by Addison Fox
A loud, clanking sound near the door had them both spinning around. Someone had disabled the lock.
“Meghan.” Damon’s voice. “Are you here? We need to talk.” He burst onto the stage, stopping when he caught sight of Gabe standing back in the shadows. “You,” he growled.
Trying to understand, Meghan looked from her brother to Gabe. “Do you two know each other?”
Before anyone could reply, Damon lunged at Meghan, yanking her close. “Don’t move,” he snarled. She felt the press of cold metal against her skin.
“A gun? Is that a gun? Damon? What are you doing? This doesn’t make sense.”
“I need information. Who is it?” Damon demanded, holding his gun close to Meghan’s temple. “The Helios you saw Rejuvenate. You have photos on your phone. Give me his name so I can be the one to hunt him and bring him down.”
Somehow, her brother had seen the pics on her phone. Now more than ever, she regretted the impulse that had made her take them.
“Tell me,” Damon demanded, giving her a little shake.
And now he’d force her into making the choice she hadn’t wanted to make.
Fury flashed across Gabe’s rugged countenance, but he didn’t move. Meghan briefly closed her eyes, unwilling to let him see her pain. “I don’t know,” she answered. “I was so shocked when I realized that Helios were actually real, that I ran away. I didn’t see him before or after. I have no idea.”
“You’re lying.” Damon sounded so positive, so certain. “Now give me the name.”
Slowly, she shook her head. “No.” Would she die at the hand of her own brother? Had Damon become such a monster that he could put a bullet in her head without remorse?
“Why are you protecting him?” Damon asked, shaking her again. “You know your duty. Reveal his identity.”
“No. I can’t.” Meghan took a deep breath. “I won’t.”
“Then I’m going to have to kill you.”
The pain of this betrayal, though only the latest in many, cut sharp and deep. “What’s wrong with you, Damon?” she asked, hating the quiver in her voice. “We’re family. How can you value your stupid hunt over your own sister?”
“Give. Me. The. Name.” Damon acted as if he hadn’t heard her plea. “Now. Before you force me to do something so horrible I don’t know I can ever come back from it.”
His words made her shudder. Still, she kept her mouth closed.
“It’s me,” Gabe said, stepping forward, his hands clenched into fists. “I’m the Helios. She saw me Rejuvenate a few hours ago. Now let Meghan go and drop your weapon. If you have any honor, then fight me like a man.”
Damon laughed, a harsh sound, though he didn’t lower the gun. “I’m more than just a man. Much more. I’m a Hunter,” he boasted. “And you’re about to go down.”
Now he pushed Meghan away, spinning to face off with Gabe. Instead of lowering his gun, he brought it up to bear on Gabe.
“Meghan,” Damon ordered. “You have one chance to redeem yourself. Help me bring this monster to his knees. I’ll even share the glory of this hunt with you. You’ll be revered far and wide. We both will.”
As if she cared. Instead, Meghan ran for Gabe. “I’ll help you fight him,” she promised, meeting his gaze to let him see how much she meant every single word. “I’ve got your back.”
He stared at her, not moving, not speaking. For one awful moment, she thought he might actually refuse. Instead, he jerked his chin in a nod and pushed her behind him. “Keep your back to my back,” he ordered. Then, focusing on her brother, Gabe flexed his powerful shoulders and spread his legs in a warrior’s battle stance.
“Come on, Hunter,” he told Damon, his voice slicing through the silence. “Let’s see if you have the guts to take on both of us.”
Damon cursed, his eyes wild. “Meghan? What the hell? Do you realize if you side with him, you no longer have the right to call yourself Hunter?”
Lifting her chin, she glanced around Gabe’s muscular chest. All the holidays she’d spent alone, all the mocking words and not-so-subtle attempts by her family to make her feel small. For years, they’d festered like a thorn in her spirit. Until she’d finally let them dissolve. “I gave up that right a long time ago. Now, either fight us or go.”
To her surprise, Damon kept his gun trained on them, then bolted for the door. “I’ll be back with reinforcements,” he shouted, disappearing into the shadows. Right after he did, they heard a metallic racket, as if he’d run into equipment and gotten tangled.
“Got him.” Rafe. “He’s disarmed and they’re putting him in handcuffs. I’ll hold him in security until we decide what to do with him.”
He popped his head around the corner, grinning. “Glad you two are safe.”
“He held a gun to Meghan’s head,” Gabe said, wrapping her in his arms and pulling her close. “That should result in at least one more charge.”
Rafe glanced from one to the other. “I’ll leave you alone for now. But at some point, the LVPD will need your statement.”
“Just give us a few minutes,” Gabe said, his gaze locked on hers.
“Can do.” Rafe backed away. “Come to my office when you’re done.” And he left.
Even though Gabe held her tightly, Meghan couldn’t seem to stop shaking.
“Shh,” Gabe murmured, smoothing back her hair. “It’s all right. You’re safe.”
