Master of the Night by Angela Knight Read Free Book Online Page B

said stiffly. “Just like Erin.”
    â€œAnd Champion would have known something was off. She wouldn’t have gotten close enough to sniff his aftershave.” Parker jerked his chin at the monitor showing the view from the lobby’s security camera. The vampire was guiding her toward the revolving door with a hand resting on the small of her back. “He’s sure letting her in close now.”
    Avery frowned, knowing the Fed was right.
    That didn’t mean he had to like it.
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    Erin watched in admiration as the valet drove Champion’s car up to meet them at the curb. The black Ferrari convertible looked more like a jet fighter than a car, and its engine rumbled like a tiger’s purr.
    â€œI’m not compensating for anything, if that’s what you’re wondering.” Champion grinned as he beat the valet to the passenger door and opened it for her.
    She remembered the bulge he’d pressed against her belly. “The thought never even crossed my mind.” He laughed as she sat down and eased her legs inside, careful of her short skirt.
    A fire truck roared by, its shrill siren piercing the spell Champion had spun with his big body and raw silk voice. Erin took a calming breath of cool night air as he started around the car.
    Pausing in front of the Ferrari’s nose, he pulled a cell phone out of his pocket. “Pardon me,” he said, raising his voice to be heard as he dialed with a thumb. “I have to give my housekeeper some instructions.”
    As he murmured into his cell, Erin frowned, not entirely comfortable with the idea of going to his house. For one thing, she hated giving up the home-court advantage.
    Besides, her hotel would be safer. A place filled with so many people would make him think twice about any criminal intentions he might be harboring.
    As Champion slid in next to her, she opened her mouth to tell him she’d changed her mind. Then he looked over at her, one corner of that pirate’s mouth kicking up. Something in that half-smile sent adrenalin and heat surging through her.
    It was the same reckless exhilaration she felt going undercover at one of the Sabbat’s dark celebrations—half fear, half pleasure.
    What the hell. She really couldn’t afford to pull the plug anyway, not now that they were actually on the way to his house. Her objective, after all, was to get him into a relationship she could use to find out if he was financing the cult. Pissing him off by playing cock tease was not the way to do it.
    As Champion pulled out of the parking lot, the wind made its first pass through her hair. Erin tilted her head back, letting the breeze cool her face.
    No, she wouldn’t back out. Getting close to Champion might give her the weapon she needed to blow the cult wide open. Which in turn would both restore the shine to her tarnished reputation and avenge David’s death.
    That was worth any risk.
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    â€œI’m going after them,” Parker said, rising to his feet. “I’ll take my car. This van would stand out like a hooker in church. Want to back me up?”
    â€œYeah, sure.” Avery rose from his seat as the FBI agent slid open the truck’s door. As the two men strode over to the nondescript blue sedan parked nearby, he frowned. “Shouldn’t we mobilize the rest of the men?”
    â€œNo point.” The agent shook his head. “We won’t be taking him tonight. I do want to keep an eye on them, though.”
    Avery nodded and got in the passenger side. For once, Parker had said something he agreed with.
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    Champion’s home was far more impressive than Erin would have expected, given his self-described status as a second cousin in his sprawling clan. As they drove through a wrought-iron security fence, she gazed around in admiration. The house looked more like an English manor than anything else, complete with a turret entry and redbrick walls. Towering windows