Crazy bastard with the fire in his eyes . . . Ryder’s body tensed. “Sabine?” When he’d seen her in the alley, he’d smelled smoke, but he’d just thought—hell, he hadn’t even thought. He’d reacted. He’d seen her and been damn relieved to have found her.

But now . . . was her brother saying that another phoenix had been in that alley?

Sabine glanced at Ryder from the corner of her eye.

“Was that another friend, Sabine?” Rhett demanded. “Another paranormal buddy that you picked up during your disappearance?”

Her gaze held Ryder’s. “I’d never seen him before, but, yes . . .” Now she looked back at her brother. “I think he may have been held at the same facility I was at.”

Rhett blinked. “Held?”

Behind him, Louis swore.

She nodded. Her shoulder brushed against Ryder’s. His chest wasn’t hurting anymore. The flesh was already starting to mend.

I want her blood. Nothing particularly new there. He always wanted her.

“I didn’t leave willingly,” she whispered. Her hands fisted by her sides. “I was taken, by a group called Genesis.”

“Those SOBs on the news?” the one who’d been so trigger-happy before demanded.

She nodded. “Yes, Vaughn. They kept me in their facility. I only escaped a few days ago, thanks to Ryder.”

Rhett’s gaze drifted between them. Measured.

“I wouldn’t be here without him,” Sabine said.

“Hell.” Rhett dropped the stake. It clattered to the floor.

“Why did they take you?” Vaughn demanded. He pressed closer. “I saw the news—they were experimenting on paranormals. Not humans. Why the hell would they—”

“It turns out that I wasn’t human. Not exactly.” Sabine’s sigh was soft. “And they knew it.”

Vaughn shook his head. “Son of a bitch.”

Exactly.

Rhett kept a watchful gaze on his sister. “But Genesis is gone now, right? You’re safe?”

“Yes.” Her chin lifted. “I’m safe.”

Her brother couldn’t seem to tell when Sabine was lying.

Odd. Ryder could tell instantly. Trying to protect the human, Sabine? If she’d wanted to protect him, she should have stayed the hell away from New Orleans and her brother.

The scent of smoke drifted into the room. Ryder spun around, following that scent back to the broken door just as that door was tossed aside.

“Fire!” It was the human he’d sent outside. Douglas? “There’s a fire in the bar!”

Rhett swore and stormed right toward the growing smoke. Ryder didn’t try to stop him, but he did grab for Sabine when she tried to go after her brother.

The other humans rushed out, following the cries that had erupted from the bar patrons.

“Let me go!” Sabine twisted in Ryder’s grasp. “I have to help! This bar . . . it’s everything to Rhett.”

No, it wasn’t. “You’re a vampire now,” he reminded her, holding her tightly. “That means you burn too easily. Fire can kill you now.”

She froze. Her eyes widened.

“And when it kills you, Sabine, you won’t be coming back.” There would be no more do-overs for her.

The cries grew louder. The scent of the smoke thickened.

Since she wasn’t fighting him any longer, Ryder let her go.

She immediately ran for the broken door. “I have to help him!”

Damn it. He grabbed her and yanked her back—just as flames raced toward them. The bar was turning into an inferno, burning far too fast.

That’s what happens when you light up a place filled with booze.

His gaze swept through the smoke and flames. Most of the humans had already gotten out. They’d broken through windows. Crashed through the front doors. Rhett was still there, trying to use an extinguisher to battle the fire that just kept rising.

“I have to help him,” Sabine whispered.

No, what she had to do was get her sweet ass out of there. Ryder spun back around. He kept his hold on Sabine, knowing better than to make the same mistake twice. The room they were in was about twenty feet long, and, hell, wouldn’t it figure? No windows. No exit doors.

And, just his luck, the room was filled with bottles of liquor.

The fire snaked inside the room with them.

He caught Sabine’s chin. “We’re getting out of here.” Because the place was about to combust. “You stay with me, got it?” I’m not losing you again.