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Coldness grew inside Sam’s chest, spreading outward until it smothered all other emotions. He needed restraint more than ever before. Adrianne’s stalker was fast, but Sam’s preternatural senses made it child’s play to find him.

If he hadn’t caught the telltale noise outside the window at the last second, the glass—or worse, the rock—might have struck Adrianne. He silently cursed himself and the stalker. He’d done the one thing that might end up getting him eternally banished—he’d interfered.

And he’d done it long before the rock hit the window by making love to Adrianne.

The best sex of his immortal life had turned into an unmitigated disaster. She’d gone from sated lover to uncertain to upset. The last thing he’d wanted was to add to her worries, but using a condom hadn’t occurred to him. With the clock of her life ticking down, it wasn’t a concern. Besides which, reapers didn’t have children. He and his brothers were the possible exceptions to the rule. Their father had created all the reapers, but he only had three sons, and he was as old as time itself.

This was all on him. However he tried to justify them, there was no excuse for his actions. It remained to be seen what it cost him. What was she thinking? He’d bolted out of the bedroom, leaving her alone, his only thought to get to the stalker when his priority was staying close to Adrianne. She was the assignment, the only thing standing between him and freedom.

Standing behind a tree, he watched the unknown man crouch behind a boulder as police vehicles rocketed toward Adrianne’s place. It was all he could do not to wrap his hands around the man’s neck and snap it like a twig. He’d taken a step forward when Malaki swooped down in front of him and landed on a low branch about four feet away. Rather than caw, he made several clicking sounds.

He raised his hand, giving the bird the finger. Like he needed the reminder. Malaki preened his feathers.

“Stupid bitch called the cops on me,” the stalker muttered. “That whore will pay for what she’s done.”

Fury whipped into the air around him, electrifying it. Lightning crackled in the sky. The crow’s head jerked up and cawed a warning, but Sam refused to heed it. The bolt slammed down onto the ground only feet from the man.

“Holy shit!” he yelled and sprinted away.

The smell of ozone filled the air. Sam dug his fingers into the trunk of a tree to keep from running him to ground and ripping out his black heart. Hearing her called such derogatory words, coupled with the threat of violence in the tone, made him killing mad. In the distance, a car engine started. The bastard was running away now that he was done terrorizing Adrianne for the night.

The trunk of the massive oak cracked. Shit, he’d dug his fingers in too far, unleashing his preternatural strength on the innocent tree. He yanked his hand away, but it was too late to save it. With a loud creak, the mighty oak that had stood for more than a hundred years toppled. Rather than allow it to crash, he caught it and slowly lowered it gently to the ground, letting the massive branches settle.

“I’m sorry.” He wasn’t certain who he was apologizing to, the tree or Adrianne. Both were victims of his wayward emotions. He’d hurt them both—her emotionally and the tree physically. Other wildlife and plants would live off the remains of the oak. Several of the acorns would likely sprout. It wouldn’t truly die. Not like Adrianne.

Angry with himself for giving in to his sexual needs, at the stalker for what he’d done and would do to Adrianne, at the police for not catching him, and mostly at his father for putting him in this position, he glared at the crow. “I can’t do this.”

Raking his fingers through his hair, he strode back and forth, working to get a grip on his emotions before he did true damage that couldn’t be repaired. If his brothers could only see him now—shirtless, his feet bare, pacing like a madman, all because of a human woman.

He couldn’t go back to her, not like this. She needed him to be calm and disciplined. “Right.” His laugh was tinged with bitterness. He’d never been more out of control in his entire life.

Needing to burn off excess energy, he began to run, picking up speed until if anyone saw him he’d be no more than a blur out of the corner of their eye. Without real thought, he headed away from Redemption, away from Adrianne. The wind whipped at his face and bare skin. Small rocks and twigs dug into his feet, the tiny cuts and bruises healing before they truly formed. Muscles burning, he pushed himself harder and harder, but there was no way to outrun his anger.

He stumbled to a stop and leaned forward, resting his hands on his thighs. Lungs heaving, he glared at the crow, who’d kept pace with him. Unlike a normal bird, this one had something extra.

