaching for the plastic glass with syrup-sticky fingers. A muffled musical tune drew Leni’s head up a moment later. The noise came from her purse, which she’d left in the great room after they’d arrived.
Shit. Her phone.
She scrambled to answer, knowing by the ringtone it was Carla. “Hey. I was going to call you in just a minute.”
“Where are you, Leni?” Her friend sounded more than concerned. “Is Riley with you?”
“Yes, he is.”
“Thank God. It’s Monday morning and when he didn’t show up for school—”
“Shit.” Leni winced at the curse that slipped past her lips in front of Riley. There were far worse things she needed to tell Carla right away too. Taking the phone into another room, she closed the door behind her and kept her voice just above a whisper. “Something happened last night.”
“No kidding,” Carla replied, anxiety lacing her voice. “Travis Parrish is dead, Len. The bartender at Tall Timbers found his body late last night in the parking lot behind the pub. Someone strangled him. From what everyone’s saying, it sounds like someone wanted to make damn sure Travis was dead. His larynx was crushed like it had been in a vise and his spinal column was practically severed in the process.”
Leni couldn’t feel remorse for the brutality of his death. Not after what he’d done to Shannon. Not after Knox had told her about Travis’s history of hurting women. All she felt was gratitude that no one else would ever fall victim to him again.
“I know he’s dead.”
Silence stretched on the other end of the line. “It was Knox, wasn’t it?” Carla didn’t wait for Leni to confirm. “Oh, God, Leni. Sheriff Barstow’s got deputies crawling all over town looking for him as we speak. They’re looking for you too. Are you and Riley okay? Where are you?”
“We’re fine. We’re somewhere safe.”
Carla exhaled a relieved sigh. “Please stay there until this blows over. I’m worried about you. Dwight and Jeb Parrish are talking about organizing some kind of posse to search for you guys. Leni, they’re out for blood.”
Although it shouldn’t have come as any surprise, hearing that Travis’s brothers were already seeking retribution put a knot of cold dread in her veins. “They won’t find us. Knox arranged for a safe house from the Order. The Order’s sending a team up from Boston at sundown tonight to come and get us.”
“The Order?” Carla’s voice took on a soberer tone. “Where will you go?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Damn, girl. This shit’s really real, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is.”
“But you’re okay?”
“I am,” Leni assured her. “I’m better than okay, Carla. Knox and I . . . we’re together. We’re in love. Last night, he drank my blood. And I drank his.”
“Holy shit. Do you mean you two are—”
“Blood bonded,” Leni confirmed, giddy just to say the words. “In spite of everything else going on right now, I’ve never been happier in my life.”
“I can hear it in your voice,” Carla said. “Then again, I heard it in your voice the last time I saw you too. You deserve to be happy, Leni. No matter where you have to go to find it. I mean that.”
“I know you do. Thank you.”
She had been struggling to come to grips with the idea of leaving Parrish Falls, telling herself that no matter where she ended up she would be okay so long as she was with Knox and Riley. But the idea of leaving her best friend opened a fresh ache inside her.
“I’ll be in touch as soon as I can, Carla. This isn’t goodbye.”
“It better not be, bitch.” She laughed, knowing just how to take the sting out of any situation. “I’m going to be expecting an invitation to your wedding. Is that even a thing with the Breed?”
Leni smiled. “I don’t know. I’ll have to find out and let you know.”
“You do that. And while you’re at it, tell Knox to fix me up with his hottest brother as my date.”
Leni laughed. “I love you, you know that?”
“Yeah, I do. Love you back, girl.” She sniffled a little bit. “Miss you already.”
“Same.”
They ended the call, and when Leni walked back into the kitchen she found Knox waiting there with Riley. His handsome face was schooled into a calm expression, but she could sense the concern in him. She could feel it through their bond.
He came over to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Are you okay? I was on the phone with Razor when I felt your pulse spike. Riley told me you took a call from Carla.”
“And she said a bad word,” the little tattle-tale interjected.
“I’m fine,” she assured her wary mate. “Amos Barstow is in Parrish Falls with some of his men. Dwight and Jeb Parrish are looking for us.”
Knox grunted, unfazed. “You didn’t say where we are, did you?”
“No. Only that we’re in a secure location that belongs to the Order.” She reached up to smooth the furrow that creased his brow. “Carla’s my friend, Knox. I would trust her with my life.”
He nodded, but his expression remained grim as he tunneled his fingers into her hair and pulled her deeper into his embrace.
Riley glanced up from his decimated stack of pancakes. “Is Aunt Leni your girlfriend, Knox?”
His answering chuckle vibrated against her cheek. “Yeah, buddy. She is.”
