Lara woke up naked to a cold bed and dirty walls. She jerked upright and her yellow thread blanket fell down. Cold air rushed over her breast and she shivered.

Her clothes were neatly folded on a chair and her purse was on top of them.

Oh, shit. She looked wildly around the room, clinging to the blanket. “Griff?” Her voice trembled and ended in a fevered pitch.

No answer.

She grappled for breath. She jumped out of bed and the covers fell to the wayside.

He left her. How could he leave her alone in this place?

She knocked her purse off. She struggled to pull on her jeans with her trembling hands. They still smelled of smoke. The horrible night came crashing down on her like a heavy rain storm.

Solid footsteps walked outside, then they stopped right outside the door. Her lungs and heart were paralyzed. She stopped dressing.

Someone turned the doorknob. A slow scream crawled up her throat. She lifted up the rickety chair, her bra and shirt falling onto the frayed carpet.

The door opened.

She swung the chair, yelling at the top of her lungs.

“Hey, hey, Lara. It’s me.”

Her arms shaking, she gasped for breath and dropped the chair. She put her clammy hand on her forehead. “What the hell are you doing?”

He raised his eyebrow and quickly closed the door shut. He held cups of coffee in each hand. “I thought you’d like some coffee.” He smiled. “But I have to admit, I like being greeted by a half-naked Amazon ready to bash my head in.”

She looked down at her heaving breasts, and heat rushed over her. “I thought…I thought…”

“You thought I left?”

She grabbed her bra, her hands still trembling.

He set the coffee down and gathered her in his arms.

“I’d never leave you.” He brushed his lips over hers. “You’re my mate.”

Not knowing how to answer, Lara took a long, shaky breath. “I guess I’m still freaked out from last night.”

“Sometimes I have that effect on women.”

She looked up into his teasing eyes and dazzling smile. She couldn’t help but laugh. She pressed the side of her head against his chest, listening to his beating heart and squeezed him hard. “Yes, you do.” More than he would ever know.

His warm fingers lightly caressed her back. Chills scurried down her spine.

“Do you want to go to Starbucks or would you rather stay here?” He lifted her chin and kissed her lips, his beard scratching her. His sexy voice chased away her silly fears.

Desire swelled inside her, blood pulsing down to her core. She tugged at his lips with her teeth. “I want to.” Her voice trailed off, but she was being hunted.

He rubbed her back. “You want to end this.”

She moved away and grabbed her purse. “Yes. I don’t want to live in fear anymore.”

He handed her a cup of hot black coffee. “Do you want this?”

She stood on her tippy toes and kissed him. “Yes, thank you.” She sat on the edge of the bed. “It’s actually pretty good.”

“This place is a dump, but the owner makes a great coffee. After we retrieve the USB drive, what do you want to do next?”

“As much as I hate to do it, we need to go to my house.” Her tummy twisted into a tight pretzel. “It sucks that I feel unsafe in my own home.”

“You won’t have to anymore.” He sat next to her on the bed and squeezed her knee. “Because I’ll be there.”

“I know.” But she knew her voice was less then convincing. She wanted to believe him. He was only one man––a tiger––but the bastards were upping their game. What if there was a bomb in her house or what if someone was waiting inside?

They finished their coffee in silence then headed out to Griff’s motorcycle. She climbed on the back and clung to him. He was such a dominating force, but as he drove closer to Buckley and Hartley her chest constricted tighter and tighter. Her frayed nerves were overstretched and she had to force herself to breathe.

She tilted her head back, allowing the sun to warm her face. The sun’s rays glimmered off the yellow and red leaves in the trees in the quiet neighborhood. Houses along the streets were replaced with office buildings. Her heart quickened and missed a beat. Buckley and Hartley’s building rose over the other buildings. Darkness loomed ahead, dying to break out.

Stay calm. Don’t panic.

He pulled up to Starbucks and parked his bike. She took his hand and they walked into the café. Lara inhaled the comforting smells of coffee and spice. It was a busy Saturday with people sitting with their laptops, or groups crowding together over precious tables. There were hardly any tables available.

She led him toward the fifteen-people deep line. “We should order something so we don’t draw attention.”

“You know some of these people?”

“No. But that doesn’t mean they don’t know me.”

“True.” He quickly changed the subject to a more benign topic, so if anyone was listening, they were just a couple, talking about their upcoming trip to the mountains.

But Lara couldn’t stop shaking. She had to go into that bathroom alone. What if someone was in there waiting for her?

She quickly ordered a pumpkin spice latte and waited with Griff to get their coffees.

He leaned closer. “Relax. They won’t do anything here.”

She nodded, but wasn’t convinced. They grabbed their coffees and took a seat near the window. Lara sipped on her drink, scanning the people. No one seemed to be openly staring at them.

She clasped her shaking hand over his. “I’m going to go now. If I don’t come back out…”

“I’ll come running. Don’t worry.” He kissed her on the lips so softly that the touch eased her beating heart.

She inhaled a deep breath and forced herself to walk nonchalantly to the bathroom. She gripped her purse close to her side. The bathroom had one stall opened, but the one she needed was closed. She pulled out her lipstick and primped in front of the mirror.