“Don’t worry. I’m not making a run for the state line.” There was too much riding on the next few days. And it would be days, maybe less. The sense of the clock ticking down echoed in his brain. In a short time, Adrianne would no longer be part of this world.

And he was wasting time running around the woods when he could be with her. Assuming she wanted him anywhere near her after the fiasco he’d made of the aftermath of their lovemaking.

With all his experience, he’d botched things. Rather than pull her into his arms and cuddle her, he’d pulled away, simply because he’d wanted to cuddle her. It wasn’t his usual impulse. He typically was more than ready to leave his partner’s bed and make his way home once they’d both found satisfaction. For the first time, he’d wanted to hold on. If that wasn’t enough to scare an immortal, he wasn’t sure what was.

He hadn’t used a condom, something he’d done since their inception. Not that he needed them to prevent pregnancy, but it put his partner at ease. It was also a reminder to keep his distance, to not get involved. Had he forgotten it on purpose?

“Stop thinking and get moving.” Unerringly, he headed in the direction of the farm. Even at this distance, the smell of the lavender and the lure of the woman waiting there drew him.

He picked up the pace, needing to see her, to assure himself she was safe—for now. Staying away from her wouldn’t change the future. If it would, he’d leave.

That slowed him until he came to a dead stop. “You barely know her. Besides, she’s human. Anything you did would only change things for a matter of a few decades at most.” All humans died within a short span. The tree he’d inadvertently destroyed had lived longer and would have continued to do so without his interference.

Torturing himself changed nothing. His staying or leaving changed nothing. The only thing he could do was to be there for Adrianne right up until the end, no matter how much it ate at what little remained of his soul.

His father had set out to teach him empathy. In the end, he might have done the complete opposite. Once the light was gone from her eyes and she’d taken her last breath, Sam wasn’t sure he’d ever care about anyone or anything ever again.

He resumed walking, settling into the reality of the helplessness of the situation. The police sounded like a herd of elephants tromping through the woods. That was unfair, as they weren’t really all that loud. A normal human would be hard-pressed to hear them.

“It’s Sam Blackwell,” he announced in case any of the officers were trigger-happy. “I’m coming in.”

…

Adrianne had a pot of coffee brewing and a plate piled high with sandwiches. If the officers were going to be searching the woods for hours, the least she could do was feed them when they were done. Keeping her hands busy was better than speculating on what was going on outside.

Sam had been gone for what seemed like forever. He’d taken off out the door like a shot in pursuit. Surely if he’d been hurt, she’d have heard something by now.

“You should sit down, Adrianne. They’ll likely be a while yet.” Calvin Jones stepped away from the dining room window. He’d been roaming the house, keeping watch, while the others searched for her stalker. They all knew this was no random vandalism.

Cal, along with Chief Johnson and another officer, had been in her bedroom. They’d seen her summer pajamas strewn among the broken glass. If that wasn’t enough of a clue, the tangled bedsheets were a huge hint, along with the lingering scent of sex.

Trained professionals that they were, there was no doubt they were all aware she’d had sex with Sam, a man she’d only known a matter of days. Any other time, it would bother her to have such intimate details revealed. Sadly, it was the least of her worries.

They’d photographed the scene and gathered evidence. The chief was still in there. The other officer had gone outside to inspect the area around the window. She pressed her hand against her stomach. Oh God, her bedroom was a crime scene. It was Chicago all over again, only worse, because this house was her true home.

Where was Sam? He’d raced into the darkness wearing nothing more than a pair of jeans. He hadn’t even taken the shotgun. What if her stalker had a knife or a gun? What if even now Sam was lying bleeding, or worse, somewhere out there?

“Has anyone seen Sam?” Although, if they had, she’d likely have heard.

Just then, his radio crackled. “Sam Blackwell is heading in. I repeat, Blackwell is heading in the back way.”

Adrianne grabbed the counter’s edge and said a quick prayer of thanks. Cal went to the kitchen door and opened it. Unable to wait, she went to stand beside him.

