Rebel's Karma

by Rebecca Zanetti

  Garrett finished his mug. “You’re right. Thanks for your help. We’re all packed up and will get going.” He held out a hand for Bear to shake.

  Benny straightened to his full height. “This coffee is crap, Bear. You’re lucky we’re drinking it.” Yeah, he might’ve gotten spoiled by Karma’s coffee the other day. Even so, he had a job to do right now, and he had no problem interfering. He was good at it. “Garrett’s going to stay with you. He was a prospect in your MC a while back, and he needs to be patched in.”

  Bear dropped his mug on the counter. “What are you talking about? Garrett was undercover as a prospect, and besides, that was before he became a member of the Seven. Secrets never stay secrets, and most of the world knows your identities now, even if we don’t understand this final ritual.”

  “He’s right,” Garrett said. “Ignore Benny, Bear. We’re good.”

  “We are not good,” Benny said, angling his body toward Garrett. “You’re looking to join an MC, and this one is already an ally. Since you’re on your own, you need to be with friends.”

  Logan looked at Garrett, indecision on his powerful face. Obviously Garrett had told him about the dreams.

  Sam looked at his brother. “Mercy wouldn’t like the MC life, and you know it. I’ll stay. Make me a prospect and then patch me over fast, because I don’t take orders well.”

  Garrett shook his head. “Sam? That’s crazy. You don’t have to ride with me.”

  Sam shrugged. “I’m searching for a place, as you know. Might as well do it covering your back and riding free. I love to ride.”

  Logan’s expression cleared. “That would make me feel better—the two of you riding together.”

  Bear slammed his hand down on the wooden bar. “Hello? Remember me? The president of the Grizzlies and the guy who could shift and rip all of your heads off with one paw?”

  Benny barely kept himself from rolling his eyes. “Yes, we remember you. We also all know that you’re going to say yes, so could we just skip the argument? Why do you have to be so contrary all the time?”

  “It’s my nature,” Bear snapped, looking more than ever like a real bear.

  Benny sighed. “Listen. I could tell you that having the Realm King’s nephew and the demon king’s brother riding with you as you accept them into your brotherhood would be a good thing for your people. That having those two leaders on your side would be an advantage. But I’m not going to tell you that.”

  “Why not?” Bear asked, his chin lowered.

  Benny grinned. “Because you don’t give a shit about diplomacy, and we all know it. What you do care about is loyalty, and you feel loyal to these two. You know it, we know it, so let’s just go with it.”

  “You have always been a pain in my ass, Reese,” Bear growled.

  “Doesn’t make me wrong,” Benny said reasonably. This was finished as far as he was concerned. He reached over and clapped Bear on the back. “Stay in touch.” Then he headed out into the drizzly day and down to his cabin, to get his family.

  Family.

  He paused at the sight of the twins sitting on the front porch swing, rather forlorn expressions on their tiny faces. “What’s going on, girls?”

  Belle looked down at her shoes, and Boone just looked at him.

  This might take time. He moved toward them and sat on the rough porch, still taller than they were on the swing. “What’s up, Boondoggles?”

  Boone snorted. “Mama says we can’t get wet.” She gestured toward the grounds. “Everything is wet.”

  Benny grinned. “True. All right, this is good. We need to have a little chat.”

  Both children focused directly on him.

  He kept the smile in place. “So. Here it is. I want to marry your mama, and it’d be great if you two would help me plan a wedding. I don’t know how.”

  Belle frowned. “Marry?”

  “You know. Become a family. I’d be your dad.” Unease settled in his gut. Facing these sweet girls was one of the hardest things he’d ever done.

  Their faces cleared. Belle angled her neck to study him better. “You’d train us to fight?”

  “Well, sure,” Benny said. Was that all Kurjan fathers did? “But more importantly, I’ll keep you and your mama safe and protected. Well, I’ll teach you to protect yourselves, too.”

