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  “I don’t want to kill you yet. If I have to fight you, I will. Obviously, you’re not going to comply. Your subconscious wouldn’t have broken through if that were the case.”

  “I don’t want to die,” I mumbled.

  “Too bad.”

  I ignored him, feeling a little security now that he was backing off. “You didn’t tell me your name.”

  He glanced up as he slid his leg in his pants. “You really want to know my name? I don’t see why. You’ll be dead in a few weeks anyway. Hell, I don’t even know why I’m explaining anything to you.” His head shook in annoyance as he worked his fingers on the clasp, adjusting the waistline at his slim hips. “Marko. Marko Delacroix. And you’re Tessalyn Antoinette Kennedy. Twenty-eight years of age. Soon to be twenty-nine. If you live that long.

  “You were raised in this city and never have plans of leaving. Although, you do wish to explore New York someday. But not as a singer,” he said, rolling his eyes.

  “Your best friend is Hunter Anthony Moretti. You’ve known him since you were seven. You teased the idea of marrying him someday until you lost your virginity to him at the tender age of sixteen, and your desire suddenly wavered. You graduated top of your class. Were offered a free ride to the University of Texas, yet you work as a receptionist at a car dealership. You don’t speak with your parents anymore, not that you really did growing up. You find they’re too in love with each other to share it with their only daughter, so you pushed them away long ago, never caring to try to strengthen it yourself. But you’ve always preferred to be alone so it never really bothered you. Am I getting this right?”

  Tears burned my eyes at the ugly way he spoke of my life. Whatever had been wrong with me before sobered with his words and I was thankful for it. I hesitantly climbed off the bed, trying to push my own anger away. I wasn’t so naïve to know if I attacked him, it would be the death of me.

  “My blood told you that?”

  I slid on my shirt as he reached for his. The tears were threatening more by the minute while what was happening—what had almost happened—started to sink in.

  “No. I watched your life play out. It’s deep in your eyes. The details did get filled in from your blood though, even though I already knew the majority of it.”

  My lips separated and I lowered my head. This vampire, Marko….this killer, knew every detail of my life. Had seen it. Twisting in my stomach had me feeling sick. The thought of his blood in me had me spinning to race to the restroom. I gagged as an arm looped around my waist, holding me while I started to fight against him.

  “You’re just in shock. It’ll pass. And when it does, it’ll be of little consequence. You’ll want nothing more than to taste me, just like I already want to taste you.” I thrashed again, unable to help it. “I’ll be back tomorrow night.” His hand came around, grasping my throat. “You will be more compliant then. You will wait for me at the door and you will let me in, or you won’t like the consequences that come with me forcing my way inside.”

  Fear engulfed me and the trembling came back in full force. “Please don’t come back. Please. I’ll pretend none of this ever happened. I won’t say a word.” My voice cracked as the tears finally broke free and streamed down my cheeks. A laugh filled the room and I was tossed to the ground, as if I were nothing.

  “I’ll be back. And don’t think about running. You won’t make it far.” He grabbed his jacket, sliding it on as he surged from my door, slamming it behind him. Sobs wracked my body so hard, I fell forward, resting my forehead on hands that seemed to try to claw their way into the carpeted flooring. For minutes, I felt myself fall apart. I was confused, scared. Fear had sunk its claws just as deep as Marko’s fangs and I had no idea what I was supposed to do now.

  Chapter 5

  Hunter

  “Tessa?”

  I looked down at the knob, confused as I pushed the door closed. Hadn’t I told her to lock it? I knew I had. I turned the dead bolt, shaking my head. Women. Didn’t last night teach her anything? A stranger could show up at any time. With the phantom knocker, I would have thought she’d have taken the scare a little more seriously. One time would have been odd. Three times, throughout the span of a few hours...it wasn’t natural. Hell, had she not convinced me that kids had done this before, I probably wouldn’t have left to begin with. A bad feeling was in the pit of my stomach and I couldn’t shake the weird sensation. Even under heavy fire overseas, I never once felt the fear I did last night. It rocked me and I didn’t like it. I wasn’t one to get spooked easily, but anyone that hid themselves from the view of others wasn’t right in my book.

