The footage! She couldn’t leave that on her phone. She brought it up and deleted it, thankful she’d bought and installed the cameras herself and they weren’t part of her home security system. It had saved her a ton of money. She’d never been so thankful to be frugal. It would’ve been next to impossible to get the footage off the company’s server. Maybe a hacker could do it, but those skills were beyond her.

  The unmistakable sound of a vehicle coming up the driveway had her grabbing the gun and heading to the front door. “You’ve got to be kidding,” she muttered as a familiar delivery van came into view.

  She jumped when something touched her leg. “Really, Penelope. You need better timing.” Totally unrepentant, the cat strolled to the living room and gracefully vaulted to the back of the chair and peered out the window.

  The knock on the door made her heart race. Was this legit or was this a ploy to get her outside? She’d ordered clothing yesterday. Should she answer or not?

  The pounding came again, this time louder. “Come on,” she whispered. “Leave the damn package on the porch.”

  If the men hunting them came back, the driver might be in danger.

  Raine stuffed the gun in the back of her jeans and yanked the door open. “Good morning.” Her greeting was overly loud and filled with false cheer. If the delivery man noticed, it didn’t show.

  “Everything okay here?” Wearing only a tattered and dirty towel wrapped around his waist and a scowl, Lucius stalked toward the house.

  He’s okay. Her knees went weak, forcing her to grab the doorjamb for support. The driver swallowed heavily and took a step back. A huge, tattooed Lucius was an intimidating sight. She was thankful he’d managed to retrieve the towel and wasn’t stark naked. That would have really freaked out the driver.

  “Everything is fine,” she said in a cheery voice. “The clothes I ordered arrived.” The driver seemed frozen in place. “Ah, is there anything else you need?”

  “No ma’am.” Without another word, he dumped the package, raced to the van, jumped in, and sped down the driveway, slinging crushed stone from the driveway in his wake.

  Lucius paid no heed and kept coming toward her. She bit her lip and cleared her throat. “Is…is everything okay?” Not like she was going to come right out and ask if he’d killed everyone.

  “I told you to stay inside.” It was either take a step back or get run over. Before she knew what was happening, she was inside, leaning against the door, with him hovering over her. His lips were flattened into a stern line. He planted one hand above her head and leaned down to glare at her.

  She would not be intimidated. Okay, she would, but she wouldn’t show it. He could probably tell she was sweating. Giving up, she sighed. “I was afraid the men would come back and the driver might get hurt.”

  “What if he’d been one of them?”

  Her shoulders jerked up to her ears. “Don’t yell at me. I thought of that. I had my gun.” Reaching behind her back, she yanked it out to show him. “I’m not stupid.”

  Everything about him was hard and unforgiving, from the thick muscles in his chest and shoulders to the grim expression in his eyes. How could pink eyes look mean?

  “This gun.” He disarmed her in a blink and tossed it onto the sofa. It bounced once before settling without discharging.

  “That was dangerous.”

  “Dangerous?” He gripped her shoulders and pulled her up onto her toes. “You have no idea about real danger.”

  It began to sink in that she might be in bigger trouble than she’d thought. “You didn’t believe him, did you? I’m not part of any holy mission. I don’t even go to church.” She’d given up praying a long time ago, depending on her wits and strength to see her through. “You know better.”

  “Do I?”

  Those two simple words made her flinch.

  “Fuck!” He lowered his head until their foreheads touched. “I believed him for about thirty seconds.”

  She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “I can see why you would. I mean, you don’t really know me. Well, you do in the carnal sense. Maybe I’m a femme fatale and my job is to seduce you so you’ll lower your guard.” She gave a snort. She was the last woman anyone would send in for seduction.

  “If that was the plan, it was successful.”

  “Wait. What?” She shoved him back. “There’s no need to mock me.” Hurt bloomed, making her chest ache.

  “I’m not mocking you.” He cupped her face in his huge hands and lifted her chin, leaving her no choice but to look at him.

  Tears of relief welled in her eyes, but she blinked them back.

  He rubbed his thumbs over the curve of her cheeks. “But in the future, if I tell you to do something for your safety, you need to do it.”

  “I will. If I can. If you’re in danger, I’m not going to stand aside and let you get hurt.”

  “And could you kill a man?”

  She grabbed onto his wrists for support. The heat from his body warming her and the fierceness reflected in his eyes made her weak. Her stomach churned at the thought of doing violence to another. “If I had to.”

  He shook his head and sighed. “I don’t think so.”

  “I know how to take care of myself. Maybe I haven’t killed anyone, but I’m no stranger to a fight.” Not with her upbringing.

  The air in the room became charged, like before a thunderstorm. Penelope jumped off the chair and skittered into the bedroom. Raine absently wondered where the cat would hide, since she could no longer hide under the bed.

  “Who hurt you?” Each word was said slowly and deliberately.

  “It was a long time ago. I survived. I ended up in an orphanage at three. Did some time in a couple of foster homes but the orphanage was better.”