Tall and broad and unmistakable in the glow from the outside lights, Sam strode across the yard, skirting the area they had taped off. He zeroed right in on her. His gaze never left her as he took the two steps of the porch in one giant stride. Without pause, he dragged her into his arms, pinning her against his naked chest.

The earlier awkwardness after their lovemaking dissolved beneath the strength of the embrace. Whatever their differences, he cared about her. The tension in her bled away as she clung to him, soaking up his strength. The scent of the fresh trees and the night air clung to him.

When he brushed a kiss on the top of her head, she gave a sigh of relief.

“Any sign of the perpetrator?” Cal asked.

Sam shook his head. “If there is, I didn’t see it.”

He’d tensed at the question. Easing back, she stared up at him, reading nothing but concern for her on his face. She must’ve imagined it. Likely, he was as tired and frustrated as she was.

“What were you thinking, running out the door like that? You didn’t even have a weapon.” If he’d been hurt, it would have been her fault.

His jaw tightened. “That if I’d caught him, you’d no longer have a problem.” He glanced away from her to gaze out the window. A shiver went down her spine. Once again, she had the sense that something wasn’t right, but she shook off her unease. The stress of the evening was making her paranoid.

“Sit down.” She directed him toward a chair. “Let me have a look at your feet.” They had to be torn to shreds from running around with no shoes on.

“I’m fine. Give me a second to clean up and grab some clothes. We’ll talk when I get back.” He headed down the hallway, disappearing into the spare room. A few seconds later, the door to the bathroom closed with a heavy thud.

She tried not to see it as rejection, but it wasn’t easy. He’d gone from holding her like he’d never let her go to walking away without a backward glance. Would she ever understand the man? Did she want to? She checked the floor but saw no blood smears. How was that possible?

The shower stayed on for precisely four minutes. She’d counted. Three minutes after that, the door opened. Dressed in the same jeans, a clean T-shirt, socks, and boots, he strode back into the kitchen. Without asking, she filled a mug with coffee and handed it to him.

“Thanks.” He took a sip and set the mug on the counter. “How are you holding up?”

Before she could answer, the chief came down the hallway, holding something in his hand. “We’re done in there for now, Adrianne. I’m going to ask you to stay out of the room until morning, when we can have a better look around.” He nodded at Officer Jones. “Check with Wilkins. He’s searching the area around the window and the house. I’ve got it from here.”

“Yes, sir.” Cal gave her a nod. “You take care, Adrianne.”

“Thank you.” Having him with her had been a comfort, even though she’d suspected he’d much rather be out hunting down the suspect. “If you or the others are hungry, there are sandwiches.” She indicated the plate.

“Thanks. I’ll tell them.” He helped himself to one and left through the back door.

“I wouldn’t mind some of that coffee.” Chief Johnson nodded toward the kitchen. She figured it was more to give her time to settle than him wanting the drink, but she swallowed her questions and hurriedly filled the mug.

“There’s a note, isn’t there.” She’d seen something wrapped around the rock that had smashed through the window, and the bag in his hand held a piece of paper.

“There is.” He accepted the mug from her and took a deep swallow before setting it aside. “Before I start, I want you to sit and tell me exactly what happened.” He took a seat at the table and patted the bench. “You, too, Blackwell.”

She’d been dreading this, but there was no avoiding it. Slipping onto the seat, she gripped her hands in her lap and stared at the top of the table. Sam sat next to her, leaving space between them.

“I had a nightmare.”

“That’s not surprising, all things considered. Would have been more unusual if you didn’t.”

He was right, but that didn’t make it easier. She raised her head and met his eyes. “I guess I cried out and woke Sam.”

“She screamed,” Sam interjected. “I jumped out of bed thinking there was an intruder.”

She licked her dry lips, wondering how she was going to get through the next part. She needn’t have worried.

“One thing led to another,” Sam continued. “I stayed with her.” He unapologetically met the chief’s assessing gaze. “That might make me a bastard in your book, but what happened between us was consensual.”