  “Tessa?”

  The house was dead quiet, causing me to walk faster. I pushed open the bathroom door, moving my head back as a wave of steam rolled out. She’d just gotten out of the shower. And a damn hot one at that. My shirt was suddenly too tight against my neck and I pulled at it as teasing images of her body underneath mine played out. Damn. How many times had I fantasized about making up for our first time? Too many. And it wasn’t just correcting my mistake that made me want her again. I loved her. Always had.

  My arm rose to knock when I paused at the sniffling. Was she crying? I moved in closer, tilting my head to give myself a better angle to hear. The sob had my hand rapping against the wooden divider that separated us.

  “Tessa? Can I come in?”

  “One minute.” Shuffling was followed by another sniff. My lips tightened with uncertainty and I knocked again.

  “Tessa, are you okay?” I grabbed the knob and paused, debating whether I should risk getting her even more upset.

  I drew my hand back just as it swung open. Her dark hair was wet, hanging down in loose curls that stopped just above her waist. She hugged the white, thick robe she wore tightly to her body as she moved back. It was a silent admittance into her room and I stepped inside, feeling my heart break at the anguish that pulled her features in. She was on the verge of completely breaking in front of me and I had no idea what had caused it or how to help.

  “What happened?” My voice was quiet, almost too afraid to increase in volume for fear of pushing her too far.

  Tessa’s foot rose, as if she were going to step forward, only to drop. Her fists clenched, but reached toward me. I didn’t need her asking for me to know what she wanted. My arms lifted and she rushed into them, throwing herself into me with enough force to almost push me back. Sobs shook her body violently and I held tightly, trying to swallow past the tightness in my throat.

  “God, Tessa,” I breathed out. “Jesus.” My knees felt weak, yet rage rushed through me. I couldn’t stop myself from scanning her bedroom for some sort of explanation. Her bed was stripped completely and I felt myself stiffen, trying to imagine what would cause her to be suffering as she was.

  Fingers dug into my back while she tried to move into me closer.

  “Tessa, you have to talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong. What happened?”

  The crying got harder and I pulled at her arms, trying to unwrap her from me. It hurt worse than seeing her break down, but if I didn’t find out soon, I’d snap. Someone had obviously hurt her in some way, whether it was physically or mentally, and I wanted to know who.

  “Please,” she begged, pulling against me even firmer.

  “No. Look at me,” I said, angling her face up. “I’m here now. You’re okay. Just talk to me. Tell me what happened. I won’t let anyone hurt you, if that’s what you’re afraid of.”

  When she continued reaching out to hold me, I swept her in my arms, bringing her toward the bed. Screams had her thrashing in my arms and I nearly dropped her at the violent outburst. Dots of blood soaked into the mattress had my arms nearly giving out. The yelling disappeared, drowned out from my pulse as I let go of her legs and reached forward, pressing my fingers into the half-dollar sized amount. Crimson stained my fingertip and bile pushed at my throat as I realized how fresh it was. God, if I hadn’t left…If I…

  “Hunter, we have to leave. Hunter.” The sobs came back and I looked down into her red-rimmed eyes, numb from the fury within.

  “Where are you hurt?” My hand came out to tear at the robe but I closed my fist just as I connected. I didn’t want to imagine my biggest fear. It was wrong that I prayed she’d been merely injured over my assumption.

  “We have to go,” she said, dragging it out.

  “Who?” I exploded.

  Tessa’s mouth opened and a rush of air came out, but nothing in the form of a word. Her eyes darted back and forth and the panic resurfaced. “Ah….” Again, she seemed to struggle with her words.

  “Speak. What happened? Did someone…rape you?”

  Just the words left me in a place I couldn’t ever remember being. My hands gripped her shoulders and I groaned at the frustration I felt. Why wasn’t she saying anything helpful? “Tessa,” I said, shaking her. “Talk to me God dammit.”

  “I…can’t,” she whispered. “Hunter…I can’t.” The crying was stopping as something altogether baffling began to happen to her state of mind. Whispering left her mouth and it almost appeared as if she were talking to herself. A crazed laugh came through and she shook her head, shrugging out of my grip as the sobs quickly replaced it.

