Why had he done such a thing? He could have killed her. Her head was still spinning when he reached in and dragged her out of the truck. The unexpected motion made her stomach churn and she swayed.

  Jeremiah laughed. “It’s time, Laurel Rose. Time for you to repent your sins. Time for you to give me your power.” He half pulled, half dragged her up the side of the bank.

  She slipped and fell, catching herself on her palms and scraping the skin on the rocky ground. Her bad leg ached and began to cramp. She swallowed back the bile that started to rise up her throat. This was no time to get sick. She had to watch for an opportunity to escape him. The man was certifiably crazy. She could hardly believe that he’d actually tried to kill her.

  No, not kill her. Just incapacitate her so he could kill her later.

  All she had to do was stay alert and alive. Stefan would come for her. As if Jeremiah had read her thoughts, his next words almost shattered her resolve.

  “And don’t think that your devil-boyfriend will save you. I’ve heard all the rumors about the stranger staying with you. People tell me everything. Living in sin.” He made a clicking sound with his tongue like a disappointed parent taking a child to task over some misdemeanor.

  “He’s being taken care of at this very moment. In fact, he might already be dead.” Jeremiah’s laughter echoed in her head. She gritted her teeth to keep from crying out in anguish. She would not give him the satisfaction. She’d know if Stefan were dead. In her heart, she would know.

  Holding on to that thought, Laurel Rose concentrated harder than she ever had in her life. Darkness threatened her mind as her vision began to dim while Jeremiah dragged her behind him. Her entire body ached and blood trickled into her mouth from the gash on her forehead. She most likely had a concussion. It was becoming increasingly difficult to focus on anything. But she forced herself to do it.

  Jeremiah threw her up against the side of his car and she sank to the ground in relief, but it was short-lived when she heard him open the trunk. “In you go.” Grabbing her around the waist, he heaved her up and dumped her into the trunk. The lid thumped down a moment later, leaving her in utter darkness. She tried to scream, but nothing came out but a whimper.

  Stefan! In her mind the scream was loud and long. Someone is coming to hurt you. Wake up! You have to wake up and protect yourself. Stefan! There was no time to try and reach him. No time to tell him how much she loved him, how much she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

  It was close to sunset and she had to trust that he would hear her. She knew he would come for her. Anything else was unthinkable. She would not even entertain the notion that he wouldn’t live. He had to live!

  She felt the vibration of the car when it started and was thrown to one side when Jeremiah jerked onto the road and sped down the mountain. Her head struck the side of the trunk and pain shot through her entire body before the darkness swallowed her whole.

  • • •

  Voices in the woods just beyond his truck roused Stefan from his deep sleep. They’d been searching the area for a few minutes now and had just discovered his vehicle hidden among the trees just beyond Laurel Rose’s home.

  “Well, lookie here, Clem. I wonder who owns this nice new truck?” Something scraped along the side of the vehicle.

  “Must belong to Laurel Rose’s new man.” Clem’s high-pitched voice grated on Stefan’s nerves. The sun was already starting its descent in the sky and soon it would sink behind the mountains. Then it would be night. His time. They just needed to keep talking a little bit longer.

  “He’s got to be around somewhere. It shouldn’t take us long to find him and take care of him.” Stefan recognized the deeper voice and knew it belonged to Aaron Higgins. “We get paid when we get him out of the picture. I would have rather had the chance to get my hands on Laurel Rose. Too bad someone else gets that sweet job.”

  Stefan stiffened as Laurel Rose’s sudden psychic warning echoed through every cell of his body. Her anguish and pain shot through him before blackness replaced it. He reached for her with his mind, trying to maintain contact, but couldn’t connect. Rage unlike anything he’d ever felt in his life consumed him. Someone was trying to kill his woman.

  The sun had not yet set, but that no longer mattered. Fury fed Stefan’s strength, allowing him to shake off the remnants of his death-like sleep. A low growl vibrated in his chest, growing louder until it finally became a roar. The forest around him shook as his cry vibrated through the mountains, rocking its very foundations. The door blew off the back of his truck, exploding into dust. Fangs exposed, he launched himself straight at the two men standing there with their mouths gaping open.

