Okay, he’d never known the man actually had a sense of humor. Eagan dropped the pile in the lieutenant’s in-basket.
“Is there anything else I can do?”
As soon as he spoke, he wished he could take it all back because his boss went on point. There’d be no escape now.
“Okay, McHale, park it and tell me what’s going on. Is there a problem with the case?”
“No, sir. Once the sun goes down, I’ll be following up on that kid we’ve been watching. I checked in with the day crew earlier, but there’s been no sign of movement today.”
He frowned. “I know school is out for the holidays, but it worries me that no one has seen him all today.”
“He has a job. Maybe he’s at the diner.”
“I’ll have someone check there.” But not him. He couldn’t risk Della catching him spying on her place—or her.
Hughes leaned back in his chair. “Someone? Why not you? I thought you had an in with the owner.”
“Yes, sir, but people were paying a bit too much attention to me.”
“People or a single person, Eagan?”
He wasn’t sure which was more surprising: the sympathy in his boss’s voice or his use of Eagan’s first name.
“The owner. Della.”
“And that’s a problem for you?”
“For her. She’s human, sir.”
He found himself pouring out the whole story, figuring the boss could only kill him once. Instead, Hughes got up to fix them each a cup of coffee laced with the scotch he kept in a locked cabinet. The burn did little to warm the ache in Eagan’s gut, but he appreciated the gesture.
“I’d tell you that was a damn stupid thing to do, Eagan, but you’re a good cop because of your desire to protect people. It would’ve gone against your nature to let that woman suffer when you could fix it, especially when you’ve obviously got a major thing for her.”
Eagan sipped the coffee as an excuse not to say anything. Hughes stared at him for a while. “I’m guessing she showed her gratitude with more than a simple thank you.”
Rather than deny it, Eagan confessed the worst of it, ending with, “I lost control and took her blood a second time.”
Hughes’s eyebrows shot straight up. “Does she understand the significance of that?”
“I didn’t tell her.” But he’d wanted to. Still did, for that matter.
“Why the hell not?”
“She’s human.” Like he hadn’t already pointed that out.
“So? From what you’ve told me, she obviously didn’t hate what you are.”
“No, in fact, I tried to leave right after I healed her hand and told her what I was, but she called me back inside.”
Hughes finally sat back down. “Did she kick your ass out of bed when your eyes flashed black or when she saw your fangs?”
“No, sir, she didn’t.” A fact that still amazed him. “But you know what our lives are like. Always living with secrets. And then there’s my job. Some women aren’t cut out to be a cop’s wife.”
“Sounds like a bunch of bullshit excuses, McHale. You’re doing this woman and yourself a great disservice by not giving her a chance. She won’t appreciate you deciding what she can or can’t handle. I’m also guessing that you’ve never felt like this about a woman, and you’re running scared.”
Was it true? Was he afraid to risk being hurt if she decided she couldn’t accept Eagan’s true nature? He thought back to last night and how perfect it had been to connect with Della on so many levels. She’d felt—
Scared? He sat up straighter. Not him. Her. Right now. Della was frightened, the taste of her fear almost overwhelming. He lurched to his feet.
“Eagan, what’s wrong?”
“It’s Della, sir. She’s terrified, and I don’t know why. I’ve got to go.”
He was already running for the door, but Hughes kept pace with him. “Don’t do anything stupid, McHale. Call for backup if you need it.”
“I will.”
He meant that, but only if there was time. If someone had laid a hand on Della, there would be hell to pay.
CHAPTER TEN
THE SUN HADN’T SET, but it was dark enough for Eagan to risk running straight for the diner. Seven minutes later he charged through the door, ready to take names and kick ass if that’s what it took to find out what was wrong.
The wolf bitch was pacing back and forth just inside the door. When he walked in, her eyes flashed gold and her upper lip curled back over an impressive set of fangs. The rest of the diner was empty except for some guy wearing an apron walking out of the kitchen as he dried his hands on a towel.
Both he and Eagan sized each other up. Great. Another damned shifter, although Eagan was betting Della had no idea that’s what he was.
He stared right back, not caring if that riled the guy’s alpha nature. “Where is she, wolf? And don’t bother telling me it’s none of my business.”
Lupe got between them. “Tennessee, don’t tell him anything. He has no claim on Della.”
The male wolf stepped around the female and sniffed the air around Eagan. He immediately nodded as if he’d just confirmed something he already guessed.
“He does have the right, Lupe. He’s bonded to her.”
Lupe actually growled, her eyes turning feral. “When did that happen? Darn her, I warned Della to stay away from you.”
There was no time for this. “Woman, I have no idea what your issues are with my kind and don’t give a damn. Right now Della’s in danger, so tell me what you know. If she gets hurt because you held something back, I guarantee you won’t like what happens next.”
The woman stared at him in disbelief. “She’s not in danger. She just went to check on Daniel and take his family her presents for them.”
Eagan got right in her face. “Like the man said, bitch, I’m bonded to her. That means I feel what she feels, and I’m telling you that she’s terrified. I can track her through the bond, but it would help to know what I’ll be walking into.”