Finally, an older woman came out of the bathroom. She darted in front of a little girl and the old woman cast her a dirty look that made Lara wince.

She closed the door and looked behind the tank. She sighed a sense of relief. The USB drive was safely taped to the back. She quickly removed the USB drive and stuffed it into her purse, then used the toilet.

She came out of the stall and exhaled a pent-up breath. No one was there. She quickly exited and hurried back to where Griff was waiting. He was a beacon of safety, her rock.

Someone came out of the male restroom and she froze. Her heart was scurrying around in her chest like a spider. Grant Sellars blocked her view, but he didn’t turn around and headed toward the counter.

She couldn’t move. Her knees were crashing into each other like cymbals.

Griff moved at light speed toward her.

Grant stopped then glanced over his shoulder. His evil smile sent the blood running out of her face.

Griff shoved him against the wall. out of the way. His muscles were bulkier and his face darker. He was one step away from shifting.

“Griff.”

Grant twisted. “Let go of me, convict.”

“Where were you last night, buddy?” Griff tilted his head toward Lara. “Did you torch her car last night?”

“I said…”

Griff put his mouth right next to Grant’s throat. “Think before you answer. Think very carefully.”

His face was more animal then human and his upper lip was pulled back revealing sharp teeth.

Lara edged backward, a dried up a scream lodged in her throat.

Grant’s eyes were super wide. “It wasn’t…It wasn’t me.”

Some men were coming toward them. She broke into a scared, shitless sweat.

Lara clasped Griff’s arm. “Please.”

He glanced at her, then immediately released Grant who skidded around him. He ran his hand through his hair.

“Is everything all right here?” A tall older man glanced between all of them.

Lara recognized him as being the manager.

“Yeah, we’re fine.” Grant edged away, running his hand through his hair. “Just a misunderstanding.”

“I think you two should leave.” The manager gestured toward the door. “Or I’m going to have to call the police.”

Griff hadn’t taken his you’re-dead gaze off Grant, but he said, “Yeah, we’re leaving.” He put his hand on Lara’s back and maneuvered her out of the cafe.

Lara couldn’t stop trembling. Griff was panting hard and a vein throbbed in his temple. His upper lip was still curled up into a sneer and his teeth were sharper than normal. He was obviously battling not transforming and ripping Grant to pieces.

He lifted her onto the bike and climbed up. He tore out of the parking lot, cutting off a taxi who honked.

She sucked in her breath, too scared to scream. Her lungs squished shut. Her heart rippled blood through her. She was drenched in sweat. She gripped him tightly and buried her face in his leather jacket.

Griff zoomed in and out of lanes. The sun’s warm rays fell on her face and back, but her body was ice cold. Her fingers had turned numb. Everything was racing inside her.

Except for her mind.

Her mind had stopped, focused on Grant. Grant had been shitting bricks when Griff attacked him. She didn’t think he was lying. But if he hadn’t set her car on fire, then who did?

The scenery changed back to residential. Griff took the route she usually did when coming home for work. Chills edged down the back of her neck. She jerked around to look over her shoulder.

The green sedan was there. With its dark windows, she couldn’t see who was driving.

“Griff, it’s here. The green sedan.”

He took a hard right at the last minute. The sedan shot by. Brakes squealed. Griff rocketed down a side street. The bike leaned to the left. Black pavement lunged at her. Her heart nearly jumped out of her throat.

He barreled down another side street. Wind spun her hair around her face. She looked over her shoulder.

No green sedan.

She exhaled a stifled breath.

But this wasn’t over.

The green sedan would be at her home waiting.

Griff raced down her street.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t here. He parked the bike. “Get inside.”

“What?”

“Go. Now. It’s coming.” His angry voice made her jump.

She didn’t argue and clutched her purse, but she hid behind her large maple tree in the front yard. She didn’t want to go into her house by herself and she couldn’t leave Griff alone.

The sedan roared down the street, then halted to a sudden stop.

Griff headed toward the sedan. He grew two times his size and then transformed into a tiger. He lunged for the sedan and landed on the hood of the car. He raised his paw and smashed the window. Crack and bits of glass flew in all directions. He snarled and his tail twisted.

The sedan roared and shifted into reverse. Griff jumped off, snarling, his ears laid back. The sedan squealed down the street, smoke swirling out of the tail pipe.

The tiger hissed, but walked back across the street and changed back into Griff. She ran into his arms. “Griff, you could have been killed.”

“I know.”

She was surprised he was shaking, but she bet his heart wasn’t racing as fast as hers.

“But I couldn’t let them hurt you again.”

No man had ever risked his life for her. The wall that she had built up crumpled. Her feelings––feelings she didn’t want to acknowledge–softened, and she realized she’d do anything to protect him, even if it jeopardized her career.

Blood dripped down onto his pants. “Oh, my god. Your hand’s cut up.”

He shrugged. “One of the hazards of being a shifter. What happens to my animal happens to me.”

She grabbed his wrist. “Come inside. Let me look at your hand. There could be glass embedded in your flesh.”

