Jordan Summers - [Dead World 01] (22 page)

"Yes."

Jim's face paled.

Red took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"I'd
like you to analyze this for me.
I need to know whose
blood this is."

His bushy brows furrowed, turning his eyes into
tiny gleaming pinpricks. "Where did you find
that? It
wasn't at the scene, was it? Morgan didn't mention
finding any clothing." His voice rose with
the level of
his concern.

"No, I didn't find the shirt with Moira's
body." Red's throat closed, nearly choking off her words. She'd never
remove evidence from a scene. Why would he think such a thing?

Because you 're acting suspicious,
the little voice in her head said.

'Then where did you get it? I'll need to know for my
reports."
And my own curiosity
was left unspoken. He reached for
the bag.

Red drew it away from his grasp, suddenly unsure of
her decision. She knew she was being ridiculous,
but for the first time in her life she was actually scared.
The feeling was alien and decidedly unwelcome.
Red straightened, throwing her shoulders back and lifting
her chin. She was no coward. She'd face the truth
head
on as she faced life. Red
forced her muscles forward,
releasing the bag and its contents
reluctantly into his care.

"I'd appreciate it if you'd keep this out of the
official reports for the time being. I'd prefer that it remain between
us," she said.

He grimaced. "I'd need to know why you're asking
this of me before I complied. It would also help to know who you're after. I
don't want to get in trouble with the tactical team for suppressing evidence.
They would pull my license and imprison me."

"This doesn't have anything to do with IPTT and
I'm not after anyone specific. I'll take full responsibility for your actions.
You have my word."

"Why would you do that?" Jim looked uneasy.
"Have you mentioned this to Morgan?" "No."

Red knew he didn't believe her. He probably suspected
a setup and she couldn't really blame him. The tactical team hadn't always been
a respected law-enforcement agency. There was a time when they'd savaged the
continent in lawless abandon. Many had died for no reason.

That had been years ago, long before her grandfather
had taken over leadership. Hell, he hadn't even been born when the massacres
occurred, but some people never forgot the team's sordid past. And it looked as
if Jim was one of them.

"I'm asking for your help.
I rarely, if ever, do that."

Compassion filled his face, but the resolve in his
voice remained steady. "Gina, whose shirt is this?" he asked, lifting
the bag to take another look at the bloody contents.

"Mine," she said softly.

chapter
twelve

Who
does Roark
Montgomery
think he is,
snapping at me like an
angry mongrel dog?

I don't take orders from him. I take orders
from no man. He should know that by now, but he
obviously
needs a reminder.

I thought we had an understanding, but I was wrong. My
fist rockets into a nearby wall, crumbling the plaster. It tumbles onto the
floor, leaving a pile of rubble behind. Pain reverberates up my arm and blood
covers my knuckles.

My eyes pinch shut to relish the
sensation. It passes too quickly and I find myself slowly lapping the signs of
injury away. The coppery taste of my essence tick
les my tongue, while at the same time scorches my
throat. Yet even that small pleasure does little
to di
minish my anger.

The beast struggles against my mental bindings,
threatening to rise, forcing me to tamp it down. It wouldn't do to show my true
self at present. For now I have the role of protector to play. I cannot give
in,
no matter how tempting. The goal of
living out in the
open is near.

Our heated conversation keeps repeating in my mind
like a stuck vidreel. I told Roark that I'd take care of Gina Santiago. And I
will. . . just not the way he expects. My word is not to be questioned.

I have more honor in one claw than he has in his
entire body. He won't even do his own dirty work. A sign of weakness if there
ever was one. He prefers someone with superior intelligence to act in his
stead.

Sniveling useless excuse for a human. I cannot wait
until I can feast upon his entrails. Sadly, they'll
probably be bitter like the man. I can no longer worry
about
him. He's taken far too much of my time as it is. My thoughts should be on more
pleasurable pursuits.

Ah, Gina ...

My lovely Gina.

I long to touch you.

The other women were pale imitations compared
to you, dearest mate. Your strength makes you
perfect
for ruling at my side. I don't think it will take much to
convince you. All you need to hear is the truth,
then you'll be more than willing to take your rightful
place. I
can sense these things.

Why do you hole up in the room
with death sur
rounding
you? Does the stench of dissection not sicken
you? No matter. Soon you'll return to the place
you
consider safe.
That's when I'll make my move.

I have the cloth bag to slip over
your lovely head. I
made
sure it was downy soft and I promise I won't
tie it
too
tight around your slender throat. I want you alive
when I'm fucking you. Then you will know what it feels like to have a real man
between your thighs.

And oh, what lovely thighs they are.

I can't wait to have your long legs clasped behind my
back, squeezing my sides. I close my eyes and can almost see your lips parted
in passion, your dark head thrown back in preparation for my mark.

If I flicked my tongue, I feel as if I could taste the
salt upon your pale skin.

Inhaling, I try to capture your luscious fragrance,
only to meet with sterilized putridity. Opening my eyes, I recall where I am
and what surrounds me. The disappointment is intense and immediate. People
pass, giving me friendly nods and smiles as if they're unaware of how revolted
I am to be here.

Straightening my clothing, I respond in kind, then
quickly get back to work.

