Scorched Ice (Fire and Ice #3)(14)

“So have I, with you,” she said. “I’m not ready to be out of a job, but I’m also not ready to be a bar owner. I think maybe it’s time to move on, to see a little bit more of the world at night.” She rested her hand against his cheek. “Besides, I think things are complicated enough in our lives without throwing the murder bar into the mix.”

“If you change your mind, I’ll buy it from Clint tomorrow.”

“I love you.”

“Good, because you’re stuck with me for a long time.”

“Wouldn’t have chosen anyone else.”

“Neither would I,” he replied truthfully.

And he wouldn’t have. She was everything he could have asked for in a mate and so much more—strong, assured, and willing to do whatever had to be done in order to ensure they both survived. She’d calmed the monster within him, but she also accepted his sometimes brutal nature and was willing to unleash her own savagery when it became necessary. She was a fighter, a survivor, and she was his.

“Get to painting, Dennis,” she said with a wink and handed him the paintbrush he hadn’t realized she’d slipped from his hand.





CHAPTER 6


One month later

Quinn kept her face impassive as she watched the growing crowd of vampires gathering before them. No matter the indifferent front she put on, being so close to so many vamps again had her completely on edge. She kept her power turned on and honed into those around her in case she needed to unleash it on the vamps should they decide to attack.

Turning her head, Quinn took in the remains of the hotel where she’d been held captive by Earl. The charred pieces of wood lay in a tumbled heap in the center of the large clearing. The burnt scent of wood and smoke still permeated the air.

The fire department had come to put out the flames, but by the time they’d known about the fire and arrived at this desolate area, the hotel had been completely unsalvageable. No vampire remains had been uncovered as the sun had burnt away any that might have survived the fire.

Beneath the crumpled lumber of the hotel, a piece of the pool Helena had made her bathe in was visible. Quinn’s hands balled at her sides at the reminder of the vile scrutiny Helena had surveyed her with. The helpless feeling she’d experienced while she’d been compelled to do whatever Earl willed her to do engulfed her once again. She hated being back here, hated the sight and smell of this place and the memories it evoked, but it was necessary.

The past month had been relatively quiet. After returning to Canada three weeks ago, Cassie and Devon had arrived on her doorstep last night. Clint had put the bar up for sale, but he hadn’t had any luck in selling it until last week. A man from Wyoming had bought it to get away from the winters there. Quinn didn’t know if the man planned to turn it into a haunted themed bar or not. Clint hadn’t asked him. She suspected it was because Clint would have changed his mind about selling the place if the man did have plans to do so.

Instead of selling her place, Hawtie had decided to turn the running of her strip club over to some of her employees while she and Clint traveled. The girls had agreed to keep the place running while Hawtie was away. In return, they were working toward buying the place from her. Hawtie happily agreed to let them arrange a buyout plan, as she didn’t want to leave her girls with no place to work.

Clint and Hawtie originally planned to hit the road in their new RV immediately after selling his place, but they’d decided to stay until this meeting ended. Clint somehow convinced Hawtie to stay in town tonight, but she was as happy about it as a cat getting a bath.

Quinn glanced at Julian beside her. His hair had grown out some; the black patches from where the sun had burnt him were gone. The short hair emphasized the angles of his face, making him more handsome and far more lethal looking as his icy eyes surveyed the growing crowd. His bored expression revealed nothing of his thoughts. However, if he hadn’t already promised these vamps safe passage, she had a feeling he would slaughter them all without a second’s hesitation.

Standing beside him, Devon wore a nearly identical expression of boredom. Cassie stood to Devon’s left, her face as emotionless as theirs. Chris, Melissa, Dani, Clint, Luther, and Lou stood spread out to the sides of all of them. Their weapons remained sheathed, but she had no doubt they could all have them free and ready for battle in a second.

Quinn surveyed the vamps gathering before them. Most of them kept glancing around for an escape route, and more than a third looked about to bolt now. The vampires watched each other and made sure to remain a good distance apart in case someone turned violent or they had to flee quickly.

All of the vamps also stayed a good thirty feet away from where she stood with the others. Julian had chosen to have the backdrop of the decimated hotel behind them as a reminder of what they were capable of should any of the vamps get the idea to attack.

“There’s more than I’d expected,” Melissa said as more shadows slipped forward to join the growing crowd.

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Dani asked.

“I think it’s a sign they might be willing to trust us,” Clint said as he chewed on a piece of gum and rested his hands on the guns holstered at his sides—guns loaded with wooden bullets.

“Or they’re hoping to kill us all,” Lou replied.

Quinn’s jaw clenched at his words. It was a possibility, but the vampires had to know many of them would die if they attempted it. The deaths of hundreds of their fellow vampires in the hotel had to be enough proof of that, she hoped. However, she knew some vamps were cocky enough to believe they could be the ones to take them down.