Leni tilted her head up, smiling at her mate. She was rewarded with a tender brush of his lips against hers. The contact sent a fresh current of arousal through her veins and into her marrow.
From his perch at the counter, Riley smacked his hands over his eyes and exhaled a long, beleaguered sigh. “Are you guys gonna kiss all day?”
“Maybe,” Knox growled. To Leni, he murmured, “You taste sweeter than usual.”
“Blueberries,” she replied. “This Darkhaven’s kitchen is stocked with everything imaginable. Much like the rest of the place.”
He grinned. “Interesting. We may have to sample a few other flavors later. Although, I doubt I’ll find anything I like as much as cedar and sweet, warm cream.”
His hand moved down to her backsid
e, hidden from view of the impatient boy at the counter. There was no mistaking the hot glimmer in his stormy blue-gray eyes, nor the undeniable hardness of his body as he held her in his embrace.
“I’m finished!” Riley announced, pushing his empty plate away from him. “Can we go play outside now, Aunt Leni?”
Knox arched a brow at her. Although he didn’t voice his disapproval, there was wariness in the subtle change of his expression.
“I did promise him,” Leni said. “We’ll be fine right out back. You know I will be, and I’ll keep him close to me at all times.”
He didn’t look fully convinced, but he gave her a faint nod. She rose up and kissed the stern line of his jaw.
“Let’s get you cleaned up, Riley.”
In a few minutes, they both were dressed in snow gear, mittens, and boots. Leni took Riley out to the wooded backyard behind the wooden deck of the compound’s sprawling house, where they proceeded to roll the body and head of a rotund snowman.
Leni didn’t even hear anyone approach.
She didn’t realize she and Riley were no longer alone until a snowball lightly hit the back of the boy’s fluffy down-filled coat.
Startled, she whirled around to see where the playful assault had come from.
Knox stood on the deck behind her. He was covered from head to toe in UV-blocking black fatigues and gloves, with a Kevlar face mask and dark sunglasses to complete the look.
Leni smiled, instantly relaxed, and more than pleased.
“You’re right,” he said, gesturing to his daytime-proofed attire. “This place is stocked with anything we could possibly need.”
He stooped down to pick up more snow between his gloved hands. The snowball he tossed came right at her, but Leni swiftly blocked it with the power of her gift. As if stopped in midair, the snowball bounced off the energy field that protected her and fell to the ground without making contact.
“You’re no fun,” Knox drawled.
She grinned. “That’s not what you said last night.”
Scooping up a handful of snow, she made her own projectile. She let it fly, even knowing she stood no chance of hitting him. He dodged it with effortless speed and grace.
Then he lowered his head and leapt off the deck to tackle her.
Leni shrieked, then dissolved into a fit of giggles as he took her down to the ground beneath him. With a battle cry, Riley piled on too, his own laughter joining hers and Knox’s.
Leni clung to the normalcy of it all. To the perfectness of a mundane morning spent with the two people who mattered most in her life.
She clung to Knox, and to the promise she felt through their bond that somehow, no matter what, they were going to find their way through whatever waited for them on the other side of tonight.
CHAPTER 24
Leni dozed beside him on the large sectional sofa in the great room, her head resting against his shoulder. Her fingers had been twined with his since they sat down a couple hours ago, as if she couldn’t bear to let go of him even in sleep.
Not that he was going to complain.
Leni’s presence brought him more peace than he’d ever dreamed he might know, and he was in no rush to let any part of their perfect day slip from his grasp.
“She’s missing the best part,” Riley whispered from the other side of Knox on the sofa.
The boy held a bowl of popcorn in his lap, his eyes glued to the superhero movie playing on the big screen TV above the fireplace.
The flames had begun to die down, but getting up to tend them meant disturbing Leni and Knox was more than content to let her relax against him for a while longer.
Forever, he thought, tilting his head to glance at the beauty of her freckle-sprinkled face as she slept.
Knox couldn’t keep his gaze from drifting to the tall grandfather clock that stood in the corner of the room. Night fell early this far north and this deep into winter. It had been nearly three hours since the sun set, which meant the team from the Order’s Boston command center was already en route. By now, they couldn’t be more than a few more hours away from the safe house.
He had avoided thinking about that for most of the day. As the time drew nearer, he could focus on little else.
As he stroked Leni’s arm, his preternatural senses picked up the low rumble of a vehicle’s engine somewhere outside. He shifted on the sofa, suspicion crackling through his veins even before the glow of twin high-beams sliced through the darkness.
A large SUV approached on the drive.
The headlights loomed closer, blindingly bright, as the dark vehicle rolled toward the house. “Wake up, baby.”
Leni moaned quietly, her head lifting off his shoulder. “Someone’s here? Is it the Order so soon?”
