Warmth filtered through her chest. “I like all sides of you,” she murmured, leaning up to place a kiss on his hard chin.
One of his dark eyebrows rose. “I have sides?”
“Yeah. Hard and tough. Sweet and gentle. Passionate and wild.” She couldn’t remember her life before him, and really, she’d just met him. That had to mean something big.
He grinned. “You’ve got a real sweet side, too. Stay inside, and holler if you guys find anything.”
She’d forgotten bossy and arrogant. Oh, well. For now, she had a job to do. Turning back, she bit down a yelp as he smacked her on the ass. Oh, he’d pay for that later. She chuckled. Yeah. Fun and crazy. He was those things, too.
* * * *
Jared finished cleaning his gun, his gaze on the gathering storm outside. While the weather had finally broken and provided sun on sparkling snow for a few hours, the next round of snow and wind was rapidly arriving with the night.
An itch set up between his shoulder blades.
Veronica and her pals were still working away in the living room, while Chalton was hacking files left and right with his computer—mainly investigating the two other people in the living room. Detective Lance Peters and Dr. Mabel Louis didn’t get a pass, just because Veronica and Olivia liked them. Jared had scouted the area outside and now was left with nothing to do.
Oh, he could go through the papers with the rest of them, but somebody had to take watch, and he was the most experienced.
He shrugged off unease. Having a mate in danger no doubt added tension to a guy’s psyche, and as soon as he took care of the threat, he’d feel much better. As would she. While she kept up a brave front, he could tell it cost her. The fact that somebody had actually wanted her dead.
It was a sobering thought.
He polished the barrel of his gun, wondering if he should get one of the green laser guns out of the safe in the basement. Those would deal with immortals as well as humans.
The lights went out.
He stiffened and stood, listening. Wind blew through the world outside, scattering sleet and ice.
A couple of flashlights ignited from the living room, and the sound of a lighter echoed. Candlelight followed the flashlights.
“Think it’s the storm?” Chalton asked, reaching the doorway.
Tension clawed through Jared. “No. Everybody get down.” He’d barely bellowed the order when red laser beams pierced through the windows. “Veronica,” he yelled, jumping for the living room.
He landed on his knees and skidded inside. Volleys of bullets pinged through the windows, shattering glass in every direction. Olivia screamed, and Chalton tackled her to the floor. Bullets hit the sofas and chairs, spewing cotton filling everywhere.
Jared reached Veronica just as Mabel pulled Lance away from the window. The cop yanked his gun from his waistband and crab walked toward the far window.
“Shit,” Chalton snapped. “Holy fuck. Benny is going to kill us. This was my last chance, Jared. After the apartment in the city—”
Jared’s chest heated. “One threat at a time,” he snarled. Yeah, Benny would kill them for allowing his house to be trashed—especially after the whole penthouse debacle. Probably with a great deal of pain and some fire. Ben loved fire. For now, they had to take care of the attackers outside. “How many do you think?” He crouched on the floor, Veronica at his side.
“At least three,” Detective Lance said, inching closer to the wall. “They must’ve followed us here. I haven’t asked. Do you guys know what you’re doing?”
Considering they had four centuries of battle and fighting on the detective, probably fucking yes. “We do,” Jared said calmly. His temper rioted, and his need for vengeance tasted like blood. The cowards shooting from the tree line were aiming at his woman. “We, however, don’t arrest the enemy.” They killed.
The detective looked at him, his gaze sober. “No problem.”
They were on the same page then.
Mabel drew a nine mil from her jacket. “They have to know we’re armed.”
True. Jared frowned.
Canisters crashed through the windows, and gas started to spew.
“Gas,” the detective yelled. “Get out of the room.”
