Page 62 of Bound by Vengeance
He strode across the room and rested hishands on her shoulders. “I have no choice. I’ve never had one.”
She resisted telling him there was always achoice, but the words would be futile. “Ronan and Kadence willquestion our relationship.”
“I’ll handle it.”
Jordan groaned behind him, and Nathanglanced back to see the man stirring in his cell. “Come on, let’sgo outside.”
Taking her hand, he felt a small, reassuringsqueeze from her fingers as she healed further. He left the lanternhanging from the concrete wall burning and led her upstairs towardthe steel door. Once an old root cellar, the prison had beenupdated to keep its prisoners restrained, but it had no modernamenities.
“What are you going to tell them aboutJordan?” she asked.
“Everything, including that he attacked you.I mean to see this alliance work, no matter what it takes, and Iwill not withhold vital information.”
“Ronan will kill him.”
“No, he won’t.”
“What Jordan did breaks the rules of thealliance.”
“I know, and he will be punished for it, butIwill be the one to hand down judgment on him.”
He opened the door at the top of the stairsand held it for her. Outside, the twinkling stars were the onlyillumination. The crisp breeze cooled her heated cheeks, sore nose,and battered body as she paused to inhale the fresh air. Claspingher elbow, Nathan led her toward the brick house.
“How long before they get here?” sheasked.
“I don’t know about Kadence and the others;I’m not sure where Ronan’s mansion is. Asher should be here in anhour or so.”
Vicky glanced toward the closed gate. Shestepped closer to Nathan when the wind howled across the clearing,cutting through the coat and sweater she’d stashed at Nathan’splace for her return to her hotel later. Dressing her hadn’t beenfun, but she’d insisted Nathan do it before they left hisapartment.
Nathan slid his arm around her waist,drawing her closer. “I’m going to keep you safe,” he vowed.
“And who’s going to keep you safe?”
“I will.”
She wanted to believe him, but a shiver offoreboding raced along her spine.
CHAPTER 28
Sitting with his back against the livingroom wall, Nathan roused from his brief nap when Vicky shifted inhis arms and nestled against his chest. Her hair tickled his nose,but he didn’t push it away; he wanted every sensation he could getfrom her right now. He could have lost her today.
He held her closer as anger and terrorbattled within him over the realization. As an immortal, purebredvampire, she was more powerful than he was and less vulnerable todeath, yet hehadto protect her. When she murmuredsomething before settling into sleep again, he nuzzled her silkenhair.
From across the way, headlights bounced upand down as they splashed through the kitchen windows. Lifting hishead, he watched as the approaching lights stopped. The glowremained focused on the windows as car doors opened.
He tried to extricate himself from Vickywithout waking her, but she stirred when he moved. “They’re here,”he said as he kissed the top of her head.
She lifted her hand to cover her yawn.
“Are you healed?” he asked as he rose andclasped her hand.
“Getting there.”
“Good.”
Keeping her hand in his, he strolled over tothe door and pulled it open. Before he could step outside, Vickytugged her hand away from him. She didn’t know what he planned totell them about her being here, but she’d prefer if they didn’tthink he was her mate, and strolling outside holding his hand wouldgive her away. She couldn’t stand it if they pitied her, and shefeared they would if they learned about her doomedrelationship.
Nathan strode over to where Ronan stoodbeside one of the SUVs. He’d positioned himself so he was in frontof Kadence and had her pinned against the vehicle. Asher stood nextto the other SUV, his eyebrows in his hairline as he gawked at thevamps, then Nathan, and back again. Kadence tried to push pastRonan when she spotted Nathan, but the vampire didn’t move.
