Page 13 of Bound by Vengeance
Vicky went back inside, retrieved theirweapons, and erased as much evidence of their fight as she couldbefore rejoining him.
“All set inside?” he asked.
“Yes.”
He jumped out of the back of the truck andwalked to the driver’s side door. “Get in.”
The passenger door squeaked when she pulledit open and slid onto the bench seat. Yellow stuffing poked throughthe black vinyl interior in small patches; in other areas, silverduct tape covered the holes in the seat and dashboard.
Exhausted, Vicky’s head fell against thewindow behind her as Nathan shifted the truck into first and pulledout of the alley.
“I’m sorry I got you involved in this,” shemurmured.
“I got myself involved,” he replied as hesteered through the quiet neighborhood streets. “I could have leftyou there.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because I didn’t want anything bad tohappen to you,” he admitted.
“Why not?”
“Because you’re an ally.”
He downshifted as they stopped at a redlight. On the street corner, a woman waved at him and gave a smallwiggle of her hips. A group of young adults walking by stopped towhistle appreciatively at the woman; she responded with herprice.
When the light turned green, he drovethrough the intersection and toward the highway. He knew theperfect place to dispose of the remains outside the city. Mergingonto the highway, he shifted into fifth and draped his arm acrossthe back of the seat.
Beside him, Vicky yawned and lowered herhead into her hands to rub at her temples. Without thinking, hegrasped her nape to massage the taut muscles there. She stiffenedagainst him before going limp beneath his touch. Nathan’s pulsepicked up and his breathing accelerated as his prior awareness ofher as a woman returned with a vengeance.
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat andforced himself to focus on the road, instead of her. The last thinghe needed was to get pulled over with his makeshift hearse, but hecouldn’t bring himself to release her.
He nudged her toward him, drawing hercloser. When her head fell onto his shoulder, his earlier erectionreturned as he inhaled her jasmine scent. He didn’t know what itwas about this woman, but she tempted his lust and protectiveimpulses like no other. If it meant keeping her safe, he’d kill athousand more Savages.
• • •
Vicky’s eyes fluttered open when the truckcame to a stop in front of an imposing gate. She hadn’t meant tofall asleep, but the last thing she remembered was resting her headon Nathan’s chest.
“Where are we?” she murmured.
“Somewhere safe,” he replied, his deep voicevibrating his chest against her ear.
Vicky resisted cuddling closer to the warmthhe emanated and the comfort he brought her.He’s a hunter! Andnot just any hunter, but the leader of them all and your possibledemise!
The reminder had her bolting upright.Intense physical attraction or not, she had to stay away fromhim.
“I’ll be right back.” Nathan opened his doorand hopped out of the truck.
The glow of the headlights illuminated hislean frame when he stalked toward a keypad beside the gate.Something about the way he moved called to her like a siren calledto the sailors, and she found herself imagining what it would feellike to have him inside her, moving with that same fluid grace.
“You’re acting like a dog in heat,” shescolded herself.
Tearing her gaze away from him, she refusedto look at Nathan again as she surveyed her surroundings. A brickwall spread out as far as she could see in either direction beforebeing swallowed by woods.
A sinking feeling filled her as Nathanjogged back to the truck and climbed inside. The gates groaned whenthey crept open.
“Are we at the hunter compound?” sheinquired.
“The old one,” he replied. “We moved fromhere after Kadence became a vampire, but we kept the property.”
