~ TWELVE ~

A premonition of danger, an image of Larissa’s lifeless body sprawled out in a pool of blood, slammed into Gabe. He stood up so fast his chair toppled over. Kazimir is in the hotel. In the basement. Adam didn’t respond. Gabe pulled his cell phone from his pocket to call Adam, but his phone didn’t have service.

“Where are you going?” Javier asked 

He felt a disruption, a spell blocking telepathic communication. “Find Adam and let him know Kazimir is in the basement. Talk to him face to face. Don’t rely on phones or telepathic communication.” His premonitions were never more than a few minutes ahead of the actual event. Rather than waste a second going around the crowded bar, he walked through everyone, shoving people out of his way as he headed for the exit.

It didn’t make sense. He hadn’t done anything to expose Larissa’s importance to him. He had no idea why Kazimir would target her. Then, he realized Kazimir was likely making a move against Joseph for being connected to Adam. He tried to place protection around her, but it failed. Something was blocking all use of supernatural powers. He took the stairs, moving as fast as possible to get to the basement.

While attempting to merge his mind with hers, he saw her making her way down the hall with two of Kazimir’s men stalking her. It was another premonition. Seemingly oblivious to their presence, she unlocked to locker room door and walked inside. The wolves stayed out in the hall as if guarding the door.

Within seconds, he came up behind the wolves. As he snapped the first wolf’s neck, the other attacked him from behind. Dropping the first wolf’s body, he spun around and gripped the other’s throat. He crushed the bastard’s throat and then ripped his head from his body.

Once he entered the locker room, chlorine made scent detection difficult. He couldn’t be sure how many were in the locker room. He followed the sound of Larissa’s startled gasp. Shots were fired the second he reached her. He tossed her over his shoulder and made his way around a set of lockers and benches. He carefully lowered her and sat her down in the furthest corner of the showers.

“Were you hit?” he asked.

“No. What’s going on?”

“I need to stop them. I want you to stay down.”

The horror in her eyes would haunt him for forever. A bullet sliced through his back and existed his chest, causing him to wince, as he pulled a gun from his shoulder holster. “Do you know how to use a gun?”

“Yes. But you were shot, Gabe.”

“I’m fine. It’s loaded and ready. You have ten shots.” He handed her another clip. “There is no safety.” He took her hand and placed his gun in it. The lights went out. It seemed silly for them to bother with the lights.

“I can’t see anything.”

“I know. It’s a last resort. If anyone approaches you use it. It won’t miss. I can see. I plan to make sure you don’t need to use it. Stay down. Stay quiet. Don’t move.”

“You were shot, Gabe.”

He closed his hand over hers and gently pried her fingers from his suit. “I’m fine, Larissa.” He kissed her forehead. Unable to place a hedge of protection around her, he knew he needed to keep his body between hers and the shooters when he stood up.

He saw three wolves armed with guns. He waited, remaining absolutely still until he saw an opportunity to go after one without leaving her in danger of being shot by another. He moved quickly, careful to make sure he never lost sight of her location, he disarmed the wolf, shoved the gun down its throat, and fired. Before the wolf’s body hit the ground, Joseph burst through the door. “There are two more. They’re armed.”

Gabe returned to Larissa. “I’m back,” he said to avoid getting shot by the gun he’d given her.

She started to stand up. “Stay down. It’s not over yet.” He knelt in front of her. “Are you injured at all.”

“You were shot, Gabe.” She opened his suit jacket and started to pull the buttons apart from his shirt.

“I’m okay.” Feeling the worry, the concern she had for him melted his heart. He’d never, since the death of his mother over four hundred years ago, felt a woman’s genuine concern.

“They’re dead. Bring her out,” Joseph said.

 “It’s safe now. Let’s go.” He took her hand, helped her to her feet, and led her out of the showers into the main locker room.

“What the hell just happened?” Joseph asked.