  Boone blinked. “Do you hit?”

  He paused, his ears heating. “No. I don’t hit. I’d never hit you or your mama. Has anybody hit you before?” He might have to go hunting after he got his family home.

  Belle pulled on the bottom of her sweater. “Terre liked to hit, but Mama always got in the way.”

  Benny ignored the fire suddenly burning inside his throat. “He’ll never hit anybody again. Your mama took care of Terre.” Twice, actually. It had been an excellent story she’d told about his ghostly visit. “I won’t hit you, and if anybody else ever dares, they’ll regret it.”

  Boone studied him. “What if we burn down the house?”

  Yeah, fire was probably on their minds still. “I wouldn’t hit you, but I’d make you help rebuild it.”

  Belle smiled. “That’s good.”

  He waited for the tougher sell. “Boone?”

  She eyed him. “What if we get sick or throw up?”

  “Then I’ll clean it up and get you medicine.” That one was easy.

  “Okay.” Boone’s smile was smaller but there nonetheless.

  He relaxed. “So. We’re going home now, where we live with your aunts and uncles, who are also known as the Seven. You’re going to love it there, and they’re going to love you. For now, how about you help me pick a ring for your mama?” He had some pictures on his phone.

  “Green ring,” Belle said.

  “Blue,” Boone contradicted.

  He smiled. “We can make that happen.”

  * * * *

  Karma laughed as Benny swung her up in his arms to cross the threshold of his home in Seven territory. She loved the open floor plan with the expansive view of the river, although they’d have to figure out a way to keep the girls safe from drowning. They ran in behind them, chattering happily.

  Benny set her on her feet and stared out the window. “The river.”

  “I know.” She chewed on the inside of her cheek.

  He looked down at the girls. “We can build a fence around the backyard for now, and we’ll start swimming lessons in the spring.” He jolted. “If that’s okay with you.”

  She smiled. “Of course that’s okay with me.” It might take him a while to make decisions without checking in with her, and that was just sweet.

  He tugged on her ear. “You doing okay? With everything?”

  If he meant her still-tingling back, then yes. The marking was awesome. If he meant the fact that she’d vanquished a spirit, then probably. She’d had no idea she could send the obnoxious ones away that easily. Maybe she could develop the skill so it happened naturally. All of a sudden, she had so much faith in the two of them and in herself, and part of that confidence came from Benny. “I’m fantastic.”

  He glanced toward the girls. “There are two bedrooms past the fireplace. Choose which one you want to share and then we can start decorating.” When they ran off, he looked at Karma. “They should share for a while, right? Since they’re only around three years old?”

  “Right.” She looked around her new home. It was perfect.

  He also looked around. “You can redecorate all you want. We’re loaded. One of the benefits of living for so long.”

  Loaded? Fun.

  The girls ran back in, having chosen the bedroom closest to the fireplace.

  Benny cleared his throat, and they halted, their expressions sobering. Slowly, they walked up on either side of him, facing her. A giant of a male and two tiny little girls, all with softness in their eyes.


  She tilted her head.

  Benny gracefully knelt down on one knee, and the twins followed suit, looking adorable in new jeans and cute sweaters. One blue and one green.

  Karma smiled. “What are you doing?”

  Benny looked a little pale. Interesting. “We want to ask you to marry us.”

  Boone hopped up and down. “Yes. Marry us, and we’ll be a family.”

  Belle leaned forward. “If you say yes, you gets a ring we ordered. It’s pretty.”

  Karma looked at her little family. Her chest just up and exploded with so much love her body couldn’t contain it all. They were hers. Eventually, there would be little hybrid boys to join the family since vampire hybrids only made boys. They were all going to have a life full of love, laughter, and adventure. She just knew it. “Yes.”

  The girls nearly bowled her over with hugs, followed by Benny, who picked all three of them right off the ground, holding them securely. “Life is good, baby.”

