Undead Or Alive (Bad Things #3)(9)
“Amber!” Leo called out.
She stared straight into Leo’s eyes. “You turned on me. Just when I needed you the most.”
“Because you chose him! What was I supposed to do? You gave him—”
“Get me out of here,” Amber cut through Leo’s words before he could say too much. “Reaper, I will agree to any deal you want—just get us away.”
Cass gave one hard nod and kept his stare on Leo. “You’re in my way.”
The air in that alley seemed to heat. Leo’s shoulders stiffened. “You don’t want me as an enemy, Reaper.”
“No? Well, since I’m not exactly in the market for friends and I don’t generally give a damn about enemies, how about you just get the hell out of my way…before I make you move.”
Leo’s chin jutted into the air. “Try it. She’s worth it. I will fight—”
White light shot out of Cass’s hand and hit Leo dead center in the chest. Leo flew up into the air—then he flew back and went crashing toward another dumpster. Amber didn’t even get to see him land. Cass had grabbed his discarded glove, he’d snagged her suitcase again, and he’d started running down that alley. She ran with him, more than happy to get away from Leo and put that all important ten-foot rule into place once more.
Now you see me…now you don’t.
Her breath heaved from her as they burst out of the alley and she found a dark SUV waiting for her.
Cass threw her suitcase into the backseat and then he yanked open the driver’s side door. “Get in and get buckled.”
Automatically, she glanced down at the handcuffs, wondering how she was supposed to manage that maneuver.
But the handcuff had vanished.
“Consider it a five-foot tether. You can’t get away from me now.”
Five feet…I have to stay near the Reaper.
Ten feet…Luke and Leo can’t find me.
“Time’s up,” Cass growled. “Get that sweet ass in the vehicle before I have to kill the Lord of the Light for you.”
I don’t want him dead.
She shimmied across to the passenger seat. Cass jumped in behind her. He revved that engine and they shot away with a squeal of tires. The headlights cut across the dark road and she saw—
Wings. Big, powerful wings stretching from Leo’s back. The Lord of the Light was in the middle of the road and he looked pissed. So pissed that he’d slipped up and let his wings out. In public.
“Amber!” Leo roared her name.
“What in the hell is it with you?” Cass demanded. “The two most powerful beings in the world are both after you?”
It would appear that was the case.
The SUV lurched forward, heading right for Leo. Horrified, she glanced over at Cass.
“Let’s play a little chicken,” he said and there was a smile on his face. Wild and reckless.
No wonder he’d wanted her to buckle her seatbelt. He was insane. Psychopath paranormal. She’d pegged him right from the first moment.
The SUV barreled straight for Leo. The headlights showed his shock and then—
They hit him. Leo went spinning into the air once more, and she was pretty sure he’d left a major dent in the front of the SUV, but Cass didn’t slow down. Amber looked back, expecting to see the Lord of the Light rising from the pavement. But, no…
Leo had vanished.
Chapter Three
“I…thought we were flying out of New Orleans.” Amber stood in the middle of the hotel room, her hands crossed over her chest. “But…here we are, bunking down for the night in Biloxi.”
Cass swept his gaze over her and then he stalked closer to Amber, eliminating that five feet of distance. She stiffened as Cass approached, and he caught the tell-tale movement. Amber was afraid of him. Good. She should be afraid.
Liars pissed him off.
He stopped right in front of her. “Change of plans. I figured your buddy Leo would be looking for us at the airports in the immediate area, so driving away from New Orleans seemed like the best idea.”
“Leo is not my buddy.”
“Then what the hell is he?”
Her lips—sexy, full, plump lips that made him think of all sorts of dark ideas—pressed together.
Cass laughed. “Really? You think you don’t get to answer? Come on…I’m just dying to hear why two of the most powerful paranormal beings on earth are about to seriously lose their shit when it comes to you.”
Her long lashes shielded her gaze.
She was obviously trying to think of a plausible lie. Good luck with that, sweets. While she thought of her lie, he studied her. Her hair was heavy and golden—not a light blonde but so much richer and darker. Her skin was even golden, as if it had been kissed by the sun.
Kissed? What in the hell is wrong with me? I don’t think that f*cking way.
He growled.
Her gaze immediately jerked back to his.
Her face wasn’t perfect. He kept telling himself that. Her cheeks were a little too high. Her chin was a little too sharp. Her nose was a little— Hell. She’s sexy. Her face comes together—it’s better than perfect. I see her and I don’t want to look away. I see her…and I want.
His gloves were both back in place so he lifted his right hand and cupped her cheek. He could feel the silk of her skin even through the magical fabric. “Want to tell me…” His voice had gone darker. “Why the Lord of the Dark and his brother are both after a human?”