Angel of Darkness (The Fallen #1)(64)

She dropped the shirt. Her fingers lifted to wrap around his shoulders and hang on tight. The future wouldn’t, couldn’t matter. Now was all that mattered. Making a memory, having something to take with her when she went to the next life.

Hell.

Her mouth opened wider.

Then she heard the snarl and roar of engines. Motorcycle engines. Not too near. Not outside, not just yet.

But coming closer.

She held the kiss for a moment longer. Why hadn’t he just stayed away? I gave him a chance.

Vengeance.

Keenan lifted his mouth. “Nicole.” He breathed her name.

“Mike is coming for me.” She hadn’t wanted to kill.

“You knew he would.”

She just hadn’t expected him to find her so quickly. But a hunter like Mike would have connections, and probably eyes everywhere. “He’s coming while I’m weak.” She pressed her forehead against Keenan’s shoulder. His arms were around her and even though death was coming, she felt safe right there.

“He won’t touch you.”

Because she had, what, eight days left? Seven? Less? Az hadn’t actually said she had ten ... less than ten. Angels might not lie, but she had the feeling they might not always tell the full truth, either. Angel semantics.

“I killed his brother.” Because Grim had thought Jeff was too much of a threat. The hunter had already taken out a dozen vamps. She’d been the bait to take down the big gun. “If I were him, I’d come after me, too.” But she didn’t want to kill Mike. Stop him from killing her, yes, but kill him?

I already have enough blood on my hands. Killing him won’t get me any forgiveness.

Like there was a chance of that happening.

Mike wasn’t coming alone. She heard the growls from the other bikes.

“They can’t beat us both,” Keenan said.

No. The humans would lose. They’d die. Because even though she was weak, Keenan wasn’t.

But it wasn’t his fight.

“They’re not hurting you,” he told her and edged away.

She bent and grabbed her shirt, yanking it on as he pulled up a pair of jeans. “I wanted him to walk away.”

He laughed at that. “And you really think you’re so different from the woman you were before the bite?” His blond head shook. “Sweet, a cold-blooded killer wouldn’t care, human or no.” He turned away. “I’ll take care of them.”

“What? No, you’re an angel, your job is—”

“Death.” He yanked open the door. “The last time I hesitated, an innocent woman became a vampire.” He glanced back at her. “I won’t make the same mistake.”

Then he was gone—racing out to face the vampire hunters who didn’t want his blood.

Mine.

She ran after him because Nicole had learned—the hard way—how to fight her own battles.

If she had to do it, she’d kill Mike because he wasn’t sending her to hell.

Though it looked like she’d have to send him there.





CHAPTER TWELVE



“Still got your guard dog, bitch?” Mike shouted the minute he saw Nicole step onto the wooden porch.

Keenan locked his back teeth. The human had been given every chance, but still he sought death. Humans. Didn’t they understand it really was all about free will?

Mike could have walked away ...

Instead of coming straight for death.

“You gonna hide behind him again this time?” Mike stalked closer, and then his left hand came up—a hand holding a gun. “Do it. Cause I want to see just how strong that bastard is.”

Keenan rolled his shoulders but Nicole jumped in front of him. “My fight,” she whispered to him, then she raised her voice and called out to Mike, “This is your last chance. I don’t want to kill you—”

“I want to kill you, bitch! I want to slice your throat open, rip out your heart, cut the skin right off—”

“I don’t want to,” she yelled over his threats. “But I will.” Absolute certainty. Then, voice dropping, turning mean and cold, she said, “Just like I killed your brother.”

The five men on the bikes behind Mike didn’t move. Mike’s face hardened, twisting with hate.

“This time, I’m the one who’s ready.” Mike aimed the gun at Nicole. “Ready to die, vamp?”

“You mean again?” Nicole asked.

Keenan knew that even during the day, bullets wouldn’t kill her.

She stalked toward Mike, the thud of her footsteps seeming to echo as she headed down the front stoop. “No, I’m not particularly ready to—”

He shot her.

She’d dodged to the side, so the bullet missed her chest, but Keenan heard it thud as the bullet went into her shoulder. She trembled a bit and slid back a step. But then she shook her head. “Try again.”

Keenan’s admiration for her kicked up a notch.

She glanced back and her gaze met Keenan’s for an instant. “Stay back ... my fight.”

The others didn’t get off their bikes. Didn’t make a move for their weapons. Maybe they were just there to watch the show.

He’d be sure to give them a real fine show.