  He opened his mouth to argue, so she did the only thing she could think of to stop him from demanding names. She went up on her toes and plastered her mouth against his. His lips were warm and supple, all hot male yumminess. The muscles in his arms turned to stone. She ran her tongue across his bottom lip before slipping it inside. She was enjoying herself so much it took a second to realize he wasn’t kissing her back.

  The man had been in a fight for his life, was probably dealing with a lot of stuff, and what had she done? She’d all but jumped him.

  “Uh, sorry about that.” Her face was hot. She hoped like hell it wasn’t red.

  “You were trying to distract me.” He sounded almost confused.

  “Not distract you. I wanted to kiss you. Maybe get you off the revenge train. I fought my battles. There’s no need for you to go back and fight them for me.” And she didn’t want anyone getting an ass-whooping on her behalf. Or worse. Armed gunmen were one thing. Idiots were another.

  “Ah, you can let me go now.” She’d released his wrists, but he was still cupping her face. He shuffled closer until her spine was against the door. His chest brushed against hers, making her nipples pucker. And there was no hiding his arousal behind the thin towel. “Lucius.”

  His big body shuddered. He lowered his head and skimmed his mouth over hers, their breath mingling. “I want you safe. I need you safe.” He kissed her again, this time a little longer. It was slow and easy and had her breasts straining against the cups of her bra. She wanted to climb him like a tree, wrap her legs around his waist, and rub herself against his erection until she came. Probably wouldn’t take long.

  “If something happens to you, I won’t be responsible for what I’ll do. Mack was right, I am a monster. No, I’m worse than a monster, I’m the one they send to kill the monsters.”

  “You’re not a monster.” But speaking of the man, “Ah, is he still alive?”

  “He killed himself rather than allow me to question him.”

  “That’s so messed up. Wouldn’t he have considered that a sin if he was so religious?”

  “He’d see it as doing what needed to be done to win the fight against a demon.”

  “You’re no demon.” She smacked his shoulder and winced when her fingers stung. The man really was as hard as a rock.

  “No, I am one of the Forgotten Brotherhood.” He released her and took a step back. Chilled without him holding her, she crossed her arms over her chest. “We are the creatures the rest of the world, including our own kind, wants to forget. We are the bogeymen for all paranormals.”

  “I don’t…” The words caught in her throat. She swallowed and tried again. “I don’t understand.”

  His slight smile was cruel and edged with danger. “I am an assassin.”

  Chapter Ten

  He should have kept his mouth shut, but he wanted Raine to know exactly who and what he was, who and what she’d invited to her bed and home.

  She blinked several times and tilted her head to one side. “An assassin.” Her voice was strained. She leaned against the door and stared up at him, her golden eyes filled with confusion.

  “Yes.”

  “You kill people? For money?”

  “Yes.” The word tasted sour in his mouth. He wasn’t ashamed of anything he’d ever done, but she might see things differently.

  “Humans?”

  He shook his head. “I’ve killed humans, but only when attacked. I primarily killed paranormals who were out of control, indiscriminately slaughtering innocents.”

  “And you’re part of this… What did you call them? Forgotten?”

  “The Forgotten Brotherhood. We are paranormals shunned by even our own kind.”

  “I don’t understand.” She touched her hand to his chest, but quickly tugged it away, rubbing it against her leg.

  He wanted to roar, to destroy the world. This was why he’d chosen to withdraw from the world. People always turned from him. It was his fault for allowing her to get too close. He straightened, crossed his arms over his chest, and hardened his heart.

  “What is so difficult to understand? Among my kind, I’m bigger and stronger than most drakons. That makes me different, so they fear me. I’m even stronger now.” A smile tipped up the corners of his mouth. It wasn’t a pleasant one, but rather than be intimidated, she took a step toward him.

  “That hardly seems fair.”

  “No one ever said life was fair.”

  She nodded and rubbed her hands over her face. “I know, but it’s still not right.”

  Why was she not berating him or kicking him out of her home? He should already be gone, but until he was sure she’d be safe, he was sticking close, whether she liked it or not.

  He’d told her he believed her innocent in any plot against him. She’d thrown herself into the path of danger when she’d thought he was hurt. She’d also had the perfect opportunity to shoot him in the back at close range.

  She knows you’ll heal. Maybe this had been nothing more than a test of his abilities. Maybe Mack and his cohorts were the disposable ones.

  “How did those men know where to find us?” It was a question he needed answered. He had to start factoring in technology when acting or making decisions. Either she or any of the men could have texted or emailed others, and he’d be none the wiser.

  She frowned, her brow furrowing. “I didn’t tell them.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she glared at him.

  Her bravery in the face of his anger was foolish, but it lightened the heaviness pressing down on him. If there was one thing he could trust it was his senses. There was nothing to indicate she wasn’t being truthful. No twitch of a muscle, no increase in heart rate, no dilation of her pupils. She looked him straight in the eyes, without subterfuge.

  If she was lying, she was the best he’d ever come across. It was rare for a human to possess such control over their involuntary responses. They were usually psychopaths, emotionless and cold, neither of which described Raine. She didn’t seem to fear much of anything, which was a problem. The woman needed a keeper.

