On the Prowl (Bad Things #2)(35)

“Please tell me that one of you knows a lot about motors,” she pleaded, her smile winking again.

Marcos looked at Julian.

Julian held his gaze a moment, communicating that Marcos was not to move, not yet, then he glanced back at the woman. “You’re out here alone?”

“Yes, I am—wait, I’m not supposed to say that, am I?” She gave a nervous laugh. “I mean, you’re always supposed to say that you have a buddy with you for safety if strangers ask…”

No one else was on the boat. He didn’t hear anyone else. Didn’t smell anyone else.

“But you two are my heroes, right?” she continued. Her hands ducked behind the railing. “You’re not going to hurt me?”

“We don’t have any plans to hurt you,” Marcos called.

It was looking as if they didn’t.

“That’s good.” Her smile came back, but her hands stayed down. “What happened to the woman on the beach? Where did she go?”

Julian tensed.

“I really need to find her…” And the woman lifted her hands. She had a gun gripped in one. Without another word, she fired—first at Julian, and the blast hit him in the chest. Fucking hell. The pain slammed hard into him, burning and he stumbled back. He fell onto the deck of the Devil’s Prize even as he saw her swing the gun toward Marcos.

Marcos was human. A shot could kill him.

And Marcos…

He’s my friend.

Roaring, Julian leapt up.

“I’m really sorry about this,” the woman was saying. “But I don’t have a choice. I have to distract, you see. Death has to come.”

The bullet fired. But it didn’t hit Marcos because Julian was in front of him. The bullet thudded into Julian’s side and that was when he realized that it wasn’t just a regular round.

He could feel the drug spreading through his system. Thickening. Numbing him. He sagged to his knees.

She fired again. This time, she hit Marcos.

“I have to find the woman from the beach,” she said. “Where did she go?” She tucked the gun into her waistband and jumped into the water. Julian struggled to keep his eyes open. She’d smelled human. She’d seemed innocent.

He should have known f*cking better. He was softening because of Rose. Becoming weak. That couldn’t be allowed.

The woman pulled herself onto the Devil’s Prize. Water dripped down her body as she came toward him. She grabbed his head, tipping it back and he was just f*cking helpless. Couldn’t even move at all.

She shoved the gun under his chin. “It got wet, so it might not fire…”

He stared at her. That was all he could do.

“How many guards are on the island? Where’s the girl?”

Even if he could have talked, he wouldn’t have said a word.

“Fine then.” She sighed. And she shot him again. Despite being soaking wet, the gun worked and the tranq bullet flew up through his chin.





Chapter Ten


Rayce stiffened just as they reached the front door of the house. “Gunfire.”

Yes, she’d heard it, too. And Rose had already whirled and started running back down that path, but then Rayce grabbed her, jerking her to a stand-still.

“No! Dammit, this could be a trap!”

Everything could be a trap these days. “Julian…”

“Is a big f*cking shifter who can take care of himself. He’s got killer claws and if I let you run into danger, he’ll use those claws on me.” Rayce’s face was grim. “Get inside the house. I’ll set the security and you’ll be safe in there.”

Why did people persist in treating her like a helpless human? She wasn’t. Far from it. “We are wasting time.” Then, using her vamp strength, she shoved him away from her. “If Julian needs me, I’m there.”

She didn’t wait for another argument. She turned and rushed down the path. She’d gone only a few frantic feet when she heard the cry.

“Help me!” A woman’s voice, drifting on the wind. “Help…”

She and Rayce didn’t say another word. They ran toward that call and then they saw her. A woman with long hair, soaking wet, stumbling up the path. Her hands were at her sides, her body weaving.

“Please…” The woman fell to her knees. “Help me.”

“Human,” Rayce said.

A human right in front of them and Julian nowhere to be seen.

Rose locked her legs and stared at the woman with fury growing in her. “What did you do?”

The woman’s head had fallen forward. Her body had curled in on itself, but at Rose’s words, her head tipped back. She smiled. “Found you.” Glee was in her voice. Satisfaction. And then she yanked her hand up. She’d grabbed a weapon from beneath her shirt, one she’d hidden. She pointed it at Rose and pulled the trigger.

But Rose leapt to the side. The bullet missed her even as Rayce gave a guttural cry and sprang forward. He bounded toward the woman and she fired at him. Shooting once, twice.

One bullet hit him in the shoulder. He didn’t stop. He grabbed her, his hands going right for the woman’s throat. The gun dropped from her hand and clattered to the ground.

His hands tightened around her neck.