Twenty-six

Yvette looked at the gruesome scene in Paulette’s bedroom. The bloody message on the wall gave her the creeps and the scent of dried human blood stung her nostrils. She glanced at Ricky, who rummaged through the nightstand.

“That guy’s a psychopath,” she declared.

Ricky didn’t look up when he responded, “Who the hell knows what he is?”

“Definitely infatuated with her. Just like everybody else,” she grumbled. She still felt a twinge of pain when she recalled how Gabriel had kissed Maya at the hospital. There was no doubt in her mind now that he loved her. Well, she’d get over it—at least Gabriel would finally be happy. One day, she’d find the right man too.

“Particularly Gabriel. What’s going on between those two?”

The snide tone in Ricky’s voice made her look up, but before she could reply, her cell phone rang. She looked at the number. “That’s him now.”

She punched the talk button and pressed the phone to her ear. “Gabriel?”

“I need you to come to Samson’s immediately.”

“But I’m at Paulette’s house with Ricky.” And he’d been the one who’d ordered her there not even an hour ago.

“This takes precedence. Ricky can continue the work at the house by himself. I need you here to protect Maya. I have to leave the house for an hour. And I don’t want Carl to be the one to protect her. He’s not trained for that.”

At least the order meant that Gabriel still trusted her and that their little talk earlier had cleared the air. “Sure, I’ll drive right over.”

She was about to disconnect, when Gabriel added, “And Yvette, do me a favor, and don’t fill Maya’s head with snippets of information about what vampire males may or may not want—I’m not like any other vampire, and I don’t want Maya to get the wrong impression.”

“I haven’t said anything to—”

“You told her vampire males only want to bond with human women so they can have children.”

“Oh, that,” she admitted grudgingly. She’d already forgotten about it. And besides, that was before—when she was jealous of Maya. It was different now.

“Yes, that. Please?”

Yvette was surprised at the soft tone of his voice. Something was different about him. He seemed less edgy than usual. “I promise. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

“Thanks.” A click in the line told her he’d disconnected the call.

Yvette turned on her heels and almost bumped into Ricky.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Gabriel has ordered me to the house to protect Maya. So, you’re on your own here.”

“I thought he was protecting her.”

“He has to leave the house.”

“Isn’t Carl there?”

“You know as well as I do that he’s not a trained bodyguard. I bet the rogue could easily overpower him.”

“I bet he could even take you,” Ricky agreed. “Why don’t I go to the house and you finish up here?”

Yvette continued into the hallway without even casting a look back at him. “Because Gabriel ordered me, not you. See you later.”

His footsteps followed her. “Come on, don’t be such a pest.”

The little hairs on the back of her neck rose as suspicion crept up her spine. Ricky had never cared to swap assignments before. Gabriel had warned them days ago that Ricky was a little volatile at present, but this was downright annoying. “I said no. What part of no don’t you get?”

The attack hit her without warning. His claws dug into her back and flung her against the wall. As she crashed into it, she heard one of her ribs snap and felt the pain radiate through her body. She landed on her feet, her body leaving a dent in the drywall behind her.

Returning Ricky’s aggression, her body hardened at the same time as her fangs descended and her fingers turned into claws. Before she could fight back, he slashed his claws against her stomach, slicing through her tight t-shirt. The metallic scent of her own blood assaulted her instantly.

“Fucking bastard,” she cursed and kicked out with her right leg, knocking the wind out of him. He stumbled against a door behind him. “What the fuck is this about?” she yelled as she went after him.

But she hadn’t counted on him being armed.

When Ricky pulled a chain with a ball at each end out of his jacket pocket, she was unprepared. He swung it with precision and cunning, his wrist releasing it an instant later. The chain wrapped around her knees and made her lose her balance.