He pulled his hand free. “I’m fine.”

She grabbed his elbow and directed him toward the front door. “Don’t ‘fine’ me, Tony the Tiger.”

He flashed her a teasing smile. “Of course, Nurse Nightingale.”

She unlocked the door and walked inside, determined to attend his wound.

And be safe in her own house.

Everything was as she left it. Or at least, she thought it was. Embroidered red pillows were on either end of her leather couch. Knickknacks and pictures where she always kept them were on her end tables. In the office, books were lined neatly on the bookshelf. Her laptop was on her desk closed like she always left it.

Maybe no one had been in here.

“Wow.” Griff looked around. “Little bigger and definitely on the richy side.”

“I like antiques and nice things.” She walked taller and couldn’t hide the defensiveness in her voice.

He stepped in front of her and rubbed her arm. “I didn’t mean anything about it. Just never been in a house this nice.”

“You haven’t?”

“No. My brothers and I grew up poor, remember?”

She’d forgotten. “Yes, I remember. High school was rough for me, too. Fat girls were at the bottom of the food chain.”

“You’re not fat. You’re curvy. My curvy mate.” His strong tone ignited a heat inside her.

She cleared her throat. “The bathroom’s between my office and the living room.”

“God, this bathroom’s bigger than my hotel room.”

She looked it as if for the first time. Unlike his bathroom, hers had a marble shower and a sunken tub. A double sink, a huge mirror, and a vanity loaded with thick, lush towels.

She turned on the silver faucet and put his hand underneath it. Water washed away the blood.

She brushed her thumb over a nasty cut down his palm. “I don’t feel any glass.”

He shrugged. “I don’t feel any. It’s not bad. I’ve had worse.”

“Okay, Mr. Tough-Guy. Appease me.” She pulled out a bandage and some rubbing alcohol out of the cabinet.

“Lara, you really don’t have to do this.”

“Yes, I do.” She put her hand on his chest. “Please, sit.”

He rolled his eyes, but did as she asked. She wiped his skin with a wet cloth, then soaked the cloth with the alcohol.

She held the rag up hesitantly. “This may sting.”

“I can take it.”

She dabbed it on his cut. He hissed.

“Sorry. You need stitches.”

Between clenched teeth, he said, “I’ll be fine.”

“Yes, I can see that.” She grinned. “By the way, you’re sweating.”

“It was from attacking the sedan. I didn’t see who was driving. It was too dark, but I know it was a man. A very scared man.”

“I bet.” She rapped the bandage around his hand. “There. Hopefully, this will stop the bleeding.”

“Now that you’re done playing nursemaid…” His voice was hard.

She frowned about ready to argue, but merriment flashed in his eyes and her scowl died.

He picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Thank you.”

The hair on her arms stood straight up, and she shivered. She couldn’t take her eyes off his lips, remembering how masterfully they’d been, and wanting to feel them on her flesh.

“Do you want to open up that USB drive or go upstairs to your bedroom?”

“Yes.”

He lifted his eyebrow. “Which one?”

She shook her head and wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans. “I mean the USB drive.” She stood, afraid if he kissed her, they’d never find out what was on the drive.

She hurried out of the bathroom and picked up her purse from the entryway. She grabbed the USB drive.

Griff leaned against the doorway with his arms folded across his chest. “Let’s see what’s on that damn thing.”

“Something must be on it or everybody and their brother wouldn’t be following me.” She sat on her computer and inserted the USB into the hard drive.

Griff leaned over her shoulder, his intoxicating scent making her want to rip off her clothes.

Concentrate.

“Wait a minute.” He picked up a picture off her desk. “What in the hell is this?”

“The firm’s annual picnic.”

His face was stricken and a tremor rippled in his cheek.

“Griff, what’s wrong?”

“What is Kevin Brown doing in this picture?” His voice was sharp.

She got her gander up. “Who?”

He pointed to someone in the photo. “Kevin Brown. Don’t you remember? He’s the one I told you that Grant and I went to buy weed from.”

She looked. A twenty-something man, who looked like he just pledged a fraternity with his polo shirt and khaki shorts, stared back at her. “That’s Kevin Brown?”

“Yeah, he was the one. I’ll never forget his face.” Anger filled his voice.

Ice stalled her heart, sending goosebumps running over her arms, and cutting off her breath.

She clasped his hand. “Griff, that’s not Kevin Brown.”

He jerked his hand away. “Don’t tell me that.” He shook the picture repeatedly. “I’ve never forgotten his face for these last four years. He was the one who could have cleared me.”

She stood. “Griff, listen to me.”

“What?”

“That’s not Kevin Brown.”

He gritted his teeth. “Don’t––”

“If you would just listen to me. That’s not Kevin Brown. That’s Kevin Hartley. Mr. Hartley’s only son.” Her voice was enough to pierce through him and silence him.

He tore his gaze away from the picture and his eyes burned with hate. “Christ, now we know wh you’ve been followed, why your car was torched, and why I spent four years in that hell hole. Your boss was protecting his damn son.”

She rubbed her sweating forehead with her quaking hand. The question was how much further would he go?