I must bide my time. There is
still much to be done.
People expect me
to solve their problems. No one suspects how tired I am of them looking to me
for . support. If they aren't strong enough to survive on their own, then they
should consider death preferable.

The time passes slowly. I make a show of everything
that I do for I want people to remember seeing
me.
It'll
be difficult to
slip
away undetected, but
I'll
manage somehow. The sun begins its gradual
descent.
My anticipation grows with
the length of each shadow.

Gina should be back at the share space by now.

I continue to work, waiting for an opportune moment
to take my leave. It comes during shift change. I'm
finally free to do what needs to be done to ensure
the survival
of my people.

Excitement burns through my body as I look forward to
our joining. The drive seems to take forever
as
I weave through traffic, when I know it's only been
minutes. I pull
around the back. The last thing I need is for someone to notice my car.

The warm desert air welcomes me
like an old friend as I leave the vehicle. I don't bother to lock it. I'll need
to depart quickly. I
gaze at the sky. The moon is nearly
full.
Soon Gina and
I
will share the night together,
worshiping the moon while sating our bodies on the
flesh of the weak.

Glancing around once more to ensure no one has noticed
my presence, I enter the building. It isn't hard. I helped set up the security
system. I have access to half the homes in this town and no one is the wiser.

Insulated water barrels line the bare wall, waiting to
be purchased by customers. Each drum is num
bered
in the order that it was received, not that water
ever has a chance to
go stale.

Jesse's attention to detail
might be the death of her
someday. The smell of chemical purifiers saturates the
tiny room. I wiggle my nose to
clear it. It wouldn't do to sneeze. I listen, but hear no sounds beyond the air
filtration system.

The share space is empty. I don't sense Jesse or Gina
around. Disappointing, but not doom worthy. There's still time. I settle into
the oncoming dark
ness, fully prepared to
wait for as long as it takes. I'm
nothing if not patient.

An hour passes and I begin to pace. Where could
she be? Glancing at my watch, I calculate how
much
time I have left. Not much. I must return soon before I'm missed.
The walls seem to close in around me. I gasp in an attempt to breathe, then tug
at my shirt, loosening the collar.

A few minutes more tick by and I must be willing to
face the facts. Someone has delayed my beloved's
arrival. My hands curl into fists in a move that I hope
will
suppress my disappointment. It doesn't work. I have an inkling of where Gina is
and who she's with. It doesn't bode well for his future.

I turn to depart the same way I arrived when the front
door opens and bangs shut. Her delicious aroma
greets me a second before I see her. Destiny comes to
my aid.

I watch as Gina bounces through the door, her long
black hair slipping carelessly out of its bindings. The urge to run my fingers
through its silken mass is
strong. Then her
scent hits me again, this time stronger
and on a primitive level. Like
the desert after a rain
storm, her musk
permeates the air.

My canines begin to grow without the help of the
change. Strange, but it's just another sign that
she's the
one. I welcome the pain for it reassures me that this moment
is real. I have waited a lifetime for a woman
like
her. I will not let this opportunity slip past me.

Gina glances around wide-eyed,
but I move behind
a thick pillar before
she can sec me. Her senses are
keen, but
mine are better. My steps are silent as I ma
neuver into place and wait
for her to pass. She's getting closer. I can almost taste her now. I lick my
fangs in exhilaration.

Her body is tense. I can see it in her shoulders. She
practically thrums. I know how to make her relax. My palms itch and my cock
twitches at the thought.

The bag slips through my fingertips as I open it wide
in preparation. It should easily slide over her head. I must time this
perfectly. Goodness knows I don't want to ruin the surprise.

I expect her to fight back. I'd be disappointed if she
did not. A true mating can't take place without a bit of violence and blood to
seal the union. Will her nails rake my flesh? Will she bite? I certainly hope
so. It'll only add to my excitement.

I need to steady my breathing or she'll hear me. I
feel like a pup when it first catches whiff of a female
in heat. It doesn't really know what to do, but it never
forgets.

Gina's round hips sway as she walks toward the
bar, drawing my attention to her apple-shaped
bottom,
which plumps her pants enticingly. Drool floods my mouth. The
urge to take her from behind is strong.

Too strong for me to resist any longer.

I step out from my hiding place. From here I can
almost touch her. I force my hands down and fist the corners of the bag. Just a
few more inches and it'll slip over her head. The ropes will do the rest.

Afterward, I won't have to worry about her cries.
Not that
I'm
concerned.
I'll
kill anyone
who tries to
take away what's rightfully mine. The thought of squeezing
the life out of someone brings a smile to my face and instantly relaxes me.

I move forward, careful to keep my body downwind. I'm
close now. Oh so close. I'm surprised she can't sense my presence or feel my
hot breath on her skin. She must be distracted.

I take another step and something creaks beneath my
feet. That's unexpected. I curse a blue streak under my breath, but it's too
late. She's discovered me.

Gina's head snaps up. Alert. "Jesse is that
you?"

She starts to look around, but I can't allow that to
happen. There is no time to waste. My muscles bunch and quiver, then I lunge
for her. We collide and my body weight carries us forward, throwing her into
the bar. Gina's breath escapes on a gasp and she crumples beneath me. The
sensation is exquisite. So soft. So sweet. So wonderful. I follow her down,
allowing my length to blanket her.