A curse erupted from Simon’s lips. Her family killed—yeah, they’d had that confirmed by a quick call to Dee’s friendly cop contact.
A massacred family.
An Ignitor who knew the location of the Born vampire behind the slaughter.
“She’s gone after him,” Dee said, and it was what they all knew. “How long of a head start?”
His jaw clenched, Zane gritted, “At least three hours. I thought she was sleeping in her room. She’d been crying so much, I didn’t even think to go in there and check.”
Shit. Three hours.
Hell of a lead she had on them. With that much time, she’d definitely get to Grim first.
Ignitors were so strong psychically. Strong enough to create and control fire with their minds. But nature was a sly bitch. For all their psychic strength, Ignitors were so very weak physically.
A careless touch could bruise them, like when Zane had wrapped his fingers around the Ignitor’s wrists.
And killing them would only take one blow.
If Grim saw her coming, if he felt her, Nina would be dead.
But if he didn’t…
Burn, bastard.
“Simon.” Dee’s voice, vibrating with tension. “Let’s get on the road, now.”
He was already moving. He grabbed his bag. This was it. Final match.
Should have never brought Dee in on this.
He’d thought they would make the perfect team. Same enemy. Same goal.
But if anything happened to Dee…
Can’t lose her.
Won’t lose her.
How had his master plan gotten so screwed up?
Zane braced his legs apart. “He’s gonna kill her. We have to get there before—”
Dee marched up to him, that weird, faint smile on her face. Her hand pressed against his chest. “I told you before, this fight’s not yours. Not yours. Not Cat’s.”
Zane’s eyes narrowed as he stared down at her. “You think I’m walking away from you? You’re not going out on a death fight. I’ve had your back before, I’ll have it again. I’m not—”
“You don’t have a choice.” Her right hand snaked up his neck. “Sorry.” Her left hand came up, and delivered a hard, fast hit to his chin. The demon went down. “After all the times with Tony, you should have seen that coming.” She stared down at him, her body taut.
Simon approached her slowly and very, very cautiously. “Wanna tell me what that was about?”
She glanced up. The demon lay sprawled across the threshold. “In case Cat’s vision wasn’t pure shit, no way am I gonna risk him.” Emotion there. Affection. Love.
The fist that slugged his gut told Simon that he was jealous. Had been jealous of the demon from the very first. A bond existed between Dee and Zane. One born from time and struggle. Trust.
What he wouldn’t give for Dee to care enough to punch the crap out of him.
Trust.
Love.
Her shoulders sagged. “I pulled the punch, you know. I used my left hand.” Still, she had vampire strength now, so the punch wouldn’t have been anywhere near soft. She bent, ran her fingers over Zane’s jaw. “But demons are strong and he won’t be out long.”
No, he wouldn’t be. And when he woke, Simon knew Zane would come after them. Because the demon cared for Dee, too. Cared enough to come on his own with a kill-order.
If you cared enough to kill…
Simon lifted his gaze. “Let’s get the hell out of here.” Not lovers. Dee and the demon had never been together sexually, so he shouldn’t even think about attacking the guy while he was out.
But he’ll be there for Dee when this hell is over. When she doesn’t have to fight the nightmares of her past any longer, the demon will be there.
And where will I be?
Would Dee even want him in her life once Grim’s threat was gone?
He hadn’t thought that far ahead.
Dee dragged Zane inside the room. Simon grabbed Zane’s legs, and they hoisted the demon onto the bed. Dee shoved a pillow under his head. “Don’t come after me,” she whispered.
Zane wouldn’t be able to hear her.
She reached for his hand. Turned his wrist over. “I-I have to know where you’ll be. I can’t risk you. Won’t. Not for my revenge.”
You’d kill us all for vengeance? The witch’s question.
No, Dee wouldn’t.
She stared at the demon, swallowed, and bit him.
Simon froze. No, no—he didn’t like to see her mouth on the demon. Not one bit. Taking his blood. A growl rumbled in Simon’s throat. Not her. Not him. No—
Dee wrenched her mouth away. Her eyes met Simon’s.
“Not…another.” His snarl was a guttural demand.
“Simon?”
He grabbed her arms and hauled her away from the bed. No time. His jaw locked. “Get in the car.”
And away from the demon.
A demon now forever linked to her. Just what he needed. More competition.
As if he didn’t have enough shit going on.
Simon hauled her out, left the demon, and didn’t look back. As far as he was concerned, there had never been any use in looking back.
They climbed into Dee’s SUV. Zane’s motorcycle was gone. Either courtesy of Nina or the witch. Either way, he knew the demon wouldn’t be slowed down for long.
Backup would come, whether they wanted it to or not.
“Uh, it’s my vehicle, you know, I should be the one to—”
He floored the accelerator and they shot out of the parking lot, leaving a trail of spewing gravel behind them.
The black SUV fishtailed out of the lot. The two in the vehicle were so intent on their prey that they didn’t glance around. Didn’t take notice of the one watching.
Pity.
Another mistake.
The key turned and the ignition kicked to life. Trailing them would be too easy.
Killing them—harder. But not impossible. Nothing was impossible.
The slow twang of country music filled the car’s interior, and the vehicle pulled from the concealing shadows.
“How long until we reach Hueco?” Dee’s voice was steady. The words were the first she’d spoken in the last hour.
Simon kept his foot stomped all the way onto the accelerator. Even burning up the black interstate road, it would still be “after dawn.” A piss-poor time to go riding into the town. He’d be weak. All the vamps would be.
He and Dee would be outnumbered. Grim would have a guard force. Lots of vamps and who knew what else.
“Then if we’ve got nothing to do for the next six hours—”