by Donna Grant
Callie made a sound. “I have no proof, Nat. This is a gut feeling based on what I’ve found—and not found. I did unearth an article nearly sixty years old about an alliance of top members of the KGB, the military, and the elite of Russia that called themselves the Saints. Someone tried to remove every instance of that article.”
“But Callie found it,” Wyatt said, a note of pride in his voice. “Give her more time. She might uncover more.”
Natalie leaned her elbow on the table as her mind spun with the possibilities of what this group—the Saints—could do to them. Or with Ragnarok.
“Cullen needs to know,” Owen said.
Wyatt said, “Already tried to call him. I still can’t reach him, but I did send a text. Let’s hope he gets it.”
“What about calling Mia,” Natalie offered.
“Did that already, but didn’t get an answer from her either.”
Owen’s frown deepened as he stared at the phone. “When do we go after him?”
“That might be the wrong thing to do,” Callie said. “Especially if he and Mia are hiding.”
“And if they’re not?” Wyatt asked.
Natalie held out her hand as Owen walked to her. Their fingers intertwined. She saw the apprehension for Cullen in his gaze.
“Cullen is a Loughman,” Natalie said.
There was a stretch of silence where Owen smiled at her. “We’ll give him another few days.”
“Then we go find him,” Wyatt stated.
Sklad
Orrin wasn’t surprised when Yuri chained him to the bed. The bastard stood at the door, watching as the red-haired doctor checked his vitals.
Her gaze never moved to Orrin, and he didn’t look at her. He wanted to make sure Yuri believed they hadn’t spoken to each other. Because if Yuri thought for a moment that the woman had helped him, her child would be dead.
“You look … well,” Yuri said.
Orrin suspected it had something to do with whatever the doctor had injected into his IV every six hours.
Yuri clasped his hands behind his back and walked to the opposite side of the bed from the woman. He smiled at Orrin and said, “Your home has been destroyed.”
He kept his face passive. The house and buildings could be rebuilt. Cattle and horses replaced. His sons and Callie, however, could not.
He waited for Yuri to tell him who had been killed. Orrin wasn’t sure if he could keep himself calm if anything had happened to his family.
“Nothing to say?” Yuri asked with a smirk.
Orrin merely stared at him. He would give Yuri nothing.
Yuri shrugged. “There was quite a fight there. Lots of gunfire exchanged. I know at least one was killed and another injured.”
No matter how Orrin kept his emotions from his face, he couldn’t control his blood pressure. The monitor he was hooked to began to beep with the pounding of his heart.
Yuri laughed and turned on his heel. “I think I will wait to tell you who died for later. I am enjoying this entirely too much.”
The real battle was just beginning.
Read on for an excerpt from the next Sons of Texas novel by Donna Grant
THE PROTECTOR
Coming soon from St. Martin’s Paperbacks
The forest was still but buzzing with sounds, making the night seem alive. It was electric, stimulating.
Stirring.
Mia searched for an excuse—any excuse—to stop thinking about Cullen. And found nothing.
It was disheartening to be sure. Especially when she wanted him so acutely.
That need swirled through her, slowly at first, but increasing steadily. The kernel of desire that began upon finding him in the hanger had turned into an inferno.
She used the time alone while he did a sweep of the area to try and get herself under control. When he spoke of his mother’s murder and the years after, she’d been unable to keep her hands from him. And that touch had only inflamed her need for more.
In order not to throw herself at him, she had no choice but to release him. Which had been harder to do than she expected. What was it about Cullen that enticed and captivated her?
What about him persuaded her to let down her guard and invite him in?
Was it his arousing, sexy voice that cajoled and seduced? Was it his charming words that tempted and lured?
Or was it those hypnotic hazel eyes with their mysterious mix of green and gold that coaxed her?
Her stomach fluttered at the thought of giving into desire. The attraction was there, hovering around them like a cloud. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could resist. So far, her mind had remained strong, but her body was turning the tide swiftly.
Not even a mundane chore like cleaning the dishes could ease the rising desire. It burned, blazed hot and relentless. Cullen was the type of man she couldn’t outrun or ignore.
He demanded her attention with a simple look. The promise of pleasure in his gaze was there whenever she sought to see it. And that terrified her.
But it also exhilarated her.
With her hands braced on the sink, she closed her eyes and imagined what it would be like to give herself to Cullen. Her head rolled to the side as her nipples puckered, tingling with the need to be touched.
Chills raced over her body, her lips parted as her breaths came faster. With his name on her lips, she reached down and touched herself.
Her eyes opened. In the reflection of the window, she saw him standing behind her. Their gazes clashed as the fire popped. Desire smoldered within his hazel depths.
There was no turning back now. Mia didn’t even try. The path was laid bare before her, and it was too good to let it pass her by.
