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  Chapter 11

  “Do you see anything?” Kane whispered to Fallon as he crouched beside the man in the bushes outside Alpha Harden’s house. He hated the waiting. He knew that Samuel was inside the building, suffering god knew what, and it was killing him to sit and wait as the place was staked out by Fallon’s men.

  He wanted to just run inside and demand the return of his man.

  “Quiet, Kane!” Fallon snapped.

  Kane rolled his eyes. He had heard that like twenty times since leaving the bar earlier. He was getting damn tired of it. If someone would explain to him what in the hell they were waiting on, he might be able to keep his mouth shut.

  “Fallon—” The rest of Kane’s words were strangled beneath the hand that suddenly wrapped around his throat. He quickly grabbed at the fingers slowly cutting off his air.

  Fallon’s eyes seemed to almost glow as he leaned so close that their noses almost touched. “I said to be quiet, Kane.” Fallon growled in a deep rough voice that wasn’t quite human. “If you can’t follow that simple order, then we have a problem.”

  “Sorry,” Kane choked out.

  Fallon sighed, and some of the fierceness faded from his face.

  “Look, I know you’re worried about Samuel. We all are. But if we go in without checking the place out first, one or more of us can get hurt.

  Samuel could even get hurt. Do you want that?”

  “No.”

  “Then you need to do as I say. This is not my first time doing something like this.”

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  Kane could see that. Each man with them seemed to know exactly what to do without Fallon saying a word, and that was freaky as hell.

  Kane nodded and crouched back down, turning to watch the house with renewed interest.

  The waiting was killing him, but Fallon seemed to know what he was doing and Kane needed to trust in that. While he might have some experience raising hell, he really didn’t know that much about the vampire world. And he didn’t want to get anyone hurt, especially Samuel.

  “Fallon,” Ranz said as he hurried over and squatted down next to Fallon, “we got movement around the back of the house.”

  “What kind of movement?” Fallon asked.

  Ranz grinned, which Kane found totally inappropriate considering the circumstances. “Samuel and some little blond guy snuck out a second-floor window and ran for the woods.”

  “Samu—” Kane shouted as he jumped to his feet. He was instantly grabbed and pulled back down to the ground, grunting when the unforgiving earth made close contact with his knees.

  “Knock it the fuck off.” Fallon growled. “Or I’ll have you escorted back to the bar.”

  Kane blinked in shock and pressed his lips together. From the stern look on Fallon’s face, Kane had no doubt whatsoever that the man would do exactly what he said. Fallon stared at him for another moment and then turned back to Ranz.

  “Who’s following them?”

  “Zus is on their tail. He’ll call as soon as they get far enough away from the house, and let us know which direction they are headed.”

  Fallon’s eyes cut to Kane for a moment and then flickered back to Ranz. “How did Samuel look?”

  “Surprisingly unharmed.”

  Kane blew out a sigh of relief. Samuel was unharmed and out of his father’s house. That was something. But Kane wouldn’t feel better

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  until he could see Samuel with his own two eyes and make sure that the man was unharmed.

  “Which direction did they head off to?”

  “They went west,” Ranz replied.

  “Okay, I want you to stay here and watch the house. If anyone comes out, you call me and let me know. I want to be prepared in case they go after Samuel.” Fallon waved his hand at the others. “The rest of you come with me.”

  Kane stayed where he was, almost whimpering with his need to go after Samuel. He didn’t know if the rest of you included him.

  Fallon rolled his eyes. “Yes, Kane, that means you, too.”

  Kane grinned as he jumped to his feet and started following Fallon back into the woods. The coven’s motorcycles were hidden a few hundred yards back in the woods. Kane had driven his truck as he didn’t have a motorcycle, although he was pretty sure he’d be getting one soon. It seemed to be a coven kind of thing.

  When they reached the shadowy street where they had left the bikes and truck, Kane quickly climbed into his truck and waited for Fallon to get going. Once they were on the road, he drove as fast as he could without hitting anyone. He had no idea where they were headed. He just knew that Samuel was out there somewhere running for his life.