  “No,” she whispered. “Life is perfect.”

  And it was.

  Epilogue

  “Benny, hurry up, would you?” Karma waited on the chilly front porch as her family finished getting ready inside. They’d taken to calling themselves the Three Bs Club. Oh, they’d offered to give her a B nickname so she could join, but she liked that they had their own thing. Plus, it was easy to talk the B Club into doing chores since they did so as a group. She smiled at her freshly decorated pumpkins and swished her pirate costume around her legs.

  The door opened, and the trio walked outside.

  Her mouth dropped wide open. “Oh my goodness.”

  “We’re princesses,” Boone yelled, rocking back and forth on shiny blue heels. She wore a very sparkly blue dress with a tiara atop her long dark hair.

  “Yeah,” Belle yelled even louder, dressed in a similar outfit that was bright green.

  But it was Benny that captured Karma’s attention. She fought a full-out laugh. “Benjamin.”

  He looked down at his sparkling purple dress and ridiculously high heels. “This is becoming a bad habit. Twice in a lifetime is enough.” The tiara on his head tilted dangerously to the side.

  “We’re the Three Bs,” Belle chirped. “We hafta dress the same this year, and we voted. Two against one.”

  Karma nearly choked on a chuckle. “What did Benny want?”

  “To be cats,” Boone said, hopping happily. “He lost.”

  Benny sadly shook his head, his eyes sparkling.

  Her heart turned over once again, as it did often with her mate. They were about to trick-or-treat in the Seven subdivision, and he’d face all of the warriors in that dress that had no doubt been a shower curtain at one time. Yet he didn’t care. It was all about making the girls happy.

  Benny took a small hand in each of his. “We’ll hit each house and then the storage buildings. I believe we have people stationed at each one.”

  She shook her head and took Boone’s free hand. “How much candy did you buy, anyway?”

  He shrugged. “Dunno. I had to buy enough that there would be some left when Mercy was done. We’ll only eat a little each night.”

  “Yeah,” Boone said right before Belle chimed in with her agreement.

  “All right,” Karma said, her stomach still rolling from the chocolate she’d eaten earlier that day. “Afterward, maybe we could sit on the porch swing for a while. Just you and me.” The girls had found a new TV show with dinosaurs they loved, and she’d make sure it was on.

  Benny grinned, leading the way. “I wondered when you were going to tell me.”

  She stumbled and caught herself. “You know?”

  He whistled happily. “Please. I know your body better than my own.”

  That was true. “You’re happy?”

  “I’m so much more than happy I can’t find the words,” he admitted, his gaze meeting hers and showing her what love felt like. What it looked like. “We’ll celebrate later. Girls? You’re gonna have a baby brother.”

  The girls both looked up at him, not slowing their strides. There was candy at the end of the walk, after all. “A boy?” Boone asked.

  “Yep,” Benny said.

  Belle looked at her sister. “Should we give him a B name?”

  Boone looked up at Karma. “How about a K name? There should be a K Club, too.”

  “We’re all in the R Club,” Belle reminded her. “The Reese Club.”

  Karma smiled and looked down at her wedding ring. There was a massive diamond with an emerald on one side and a sapphire on the other.

  Benny caught her gaze. “We’ll have to get another stone. Can’t wait to see the color.”

  “Me, either,” she whispered. How could life be this amazing?

  Benny winked.

  Yeah. That was how. “I’m so glad you came for me,” she whispered, her voice shaking.

  His gaze softened even more. “Oh, sweetheart. Of course I came for you. I always knew you would end up on my side. Yep,” he said happily, leading them to the first doorway. “I’ve always had Karma.”

  Turn the page for a extract of the Immortal’s Honor by Rebecca Zanetti!

  Click here to get your copy!

  IMMORTAL’S HONOR

  The Dark Protectors

  New York Times Bestselling Author

  Rebecca Zanetti

  From award-winning author Rebecca Zanetti comes the newest wildly thrilling Dark Protectors novel with an immortal hero to die for.