She turned around. For long moments, they simply stared. She was afraid to move—and afraid not to.
The desire was so tangible that the air was thick with it. She was shaking when she took that first, tentative step toward him.
He met her midway, but even then they didn’t touch. Mia was scared that once she did, the primal, savage longing for him would take over.
It was Cullen who reached out first, putting a hand on her waist and slowly drawing her closer. Instinctively, her arms bent, grasping his forearms.
Candlelight and firelight bathed them in a soft glow. She was spellbound, caught in the web of longing and need reflected in his eyes.
His head bent forward gradually, giving her time to push him away. Except she was long past that. Her face lifted, anticipating his kiss.
The first touch of his lips against hers made her breath catch. His mouth was firm as he moved against her lips, teasing and coaxing.
She willingly opened for him. When his tongue swept in and touched hers, she sighed and ran her hands up his arms, over his shoulders and around his neck.
He held her tightly, his arms like bands of steel as he deepened the kiss. Molten desire poured through her. If there were any last reservations about giving into her longing, they faded away.
Sparks of pleasure skidded along her skin as he kissed her vigorously. She melted against him, wanting—needing—more.
A moan roiled through her when he slid a hand into her hair. Then he turned her, backing her around the sofa and closer to the fire.
She was the one who reached for the hem of his shirt and yanked it upward. The kiss ended long enough for him to pull it off and toss it away.
Mia’s lips parted as she stared at the specimen before her. She splayed her hands over his chest, then kissed the bullet wound at his right shoulder and the other closer to his waist. On the left side, she ran her lips and tongue along the three-inch scar along his abdomen that came from a knife.
She met his gaze and smiled. The thick sinew beneath her palms strained as he fought not to touch her. He jerked when she reached between them and unbuttoned his jeans.
Don’t miss these other spellbinding novels by
DONNA GRANT
THE DARK KING SERIES
Dark Heat
D
arkest Flame
Fire Rising
Burning Desire
Hot Blooded
Night’s Blaze
Soul Scorched
Passion Ignites
Smoldering Hunger
Smoke and Fire
THE DARK WARRIOR SERIES
Midnight’s Master
Midnight’s Lover
Midnight’s Seduction
Midnight’s Warrior
Midnight’s Kiss
Midnight’s Captive
Midnight’s Temptation
Midnight’s Promise
THE DARK SWORD SERIES
Dangerous Highlander
Forbidden Highlander
Wicked Highlander
Untamed Highlander
Shadow Highlander
Darkest Highlander
Praise for the Dark King series by
DONNA GRANT
“Loaded with subtle emotions, sizzling chemistry, and some provocative thoughts on the real choices [Grant’s] characters are forced to make as they choose their loves for eternity.”
—RT Book Reviews (4 stars)
“Vivid images, intense details, and enchanting characters grab the reader’s attention and [don’t] let go.”
—Night Owl Reviews (Top Pick)
Praise for the Dark Warrior series
“The world of the Immortal Warriors is a thoroughly engaging one, blending powerful ancient gods, fiery desire, and touchingly human love, which readers will surely want to revisit.”
—RT Book Reviews
“[Grant] blends ancient gods, love, desire, and evil-doers into a world you will want to revisit over and over again.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“Sizzling love scenes and engaging characters.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Ms. Grant mixes adventure, magic and sweet love to create the perfect romance[s].”
—Single Title Reviews
Praise for the Dark Sword series
“Grant creates a vivid picture of Britain centuries after the Celts and Druids tried to expel the Romans, deftly merging magic and history. The result is a wonderfully dark, delightfully well-written [series]. Readers will eagerly await the next Dark Sword book.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Another fantastic series that melds the paranormal with the historical life of the Scottish highlander in this arousing and exciting adventure.”
—Bitten By Books
“These are some of the hottest brothers around in paranormal fiction.”
—Nocturne Romance Reads
“Will keep readers spellbound.”
—Romance Reviews Today
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories. She’s the author of more than thirty novels spanning multiple genres of romance including the bestselling Dark King stories. The acclaimed series features a thrilling combination of dragons, the Fae, and Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children, a dog, and four cats in Texas.
Want to know when Donna’s next book is available? You can sign up for her newsletter at www.DonnaGrant.com, follow her on twitter @donna_grant, like her Facebook page at facebook.com/AuthorDonnaGrant, or sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Epilogue
The Protector Teaser
Also by Donna Grant
Praise for the Dark King series by Donna Grant
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
THE HERO
Copyright © 2016 by Donna Grant.
Excerpt from The Protector copyright © 2017 by Donna Grant.
Credits © Patricia Schmitt (Picky Me)
All rights reserved.
For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
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eISBN: 978-1-250-08342-5
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St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / December 2016
St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.