Page 10

10

WILL

Callie is damn well going to get herself killed unless she learns some common sense, and fast. James might think we should leave this human to herself, but given that she was about to make a deal with the fucking devil herself, I think I’m in the right here.

Just picturing her talking to Mel makes my blood boil. I fight the urge to launch into a lecture directed entirely at the beautiful blonde next to me when I see the three warlocks up ahead of us.

Ice moves through my blood.

Greg, Ralph, and Paul are the witches’ muscle. They’re sent when the witches think something is going to get rough.

Like coming and collecting me.

I grab Callie and yank her into the alley beside me.

"Hey!" she says, sounding irritated.

"Shut up," I whisper.

I’m not sure if they saw us, but I’ll be damned sure they don’t catch me with Callie.

Unfortunately, I picked an alley that has a fucking dead end. My heart races. I’ve got less than a minute before they come walking by. And if they see me, things are bound to get violent.

Reaching for the shirt of my uniform, I yank it off. Then I move Callie so that her back is against the brick wall.

"What are you doing?" she asks, her gaze snapping from my bare chest to my face.

"Making sure they don’t see my uniform. And giving them a logical reason two people are in an alley."

Before she can protest, I kiss her.

A little moan comes from her lips, and despite my fear, my body reacts. This woman is like a damn siren. She calls to me in a way that I hate and love all at once.

In my mind, I tell myself this is all an act, but my body doesn’t seem to care. Her hands dig into my hair, pulling me closer, kissing me harder and more eagerly. I stroke her back and then slide my hands to her hips, pulling her closer to my erection.

The minx rubs against me, and I swear I see stars. I groan, and my tongue darts into her mouth. Her tongue tangles with mine. It’s like a battle of wills with this woman, and I’m hell-bent on being the winner.

Not that I think either of us can lose.

When I lift her, I’m shocked and pleased that her legs wrap around my waist. My control slips. All logic fades. I honestly think we can just fuck here. Finally, quench the desire that’s been stretching between us from the first moment we met.

My hand drifts beneath her shirt. She makes a pleasant little sound when I run my fingers across her lacy bra and squeeze her nipple.

She moans and throws her head back. "Oh, Will!"

Hell, I don’t give a shit. We’re going to fuck now.

I slide my hand between us, reaching for my pants. I barely get my zipper down when one of her hands joins mine and starts to stroke me. There isn’t much room for movement, but that only makes it hotter. A string of curses explodes from my lips, and my cock begs for more than just her hand.

I reach for the button on her pants.

"Fuck!" she says and pushes me away.

The last damn thing I want to do is stop, but I ease her feet onto the ground and step away from her. "What is it?" I ask, panting.

"We’re in public !"

"You didn’t seem to mind a minute ago," I say, raising a brow.

She runs her hands down her clothes as if straightening them. I think she believes it’ll make her look less like we were about to fuck like wild animals in an alley, but she fails miserably. Her blonde hair is messy from my hands, her lips are red and swollen, and her nipples are hard and visible beneath her shirt.

Still, I won’t give her the satisfaction of thinking she rejected me.

I reach into my pants, trying desperately to get my erection down. The last thing any guy wants is to zipper his dick. Just the thought of it makes me wince. I manage to fix my pants. At last, I grab my shirt and pull it on.

"You know that was just to avoid some people, right?"

She glares. " Really ?"

"Yup, I’m not even attracted to you."

To my shock, she stomps up to me and grabs my still-hard dick. "Sorry, buddy, but the proof is right here."

"It’s not," I say, even though her touching my dick is making me confused and unsteady.

She moves closer and stands on her tiptoes. "You don’t want to fuck me right now?"

"Hell," I mutter. "I could help you out if you needed it."

Her lips curl into a sexy little pout. "Sorry, but I have something in my nightstand that can get me there without having to pretend to like an asshole."

I smile. Damn it, I like this spunky woman. Leaning in closer so I know my hot breath will tickle her ear, I say, "Yeah, but can your nightstand buddy eat you like an ice cream?"

Her air rushes out. "You’re a pig."

"Those are cops. People generally just call us sexy." We’ve got a great relationship with the human police department in town, but I love the pig jokes. Can’t help myself.

When I pull back, she looks hot and bothered again, which I love.

"Who were these people you wanted to avoid enough to kiss a woman you don’t find attractive?"

I tense. "Listen, why don’t you head home? I have something to take care of."

She hesitates. "Let’s walk together."

"Callie…"

"If you aren’t in trouble, it shouldn’t matter."

She’s not going to let this go.

My eyes squeeze shut. "I’m only going to tell you this because I think you’re going to get yourself killed if I don’t."