  Fallon suddenly cut his bike to the side of the road and pulled out his cell phone. Kane’s heart hammered in his chest as he watched the guy talking on it. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but he knew it was about Samuel.

  Fallon started to close his phone when it rang again. The man lifted it back to his ear for a moment and talked. When he finally put his phone away, Kane was squeezing the steering wheel so tightly that he could hear it creak beneath his hands.

  Fallon use the kickstand on his bike and then climbed off before walking back to Kane’s window. “Zus called. Samuel and whoever he

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  is with were seen heading into an apartment building not far from here.”

  “And the other phone call?” Kane was afraid he already knew.

  “Samuel’s father knows he’s gone, and he’s pissed.”

  Kane’s heart slammed into his throat. “We have to get to Samuel.”

  “That’s the plan,” Fallon said before walking back to his bike and climbing on. He kicked up the kickstand and started driving down the road again. About ten minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot of an older-style pale-brick apartment building.

  Fallon pulled into one of the empty parking spots and pointed to the one next to him. Kane parked his truck where Fallon directed and then climbed out of the vehicle. He walked right over to Fallon and then turned to look up at the building.

  “Do we know which apartment Samuel went into?”

  Fallon glanced at Zus as he walked up. “Which apartment?”

  “Third floor corner apartment in the front left side,” Zus replied.

  Kane’s eyes instantly cut to the apartment Zus had indicated. He could see lights on through the single curtained window, but nothing seemed to move inside. He wanted to run upstairs and pound on the door until it opened, and then demand to see Samuel.

  He knew he couldn’t. Kane turned to Fallon for direction. If the man had done this sort of thing before, he’d know what to do. “What now?”

  “Zus, Tuvia, Murrin, keep a lookout. If anyone shows up, let me know, but do not engage the enemy. Kane and I will go upstairs and make sure that Samuel is safe. I’ll call down when we’re ready to go.”

  Fallon shook his fingers at each of the men standing there. “Don’t let your guard down for one second. Terrence Harden is as evil as he is insane. He’d think nothing of killing each and every one of you just because you’re breathing.”

  Kane was a little shocked that Fallon seemed to know so much about Samuel’s father. He knew that Fallon had mentioned the man before, but he didn’t know that they knew each other. He couldn’t

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  help but wonder just how well the two men knew each other. He was beginning to suspect that they had a history together, and not a good one.

  “You will let me go in first,” Fallon said as they reached the third floor. He said it in such a way that there was no arguing room. It was an order from the alpha, plain and simple.

  Still, Kane couldn’t help but frown as he leaned against the wall next to the door leading to the apartment where he hoped Samuel was hiding. Fallon knocked, and Kane’s heart started pounding fast
er in his chest.

  If they were knocking on the wrong door, Kane was going to scream.

  “Yes?” asked a high-pitched voice through the door.

  “My name is Fallon. I’m looking for—”

  The door swung open and Samuel stood there, as white as a sheet.

  Fallon smirked. “Samuel.”

  “Fallon?”

  Fallon’s grin was easygoing and welcoming, not like it had been moments before. “I told you I would come for you.”

  Samuel’s shoulders slumped like the weight of the world had just been taken off of them. “You did, and I thank you, but where is—”

  Fallon’s eyes cut to Kane. “Is that who you’re looking for?”

  “Hey, baby,” Kane whispered softly when Samuel’s eyes landed on him. They widened for just a moment, the tears filling their moss-green depths giving them a vibrant sheen. And then Samuel let out a little cry and threw himself into Kane’s waiting arms.

  As small as he was compared to Samuel’s larger body, they must have looked a little ridiculous. Kane just didn’t care. He cradled Samuel to him, tucking the man’s face into his neck as he ran his hands up and down Samuel’s back.

  “Missed you, baby.”