Though she didn’t want to, she forced herself to move away. “And you’re a Helios.”
His gaze sharp, he assessed her. “I am. And you’re a Hunter.”
“I was,” she corrected. “I’m not now, nor will I ever be. I gave that up years ago.”
“Despite that, it’s your heritage, your blood. You were born a Hunter, brought into this world to hunt Helios and bring chaos to mankind.”
“None of that matters to me.”
“It should.”
She made a snorting sound. “Now you’re scaring me. You sound just like them.”
A glint of wonder blazed in his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell him the truth? He had a gun to your head and still you didn’t let on that you knew I was the one he wanted.”
Looking down, she tried to play it off. “It wasn’t a big deal. I’m his sister. He wouldn’t have shot me.”
“Wouldn’t he? I’m thinking you’re not a hundred percent sure of that.”
The fact that he was right sent a sharp jolt of pain through her heart. “That’s so messed up. It shouldn’t be like this. He’s my brother—they’re my family. Yet they’d gladly trade me in for one Helios, Rejuvenated or not.”
At her words, he laughed. The rich, masculine sound coaxed an answering smile from her.
“What’s going to happen to him now?”
“Well, I think he might be due some jail time. Not only did he break into your suite, but he held a gun to your head and threatened you. And me.”
Disheartened, she grimaced. “I don’t suppose there’s any other alternative? I hate to think of my brother in prison.”
“Well, considering he knows I’m a Helios, there is one other alternative.”
When he didn’t elaborate, she prodded. “Which is?”
“Instead of calling the police on him, we erase part of his memory. The part where he learned what I am.”
She held her breath, finally exhaling. “You can do that?”
“Yes. We can.” He tightened his arms around her, as if afraid to let her go. “It’s rarely done. I’ll need to discuss this with Rafe.”
She didn’t really want to know, but she also did, so she asked anyway. “How? How do you erase someone’s memory?”
“With fire. Precisely targeted fire.”
He spoke so casually, reminding her that Helios and flame were intimately interc
hangeable. “It won’t actually hurt him—oh, maybe for a moment—but afterward he’ll have forgotten all about it.”
Relieved, she managed a smile. “That sounds better than actual prison time. Plus, it removes the possibility he might tell someone what he’s learned.”
“Exactly.” He lowered his head and kissed her, long and slow and deep. When they finally came up for air, he released her. “We need to go talk to Rafe and the police. Come on.”
Though she wanted to ask several questions, she nodded. Time enough for discussions about the status of their relationship later. She knew one thing for sure. If Gabe wanted to try and make this work—Helios and Hunter or not—she was all for it.
* * *
Christmas Eve. The magical night celebrated the world over with peace and joy and awe. On the solstice, her brother had been released to her custody, since neither she nor Gabe pressed charges. She’d left the room when Rafe and Gabe did whatever was required to make him forget, and when they called her back in, Damon looked and acted normal. He knew he needed to get back to hunting, but had no recollection of what he’d already found.
Which was good. Meghan sent him off with a fond smile and an aching heart. She knew she’d gradually have to accept that they’d never be a family, at least not the way she wanted.
But at least she had Gabe.
She and Gabe had rarely been apart since, except when he had to work. Since the solstice and his Rejuvenation, Gabe hadn’t appeared to want to let her out of his sight. Which she loved.
With all the craziness, she hadn’t been certain his Christmas invitation still stood, but he’d assured her it did. She’d promised Gabe she’d never turn on him, explained to him that she no longer considered herself a Hunter and wanted nothing to do with their hunt. Ever. She hadn’t for years. She’d held her breath, not really sure if he’d believe her. So she’d also confessed her growing feelings, how easily she believed they could blossom into love. And while it might be too early to talk about forever, she honestly thought they had a real chance.
He did, too. And he’d told her he not only felt the same, but he trusted her. She’d found his quiet masculine confidence sexy and let him know in no uncertain terms.
Now here they were, on Christmas Eve.
As Gabe led her to his rooftop garden, she stopped short at the sight of thousands of twinkling white lights.
“That’s beautiful,” she said, turning in a circle and trying to take it all in.
So many lights. And a tree. A tall and slender Christmas tree lit up so brightly the sight of it made her catch her breath. Next to it, he’d set up a small table, complete with white linens and gleaming china.
“Here you are,” he said, pulling out her chair.
Though she sat, she couldn’t stop looking around. Tears pricked at her eyes as she took in the magical fairyland he’d created just for her.
He cleared his throat. “Are you okay?”
Blinking hard, she nodded. The last thing she wanted to do was cry. “Where’s your grill?” she asked.
“What?” His brow creased. “It’s on the other side, closer to my sliding glass doors. But I’m not using it tonight.”
“Oh. I thought you’d said your Christmas Eve tradition was to grill a couple of steaks.”
His gaze soft as a caress, he studied her. “That’s the old tradition. Tonight, we’re starting a new one.”