  Before they could even move, he ripped the rifles from their hands and smashed them against the trunk of an oak tree. The sun’s fading rays burned Stefan’s face and arms, but he ignored the blisters and the growing pain. It was nothing compared with the agony searing his soul.

  Both men turned to run, but Stefan was on them before they could move more than a few steps. Grabbing Clem by the back of his shirt, he flung the man against a tree. Clem bounced off the trunk with a hard crack and slid to the ground. He didn’t move. Aaron glanced over his shoulder, his eyes widening and his face paling when he saw what was chasing him.

  Stefan smiled, his fangs gleaming in the growing darkness. Growling, he raced ahead of Aaron, cutting off his retreat. Every way the other man tried to run, Stefan cut off his escape. There was some shade beneath the trees but not enough. Stefan’s skin continued to burn.

  Realizing he couldn’t escape Stefan’s wrath, Aaron fell to his knees and began to pray. Stefan reached down, wrapped his hand around Aaron’s throat and lifted him high into the air as if the large man weighed nothing at all. Holding him easily in his grasp, he shook him like a rag doll.

  “Who sent you and where is Laurel Rose?” Aaron choked and squirmed and it occurred to Stefan that if he weren’t careful, he’d kill the man before he had answers. Opening his hand, he let the body drop to the ground.

  Aaron rolled around in the dirt, coughing and choking. Stefan used his boot to shove him onto his back. Sweat poured down the other man’s face, and in his fear he’d soiled himself.

  Stefan absently beat at his shirt, which was still smoldering. His face and hands burned, but he felt instant relief the second the sun finally sank behind the mountain. Dusk had arrived. Planting his feet on either side of the prone man, Stefan struggled to control his temper. “Who sent you?”

  Now that he had better control over himself, Stefan used his mind to control Aaron. The man opened his mouth and began to babble everything he knew. When Stefan was satisfied he’d been told everything, he reached down, hauled Aaron to his feet, and dragged him back to where Clem was still lying on the ground.

  Stefan had the overwhelming desire to destroy these two men. The only thing still keeping them breathing was that he knew Laurel Rose was still alive. He couldn’t quite pinpoint her location, but he would. Once she was awake, he would find her easily. For now, it was enough to know she was still alive.

  If he killed Aaron and Clem, there might be unwanted questions. Besides, he could always kill them later if he changed his mind. For now, he needed something else from them.

  Tossing Aaron on the ground next to his cousin, Stefan stared down at both of them. They weren’t exactly his first choice for sustenance, but he needed to be at full strength and they both had more than enough blood to give. Crouching down, he pulled Aaron toward him. The man froze, a look of horror on his face, as Stefan bared his fangs and leaned forward.

  He did nothing to mask his intention or to hide what he was. Aaron knew what he was about to do. As the other man screamed and struggled, Stefan fed. Aaron passed out just as Stefan finished. Letting him drop back to the ground, he reached for Clem. When he’d taken as much blood as he needed, he dumped him back on the ground again.

  Standing, he took a deep breath and allowed their fresh blood to nourish his body. The blisters on his skin were already beginning to heal. He raised his head and scented the air. These two weren’t going anywhere any time soon. Ignoring them, he stepped over their bodies and began to run. Using his preternatural speed, he all but flew through the forest and toward the town of Salvation. Laurel Rose was close and there was a man there who could help him find her.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Stefan opened all of his senses as he raced toward the small town. He could feel Laurel Rose’s life force, but it was weakening. She was still unconscious and he was unable to get an exact fix on her location. He cursed the fact that she had not been converted into a vampire like himself. If that had been the case, he would have no problem finding her. The link between them was unbreakable, but not as strong as it would be if she were his true mate in every way. But that wouldn’t stop him. He would find her and God help anyone who got in his way.

  On the outskirts of Salvation, he sensed a gathering of most of the townspeople. There was a huge group of them congregated outside a building. He caught snippets of thoughts and words, enough to know that a town meeting had just broken up. Good. Now he knew right where to find the man he was looking for.