  “Oh god, Kane,” Samuel murmured against his neck, “I was so scared that I would never get to see you again.”

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  “I’d never let that happen,” Kane replied. “You belong to me, remember?”

  “Yeah.” Samuel’s massive shoulders rose and fell as he drew in a deep breath of air. It seemed to be a cleansing breath, one Samuel had been waiting to take for so long that he ached from it.

  “Are you ready to go home, baby?”

  “Yeah, but—” Samuel lifted his head and glanced back toward the apartment. “I can’t leave without Camden.”

  “Camden?” Kane growled, his arms tightening around Samuel.

  Who in the hell was Camden, and why was he so important to Samuel?

  “I told you about Camden. He’s been my best friend since like forever.”

  “No.” Kane shook his head. “I must have missed that.”

  “Oh.” Samuel’s face flushed and his eyes rolled away. “I guess I was just kind of caught up in what was going on and all. Camden’s great. He helped me get away from my father this morning. He had a bag packed and ready to go. He even had clothes for me”—Samuel lifted up one of his shoes—“and shoes. He’s always—”

  “Samuel,” Kane said. “Just introduce me to him. We need to go.”

  “Right.”

  Kane’s eyebrows slowly climbed up his face with the quickness in which Samuel spun away and darted into the apartment. He didn’t know a man that big could move that damn fast. Maybe it was a vampire thing.

  Kane started into the apartment after Samuel, frowning at Fallon when he saw the man grinning as he stood next to the doorframe.

  “Oh, shut up!”

  Fallon’s grin turned into a full chuckle as he held up his hand. “I didn’t say a thing.”

  “Liar.”

  “But if I did say something…”

  “Don’t.”

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  Kane knew that Fallon was having a good laugh at his expense, but considering that the alpha had found Samuel for him, Kane could forgive anything. He just shook his head and moved into the apartment.

  Samuel stood at the far side of the room near the dining room, rapidly waving his hands in the air as he talked to another man, a much shorter man with spiked blond hair…and pink fingernails…and pink lipstick…and a pink short-sleeve cotton shirt tucked into faded denim jeans. Kane swallowed hard when he saw the pink flip-flops gracing the man’s pink-painted-toenailed feet.

  Wow, that was a whole lot of pink.

  “Samuel?”

  This was Samuel’s best friend?

  “Kane, this is Camden.”

  Damn.

  It was.

  Kane plastered a smile on his face and walked over to shake Camden’s hand. His eyebrows shot right back up his forehead when Camden held his hand like a woman, and like he expected Kane to kiss it.

  Kane’s eyes shot to Samuel, whose eyes were darting back and forth between Kane and Camden as he chewed on his lower lip. Kane mentally shrugged. If Camden was Samuel’s best friend, he knew he’d have to get used to the guy.

  Kane smiled and planted a small kiss on the top of Camden’s hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Camden. Samuel tells me that you are his best friend.” Kane knew he had shocked both Samuel and Camden when both men just stood there and stared at him. “Is there a problem?”

  “No, no, of course not,” Camden said quickly. “Samuel just said that you all came from a bar and well…” Camden frowned. “To be honest, I was expecting someone a little less…uh…chivalrous.”

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  “Ah, honey, you’ve been hanging out at the wrong bars.” Kane grinned and turned to look at Samuel. “Baby, your mouth is hanging open.”

  Samuel’s face flushed again as he snapped his mouth closed. He looked as embarrassed as hell, and it was totally adorable.

  “Kane,” Fallon said from the doorway, “we need to go.”

  Kane nodded. “Do you two have everything you need? We won’t be coming back.”

  Samuel ran over and grabbed a pillowcase full of stuff sitting on the floor by the couch. Camden grabbed his backpack. Both men walked over toward the door. Camden glanced around the apartment and then nodded his head.

  “I’m ready.”

  “Me, too,” Samuel added in. “This is everything I hid here at Camden’s when I left my father’s coven the first time. I could care less about anything else.”