“Stop it.” She slammed her hand on the table. “I’m an adult. I make my own damn decisions. As you’ve probably deduced, we had sex. We were on the bed afterward when the rock smashed through the window. Sam rolled us onto the floor. It’s thanks to his quick actions neither of us was hit by flying debris or the rock itself.” That wasn’t quite true. He’d moved a split second before the window exploded. Hadn’t he?

She shook her head to clear her muddled thoughts. That couldn’t be right. There was no way he could have known what was about to happen. She had to be misremembering. Or maybe he’d caught a warning reflection in the window. Everything had happened so fast she couldn’t be sure her recollection was 100percent accurate.

Chief Johnson nodded, the silver in his hair catching the light. “You gave chase. Is that right?” he asked Sam.

“It is.”

“Why?” His gaze assessing, he was watching Sam like a hawk.

“Why?” Black eyes met blue, neither flinching. “Because someone threatened Adrianne.”

“What did you plan to do if you caught them?” The question was mild. The tension in the room told another story.

He leaned back, his smile cynical. “We’ll never know, will we, since I didn’t catch him.”

“I don’t fault your intentions, but don’t be taking the law into your own hands. That could lead to more trouble. If he’d had a gun and decided to use it, you could be dead. You both could.”

The blunt assessment sent a shiver down her spine. She couldn’t deny she’d had a similar thought, although she’d had the shotgun. Sam had been unarmed.

“What about the note?” He’d set it facedown on the table. The paper inside the clear evidence bag was crinkled but had been smoothed out as best as possible.

“At first glance, it looks to be the same kind of paper and same black marker, but we’ll have it tested.” He flipped it over and pushed it forward so they could both see.

WHORE! YOU’LL PAY FOR WHAT YOU’VE DONE.

She swallowed heavily. Spots flickered in her vision. Don’t pass out. She took several deep breaths. “He saw us through the window.” The curtains hadn’t been closed all the way. It had been a small act of defiance—not a smart one, in retrospect.

“Maybe.” The chief pulled the note away and flipped it over again, but the words were burned into her brain. “He does know for certain that Sam stayed here. That may make you a target.” He pointed at Sam.

He was right. By being with her, Sam had put himself in danger. “The violence is escalating.” It’d been psychological up until now. Even the break-in in Chicago had been mental torture. If her stalker could get into her apartment to write on her bathroom mirror, he could have lain in wait for her. “It’s all been a sick game, until now.” Stricken, all she could do was stare at Sam. “You changed that.”

A muscle flexed in his jaw. “It was going to escalate sooner or later.”

Oh God, he’d misunderstood. “I’m not blaming you.” She grabbed his arm, willing him to listen. “But he might switch his attention to you. I’m right, aren’t I?” she asked the chief.

“The perpetrator likely sees Sam as competition for your affection. And competition needs to be eliminated.”

“Bullshit.” Sam didn’t raise his voice, but she jumped at the barely contained fury in that single word.

“Chief Johnson is right. It’s not safe for you to be around me. You need to go back to Ivy House. Better yet, work things out with your father and leave town.” As much as she’d miss him, she couldn’t be responsible for him being harmed.

The fiery light in his eyes died. He lifted her hand and brought it to his lips. “Nothing is going to happen to me.” He said it with surety, as if a threat against his life was no big deal.

“You can’t know that.” She desperately wanted to believe him.

“Yes, I can.” It was as though the chief had vanished and there was only the two of them. “Trust me. The only way I’ll leave is if you don’t want me here. Even then, I can’t promise to stay away.”

“Why?” It defied logic. “You barely know me. I’m nothing to you.” They’d shared a few meals and had sex. Not exactly a long-term emotional relationship. “There’s no reason for you to stay.”

He brushed his fingertips over her cheek and along the curve of her jaw. She briefly closed her eyes and took a breath to center herself. Amid the chaos of her life, he made her happy, reminded her of what it was like to feel something other than fear. “You’re more than a stranger, and you know it.”

Oddly, she did. There was some connection between them, something intangible she couldn’t define but couldn’t deny.

