His was perfectly formed in the center of her lower back foranybody to see.
He was too shocked to be angry. Nope. Fury hit a secondlater, and he stood, his body naturally bunching for a fight. He had to findher and now.
Chapter Eight
Exactly four hours after speeding away from asmoke-bombed-out vehicle, Ivy sat in a cheap motel room in Buffalo, wearing along, blond wig with her face heavily made up with black eyeliner and purplelipstick. The torn black tank top covering her looked perfect with the ripped jeans.She sat in front of a brand-new laptop and chewed her gum nervously.
Leah checked her weapon. “Are you sure you’re okay? I knowyou and Athan have had a congenial relationship through the years. That justchanged, you know?”
Oh, she knew. “I’m ready for a change.” It was time. Whileshe had no idea what that change would be, she was finished living in along-distance relationship. Either they’d try to make it together, or they’d gotheir own ways. “Is it all really true? Can they not live without our blood?”
“It’s true,” Leah affirmed.
Ivy typed rapidly on the keyboard in front of her, trying tofind the private chat room. “Athan said that if we fully mated, I’d need him,too.” He’d never told her that before probably because they hadn’t intended tomate for a long time. “But you don’t need Jasper.”
Leah flushed from across the room. “I would if we were inthe same vicinity. We only had sex that one time when we mated, and I startedto crave him right away. It’s part of the reason I ran.” She pushed her darkhair away from her face. “The mating was a surprise for us both, and he needsmy blood. I need him, but the craving subsides if I stay away long enough.”
“Don’t you get lonely?” Ivy murmured.
“Yeah,” Leah whispered. She looked tough in her black jeansand shirt with her hair in a ponytail, and she had several inches of height onIvy. But vulnerability shone in her eyes. “I have to be in control of myselfand my life.”
“Or you have to trust your mate,” Ivy said, staring at themonitor. The chat room was empty. She typed some more, trying to reach theircurrent target. Getting him brought them one step closer to the mastermindbehind what was a surprisingly organized group of assholes who tried to lurekids on the internet. “You and I have always been honest with each other, and Ithink the game you’re playing with Jasper is somewhat enjoyable and challengingfor you.”
Leah tucked her gun into the back of her waistband. “You’renot wrong.”
“Someday, he’s going to catch you.” Ivy looked up at herfriend.
Leah’s dark eyes sparkled. “Maybe. We’ll see just how goodhe is, right? I assume I’m even more on his radar now.”
“I guess.”
“How about some honest reflection yourself?” Leah stretchedher neck as if preparing for a fight. “You’ve been in love with Athan Maxwellsince the day he saved your life.”
Well. That might be true, but it wasn’t nice to say it.“Maybe. He’s always been kind and funny when we’ve met up, and he kisses like agod. But that doesn’t mean he loves me back.”
“Have you given him the chance?”
Not really. But right now, she had a job to do. She’d figureout what she wanted to do with these new changes in Athan’s life later.Regardless, she would like to engage in sex with him. She wanted him to be herfirst.
“Anything?” Leah asked, nodding at the laptop.
“Not yet.” Frustration rolled through Ivy. She typedfuriously on the keyboard.
Leah stood on the other side of the table, out of sight, hergaze worried.
Finally, a face came up on the screen. Ivy batted her eyes asif she were fourteen and clueless again. So, he had decided to make a move. Itwas about time. This guy was a pervert who had no problem trying to manipulateyoung girls, but like most creeps, he was a coward. Still, she’d seen the gleamin his eyes. He was ready to make a move that could hurt a child, and Ivycouldn’t let that happen. “Harry. Hi. I wondered if you’d forgotten about me.”She raised her voice several octaves to sound younger.
Harry Johnson smiled and smoothed his greasy hair back fromhis broad forehead. He was fifty years old, and the fake dye he put in his hairdid nothing to hide that fact. “Hi there, Taylor,” he said. “I thought youforgot aboutme.” His voice held a thread of excitement that made her wantto puke. “Thanks for the pictures you sent.” His smile was too wide.
“Well, you said you wanted them.” She hoped that Leah hadbeen correct, and that the pictures would disappear within an hour. They’d beenpartial nudes, and she hadn’t been happy about it, but she’d do what was necessaryto catch this guy. Finally, she was doing something with the knowledge she’dgleaned over the last several decades. “So, we going to meet?” She twirled herhair around a finger.
Harry sat back and rubbed the stubble around his chin. Oh,he tried to dye it a darker color like his hair, but the white strands showedthrough. Apparently, he didn’t know what he was doing.
“How about next week?” His eyes gleamed.
Her stomach slowly sank. “Well, yeah, but I’m at the motelnow.” She sounded every bit as confused as she felt.
He shrugged. “Yeah, I know, but I wasn’t sure you werereally going to meet me, so I made backup plans.”
