His eyes sliced down at her. “Invisible would explain why we haven’t seen any in the fog even with our night-vision gear.”
“But you have thermal imaging equipment, right?”
“Sure. But I won’t risk killing a human by shooting without a clear visual of the beasts.”
This was where she had to be careful. “Have you gotten a description of the beasts?”
“One of my teams out west took one down. The thing turned back into a human when it died, then it just vaporized.”
“Did they say how tall the beast stood?”
“Yeah, the things are at least ten feet.” Understanding dawned in his eyes. “We can pick up the heat signature and tell the difference between something that big and human.”
She let out a breath of relief, but she had to go. “That’s great. I’ve got to run, but it’s good to see you.”
He reached over and caught her hand, lifting it and inspecting the scrapes on her elbows. “Why is it every time I see you, you’re banged up?”
“Just clumsy, I guess.”
He pulled her hand up to kiss her knuckles, then let go and used a finger to lift her chin.
Her heart strummed with new energy. Isak wouldn’t raise a hand against her—not as long as he didn’t know she was an Alterant. She hadn’t known him long, but in that short time he’d killed a demon that had considered her a meal, then helped her escape a sticky situation with law enforcement and offered to “take care of” someone if they were bothering her.
She had no one she wanted to have “taken care of” . . . except maybe Sen, but she doubted even Isak could go up against Sen and survive.
Isak’s concern for her safety stirred up strange feelings and tugged at her emotions. Especially the night she’d shared a private meal with him and seen the charming side of this black-ops soldier.
He leaned down and surprised her with a tender kiss. His lips were firm and hot for the two seconds their mouths touched. When he lifted up, his eyes gleamed with keen interest.
Heat shivered over her skin.
She liked Isak, but spending time with him added one more problem to her unending list, and she had enough sense to keep her distance from a man so intensely sexual.
Or not, if she considered that she spent so much time with Storm, who had ruined her chance at a quick nap afterhiskiss.
She’d never had a man in her life who’d been more than a friend and had never wanted a relationship with any man, but now she had two showing decidedly male interest and . . . to be honest, she was starting to like the attention.
Storm and Isak were as different as two men could be except for when it came to their protectiveness around her.
Isak smiled with sly humor. “One of these days, I’m going to find out what’s going on behind those dark sunglasses.”
Let’s hope not.She returned his smile. “We’ll have to get back to that over the dinner I owe you.” She hoped he wouldn’t take that as an invitation to kidnap her again. “But I’ve got to run.”
And she would run all the way to her bike, just as soon as she determined which direction he took. That way she could take a detour even if she had to circle back around. She didn’t want him to see that she’d spray painted her beautiful gold bike black, or he’d ask more questions.
His radio crackled. He lifted it from his vest and keyed the button. After a quick exchange with one of his men, who had located a wide patch of fog, Isak put his radio back. “I’ve got to go, too. Where’s your bike?”
“Just another block over that way.” She pointed because it was in the opposite direction of his men. “I’ll watch out for the fog.”
“One more thing?”
“Yes?”
“Why is a man by the name of Tzader Burke looking for you?”
Uh-oh. She had zero acting ability but gave a casual shrug and tried to keep the worry from her voice. “I don’t know. How do you know him?”
“I knowofhim.”