  I reached for my phone, knowing I needed to call the police. She needed an ambulance. Doctors. “You’re in shock. I’m going to get you help. Maybe one of the cops can get you to tell them what happened.”

  Her head shook and she used the sleeve of the robe to wipe her nose. “No one can,” she managed. “It’s an amazing trick, really. It makes perfect sense why they’re such a mystery.”

  “They?”

  Tessa went to speak, only to close her eyes. “Forget it.”

  “No. I want to know. Who hurt you? If you w
ere raped, we need to get you help.” My voice had softened and I noticed her mouth had twisted.

  “No one raped me, Hunter.”

  My head shook and I pointed to the mattress. “Something obviously happened. If you weren’t raped, then you have to be hurt. Are you dressed under the robe? I want to see.”

  White came to her knuckles as she grabbed at the collar of the cotton, holding it together tightly. “I’m not hurt. The blood doesn’t belong to me.” Even though I got the impression she was lying, I continued.

  “You hurt someone?” The rush of words had her shaking her head. “Fuck, you’re being so difficult. Why can’t you tell me? You were begging that we needed to leave when I arrived and now you want to pretend nothing happened. You were a damn train wreck not even a minute ago.”

  Tears overflowed and I threw my hands up, stepping back. My teeth clenched and I forced myself to keep going. “Tell me this. If you won’t reveal this person—”

  “Can’t,” she burst out as a sob broke through.

  “Okay.” I lowered my head, breathing deeply through the irritation. “If you can’t reveal this person, is it because you’re afraid they will hurt you again?”

  Silence.

  “Tessa, are you afraid they’ll come back?”

  Silence.

  Dark hair spun as she went to the closet and threw the doors open. She reached on her tiptoes and pulled out new sheets, laying them on the dresser as she swept through the door and into the restroom. A wet washcloth was in her hand and she leaned over the mattress, beginning to scrub out the stains.

  “Go ahead and go to bed, Hunter. I’m getting tired and I’ll be doing the same here shortly. Let’s just forget this ever happened.”

  “Forget?” Shock filled my tone and I took a step back. “You were always so strong. I’ve never known anyone to back you into a corner this way. And you have me. Do you think I can’t protect you from this person?

  Tessa’s eyes rose to mine and her face grew pale. “No, Hunter. Even you can’t protect me. Goodnight.”

  A response. A reaction. Nothing would come as I stared at her in utter astonishment. The surprise didn’t last long. I surged forward, pulling her from the bed and carrying her to my room. The robe flew up past her knees as I tossed her on my mattress.

  “I can’t protect you? You don’t think so? I reached under my pillow, pulling out one of my guns. It was habit. Something I’d picked up years ago. It made me feel safe after what I’d been through and seen.

  I placed it on the dresser, opening the top drawer and pulling out another. The heavy thud was replaced with another from the second drawer. And then the third. By the time I made it to my closet, I didn’t have to move a thing. A rifle case rested against the bottom wall, courtesy of my mother earlier that day, and case after case of handguns sat along the top.

  “Tell me again that I can’t protect you. Say it, Tessa! I’ve killed plenty of times before. I’d do it again in a heartbeat if it meant stopping someone from harming you. That shouldn’t even be a question in your mind.” I sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to touch her face. “You have to know that.”

  As her eyes searched mine, I watched her shut herself off.

  “How can you kill something that can’t be…” she trialed off.

  “That can’t be what? Killed?”

  Her eyes snapped up, but she stayed quiet.

  “If that’s the case, then let me think.” As crazy as it sounded, I didn’t dismiss the possible answer. I knew Tessa. She’d been terror-stricken and was still in shock. Whatever she couldn’t speak of affected her more than she could even show. I took a deep breath and stretched out on the bed, pulling her down beside me so I could hold her in my arms. “Everything can die. It’s all about finding the right way to make it happen. Give me time. If there’s something that can be done, no one will try harder to find the solution than me.”

  Chapter 6

  Marko

  To say I was addicted to the taste of her wasn’t enough. I was consumed by her sweetness. Crazy to the point of madness, just to her moans. It was one thing to tempt the killer in me, quite another to become the obsession of my monster.

