My Immortal by Wendi Zwaduk Read Free Book Online Page B

When she turned, something cool pressed into her side. A hand clasped her wrist and jerked it behind her body. No matter how much she wanted to scream or run like hell, her police training kicked in. She clamped her teeth together.
    “Walk and you’ll get away alive.”
    Stevie swallowed hard, processing the situation. Her heart thundered and blood pounded through her veins. The husky voice stirred her curiosity and she attempted to turn to her attacker. She couldn’t reach her gun or her cell to call for help. She hoped Storm would notice her long absence and come looking for her. She blew a breath out through her mouth. If she screamed, she’d be dead. The voice sounded too darn familiar.
    Gulping in a long draw of oxygen to calm her frayed nerves, she channelled her inner badass. “Put the gun away, then.”
    “Don’t shit me, Stephanie.” The man kicked her left foot, sending a sliver of pain up her leg.
    No one, save for her parents, called her by the name on her birth certificate. She ground her teeth together, thankful she chose simple ballet flats for the meeting.
    Still, she wouldn’t give him the upper hand. She’d either be killed…or freed… She mentally shrugged. Either way, she wouldn’t be dealing with the gun-wielding idiot. Besides, it wasn’t in her to cooperate. “So where to? Or is that confidential, too?”
    The man tightened his grip on her wrist. The leather gloves he wore creaked. “Do as I say and look less conspicuous. We’re a couple out on an evening stroll.”
    “Yeah, because men lead their women around like cattle in this town.”
    “Shut the fuck up!”
    Stevie complied and her mind raced. The jerk had covered his hands so there weren’t any prints. He smelled like chilli powder and something sweet. Alcohol? Or was it candy?
    Someone she knew always smelled of candy—fruity candy. Her brain refused to process that information. She glanced around. They were now a block from Trixie’s between the bakery and The China Gourmet restaurant. Dammit, if she didn’t smell sickly sweet strawberry candy.
    The man shoved Stevie against a brick wall in the alley next to the Chinese eatery. The hard surface bit into her skin and abraded her back through the short sleeve cotton tunic she wore. He stood only inches from her and glared at her from the protection of a black ski mask. His gloved hands cut into her bare forearms.
    “Listen and this will end peacefully,” he snapped.
    She nodded and focused on his brown eyes. Eyes the colour of bitter dark chocolate. What was with this guy and why did he look familiar?
    “I know about you and Storm, but do you really know him?” He paused to catch a breath and continued, “I didn’t think so. You aren’t the same. Let me save you from him. He wants to drain you, but I’ll cherish you.”
    Stevie dug her teeth into her bottom lip to bite back the scream building in her throat. Not the same? What did he mean by that? She’d seen every delicious inch of Storm’s body and knew him better than her own family. He wouldn’t hurt her. But the guy holding her at gunpoint; why trust him? And where had his gun disappeared to?
    She snuck a glance at his body to hunt for a bulge that might be the weapon. “Why the need to protect me? I don’t know you.”
    He growled. “He’s not the right man for you. You want a white picket fence with babies. He’ll never give it to you. He’s not your kind.”
    “And you will give that to me? Let me see who you are, because I can’t believe a coward or a liar.” That sounded harsh, but she got her point across. “Better yet, just let me go.”
    The man growled again. “Nice try, sweet cheeks. No dice. You had the chance and threw it away when you went to the academy. I wanted to protect you and you refused.”
    This time she got a glimpse of straight white teeth, the kind that takes lots of money and time to perfect. She wriggled in his grasp and he held her tighter. Her circulation began to break