Avenging Angel (The Fallen #4)(72)

For the shifter, blood was all that mattered.

Marna needed to see, he was more than that. He’d done everything for her. Would keep doing everything.

“I want you at my side,” the words slipped from him.

Her head jerked up. She could hear him over the flames. Good.

She tried to step toward him—toward the stairs—but a chunk of burning ceiling fell down and crashed near her feet. He’d planned this blaze so well. He’d gotten very good at controlling the fire. From the outside, it had looked as if a giant explosion had rocked the building, sending glass and debris flying. The cops, when they finally came, would think a detonation of some sort had gone off.

They’d never realize the blaze had been the result of a supernatural just playing with some fire. Oh, how he did enjoy the burn.

“Who are you?” she shouted.

His smile dimmed. Why hadn’t she realized who he was yet? “I’m the one who’s giving you justice.” What she deserved.

He was giving them all what they deserved.

His hand lifted. He’d touched her before. Did she remember? He wanted to touch her again.

“Marna!”

But that shifter just kept getting in the way.

She turned at the roar of her name, but she didn’t leave the flames. Maybe she liked the heat as much as he did.

A wall crashed down. Not because of the flames, but because Tanner Chance had kicked it down. “Marna!”

He’d left his brother behind. Left him to die, and now he was coming after Marna.

Unexpected.

Annoying.

Tanner leapt across the flames and didn’t even gasp when they licked against his skin. But by now, that shifter should be used to pain. He had enough scars on his body to prove it.

Maybe he even liked the pain.

Tanner caught Marna’s hand. “We have to get out of here!” The crackling fire tried to drown out his words.

She shook her head and pointed up.

To me.

But Tanner pulled her close, wrapped his arms around her, and started carrying her out.

Fool. Playing the hero. Marna didn’t need rescuing. The fire would never hurt her.

But Tanner would. He’d destroy her. Unless the shifter was destroyed first.

Turning away from the flames, the watcher eased back out onto the building’s high ledge. The scent of the fire filled his nose. He spread his arms— And fell.





Marna was fighting him. Kicking. Punching. Scratching. Tanner tightened his hold on her. Didn’t the woman realize when she was walking right into a burning hell of a trap? That * was jerking them around. Moving them like freaking pieces on a chess set.

Tanner had always hated that game.

No more.

He heard the wail of sirens the instant he burst outside that hellhole of a building. The cavalry would be coming in fast, and he was stuck being on foot, with no wheels worth stealing anywhere around.

Screwed.

But at least they were all alive. For the moment.

“Let go!” Marna shoved harder and broke free of his grasp—because he let her—but when she whirled to race into the inferno again, Tanner roped an arm around her waist and pulled her back against him.

“Do you want to die that badly?” The words were ripped from him. “Is being here, on earth, really such a hell to you?”

She stilled. Then, panting, Marna glanced over her shoulder at him. “He . . . he was there. I heard him. Talking to me.” Her gaze returned to the fire. “I could have killed him tonight.”

“Or he could have killed you.” Then what would I have done?

The flames and ash and smoke were clogging his nose. Choking him. Those scents were so strong that he couldn’t smell the SOB who’d been in that building. Right then, he couldn’t smell anything but the fire.

Maybe the guy in that building would do them all a favor and burn.

“Need a hand?” a cold, mocking voice asked. A voice that Tanner recognized instantly.

Though he hadn’t smelled the man’s approach, Tanner didn’t start in surprise. It seemed only fitting that the last vamp he wanted to see would be the one to come crashing this nightmare.

“Riley?” Marna asked and he heard her surprise.

Tanner turned slowly. Riley stood next to Cody’s prone body. Just the sight of Cody caused his gut to clench. How the hell was he still fighting to live?

“Don’t run again,” Tanner growled at Marna and rushed back to his brother. He lifted him, and Cody’s eyes didn’t open, but his chest still rose and fell in a ragged pattern.

“Instead of running, why don’t we drive?” Riley suggested. He lifted a pair of keys and dangled them from his fingertips. “I’ve got wheels close by.” He glanced at the fire. “From the look of things, you could all use a fast ride out of here.”

“Why are you trying to help us??” Tanner demanded as his hold tightened on Cody. His brother’s blood was on him. “You’re being a good Samaritan?” ’Cause that’s the kind of guy he was? Bull. More likely he was just looking for another chance to get Marna’s blood.

“I’m paying a debt.” The vampire was staring at Marna. Looking like he could freaking eat her. No chance, dick. No chance. “But if you don’t want my help . . .” Riley began to back away.