  He slowed as he entered the town and stalked right down the center of the main street. The street lamps were just beginning to flicker to life as darkness settled over Salvation. The wind was whipping up, scattering dry leaves in its path. Some houses and businesses were decorated for Halloween, which was only a few days away. Scarecrows sat on haystacks and carved pumpkins grinned from the safety of front porches.

  Stefan saw it all, but his focus was farther down the street. There was a sense of expectancy in the air. Each step was measured and sure, and the sleeves of his black shirt fluttered in the breeze as he walked.

  One woman who watched from the shadows of her front porch crossed herself as he walked by. He caught her thoughts, seeing himself through her eyes. He made an imposing figure striding down the road. Power radiated from every pore of his body, making him appear even larger than he was. His hair was swept back from his face, blowing like a dark banner behind him. His face was set in lines of determination and the corners of his lips were tipped up in a cruel smile. Scurrying back inside, she locked and secured the door behind her. Stefan snorted and dismissed her from his mind. No puny lock could stop him if he chose to enter.

  He faltered only once. A rush of familiar power flowed over and around him. From both sides he felt the ripple of energy as it surged to life. It fed his own freely, making him even stronger.

  As he passed an intersection, he heard the long, measured tread of boot heels hitting the pavement. He knew it was the newcomer’s deliberate way of announcing himself. The man coming up on his left could move as soundlessly as a soft summer breeze or descend as violently as a hurricane, depending on his mood.

  Stefan turned his head and nodded, acknowledging his oldest brother. “Cristofor. I did not expect you.”

  Cristofor fell into step beside him. “Where else would I be when you needed me?”

  Stefan closed his eyes and swallowed back the emotion that threatened to erupt from deep within him. Where else, indeed? “Thank you.” He took a deep, calming breath and continued down the road.

  Cristofor shrugged his massive shoulders. “We are Dalakis. When one is threatened, we are all threatened. When one is in need, we are all in need. Together, we are strong.” The long silk cape he wore fell off one shoulder, exposing the red satin lining. Cristofor had always favored old-fashioned, dramatic clothing in keeping with his heritage as a vampire. Stefan smiled slightly at his brother’s predictability. Some things never changed, and the love and unity of his family was one of them.

  “They have her.” Stefan’s anger and fear began to boil up within him, but he shoved it back down. He would not give in to it.

  “We will get your woman back.” Cristofor’s calm acceptance strengthened Stefan’s resolve.

  He felt the slightest shimmer of energy on his right side, and without looking Stefan knew his other brother was beside him. “Lucian.” He nodded as he turned. His brother was dressed impeccably in tailored pants and a silk shirt, both black. A long black coat, made of the finest wool, fell down around his legs. The coat was open and the long tails were blowing in the wind behind him.

  Lucian’s smile gleamed through the dark as he fell into step beside them. “You didn’t think I would miss this, did you?” He sobered as he reached out and touched Stefan on the shoulder. “We will get her back. I am looking forward to meeting my new sister-in-law.”

  “Where are the women?” It was unthinkable that his brothers had brought their wives with them into this dangerous situation.

  “Johanna is in New York completing the details on our new partnership with a hotel company.” There was masculine pride in every word Cristofor spoke. “RW Hotels is no longer a problem.”

  “Delight is with her?” Stefan looked to Lucian for confirmation.

  “Of course. We suggested they stay and shop for a few days.” Lucian smiled. “They wanted to come, but we convinced them it was not safe.”

  “In other words, you didn’t tell them you were coming here.” Stefan knew his strong-willed sisters-in-law would not be left behind if they knew their husbands were traveling here.

  Cristofor snorted. “We chartered a private plane and brought Sam Cassidy along to drive us the rest of the way after the women took the jet to New York.”

  Stefan had to smile in spite of the seriousness of the situation. Sam Cassidy was a New Orleans police detective who had come into their lives a few months ago and become an unlikely family friend. “So Cassidy is here too.”

  “He’s checking into the local situation for us,” Lucian confirmed.