Realizing that Joseph planned to attack him, he released her hand and moved a safe distance from her. Joseph slammed his fist against Gabe’s face. Gabe didn’t fight back, fearing Larissa would get hurt if she tried to intervene. Joseph shoved him hard enough to send his body hurtling several feet. He crashed against a wall of lockers.

“Stop, Joseph!” Larissa had Gabe’s gun aimed at Joseph.

“Put it down, Larissa,” Joseph said.

“Don’t touch Gabe again. He didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Stop pointing that damn thing at me. You know damn well you’re not going to shoot me.”

“It’s okay, Larissa.” Gabe walked over to her, holding his hand out to her. “Give the gun to me. You don’t want to shoot Joseph. He’s your friend. He’s only trying to protect you.”

Larissa glanced at Gabe and handed him the gun, but she turned to look back at Joseph. “Why did you attack him? He saved my life.”

 “Who the hell blocked my power and all telepathic communication and…damn it. I am not allowing you two to fuck up my hotel. Where the fuck is Adam?”

“Leave Gabe alone. How’s he supposed to know about your power and telepathic communication? What the hell does any of that mean anyways?” She was at his side, wrapping her arm around his waist as if to support him. “He was shot. He needs an ambulance.”

“I’m fine.” With a thought, he conjured a bulletproof vest. Something his dragon wouldn’t have wasted time doing. She was forcing him to remain in control while unknowingly enticing his dragon. His head felt as if it might burst. “I’m wearing a bulletproof vest.” He straightened his stance, doing his best to look fine.  He reached for Adam. If you can hear me now, you need to get down to the basement. Kazimir made a move against Larissa. Joseph is here. He’s pissed off. And my firedragon is overtaking me.

You control your dragon. You are your dragon.

“That’s a load of Bullshit.” She was touching him, her hands moving over his body, searching for damage. “You weren’t wearing a vest. I saw it. A bullet went straight through you before the lights went out.” She looked at Joseph. “He wasn’t wearing a vest. I don’t know how the hell he has one on now. I watched a bullet go through him.”

“He’s fine,” Joseph growled between clenched teeth. “I want you to get the hell away from her. You’re too damn close to losing control. Get your ass off my property.”

“What the hell are you talking about? He isn’t going anywhere. This is not just your property,” Larissa said. “And I sure as hell do not belong to you. He’s my friend. He saved my life.”

Suddenly and unexpectedly, her attempt to defend him soothed and amused him. Thoroughly. Protecting her from further violence was the only reason he didn’t fight back when Joseph attacked him. As close as he was to turning, he knew his dragon was just amused. His dragon knew rage. Fury. Hatred. Nothing else. She was keeping that side of him captivated, waiting to see what she would do next.

“Tell her the truth. Tell her you’re responsible for the pieces of shit showing up here.”

“Go to hell, Joseph.” Larissa glared at him.

“Gabe is not what he appears to be. He’s dangerous. This is his fault. You’re going to end up dead if you don’t stay the hell away from him.”

****

Adam rushed into the locker room. “Damn it, Joseph. Leave Gabe the fuck alone. You know better. I am the reason they showed up here.”

Joseph turned to Adam. “You’d better tell me what the hell is going on. My power was blocked.”

“Kazimir can’t do anything like that. He’s not strong enough.”

“Who did it?”

“I don’t know. We’ll figure it out.”

“Not here. You’re getting out of here.”

Adam saw flames under Gabe’s skin. Larissa was touching him, and the flames were not hurting her. What is she to you?

Don’t.

She’s…

Don’t push me.

Take it easy, Sparky. I’m on your side. You’re starting to run a little noticeably hot. Unless you’re planning to show Larissa that you turn into a firedragon, you’d better cool your ass off. You know it never ends well if humans are around when you overheat.

I would never hurt her.

“They never should’ve been able to strike here,” Joseph said.

“It was a mistake.”

“A mistake is spitting in the wind. They could’ve killed Larissa. They never should’ve been able to get their hands on her. They shouldn’t even know she exists. If Gabe wasn’t following her around they wouldn’t have targeted her.”

