Sacrifice of Passion (Deadly Legends) by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez Read Free Book Online Page A

She was drunk, he knew, free of her inhibitions, and he was mesmerized by the way she moved.
    She seemed to have a sixth sense about him watching her. She turned and gazed at him through her sooty eyelashes, almost taunting him to resist her.
    He ran his hand over his face again. Jesus, did she know what that look did to a man?
    Gaze intent, he watched her, his body instantly reacting to the sway of her hips, his mind reeling from the temptation of her. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this turned on just by watching a woman dance.
    Never, he thought. No other woman had ever made him feel like Delaney made him feel.
    Around midnight, jealousy knifed through him with full force. He’d had enough of seeing her dance with other men. She may have turned down his proposition, but he wasn’t giving up. The mere idea of making her shudder with abandon was suddenly all he could think about. That, and kissing her impossibly full, sexy lips again and again until that damn taunting smile was trapped under his mouth.
    A few minutes later, she sauntered up to the bar. “I’m going, Vic,” she said, her words slurring from the additional round of drinks Mary Jane had poured her.
    He challenged her with his gaze. “You are not driving.”
    Carmen came up behind her and raised her hand. “Nope. I’m the designated driver tonight,” she said, looking at Vic like she knew all his deep, dark secrets.
    So Laney had told her friend about his deal. Well, hell.
    Vic nodded, watching as Delaney slipped her jacket on and slung her purse over her shoulder, her cowboy hat in her hand.
    “Laney.”
    Her head snapped up, then she instantly turned away. His nickname for her still resonated.
    Hell no, he thought, watching her ignore him and walk outside into the dark night. No way was he giving up. And suddenly he was looking forward to exorcising her from his soul.
    …
    Outside El Charro, the night had grown pitch black. Delaney could hardly see, but she could still feel the heat of Vic’s eyes as he’d watched her every move. The whiskey made her thoughts fuzzy, but she knew he wanted her bad, and after all her years of torment since that night so long ago, he deserved a little torture. Make that a lot of torture.
    “You gonna be okay?” Carmen asked.
    “Straight home to sleep,” she said. And with any luck, the alcohol would actually help keep her in bed for a change.
    “Hey!” An adolescent voice slung through the air. “It’s the witch.”
    Her senses went on high alert. Esperanza?
    Figures crossed in front of her, circling around a silhouette.
    “You gonna put a spell on me, hag?” the same kid said. Other boys laughed as they surrounded the dark woman.
    “Come on!” Delaney surged ahead, Carmen trailing behind her. In the dim light, she could see Esperanza’s shoulders strain as she straightened them, pulling her shawl tightly around herself.
    “Stop!” Delaney yelled, her voice cutting through the night.
    Carmen shouted also, and together, their voices rose like sirens.
    The boys froze. Esperanza seized the moment, yanking her cane free from their grip and swinging it, catching one of them on the thigh. He yelped, and the next minute the punks were gone, tearing off down the street, disappearing into the blackness.
    Delaney moved closer, her head foggy from adrenaline and whiskey. “You’re the curandera. You live down by the river.”
    Some folks said the river carried a curse in its current. Others said the town itself was cursed.
    Delaney was pretty sure it was just her.
    The woman turned to face her. “ Thi ,” she said, her voice thin in the heavy night air, an odd lisp tainting her words. “ Uthed eth Delaney Wetht.”
    Delaney inhaled sharply, remembering the bizarre things her father and the pastor had told her that morning. So it was no mistake. “How do you know who I am?”
    Next to her, Carmen took her hand and squeezed.
    Esperanza reached for her, too, her fingers outstretched. “ Ten