  Side by side they strode down the road—three massive, imposing men joined by blood and brotherhood. The dust whipped up from the sidewalk and leaves scurried out of their way as they passed. Stefan shook his head. If the situation weren’t so serious and deadly, he’d have laughed. They must look like three desperados from an old western movie, stalking into town to confront the bad sheriff—or in this case, the corrupt mayor. The showdown was at hand.

  His entire focus was on the large group still gathered outside city hall. As they got closer, some people noticed them. One by one people stopped talking until silence filled the street. Stefan kept walking and the crowd parted before him, no one wanting to stand between him and his objective.

  Mayor Cyril Jenkins took a step backward, almost tripping on the stairs behind him when he saw Stefan approaching. He righted himself and glanced around. Seeming to draw confidence from the crowd, he confronted Stefan. “Can I help you with something?”

  Stefan kept walking until the toes of his boots practically touched the mayor’s polished dress shoes. “Yes, you can.”

  The mayor took a step back and this time managed to gain the stair behind him. The added height still didn’t bring him close to being able to look Stefan in the eye. “Well, then,” he blustered. “What can I do for you, Mr. Dalakis?”

  Stefan wanted to squash the man like an insect, but he restrained himself, barely. “You can tell me why you sent two men to try and kill me. You can tell me why you’ve been causing trouble for Laurel Rose so she’d sell her land. And”—Stefan glared at the man in front of him as the crowd rumbled restlessly around them—“you can tell me who has Laurel Rose.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Cyril looked genuinely shocked, but Stefan wasn’t buying his act. The mayor turned to the townspeople in appeal. “How dare you, a stranger, come into our town and accuse me,” he said and thumped his chest with his fist, “of harming Laurel Rose in some way. Why, I’m one of the few folks in this town who even talks to her.”

  “Did I mention that I had a little chat with Aaron Higgins? He told me all about your scheme to try and scare Laurel Rose into selling her property.”

  “Aaron Higgins, I’m sorry to say, is little more than a small-town crook.” The mayor shook his head. “Unfortunately, every town has them, but you can’t believe anything he says.” As if sensing the crowd’s support shifting to his side, he added, “But you wouldn’t know that, being an outsider and all. I’m a respected member of this community and I will not stand here and be slandered by you.”

  “That’s not all.” Cristofor stepped up next to Stefan. “I heard you all but promised to deliver the McCaffey land to RW Hotels if they’d make you the new manager of their resort.”

  That announcement sent ripples of unease through the crowd. “Where did you hear that?” The mayor was starting to look pale as he wiped the sweat from his brow. “And just who are you, sir?”

  Cristofor gave a slight bow. “I am Cristofor Dalakis and I am now a major shareholder of RW Hotels.” He paused and faced the crowd. “And if one hair is harmed on Laurel Rose’s head, the resort development will be canceled.” His green-eyed glare swept the crowd. “And then, I will make sure that every single industry in this town fails until Salvation is nothing but a memory.”

  “You can’t do this,” the mayor blustered. “Sure, I helped them obtain some of the land they need. All I’m trying to do is bring industry to the area.” He held out his hands, appealing to the crowd for their understanding. “That’s my job as mayor of this town.” The crowd murmured and some people nodded in agreement with him while others turned back toward Cristofor.

  Cristofor swept back toward him. “It is already done. And if you do not trust me, then call Richard Webster.” Cristofor rattled off a phone number.

  Stefan watched the change sweep over Cyril Jenkins as the other man witnessed all his ambition for money and power slipping from his grasp. Gone was the mild-mannered mayor, and in his place was a man gone mad.

  “You can’t do this to me. I worked for two years to lure that development here. I managed to cajole and convince most of the folks to sell their land. So what if I got a finder’s fee each time I got someone to sign on the dotted line? That’s only fair. I’m the one who did all the work.” He was practically foaming at the mouth now, his face beet-red as he continued to scream. “Laurel Rose was the last holdout. If I could get her to sell, I’d be sitting pretty for the rest of my life and so would this town. That stupid bitch was keeping me from it.”