  First comes danger …

  When Vampire-Demon Sam Kyllwood discovers he’s the keeper of some mysterious circle, he laughs it off. When he finds out that his younger brother is supposed to fight to the death in said circle, he snaps right to furious. And that’s before he starts uncontrollably making things explode —it turns out it’s never too late to develop deadly new immortal abilities. But even those explosions are nothing compared to what happens when he tries to handle a very suspicious, brilliant and beyond sexy human female whose piercing eyes ignite a heat that rages deliciously outside even his unbreakable control …

  Then comes desire …

  Honor McDovall is one of the best interrogators Homeland Security has ever had. But no matter how well she appears to fit in, her mystical gifts are slowly driving her mad. She doesn't understand them, she doesn't want them, but for now, she'll use them to detect and defeat danger until she completely loses her mind. Unfortunately, her job brings her face to face with the deadliest man she's ever met—and she senses Sam is even more gifted than she is. Yet once they kiss, she realizes he's also more dangerous than the enemies suddenly coming from every direction. Good thing they both like to play with fire …

  Click here to get your copy!

  Please read on for an excerpt from the newest Romantic Suspense novel in Rebecca Zanetti’s bestselling Deep Ops series.

  DRIVEN

  Rebecca Zanetti

  Prologue

  Six months ago

  Thunder sounded in the distance as the wind rustled dried leaves along the lake path. Angus Force stumbled over an exposed tree root and somehow righted himself before falling on his ass. Again. The mud on his jeans showed he’d slipped at least once.

  Roscoe snorted and kept scouting the trail, his furry nose close to the mud. His snort held derision.

  “Shut up,” Angus said, surprised his voice didn’t slur. He’d started the morning with his fishing pole and two bottles of Jack. Several hours later, it was getting dark, he had no fish, and the bottles were empty. The forest swirled around him, the trees dark and silent. He glared at his German shepherd. “Be nice or I won’t feed you.”

  The dog didn’t pause in his explorations. His ears didn’t even twitch.

  Angus sighed. “I should’ve left you with the FBI.” Of course, the dog had a slight problem with authority and probably would have
been put down at some point. Angus brightened. They had that in common. “All right. I guess I’ll feed you.”

  Roscoe stopped suddenly.

  Angus nearly ran into him, stopping at the last second and slipping on the leaves. “What the hell?”

  The fur down Roscoe’s back ruffled, and he stared straight ahead down the trail. He went deadly silent, his focus absolute.

  Angus dropped his pole and the sack containing the bottles. Damn it. He hadn’t brought a gun this morning. He’d been more concerned with having enough alcohol to get through the day.

  He gave a hand signal to the dog and veered off the trail, winding through a part of the forest he could have navigated blindfolded. Soon he approached his lone cabin from the side, where he could see front and back.

  Nothing.

  Roscoe remained at his side, his ears perked, the fur still raised.

  The woods around them had gone silent, and a hint of anticipation threaded the breeze. Roscoe sat and stared at the cabin.

  Yeah. Angus remained still. There was definitely somebody inside. He angled his head and spotted a black Range Rover parked on the other side. So they weren’t trying to hide.

  His shoulders relaxed, and he waited.

  Waiting was what he excelled at. Well, waiting and drinking. He’d become a master at downing a bottle of whiskey. Or several.

  Ten minutes passed. Something rustled inside the cabin. Now he was just getting bored. So he gave Roscoe a hand signal.

  Roscoe immediately barked three times.

  The front door of the cabin opened, and two men strode out. Government men. Black suits, pressed shirts, polished shoes. The older one had a beard liberally sprinkled with gray and the worn eyes of a guy who’d already seen two much.

  The younger guy was a climber. One who even stood like he was on his way to the top and had no problem stepping on bodies to get there. His shoes were expensive, and his blue silk tie even more so.