Happiness filled her as she nodded. “I like that idea.”
“Good.” He poured them each a glass of wine from a bottle nestled in an ice bucket on a stand next to them. “I took the liberty of ordering us both dinner. They’ll bring it up soon.”
She nodded. The tenderness in his gaze matched what was in her heart.
“Are you ready to meet the folks tomorrow?” His relaxed tone told her he thought it would be no big deal.
“Quite honestly, I’m terrified.”
“Don’t be. They’ll love you, I promise.”
She shook her head, her throat tight. “Why do you think that? They don’t even know me.”
“They’ll love you because I do.”
Her heart lurched. “What did you say?”
“I love you, Meghan Frost.” With his large hand, he cupped her face, making her skin tingle where he touched her. “Growing feelings be damned, let’s dive headfirst. I don’t know where this might lead, but I have a feeling it’ll be somewhere good.”
A warm glow flowed through her. He was right. Nothing this big should be done in small measures. “I love you, too, Gabe Stavros. And I’m up for whatever the future might hold.”
He raised his glass. “To us. And our first Christmas together.”
As she touched her glass to his, the clinking sound reminded her of sleigh bells. Instinctively, she looked up, not sure why.
“Looking for Santa Claus?” he teased.
“Why not? If Helios are real, there very well might be a jolly man in a red suit riding around in a flying sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer.”
His bark of laughter made her respond in kind. And when he reached across the table and kissed her, she knew this would be the best Christmas ever, full of joy and hope, and love. Especially love.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from IMMORTAL BILLIONAIRE by Jane Godman
Get rewarded every time you buy a Harlequin ebook!
Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards
http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010003
Get rewarded every time you buy a Harlequin ebook!
Do you want to earn Free Books and More?
Join Harlequin My Rewards points program and earn points every time you shop.
You can redeem your points to get more of what you love:
Free books
Exclusive gifts and contests
Book recommendations tailored to your reading preferences
Earn 2000 points instantly when you join—getting you closer to redeeming your first free book.
Don’t miss out. Reward the book lover in you!
Click here to sign up
Or visit us online to sign up at
http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010001
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Nocturne story.
You harbor otherworldly desires... Harlequin Nocturne stories delve into dark, sensuous and often dangerous territory, where the normal and paranormal collide.
Enjoy two new stories from Harlequin Nocturne every month!
Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Other ways to keep in touch:
Harlequin.com/newsletters
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
HarlequinBlog.com
Immortal Billionaire
by Jane Godman
Chapter 1
It is easy enough to list in advance, and with absolute certainty, those things for which we are prepared to die. Family, country, religion, the one we love, a valued way of life. Until we are faced with a situation that puts our convictions to the test, we can never know for sure which of these will hold true. There were many lessons to be learned during those strange weeks on the island of Corazón, but, for Connie Lacey, this would prove to be the most important.
* * *
Four years of running and hiding. Four years of looking over her shoulder. Of viewing every man she met with suspicion. Of waking every morning, wondering if today was the day he would finally catch up with her.
The relief of being offered somewhere to hide was so huge it drove every other thought out of her head. She had a brief mental image of herself as a disas
ter survivor and the man opposite as the rescue worker who had just draped an emergency blanket around her shoulders. She resisted the temptation to cling to him, garbling out incoherent thanks until he was forced to gently pry her hands away. They were the wild thoughts spinning through Connie Lacey’s mind as she listened to the clipped tones of the attorney.
With hindsight, she probably should have paid more attention to the strangeness of the offer he was making and the diffident manner with which he made it. Gratitude will do that to you, she decided later. At the time her attention was taken up with grabbing this opportunity. Nod, smile and sign on the dotted line. Don’t ask questions that might make him withdraw this incredible invitation. All she could focus on was the fact that—for thirty days, at least—she would not have to sleep with a knife under her pillow.
“You have one week.” She realized Mr. Reynolds had finished outlining the details of the proposal. “My client will expect you to be in Florida in exactly seven days’ time.”
Connie swallowed hard. She might have known there would be a catch. The logistics of getting to Florida posed a massive problem. Mentally, she reviewed the contents of her wallet. She knew exactly how much cash was in there. It wouldn’t get her across town let alone across the country. Before she could speak, Mr. Reynolds reached into the desk drawer and produced a hefty roll of banknotes. His expression softened slightly as he passed them across the desk.
“Expenses. For the journey and such sundry other items as may be necessary.” He cleared his throat with a hint of something that might have been embarrassment. “My client is a very exacting man. His guests will, for example, be required to dress for dinner during their stay on Corazón.”
Darn! And there I was thinking I had successfully managed to hide the fact that the sole is hanging off one of my sneakers and this sweater has forgotten what color it used to be.
Connie stuffed the wad of cash into her shoulder bag with a muttered word of thanks. If an encounter with Sylvester’s attorney could reduce her to the status of a gibbering wreck, how on earth was she going to cope with the man himself?