“No.” Gently, but firmly, he moved her off him. “It’s too early to be the Order. Stay put.”
She sat up at once, reaching for the remote to silence the movie. When Riley protested, she hushed him, asking him to be quiet for a minute. “Someone must’ve gotten lost on the roads, kiddo. Knox will handle it, and then we’ll go back to the movie, okay?”
But it wasn’t a lost driver.
Knox knew it, and so did she. He felt Leni’s trepidation—her bone-deep fear—as he walked toward the front door prepared to dispatch whoever had managed to find them from Parrish Falls.
Even if it meant using lethal means.
The vehicle’s engine idled just outside, those glaring lights shining into the great room through the front window, illuminating Leni’s anxious face.
Knox reached for the latch on the heavy front door.
His fingers hadn’t closed around it before the entire entrance exploded inward, the door blasted open by a force that knocked him backward off his feet.
A massive figure stepped inside, moving swiftly and certainly straight for Leni and Riley.
They didn’t see the Breed male.
He moved with inhuman speed, no more than a flash of dark, deadly motion.
But Knox saw him.
He saw enough to realize this was a Gen One like him. A fellow Hunter.
He saw the large pistol in the assassin’s hand too.
With equal speed and reflex, Knox leapt up and sprang for the intruder.
The staccato report of gunfire rang out at the same time—two bullets, squeezed off in rapid succession. Both of them aimed point-blank at Leni’s head.
No. Damn it, no!
Knox’s roar reverberated in his skull. His fear was too immense to be contained. So was his rage.
But even as his body sailed forward in a streak of motion, he watched in stunned amazement as the killer’s rounds hit the shield of Leni’s Breedmate gift and bounced uselessly onto the hardwood.
The assassin recovered from the setback without missing a beat, making a lightning-fast grab for Riley.
His hand collided with the unseen wall of Leni’s ability.
Holy shit. Her protective energy enveloped not only her, but the boy as well.
Knox had no time to process the miraculous change in her gift. At the same instant, he slammed into the bastard who’d come to kill them. The force of his impact knocked the weapon out of the Hunter’s grasp. It clattered to the floor and spun away.
The male was more than his equal match in terms of size and strength. On a bellow, he threw Knox off his back. Fangs bared, eyes on fire with amber rage, he let his fist fly, hammering hard into Knox’s face. Knox went down, the sharp crack of shattering bones echoing in the awful quiet of the large room.
Leni’s horrified scream rang out.
Knox hated that she and Riley were there to witness this side of him. He hated the cold terror this struggle was causing in her as she held on to her crying nephew. Her fear leached into him, adding fuel to the inferno of fury boiling in every fiber of Knox’s body.
As the male came for him again, he planted his bare foot in the center of the bastard’s torso and kicked the vampire back. As his opponent staggered, Knox leapt to his
feet. He threw a punishing volley of blows to both sides of the assassin’s face and skull.
Bone and cartilage snapped. Blood gushed from split skin and fractures that protruded out of the savage wounds Knox delivered.
And still the other Hunter kept coming.
Relentless. Unstoppable. A machine programmed for one purpose: Death.
He swung at Knox, both males dodging and striking, both determined to be the last one standing. That was their training. The thing Knox had in common with all of his half-brothers who’d been born and reared in Dragos’s hellish lab.
“Who sent you?” he demanded, even though he didn’t need the Hunter to confirm what he already knew.
His ability to read the male’s sins had awakened the first instant his fists made contact with him.
The Parrishes had hired this killer.
He didn’t want to think how the Breed male had managed to locate them so easily. But as he drove another punch into the assassin’s face, the prickle of misgiving he’d had about Leni confiding in her friend came back to him with bleak certainty.
Like Leni, he hadn’t doubted Carla’s loyalty.
This Hunter would have killed her whether she told him what she knew or not.
And all the assassin would have needed was the woman’s phone in order to trace her call to Leni’s location.
Knox’s boiling rage shifted to cold fury when he thought about the anguish Leni would feel over the senseless loss of her friend. He landed another brutal blow, then grabbed the male’s arm and violently twisted the limb around to the vampire’s back.
The Hunter quickly pivoted, using his disabled arm as a lever to flip around in Knox’s grasp. The move freed him just long enough to throw Knox onto the coffee table in front of the sectional. The heavy wood-and-glass piece shattered beneath him, crashing Knox to the floor.
The Hunter grabbed for the stand of metal fireplace tools near the hearth.
With one of the iron pokers in hand, he came back at Knox, his long fangs dripping with blood and saliva, murder blazing in his fiery eyes.
He brought the sharp end of the tool down like a hammer. Knox rolled out of the way, then back the other way as the vampire tried once more to skewer him.