Chief Johnson cleared his throat. Guiltily, she jerked her attention back to him. The bemused expression on his face had her cheeks heating. “Ah, sorry about that.” They’d all but ignored the man, lost in their own world.

“It was…educational.” He stood and picked up the evidence bag. “All I can do is warn and advise you. As you said, you’re both adults. What you do is on you. But it will have consequences. Make sure you’re ready for them.” He finished his coffee and set the empty mug on the table. “I’m calling the officers back in. No point in keeping everyone out there—whoever was out there is long gone. I’m sorry, the window will have to stay as is, for now. We need to dust for prints outside and have a better look at the ground in the light. Stay away from the backyard. Maybe you should both go to Ivy House and catch a few hours’ sleep, have breakfast in town, and come back later.”

While she appreciated his suggestion, she wasn’t budging. “I’m not being driven from my home. Not again. Besides, there’s no way I’d sleep. It’s not long until the sun comes up.” While she was exhausted, she was running on adrenaline. Nor did she want to close her eyes and possibly dream again. “Then there’s Chester.” Not that the cat seemed all that concerned now that the initial uproar had passed. He was currently curled up in the chair in the living room, sound asleep. If he had food and water, he was good.

“How about a compromise,” Sam said. “You lie down in the guest room for a couple of hours. Then I’ll take you to Susie’s for breakfast. The diner opens early. It will give the police time to work. We can run by the hardware store and order a replacement window when we’re done.”

She didn’t want to be alone, but with both men watching her as if she was a stick of dynamite ready to blow, she nodded. “I won’t sleep, but I’ll lie down. I need clean clothes from my room.” No way was she going to town looking like she’d spent the entire night awake. That would only fuel the gossip. As it was, it was going to be raging faster than a wildfire out of control after tonight.

“How about this,” the chief countered. “You rest. By dawn, we should be mostly done inside your room and have the worst of the glass swept to one side. If you only touch what I tell you, you can get what you need then.”

She was procrastinating, not wanting to be alone. “Fine.” Standing on shaky legs, she gave both men a nod. “There are not enough words to thank you both for what you’ve done. I appreciate it.” Chin up, shoulders straight, she walked down the hall to the spare room, the murmur of voices following her.

The sheets were thrown back where Sam had jumped out and come to her rescue earlier. The nightmare seemed like days ago, rather than hours. So much had happened in a short time. Sitting on the side of the bed, she buried her face in her hands and took a deep breath.

One thing at a time. One foot in front of the other. That’s how she’d gotten by last time, and it was how she’d get by now. She should’ve shut the door before she’d sat down, but a part of her didn’t want to miss anything going on around her. She stared at her shoes. It seemed like far too much trouble to remove them. Letting go, she fell back on the bed and pulled her legs up onto the mattress.

Click. Her heart leaped at the sound. She shot upright. Sam held his hands in front of him, in a replay of earlier this evening. The only thing missing this time was the shotgun. That was propped up by the front door where Cal had placed it after he’d taken it from her.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“You didn’t. Okay, you did,” she admitted when he raised an eyebrow. “I’m a bit jumpy.” Since her heart was thumping a mile a minute, she kicked off her shoes. “Did you need something?” This was his room—temporarily, anyway.

“Yes.” He toed off his boots and peeled his shirt over his head. “I need to hold you.”

Her heart skipped a beat before almost melting under the onslaught of affection inside her. Beneath his gruff and commanding exterior lurked a tender heart, one he’d likely deny existed.

“I’d like that, too.” She lay down and patted the mattress beside her.

He stretched out behind her, wrapped his arm around her, and pulled her tight to his chest. As easy as that, her tension drained away, leaving her with a sense of well-being.

“Close your eyes. I’ll watch over you.” With his promise lingering in her ear, she let her eyelids flutter shut, took a deep breath, and let go. Her last thought was she’d never checked Sam’s feet for cuts and bruises. Not that he’d been limping or seemed to be in the least discomfort.

Frowning, she opened her mouth to ask him about it but yawned instead. It could wait. She’d ask him later.