"Okay…"

I open my eyes and try to force out the words without emotion. "Everywhere in the world, there are people with power and people without it. In this town, the people with power rule. And when you piss them off, they destroy you. There was a woman I- there was a woman I cared for. She got involved with them, and she turned up dead. No one could prove they did it, but they did. You need to stop treating this like it’s a game."

"I’m sorry about the woman," she says. "But I’m not treating this like a game. It’s important to me."

"Why?" I ask, and I truly want to know.

"It’s personal," she says. "But finding out the secrets in this town is what I need, and I’m not stopping until I do."

I stare at her for a long minute. "Fine, but keep your distance from me. You don’t need a mark on your back before you’ve even figured things out."

She nods.

"How sweet."

We both whirl toward the entrance to the alley, the three warlocks stand there, blocking our escape. My stomach twists, and I look at Callie. No matter what happens, she needs to be safe. Nothing else matters.

"Fellas," I greet, trying to sound casual. "What brings you out into the light of day?"

Paul, their leader, is a hulking man with long blond hair and dark eyes. He’s also got a cruel streak in him that would make most evil people flinch in fear.

A sadistic smile creeps across his face. "We were sent to find you. Your presence has been requested for a little chat."

Normally, I’d refuse. I’d insult them. I’d get into a little fight before I ultimately lost. But right now, I want to get them as far from Callie as I can.

"Sounds nice. I assume there will be coffee. Maybe some sweets?" I start toward them, trying to keep their focus on me.

Paul regards me suspiciously. "You’re going to come with us without a fight?"

I answer smoothly. "Why not? I have a few things I’d like to say to your bosses anyway." Reaching them, I force a smile. "Lead away!"

His lackeys start to move, but Paul’s gaze flicks to Callie. "She can come, too."

My stomach flips. "She has nothing to do with this."

His gaze lands on me, razor-sharp. Fuck, can he tell the idea upsets me?

"She’s coming with us. To make sure you behave."

"No," I say.

The warlock takes a step toward her.

With one hand, I grasp him by the shirt. "Have you ever seen someone burned alive?"

Paul’s face goes pale. "You wouldn’t. They’d destroy you."

"Have you ever heard them screaming? Have you ever smelled their burning flesh?" My gaze bores into his eyes. He’s not sure if I’d do it.

He takes a long minute to answer. "You have to understand that threatening me seals your fate."

I smile, even though I know he speaks the truth. "Do I look scared?"

He looks to his lackeys. "He comes with us. The woman stays here."

I release his sleeve. "Let’s go." And let’s get far from here.

"No," Callie says behind me.

Fucking hell!

Turning around, I glare at her. "Go find something else to do!"

She struts up to us. "I’m coming with him."

"Watch a fucking show if you’re bored!" I say.

She tries to walk closer to the guys.

I grab her arm. "Walk out of here now."

"Make me," she says, holding my gaze.

Paul grins, and his voice is filled with a frightening amusement. "It looks like they’re both coming with us."

Everything inside of me snaps. I leap at Paul as Callie cries out. My fist slams into his nose, and blood spurts. Hands grab at me. Fists pummel into my sides. But I don’t stop; I can’t stop now. I shove Paul onto the ground, jump on top of him, and start beating him with all my might.

His lackeys pull me off. I act without thinking, striking them, too.

I take another one of them down. His head hits the concrete with a crack. The third guy and I wrestle around, smashing into the alley walls. My forehead scrapes against the bricks. That might leave a scar.

And then I hear it: Paul’s cowardly spell.

In an instant, I’m overwhelmed by pain. Biting down on a scream as my muscles twist and pull, I feel blood leaking from my ears and mouth. Maybe even from my eyes.

I try to fight it as two of them grab me, and the third guy yanks Callie toward us. But I can’t. The magic is too strong.

We’re thrown into the back of a car, one of the men squeezing in beside me.

I can barely move. The pain is begging me to blackout, to feel some kind of relief from it. Even though the spell is already wearing off, I can still feel the lingering effects in my bones.

Callie strokes my face, her voice filled with unshed tears. "What did they do to you? Will, can you hear me?"

Paul’s voice comes from the front of the car, and I see him use the back of his fist to smear the blood from his nose across his face. "Why do you always have to make this so hard, Will? You might not be one of us, but your soul is as dark. It doesn’t have to be this way."

Callie speaks, her voice broken. "He’s nothing like you!"

Paul’s lips curl into an eerie smile. "I might like violence and death, but he’s the one that killed a kid."

Callie looks at me, a question in her gaze.

My eyes close. I can’t think about that now. I can’t face that now.

If I have to go there, there’s no way I’ll be able to face what’s coming next.

The lackey beside me speaks in a whisper. "If you think that spell was bad, wait and see what they have planned for you. You’ll be begging for death."

Of that, I have no doubt.