  They all started toward the door only to be stopped by Fallon as he filled the doorframe. Fallon nodded his head toward Camden. “Is he coming with us?”

  “He has to, Fallon,” Samuel said. “He’s my best friend. I can’t leave him behind.”

  Fallon looked Camden up and down and then slowly shook his head as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. Kane knew how the alpha felt. Camden was something else.

  “Do you know who I am?” Fallon asked Camden.

  “Ye–yes.”

  “Do you wish to join my coven?”

  Camden swallowed hard. “Yes.”

  “Do you swear fidelity to me and mine of your own free will, Camden…uh…what is your last name?”

  “Baker, Camden Baker.”

  “Do you swear fidelity to me and mine of your own free will, Camden Baker?”

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  “I do.”

  Fallon nodded. “Then welcome to my coven.”

  Kane frowned when Camden and Samuel both visibly shuddered.

  He knew something profound happened when a vampire swore fidelity and was accepted into a coven, but damned if he knew what it was. He’d have to ask Samuel about it later.

  “Stay close, boys,” Fallon said as he led the way out of Camden’s apartment. “Terrence Harden is in the area, and he’s looking for trouble.”

  “Then we’ll give him some.” Kane had no intention of letting Terrence Harden get his grimy little hands on Samuel again. And if that meant fighting the man, well then—he’d buy a really big gun.

  “Just stay close,” Fallon said. “We’ve dealt with assholes like this before. We know what we’re doing.”

  “Fallon, I have to tell you. I respect you a lot, but I don’t think you play by the same rules as Terence Harden.”

  Fallon’s grin grew malicious, and once again Kane found himself feeling sorry for his enemy.

  “Who said I played by the rules?”

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  Chapter 12

  Samuel felt as un-vampire-like as he possibly could. The other members of his coven, including Camden and Kane, were ready for a fight. Samuel could see it in their furtive glances as they walk
ed out of the apartment building and in the tensing of their muscles.

  They seemed almost eager for the coming confrontation.

  Samuel, on the other hand, was terrified out of his mind. He knew what his father and brother were capable of, and he was scared that no one would come out of this fight alive. He was especially scared for Kane.

  He adored his human bondmate, but the fact was, Kane was still human. He might be smart, dominant, and surly when he wanted to be. But he would always be human, and that meant he didn’t have a chance in hell of winning a fight with a vampire.

  “Fallon, what if—” Samuel blinked and stared as his new alpha held up his hand and slowly scanned the parking lot. Samuel swallowed past the lump in his throat and glanced over the cement parking lot just as Fallon was doing.

  There was something in the air, something thick and cloying. It was almost as if the very air itself was holding its breath in anticipation.

  A sudden loud howl filled the air.

  Samuel jerked and swung around, quickly looking for the owner of that enraged noise. He’d heard enough when he was growing up to instantly recognize it now. And it sent chills down his spine.

  “He’s here,” Samuel whispered.

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  “Yes,” Fallon replied. “But we were expecting him, so his appearance should be no surprise.”

  “No, not really.” Samuel grimaced as his stomach clenched. “I just wish we had been able to get away before he showed up. I really do not want to fight my father or brother.”

  “Relax, Samuel. You won’t be fighting them. I will.”

  Fallon is nuts!

  “You do realize that my father won’t play fair, right?”

  “I believe we discussed this upstairs.”

  “No, you don’t get it, Fallon. He won’t play fair at all. If he thinks for one second that he is going to lose, he’ll pull out every underhanded trick he can think of to insure his victory.” Samuel glanced out over the empty parking lot, thankful that it was just barely dawn and most humans were still in bed asleep. “And he won’t be coming alone.”

  Fallon grinned. “I’m counting on it.”

  Oh, yeah, the man was certifiable. There was absolutely no doubt in Samuel’s mind. Anyone that seemed to look forward to a fight the way Fallon and his men were had to be nuts.