  Even as I paced the grate outside the tunnel entrance, I knew it was pointless. I felt trapped in between where I needed to go and where the vampire in me wished to be. Hunter was home. I could feel it in my blood that now resided inside of Tessa. From distraught to somewhat peaceful, she clung to him for stability. The desired effects I’d wanted to get out of the exchange didn’t happen. My meal didn’t bend to me and although I’d heard of it happening before, I never in my wildest dreams would have imagined it happening to me. And from her, of all people. It pissed me off. Made the challenge even greater. To kill her wasn’t enough. There was nothing satisfying in that. I wanted her to love me before I drained her. To…

  A frustrated sound had me kicking at the dirt. Women fell in love with me all the time. Maybe I clung to that part of humanity the most. The beast within was the one who twisted the sweet act into something that fit who I’d now become. I’d never once felt bad for the murders I’d committed and I wasn’t about to start now. So, what was I still doing here, pacing around a clearing just outside of the homes that surrounded me? Why did I leave to begin with?

  I slowed as pieces began to fit into the puzzle of my mind. For so long, I’d done things my way. Apparently, with the boredom, it wasn’t working anymore. If I tried to be genuine, to show emotion and act as though I truly cared for her, perhaps I could get her to ease to the influence of the bond for it to really snap into effect. Wouldn’t it be the ultimate victory? My head shook while I battled with how stupid that sounded. No. It would be pathetic. I didn’t act out anything for anyone. Especially not a human.

  Time passed and I pushed from the curb I’d been sitting on. There was a calmness within. It told me Tessa was probably deep in sleep and I couldn’t stand it. To know I was out here obsessing over her and she was oblivious to it enraged me. I felt myself walking back toward her house before I processed doing so. To question whether I lost my mind was pointless. My actions proved I had.

  Lights flickered on as I passed a house and my eyes narrowed. If I kept up this weird stalkerish behavior, someone was bound to call the cops on me. The last thing I needed was to worry about human laws. Especially so close to the big news.

  The room I knew to be Hunter’s was illuminated from the inside and I could feel myself being pulled in that direction. The blinds were closed and my jaw tightened in aggravation. I kept walking, making my way to the front door. I adjusted the tie to the new suit I wore and cursed myself for the millionth time for not staying in my room. My hand rose to knock and I almost rolled my eyes as the door swung open. Staring down the barrel of a gun wasn’t amongst my favorite things, but I wasn’t afraid.

  “It’s nice to meet you, too, Hunter. Is Tessa home?”

  Blue eyes glared at me as he pulled the hammer on the back. “It’s almost one in the morning. She’s sleeping. What is your business with her? And why at this hour?”

  I put my hands in my pockets, raising my eyebrow. “It’s one in the morning and I’m here to see Tessa. Our business is our own. If you don’t mind, I’ll just wake her up myself.”

  The barrel pushed closer to my face. “I don’t think so. She’s not feeling well. Besides, I’ve seen you before. Last night. You were walking by.”

  “No,” I said, shaking my head. “I was making sure she made it home safely from choir practice. When she saw you, I decided to let you two have your moment and I left. Now, I’m here to see her again and you’re going to move out of the way and let me do that.”

  Confusion and uncertainty pulled at his expression. I knew he was questioning whether I spoke the truth.

  Footsteps sounded in the distance and my smile appeared. Her pulse became mine, racing in my chest as she got closer. I closed my eyes, willing it to slow. To calm. I knew it would have the same effect on hers.

  “If you don’t mind,” I said, nudging my head to the side. “Tessa would like to see me now. Wouldn’t you, mon chaton?” My voice was just loud enough for her to hear. The footsteps continued and Hunter turned, giving me a view of her in a long white nightgown. Her dark hair was in a mass of frizzy, soft curls around her. Her skin looked radiant in the light and I knew it was because of my blood. A weird tingling erupted in my stomach and I pushed my way past Hunter, no longer noticing he was there. Tessa licking her lips brought me closer. Fear was present, but something else. Something I couldn’t quite figure out, nor cared to. All I wanted was to be back on top of her. Back tasting her mouth as I breathed in her scent.