Carly flinched, then flicked her head to her right. “Sam, my guard, Barnes, is waiting for you around the back of the building. I’ll take care of Rianne. Go. Now!”
Rianne laughed like a maniacal freak. “Sam isn’t going anywhere. Do it, Felix.”
On her command, two things happened at once. Felix tapped on his tablet, and Rianne lobbed the contents of her cup at Layla.
Suddenly, a banshee scream pierced my ears, and bright lights flashed, followed by darkness and ending in a blinding pain throbbing in my head. I glanced around, disoriented, unable to identify the people around me. I squeezed my eyes shut, the scent of blood sending me into a frenzy. Sniffing the delicious sweetness of the woman beside me, I licked my lips, and let out a guttural roar.
20
LAYLA
Blood dripped into my eyes, slid down my cheeks, and dribbled into my mouth. It tasted like ass, and if I knew my lunatic sister, she’d probably used some type of animal blood. I had to hand it to her though—the only way to draw a vampire out was with the sticky red stuff. But Sam wasn’t a monster in the sense that he killed for blood. I wasn’t worried until I realized Felix’s role. He’d turned on Sam’s chip. I was sure of it.
I wiped my face with my fingers as fast as I could. On a blink, I found Sam baring his fangs at me with hunger, raw and pure, steeped in the depths of his silver eyes. I’d been able to penetrate through to him once before but not when covered in blood. While maybe not impossible, it was a feat that might take time we didn’t have.
He grimaced and grabbed his head with both hands, then pulled out his earpiece and examined it, curious yet confused.
My stomach dropped dangerously low. “Whoever is listening, Sam’s chip is on!” I shouted.
Yanking the comm from Sam, Rianne dropped it on the ground, then smashed it with her booted foot. “They can’t help you. So, dear sister, you’re screwed.” Her sarcasm was wrapped in hard spikes.
Sam studied Rianne and me with a predatory glare, the air around him crackling with hunger.
“Attack,” Rianne said in a deep and commanding tone.
The soldier in Sam obeyed as he flashed sharp teeth in a snarl.
I ducked and darted away. With Carly out cold from my banshee scream, she was of no use. My only other option was Barnes. Supposedly, the blond giant was waiting for Sam and me behind the building. Sam had been talking to someone in his comm, which meant some of the other SEALs were here. I couldn’t scan the area around me, afraid he would pounce.
Rianne followed alongside Sam as if she was his coach. I was sure my bitch of a sister had earplugs in. “That’s it, Sam. Show her the monster you really are.”
Backing away from the vampire I loved, I trampled through the wet grass in my bare feet, the cold ground keeping me alert until I stumbled over a rock, and pain shot through my foot. Several swear words spilled out of my mouth as I continued to put distance between Sam and me, ignoring the throbbing in my foot. When I cleared the edge of the building, I quickly looked to my left. A spotlight sprayed down from high up on the building, illuminating the swath of grass broken in two by a cement driveway that jutted from the building midway down. But not a soul was in sight.
Rianne whispered something to Sam, and whatever it was had him growling at her.
Her creepy laughter confirmed that I was in hell.
Planting my feet, I locked my knees and held up my hands as if Sam was about to arrest me. I filled my lungs with mountain air and screamed to high heaven.
Sam froze in place, flinching. Even Rianne came to an abrupt halt.
I had probably cracked her earplugs.
Sam and I stood about five feet apart, facing each other. “Sam!” I called out. “Listen to me. I love you.”
He cocked his head from one side to the other.
Rianne belted his arm with the back of her hand. “I said to attack.” Her guttural tone sounded inhuman and manly.
Sam snarled, flashing deadly canines at her, and she jumped back.
I had no time to bask in her fear as he stalked toward me with a sense of purpose and a ravenous interest. The hairs on my neck fired to attention, then burned when Rianne handed him a knife. She barked encouragements that I assumed comprised words like attack, kill your spawn, or something equally fucked up.
My heart pounded in my ears so loudly I couldn’t hear my own thoughts or think past how terrifying yet captivating Sam looked. His silver eyes shone like diamonds in black sand. His shoulder-length hair was pulled into a low ponytail. His angular jaw was hard. His fangs were sharp and deadly. His biceps bunched through the sleeves of his T-shirt, and his legs, thick and powerful, were built to move mountains.
He regarded the blade in his hand and flung it away as if the dagger wasn’t sharp enough.
I was consumed by rage for my sister. I was so tired of her antics and her corrupt desire to do everything she could to pulverize Sam and me.
