Chapter One
Madison Wilson glanced in her rearview mirror, a feeling of unease tightening her gut. Though no lights could be seen following her, she had little doubt that she’d been stalked since leaving town with Jacie’s gift.
In all the years that Madison had worked for Roman Castillo, she’d seen just about every kind of monster one could think up. And whatever followed her tonight definitely fit the monstrous bill.
The fine hairs stood up on the back of her neck. She turned a corner, not bothering to slow for the stop sign ahead.
Racing through the intersection, Madison down-shifted the Corvette, punched the gas, and shot past the car in front of her. If she could make it five more miles, she would reach the safety of Roman’s compound.
The passenger side window suddenly shattered, spraying glass across Madison’s face, and sending cold air rushing throughout the car. She barely flinched, refusing to show her fear in the face of whatever had just joined her. And she did fear her new visitor, she’d be stupid not to.
Madison jerked the wheel, sending the ‘Vette skidding off the side of the road and into the ditch.
“Don’t even think about it,” a voice hissed next to her ear as she scrambled for the door handle. “We both know you’d never make it.”
Her heart pounding in her chest, Madison bent forward and gripped the silver blade that rested inside her boot. She swung up and out, catching her visitor in the neck with her knife.
An unholy sound filled the car, high pitched and full of fury.
Madison took that opportunity to flee. She yanked on the door handle, kicked open the door, and hit the grass running.
She was abruptly jerked off her feet, her body sailing through the air to slam unceremoniously against the hood of her ‘Vette.
Pain rippled through her, taking her breath and locking her teeth together. She refused to cry out and pushed to her feet, her gaze darting from left to right.
The figure appeared before her, his fangs gleaming white in the moonlight. “Will you look at what we have here. Castillo’s pet human.”
Madison noticed blood oozing from the wound she’d left on the vampire’s neck. She narrowed her eyes, flicking her gaze back to his face. “You remind me of one of Slutlana’s patsies. Tell me, Patsy, do you bend over for her like a good little boy, or does she simply laugh while Simon takes you from behind?”
The vampire’s eyes turned red, telling Madison her comment had hit her mark. Yeah, he was pissed off alright, and if she didn’t do something quick, she would be on the receiving end of his ire.
“Simon is a joke,” he hissed, slamming into her before she could blink.
All the air left Madison’s lungs on impact. She landed on her back somewhere in the ditch with the angry vampire straddling her.
He leaned in close, rubbing his face along her neck. Madison could feel his tongue against her skin.
So, this is it, she thought with a shudder, her heart hammering wildly. This is how it ends.
The vampire suddenly reared back, another high-pitched cry wrenching from his throat before slumping heavily on top of her.
Something warm seeped into her shirt. It took her a moment to realize the vampire had been staked and another to notice a smirking Simon standing over them.
He crossed his arms over his muscular chest. “Sex in the ditch, Maddie? How…creative of you.”
Madison ground her teeth, pushing the now dead vampire off her and getting to her feet. “Screw you, blood sucker.”
“I don’t think so. Not after your little tryst with Patsy, here.” He nodded to the dead vampire. “I heard your less-than-ladylike taunts. I must say, as much as I enjoy a nice ass in the air, I prefer them without hair.”
Stumbling around to the driver’s side of her car, Madison climbed back behind the wheel. “If you heard my doggie style comment, then you were here for a while. How long were you planning on standing idly by? Until he killed me, or turned me into one of you?”
“You did shoot me,” Simon pointed out, opening the passenger’s side door and taking a seat. “Six times, if I remember correctly.”
Madison started the engine, and met Simon’s blue-eyed gaze. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m catching a ride. Surely you don’t expect me to walk back to the compound. I did just save your life.”
She pulled her door shut, put the car in reverse and turned on the heater. “Fine, but I’d prefer not to speak, so if you could keep that hole under your nose closed, that’d be great.”
The back tires began to spin as she gave the car some gas. “Son of a bitch!”
Simon lounged back against the seat. “It would seem that you’re stuck.”
“No shit, Sherlock. What gave it away?”
The corner of Simon’s mouth lifted. “Such savage behavior.”
“Are you going to just sit there, or do you think you can do something to get us out of this damn ditch?”
He shrugged a broad shoulder. “I might be persuaded to get you back on the road.”
Madison narrowed her eyes. “What do you want?”
“A little blood would be nice.”
“You can go to hell. And get out of my car while you’re at it. I’ll call for a tow truck.”
Simon grinned, making him appear almost handsome. Shit, who was she kidding? The prick was gorgeous, and he knew it.
“Not even a taste?”
“Simon,” she ground out.
A theatrical sigh escaped him. “So selfish.”
He unfolded his great length from the car, lifted the rear of the ‘Vette from the ditch and guided it back onto the road.
Madison waited for him to return to his seat and then quickly sped toward the compound. “How was it that you just so happened to be nearby when I was attacked?”
“I sensed Herman’s presence in the area. Or Patsy as you referred to him. I was simply following his trail.”
“Mmm-hmm,” Madison murmured, not believing him for an instant.
Simon sent her a wink. “Believe what you will, but you’d be dead right now if not for me.”
As much as Madison hated to admit it, she knew he spoke the truth.