Undead Or Alive (Bad Things #3)(28)

Because something had changed for her, too. When a man died for you, it changed everything.

“They can try.” He didn’t seem worried. His steps didn’t falter. “But I’ve finally got something worth fighting for.”

And her heart warmed.

She rested her head against his chest. Her whole body ached, but she was a fast healer—another left-over trait from a time long gone. It was also damn hard for her to die—most days. She doubted a human would have walked away from that crash—or even been carried away—alive. But thanks to Cass and her own genetics, she’d survived.

Now what?

They made it to a road. A small country road. She didn’t know if they were in Mississippi or Alabama or Florida. She just knew Cass was covered in blood, testimony to the injuries he’d taken for her—and he was holding her so carefully in his arms.

“Lift up your thumb, sweets,” Cass murmured to her. “Help is on the way.”

She didn’t hear—

The rumble of a truck’s engine reached her ears just as she saw the vehicle round the curve on the narrow road. Cass had better hearing than she did. The man just kept surprising her.

Supernatural tricks.

She lifted her thumb. “He’s not going to stop.”

Cass walked into the middle of the road. “I won’t give him a choice.”

She turned her head to stare at the truck that was fast approaching them. The last thing she wanted was a head-to-head impact after the plane crash and if that truck didn’t slow…

“Smile, sweets. No one can resist your smile.”

She smiled, knowing that what Cass was saying was utter bullshit.

But the truck stopped. Probably because a blood-covered man was in the middle of the road, clutching a stunned-looking woman. Not because of her smile.

“What happened?” An older man with grizzled cheeks and white hair hopped out of the truck. “I saw that cloud of dark smoke and thought someone needed help!”

Ah, the cloud of dark smoke…from their plane crash. Right. She was sure the crash would be creating all sorts of trouble. Human authorities would swarm soon to the scene.

“We need a ride,” Cass said. “We’re gonna need that truck.”

The old man blinked. “What?”

Her gut clenched. She put her lips near Cass’s ear. “Do not kill that man.”

Cass’s head turned. His lips brushed hers. “I was going to pay him.”

Oh. Awesome.

He looked back at the man. “How much? For the truck…and to forget you ever saw us?”

Wait…was Cass forgetting that they had nothing on them? They’d just left a plane crash for goodness sake!

“Five grand,” the driver spit out, looking shocked that he’d even made that statement.

“Give me your name and your address.”

“J-John Parker. I live at 5808 Glendale…”

“Start walking, John. I’ll see that you get the money.”

John’s face reddened. “You think I’m leaving you with my truck? Oh, hell, no.”

Cass sighed. Then he sat Amber down on her feet. Before she could even blink, he had his scythe in his hand.

And the human was backing away—fast. Not just backing away—running. Running down the road so fast she would have thought he was a kid.

“Guess that means we get the truck.” Cass looked back at her. “But don’t worry, I’ll send him the money. I’m a man of my word.”

Or he had been. But if he was really going to betray Luke…

She glanced back at the dark smoke billowing in the air. “How fast do you think that truck can go?”

“Let’s find out…”

***

Luke Thorne slammed down into the middle of the wreckage, his heart racing and a scream still echoing in his ears. “Amber!”

The still flickering flames vanished in an instant but the thick, black smoke kept billowing. He rushed to the left, to the right, searching those twisted chunks of metal. Fear was an acid in his throat. Fear…he hated fear.

Luke! Leo! Amber’s voice had been in his mind, her terror so real that it still flooded him.

“What did you do?”

Luke stiffened. He knew that voice—it could have been his own voice. He turned.

His voice. His face.

His twin.

“Where is Amber?” Leo’s wings were out, the scales seeming to glow. Fury had twisted his face. “What did you do to her?”

“Nothing.” Why was he always the bad guy? Oh, wait…

Leo grabbed him, his fingers digging deep into Luke’s shoulders—not fingers, but claws. When Leo’s emotions got the better of him, his true form often emerged. “I know you hired the Reaper to find her. Why? You were supposed to let her go! We both were!”

“I changed my mind.”

Leo threw him into the air and Luke slammed into what he thought might have been the plane’s wing.

“Is she dead?” Leo’s voice was quieter now. And with the Lord of the Light, quiet was a danger signal.

Just as it was for Luke.

Luke took a slow, deep breath and rose to his full height. His wings weren’t out. Neither were his claws. Yet.

Leo looked away from him. “She always chose you. Why the hell would she do that? You were worthless. You guarded the dark. The monsters. She didn’t need them. She needed—”