“I am telling you Kazimir didn’t do this alone. Something else is going on here and we need to calm our asses down and figure it out.”

“This happened because you don’t have your head on straight.”

“Hold on.” Adam knew he needed to get Gabe away from Joseph. “She doesn’t look well. Get her out of here, Gabe.”

“I’m fine,” she said.

You know she’s in shock. Get her out of here so I can figure out what the hell happened, get rid of the bodies, and smooth things over with Joseph.

Gabe allowed his body to sag against Larissa a bit. She looked at him and nodded, keeping her arm around him as is she expected him to fall over any second. “Let’s go.”

Once they were out of sight, Adam glared at Joseph. “You know damn well this wasn’t his fault. Why the fuck were you giving him shit over it?”

“You all need to get the hell off my property. You’re so consumed with needing revenge that you missed this. Kazimir never should’ve made it here. He’s the present threat. Your focus has narrowed. And what the fuck is going on with Gabe? He lost it. She saw it. I know she saw flames appearing on him.”

“Gabe didn’t come close to losing it. He would never put her in danger. And you know why the hell his fire didn’t hurt her. She’s his mate.

“No. She isn’t. Get your cutthroat heathens, get your woman, and get your ass away from here.”

“What happened?” Mia walked into the locker room. “I couldn’t reach you.”

Joseph looked at Mia. “Adam happened. And now, he’s leaving.”

Mia stared at Adam and shook her head. “You just…I just watched you walk Hanna out of the hotel.”

“What?” Adam asked.

“You walked out with her and then walked back in without her.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes. I just talked to you.”

“It wasn’t me.” He shifted into the suite. He immediately knew she was gone. He found the cellphone and the cash. He tried to reverse time, go back, pinpoint when she left, but he was blocked.

Joseph opened Adam’s door and walked into the room.

“She’s gone. I tried to go back, but I keep ending up in voids.”

“C’mon. Let’s go to my office and look at my surveillance videos.”

****

Larissa opened Gabe’s suit jacket, moving her hand over his chest. “I know you were shot, Gabe. And, no matter how many times you deny it, I know you weren’t wearing a bulletproof vest.”

“You're right.” He placed his hand over hers, allowing her to feel it when he removed the vest with a thought. “I’m sorry. I will explain everything to you later.”

“But you’re hurt right now.”

“I’m fine.”

“You can’t be.” She moved her palm over his chest, searching for the wound.

“It has already healed.” He bent his head to hers and kissed her.

She bit his bottom lip. “Stop trying to distract me.” She began to unbutton his shirt. “I want to see it.” She pulled his shirt open and reached beneath his t-shirt. When she moved her hands over his rock solid, muscular chest and stomach, she kept her gaze on his.

“Are you satisfied that I am okay?” His voice was a low, sexy as hell growl. “Your touch is beating the hell out my restraint right now.”

“Why did you do it?” She needed to feel his flesh against hers; every inch of her body ached with desire.

“Do what?”

“Any of it. You came in here to stop Scott from killing me, and then you rushed into the locker room to save me. You could’ve been killed.”

He framed her face between his palms. “You’re everything to me.” He bent his head and gently, tenderly brushed his lips against hers. “I wouldn’t survive if anything happened to you.”

“That’s irrational.”

“Not at all.”

“You hardly know me, Gabe.”

“I am looking forward to knowing you more and more.”

“My life was so simple before you came here.”

“I hope you aren’t saying I’ve complicated your life.”

“You’ve turned it upside down.” She smiled. “In a good way. You truly make me believe more is possible. You make me want more. Need more.”

“I feel the same.”

“You’re not coming in right now, are you?”

“I need to secure the hotel.”

“Will you come back?”

“Is that an invitation?”

“Yes.”

“Absolutely.” He took his gun from his shoulder holster. “Keep this close. It’s special. If you’re facing a threat it can’t miss.”

She shook her head. “I could never…”

“Keep it close to you.”

She nodded, reaching out to take the gun. “Be careful, Gabe.”

“I will.”