Page 64 of Kat Bethel

Oh goddess.

I’d been screaming like a banshee, hadn’t I?

“I’m fine.” The words stuttered out. What lie did I say? That I had the best sex toy money couldn’t buy. There wasn't a man here to grin and take the credit.

“I apologize, ma’am, but you need to evacuate the premises.”

My entire body grew uncomfortably warm as his words sank in. “Did I get a complaint?”

“No,” he answered, shifting back and forth on his feet. Like he was the one who was uncomfortable. “It’s for your safety.”

He was probably right about that, but how could he know?

“Ma’am, get out.” His teeth grounded together.

“Okay.” My voice sounded numb. “Let me get dressed.”

I grabbed my bag and phone, but before I could grab anything else, the cop had a tight grab on my arm and dragged me out of the room.

Hot anger filled the space, and I knew I had seconds to get this situation under control, assuming I could.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Every ounce of fight refilled me, and I dug my heels into the now black carpet. “I said I was leaving.”

Did I want to mess with the hassle of killing a cop? Probably not. But the hassle of Abiel taking care of it would be worse.

I reached to my hip, but only found my underwear band. Right, my pants were tossed aside somewhere.

Each forceful step sparked with static electricity.

Shit!

“Unhand me. I know my rights.” I broke free of his grasp just as he got us onto the concrete of the parking lot. Damn it, I was too late.

I turned back to the motel room, expecting to see Abiel fuming in my shadow.

But something in the corner of my eye made every hunter instinct inside me wake up in alarm, dragging my gaze up instead of to the ground. What I saw left me breathless and frozen in place.

The three-story building was coated in black decay and sagged like it couldn’t handle its own weight anymore. My room was theonly place that looked semi decent, as if it were wrapped in a bubble. The upper levels were slowly sinking in.

“Shit!” The hair on the back of my neck stood up. I’d felt so safe inside, that I’d never considered Abiel might have demolished the place.

Wait.

Where were the screams? Why was no one escaping?

My breathing stuttered. There was only one good answer for that, and I had to swallow twice to get the truth to settle in my gut.

Because no one was alive to try.

My eyes scanned the still full parking lot as my heart pounded. Shit.

The officer grabbed my arms again, and this time I followed his direction. To where a cluster of cop cars, EMS and fire trucks were flashing their lights from the main road. Yellow tape was in the process of going up.

Metal shrieked loudly, making everyone stop and look at the motel. I held my breath waiting for what I knew was coming.

A loud snap cracked through the air, the place starting to collapse as if its own weight was simply too much to bear. The cop used his body as a shield around mine. His hand settled on the back of my neck to protect me from shrapnel.

The thundering sound of metal twisting hurt my ears and a big waft of air blew past us, as a force I couldn’t fathom hit the ground with a shake that threatened to knock me off my feet.