“If she’s in danger, call the police.”
He pulled out his badge and shoved in her obstinate face. “Damn it, I am the police. Now talk.”
Some of the female’s aggression died down. “Right after she left, Daniel called. When I told him that she was heading for his house, he sounded really worried and asked how long ago she’d left. He hung up before I could get more out of him.”
Eagan pulled out one of his cards. “Here’s my cell phone number. If you hear from her or the kid, call me immediately.”
He headed back outside to start hunting. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply of the night air. Before he’d gone two steps, the diner door opened again. It was the male wolf shrugging on a biker jacket.
Eagan did not have time to screw around with Della’s friends. “What do you want?”
Tennessee held up his hands and tipped his head to the side, a sign of surrender among his kind. “I know you can feel her through the bond, but it’s too new to make finding her all that easy. I thought maybe you could use a second nose. Besides, I’m pretty handy in a fight.”
The guy pulled up his sleeve to reveal a familiar tattoo. Eagan asked, “Special Forces?”
“Used to be. Now let’s get moving.”
As they loped down the street, Eagan prayed they’d get to her in time. If those young vamps sensed the bond between him and Della, they might kill her to end the connection.
The entire downtown area was clogged with last-minute shoppers. Every store and street were festooned with Christmas decorations. He bet Della loved it all.
But this was not the time to get distracted by bright shiny lights and thoughts of making love to Della underneath the mistletoe.
Right now the only Christmas present he wanted was to find Della and make sure she was safe. He struggled to keep his lips closed over his fangs, but it was difficult with all of his protective instincts running hot. Whoever had dared threaten his mate would pay with their blood.<
br />
He turned his focus inward, trying to sense if there’d been any change in what she was feeling. She was still scared, but no worse than she had been. He wasn’t sure what that meant.
The only good news was that she was close. He could feel her too-rapid pulse and taste her fear on the night air. Tennessee had slowed down, tipping his head back as he turned in a circle to hunt for Della’s scent.
“Am I glad to see you, young man. You, too, Tenn.”
Eagan was so focused on Della that it took him several seconds to recognize the elderly man headed straight for them. The last thing he need right now was a distraction, even if Harry was one of Della’s personal favorites.
“Not now, Harry. We’ve got a problem we’re working on.”
The old man caught Eagan’s sleeve and refused to let go. “I know. I just called the diner to summon help and spoke to Lupe. You’re looking for Della, and I know where she is.”
“Where?”
If Harry noticed Eagan’s eyes were the color of obsidian or that Tenn’s were gleaming gold, he didn’t say anything. Instead, he started shuffling back down the street.
“This way. I saw her and Daniel run into an alley down this way. Two young men followed them in. There was something definitely off about those two. Something about the way they moved. Sorry if I’m not making myself clear.”
Actually, he was. The young vamps were in predator mode, moving with the inhuman grace and power of their kind. At their young age, they wouldn’t stand a chance against Eagan or even Tennessee, but the two humans were no match for them.
At the next corner, Harry pointed down the cross street. “See that alley? That’s where they went. I’ll stay here out of the way.”
Eagan clapped the older man on the shoulder. “Thanks, Harry. We’ll make sure she’s safe.”
“See that you do, since I’m not up to doing it myself.” His voice wavered. “She’s like a daughter to me.”
Eagan understood a man’s need to be useful when it came to protecting those he cared about. He handed Harry his cell phone and flashed his badge. “Hit two on the speed dial and tell my lieutenant where we are. When my backup gets here, point them toward the right alley.”
Harry stood taller. “I’ll do that. Now get going.”
“Tenn, you take this side while I come in from the far end. Hopefully I’ll be able to drive them back in your direction before they get to her.”
Tennessee nodded. Eagan waited for him to get in position before using his strength and speed to go up over the buildings to the opposite end of the alley to make sure they trapped the young vamps in between them.
Before returning to street level, he closed his eyes briefly, trying to get a clear reading on what Della was feeling. Fear definitely. Worry, most likely for Daniel. And pain.
That did it. The bastards would die. With fangs out, Eagan dropped down two stories back to the ground and took the hunt to the hunters.
DELLA’S CHEST HURT. She wasn’t dressed warm enough for the cold, but that wasn’t what had her shivering. Daniel wasn’t faring much better as the two of them huddled in the corner behind a stack of trash cans. They’d only meant to stop long enough to catch their breath, but their pursuers were closing in.
She and Daniel had tried everything to lose them, but nothing had worked. She’d also lost her pack when she’d first seen them trying to drag Daniel into an abandoned building, so she didn’t have her cell phone to call for help. When she’d swung the bag at the closest one’s head, it had connected with a satisfying thud. However, Daniel’s attacker had latched on to the strap and ripped it out of her hand.
At least it had distracted him long enough for Daniel to get free. He’d grabbed her hand and dragged her back down the street at a dead run. Unfortunately, they were in a section of town where few shops were open, leaving them no easy place to take sanctuary.
They had to get moving again before they were cornered here, where it was unlikely anyone would hear them calling for help. She started to reach for Daniel’s hand when she heard Eagan’s voice faintly whisper, “Stay where you are, Della. We’re on our way.”
