Annie Nicholas - Bait

“Show him the pictures already, Connie, before this gets messy.” Red grasped at the arm that held him for balance.

I touched my tormented lover’s shoulder. “He’s a friend and wants to help. Please.”

He stared at me. Questions formed in his eyes and for the first time I saw doubt. It made me want to cry but he released Red. After all my secrets and a possible murder attempt he still wanted to believe in me. I hoped to earn it one day.

I retrieved one of the fallen pictures scattered around us and showed him. “The photos in my suitcase are altered. These are the originals.”

He didn’t even look at it. “I know the pictures were fake. I wish you didn’t need proof.”

His comment hurt me even more by stabbing me in the heart. Things between us were not forgiven after all. A relationship built on lies never had a chance.

I pointed at Red as I rounded on Rurik. “How do you expect me to convince them to stop hunting you? I’ve had faith in you since the bathhouse.”

His expression softened. “You’re trying to protect me?”

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. Why did I bother? He had a pretty face and a sexy body? Or was it for his tenacity to cling to an old rusted car because he loved it. That he built a happy clan that didn’t prey on human kind but embraced it. Maybe the way he teased me and made me laugh.

“Ah hell. Stop bein ’ an idiot. Connie’s been breakin ’ all the rules tryin ’ to help you. She cares about you and you care about her. We’ve got proof you’re innocent and are willing to make a truce. A fresh start for everyone.” Red’s cell phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket. “What?” He walked away to concentrate on whoever spoke.

I examined my worn running shoes. “I’m sorry.” Nothing I said would express how much. I met his stare. “I really am.”

The safety of his arms as he wrapped me in a hug felt divine after the turmoil of the last twenty-four hours. I closed my eyes and melted to his hard body.

He sighed. “A new start.”

“We all made up now?” Red stood with his feet apart, cell phone crushed in one fist. “Great. Can you help us out? Looks like we’ve got ourselves caught up in a Nosferatu power struggle. I don’t think any of us will survive this unless we make an alliance. Dragos is trying to kill you and it won’t be long before he comes after us.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe I just said that. They were a myth until two days ago.”

Rurik eyed Red, his arms slipped from my shoulders. “They need to remain myth. Do you understand? For your own safety.”

Red nodded. “Don’t spill the beans.”

“They would discredit you then destroy you. Not just Dragos, but any of his kind. They guard their secrets well and have millennia of experience doing it.”

I could see Red swallow.

“You wanted to offer me an alliance?” Rurik crossed his arms over his chest and faced Red. “What could I gain from this?”

“Any intel we obtain and extra hands to fight. We’ll also do our best to keep you in power.”

“I want the original and forged pictures.”

Red bent down and gathered some of the photos then stuffed them in Rurik’s hand. “Done, what else?”

Rurik turned his head toward me.

“She’s not for sale.”

“Red!”

“I’m not makin ’ you stay if you don’t wanna.”

“I didn’t imply for you to give her to me, only not to stop her if she chooses to stay.”

Tired of fooling myself, I reached up on tiptoe and planted a soft kiss on his cheek as my answer.

Rurik scowled at Red, daring him to object but Red nodded to us.

“One more thing, I don’t want any hunting of my clan. If you gain proof of their misdeeds, give it to me. I keep my own house.”

“I can’t speak for Colby but I’ll do my best to convince him.” He stuffed his cell phone in his pocket. “I’ll gather the troops and bring them here. We’ve misplaced our boss. He was following a Nosferatu lead. Can you help us locate him?”

“I will make some inquires. We can defend ourselves better together but I will fight only against Dragos and his men. No others.”

Marie escorted Red out of the house. Before the front door closed Rurik snatched me off my feet and embraced me. His kiss made all my aches and pains disappear.

Dizzy and short of breath, I held his shoulders when he set me down on my feet. The man could make a statue’s knees wobble if he tried.

“You smell like smoke.” He leaned his forehead against mine and closed his eyes. “Rabbit.” The way he said my name, like he cherished it, melted any of my reservations that remained of his affection. “I’d never ... I would have...” He sighed. “I should never have chased you out.”

I touched his pain-filled face. “You had good reason to be angry. I kept a lot of secrets.” This admission felt good. It helped me heal, allowed my wounds to scar over. Our relationship might have a chance at becoming something real. I’d been hollow and alone for so long and had nothing to lose until now. Maybe this would help me find what I wanted, a place to belong.

Yet, I still had secrets.

Tane still wanted the drug. It warred with my desire to be honest with Rurik, all for a stupid vial of mouthwash looking liquid. Maybe I could use it to get him to help us defend against Dragos.

He opened his eyes to gaze with worry into mine. “What happened to you? Who was brave enough to take you from my doorstep? This won’t go unpunished, I promise.”

I stepped out of the circle of his arms. Afraid once he heard of what I’d done to Lizzy he’d crush me. “Lizzy implemented it.”

His eyes flared. “The audacity, she’s overstepped her rights. She’s a guest in my city.” He paced as his voice rose. “Why do I tolerate that woman? She’s always meddling-”

I stepped in front of him.

“Rabbit?”

“I smell like smoke because I set her on fire.” I cringed expecting an explosion.

His feet stayed planted to the floor, his eyes stunned. “You did what?”

I explained her plans for murder and extortion. It poured from me like a river. “The original pictures came from her as well. She helped Dragos kill these people and frame you.” I kicked at one of the pictures on the floor. “So I threw an oil lamp at her when she attacked me and she went up like a Roman candle. Furthermore,” I poked him in the chest, “Tane’s an ass, he’s not your friend, and I’m sure he’s trying to kill you too.” I had to catch my breath.

As I ranted a huge grin developed on his face. “None of that surprises me, except you managed to escape unscathed.”

“Why would that surprise you?” I stepped closer and stuck my face in his. “You expect Lizzy to be a murderous traitor and Tane to betray you but you’re shocked that I can defend myself?” I poked his chest again. “I may be a girl but I can fight when cornered.”

“It has to do with you being human.” He ran his hands up and down my arms. “I appreciate you being a woman.” He leered at me. “You’re so hot, especially now.” By the intensity of his stare, I didn’t think he meant my body temperature. He leaned in until his lips found mine and assailed me with a wild hunger. It blew his last kiss out of the water, but no amount of sexy male flesh would cool my temper.

The frustration of being ordered and pushed around by egotistical, crazed vampires the past few days culminated. I struggled in Rurik’s grasp but he wouldn’t let me loose.

His hands held me to him in an iron grip.

So I bit him.

He cried out and shoved me away. A spot of blood formed on his lip before he wiped it. When he saw it on the back of his hand, his eyes ignited with passion. He stepped forward and caught me in his arm then threw me over his shoulder with one hand.