Sometimes humans were so clueless, having no idea that predators walked right beside them. If he told her he was a vampire-demon hybrid, what would she do? Probably laugh it off and keep flirting with him. He sighed. “All right. Took a couple of self-defense classes, did you?”
She chuckled. “Not really. But I have excellent instincts about people.”
That statement was so sad it pissed him off. He took a couple of drinks to cool his suddenly heated throat. The woman was about to learn different, so maybe this was a good thing. He’d keep her safe and also teach her not to be so careless. Why her trusting nature ticked him off, he’d figure out later. “It’s a nice night. How about a walk outside?”
Her teeth played with her bottom lip for a moment.
His groin tightened again. Hard and fast. This effect she had on him was annoying. He finished his beer and pushed away from the table. Either she’d come with him, or he’d acquire her later that night from her apartment. “You coming?”
“Yes.” She stood and faltered slightly. For the first time, doubt filtered across her expression. “But just for a walk.”
His heart thumped and warmed. “I’m not going to let anything hurt you, Mercy.” Truer words had never been spoken. Oh, she might hate him within hours, but she’d be safe.
She smiled, her face taking on a serene beauty. “That sounds like the truth.” Walking around the table, she slid her soft hand into his.
His lungs seized, and he led her through tables to the door. Once outside, he finally took a deep breath of fresh spring air. Night had fallen, and the stars above Edinburgh sparkled high and bright in the darkened sky.
They fell into step easily, and he shortened his stride to accommodate her smaller stature. Her head barely reached his shoulder. He naturally switched their places to keep his body between traffic and her, taking her other hand instinctively. He might be a killer, but his mama had taught him manners. And it was easier to contain Mercy when she couldn’t run across the street.
“You didn’t tell me what you do, Logan,” Mercy murmured, eyeing closed storefronts as they passed.
“Well, at the moment, I’m in acquisitions as well,” he said, having no doubt she wouldn’t appreciate his humor.
A woman’s muffled scream shot his body into sharp awareness.
The blonde friend ran out of the nearest alley, one of her shoes gone. “Help,” she cried, panic streaking across her face.
Logan reached her quickly and put Mercy behind him as they halted.
The blonde pointed into the alley. “He has Trina. Grabbed us both.”
“Stay here.” Logan released Mercy and shot into the darkened alley toward a black SUV.
Within a second, pain lanced into his neck, and electricity ripped through his body so rapidly he dropped to his knees. Water from a mud puddle washed up. What the hell? Another jolt, and his vision grayed. Stun-gunned? Not a normal jolt, either. This was meant either for vampires or, hell, a brontosaurus. He tried to turn, but a third jolt beneath his left ear bashed through his entire head. He swayed. Mercy. Where was she? He opened his mouth to yell for her to run, but only a croak emerged.
“Get him in the SUV.” The blonde suddenly appeared and shot an arm beneath his shoulder.
Then Mercy was in front of him. “Hurry. He should be completely out, but his eyes are still open.” Her voice was crisp, but those pretty eyes looked worried.
“M-Mercy?” he asked, his brain feeling like Jell-O.
She winced. “Sorry about this, sport.” The brunette emerged from the side of a dumpster, a black box in her hand. Between the three of them, they managed to drag him to the rear of the SUV and shove him inside, where he landed on his back with a hard thump.
“He weighs a ton,” the blonde muttered, disappearing around the side.
Mercy jumped in beside him and quickly shackled his wrists and ankles with iron. The good kind. The door slammed shut, and then the vehicle peeled out of the alley.
Anger finally spurted through the shock and pain of the electrical attack. Who the fuck were these females? More importantly, what were they? Witches? He growled.
Mercy’s eyes widened and then she grimaced, sitting on the newish carpet and leaning against the side of the SUV. “I’m really sorry about this, Logan.”
Sorry? Oh, the woman didn’t understand the meaning of the word. Yet.
The brunette leaned over the back seat. “You can’t kill him here. We’ll have to take him to the warehouse.”
Logan kept his focus on Mercy’s angled face as the feeling started to return to his limbs. Kill?
Mercy sighed. “I know. That’s where I left the sword, anyway. A demon has to be decapitated.” She leaned in, her wild scent filling his head. “I truly am sorry about this, Logan Kyllwood. I wish I didn’t have to kill you.”