When she didn’t immediately spot Eagan, she whispered, “Where are you?”
Daniel’s eyes, already wide with fright, zeroed in on her face. “I’m right here, Della.”
She squeezed his hand. “Not you. Eagan. Didn’t you hear him say he was coming?”
When Daniel slowly shook his head, she closed her eyes to listen harder. “Eagan?”
When he answered, his words were stronger this time, but felt as if they were brushing against the inside of her head. “We’re almost there. Me and your friend Tennessee. Just stay hidden. Those two punks tracking you are between you and us. I’m afraid they’ll use you as hostages if we rush them.”
Good grief, he was using telepathy! She tried thinking her response. “I think they’re like you, Eagan. Well, not like you, but your kind.”
His mental sigh was telling. “Yes, they are. Don’t worry. They’re no match for us, but it’s likely to turn ugly. I’m sorry you and your young friend got caught up in this.”
Then the connection broke. A rock bounced off the wall behind her followed by a nasty laugh.
“Hey, kid, come out and play. Who knows, maybe we’ll let your pretty lady friend live.”
Daniel actually started to stand up, but she jerked him back down by her side. “Stay still. Help is coming.”
He clearly didn’t believe her and struggled to get free. “I got you into this, Della. Let me distract them while you run. You can send help.”
Like those two would let him survive that long. “They can’t let me live, Daniel. We both know that. And you must not think much of me if you think I’d abandon you now.”
He still fought her, panic taking over. “Then we’ll both die.”
His voice had grown louder, but knowing who was after them meant it didn’t matter. They’d probably heard every word they’d said. The two punks couldn’t be more than a few feet away now. She braced herself to fight with everything she had.
Then there they were, with their gleaming eyes looking like black holes and their fangs ghostly white against their lower lips. One jabbed the other in the ribs with his elbow.
“Hey, look what I got you for Christmas. Dinner for two! She’s even wearing Santa on her shirt.”
As the two kept themselves entertained, they failed to notice they were no longer alone in the alley. Eagan stood behind them, looking like an avenging angel. The two young vampires might be dangerous, but they didn’t radiate pure death in the way Eagan did.
She should find him every bit as terrifying as they were, if not more so. All she felt was relief.
He latched onto the back of their collars and sent them both flying across the alley to bounce against a brick wall. Planting himself firmly between them and Della, he looked back over his shoulder at her.
“Go that way, and you’ll run straight into Tennessee. He’ll make sure you get back to the diner safely. Some of my friends will arrive any second. Don’t be scared of them. They’re the good guys.”
“Will you come find me when you’ve—”
She broke off midsentence, not wanting to think about what was going to happen to the two young vampires who were already back on their feet and attacking.
“Go, Della. Now.”
She grabbed Daniel and hauled him down the alley. But before she reached the other end, she stopped long enough to think one last thought.
“Come back to me, Eagan. Don’t make me spend Christmas without you.”
Then she ran to where Tennessee stood waiting.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
DELLA THOUGHT ABOUT CLOSING the diner early, but it was Christmas Eve and her friends were counting on her. So she’d showered, changed into another Christmas shirt and forced her lips to curve up in a smile she didn’t really feel.
No word from Eagan. Not last night and not all day. She kept telling herself tha
t he’d gotten caught up in his case. Odd that she found him being an undercover cop harder to believe than that he was a vampire. By the time she and Daniel had reached Tenn at the end of the alley, half a dozen men all flashing badges and fangs had arrived.
One had stopped long enough to introduce himself as Eagan’s boss, Lieutenant Hughes. After making sure that she was all right, he’d warned her that Eagan might be tied up for a while and not to worry, that he’d come around. Then he’d winked at her and headed off down the alley. She wasn’t sure exactly what he’d meant.
Someone had driven Daniel home. Later, the teenager had called, all excited. His mother was moving them to a better apartment where she’d be managing the building in return for a salary and free rent. Della suspected Eagan was behind the family’s windfall, bless him. On the other hand, after taking a brief statement from her, she hadn’t heard another word from the police over what had happened in the alley.
That had been twenty-four hours ago.
Tenn was in the kitchen whistling an off-key rendition of one of her favorite Christmas carols. When he spotted her, he nodded and kept stirring the pot of vegetable soup she’d asked him to make for Christmas Day.
“Have we been busy?”
“Not bad. Enough to keep us from getting bored. Not enough to spoil my good mood.”
He studied her. “How about you? Have you recovered from yesterday?”
“Mostly.” She ran her hands up and down her arms at the memory. “I never got around to thanking you for coming to rescue us. You have no idea how dangerous those guys were.”
“Yeah, actually I do.” He set the spoon back down on the counter. “You seem to be handling the fact that your boyfriend is a vampire pretty well. Would it surprise you to learn that your fry cook gets all furry every full moon?”
She swallowed hard as she stared into his eyes, now more gold than caramel-brown. “Uh, all things considered, not all that much. I’m not sure Eagan would appreciate being called my boyfriend, though.”
“Then he’s an idiot. Now get out of my kitchen. You’re in my way.”
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