  I can keep her. The sly voice was a whisper in the back of his brain. He ignored it. He was a paranormal killer. She was an inquisitive, but sweet, human. She saw herself as tough, but it was a facade she wore to protect her soft and giving heart.

  “Someone did. You said this foundation put him in touch with you?” They’d have her address on record.

  “Yes.” She gripped the door handle and turned.

  “Where are you going?” He shoved his hand against the panel, keeping it closed. Had it finally sunk in what he was? Was she trying to run?

  “If Mack knew where to find me, maybe other people do, too, people who would be a danger to you. We need to get out of here. And as hot as you are naked, you can’t go anywhere without clothes.”

  He feared he could live with her a thousand years and she’d still surprise him. “I’ll get the box.” There was no one around he could sense, but he wasn’t willing to take chances. After a quick glance, he grabbed it and shut the door.

  “Let’s see if any of this fits.” She took the box from him and carried it toward the kitchen.

  Was she in denial? She seemed much too calm considering everything that had happened. He plucked the package from her and tossed it onto the table. Grasping her shoulders, he turned her to face him. “Look at me.”

  “I see you.” The way she said it gave him pause. “I. See. You.” She pressed her hand over his heart. “You might be an assassin, but you’re no mindless killer.”

  “How do you know?” There were days he wasn’t sure himself.

  She huffed out a breath. “Face it, if you were a monster, you’d have killed me back in the cave if only to shut me up.” Her self-deprecating humor thawed even more of the chill coating his soul.

  “You truly believe that?” He trailed his fingers over her short hair, enjoying the slide of the silk over his skin.

  “Yes.” From a woman who chatted nonstop, that lone word hit with the force of a nuclear bomb.

  “I have seen the seven wonders of the ancient world.” He plucked her off her feet, set her on the kitchen counter, and placed his hands on either side of her, caging her in. “You are the eighth. No, you are the wonder of wonders.”

  “I’m no one special. I’m a normal woman who lives alone with her cat and has what most people would consider a weird job.”

  She truly believed that. “I have seen the best and the worst this world has to offer.” He leaned down until their mouths were almost touching. “You are one of a kind.” He kissed her, keeping the pressure light, fearing she’d push him away. “A treasure.” And a drakon hoarded and protected his treasure.

  The humming sound she made in the back of her throat had his balls clenching and his cock standing at attention. Electricity crackled in the air around them. As aroused as he was, he was content to simply kiss her. There wasn’t time to make love to her the way he wanted, the way she deserved. Not to mention she was likely sore from earlier.

  For the first time in his existence, he wanted to take care of someone other than himself. She was his Achilles’ heel. Tying himself to her weakened him, gave his enemies something to attack and destroy.

  Never!

  He’d obliterate the world before he’d allow any harm to come to her. Yeah, then she’d know for sure I’m a monster.

  Shutting away the unsettling thoughts, he slid his tongue into her mouth, savoring the warmth and welcome he found there. Her hand slid up his forearms to his biceps. She was as vocal in her passion as she was in everyday life. Sighs and gasps and hums punctuated their embrace. She wiggled to the edge of the counter and wrapped her legs around him. They had to stop. There wasn’t enough time. Danger could be closing in around them.

  Digging deep, he found the Herculean effort necessary to pull away. The little sound of displeasure made him want to smile.

  “Why are we stopping?”

  “It’s not safe.” Her pouting lips were too tempting to ignore, so he kissed them.

  She huffed out a breath, her cheeks still flushed. “Right. Damn it, you made me forget all about that.”

  Didn’t that make a drakon want to puff out his chest and roar? Focus! Her safety came before all else. “We need to search Mack’s home.”

  She eased off the counter and sidled away without touching him. Probably a good idea. Whenever they touched, things escalated quickly. After watching her fight with the tape on the box, he extended a claw from his forefinger and carefully sliced through the binding.

  “That’s handy. Let’s see what they sent. Two pairs of pants, four T-shirts, and four pairs of socks. I still say you should have ordered underwear.”

  “No underwear.” Why anyone wanted to confine themselves in that way, he didn’t know.

  “I hope the sneakers fit.” She held up one and then looked down at his feet.

  “It will be fine.” He took it from her and set it with the rest. “If it doesn’t, I can go barefoot.”

  “You’d stand out too much. And trust me, you already stand out.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. It was so unconsciously sexy, he wanted to drag her to the floor and make love to her. “I don’t know where Mack lives. I know the area, just not his exact…” She trailed off. “Oh crap. He came here, to my home. Either he’s a hacker or someone at the Angel Foundation gave him my address.”

  He’d already figured that one out. “And whoever sent him here will be waiting to hear back. We need to move before we have more company. Get packed and ready to go.”

  “Where are you going?” She hurried after him as he went to the front door.

  “I have to clean things up outside.” Incinerate the bodies and the vehicles. He came to a stop. “Would Mack carry something on him or his truck that would tell where he lived?” Hadn’t he read something about licenses and registration online?

  She was paler than she’d been only seconds before, but she nodded. “I should’ve thought of that. Check his wallet for a driver’s license and the glove compartment of his truck for registration. See if he has a phone on him. Do the same for the others.”