sanguineangels by Various Read Free Book Online Page A

Unfortunately, she didn’t take out the plate. He grunted in pain and surprise. What she hit was enough to make him fall away from her. She spun and took off like a shot. Fifty yards, tops, to the closest door. She had to make it, her fear-filled legs pumping like pistons.
    Titania never heard him. She was running, then tackled, driven into asphalt and gravel with a murderous, spouting madman on her. He flipped her like a burger. Every bone in her body vibrated with pain. A hand rose, as though in slow motion, then there was the sharp flare of blistering contact, and Titania knew she was toast.
    “Bitch!” he shrieked. “You shouldn’t have done that.” That was the only warning he gave her. He lowered his head and clamped on to her shoulder like a rabid bulldog. She screamed and his fist connected to her chin, silencing her. “Scream, baby. I love your voice.”
    He spit wildly, he was so excited. Titania did everything she could not to vomit with her attacker straddling her waist. Every move she made lanced pain through her body. He pinned her arms beneath his knees, immobilizing her. Pavement gouged her skin. The bony weight holding her elbows down sent painful sparks floating in her vision. She knew she was dead when the glint of a knife registered in her blurring vision.
    The sound of her shirt ripping in half was dull to her ringing ears, but it was unmistakable. “You never should have turned me down,” he growled at her. His eyes glared with manic hatred for a split second as the knife rose in her vision.
    From out of nowhere, a roar erupted, an unholy sound that echoed and raged through the darkness. It could have been a lion out of control, it sounded so harsh. A whipping wind tore across the parking lot. Suddenly someone’s hand clamped around Thomas’s throat. His weight just disappeared. Titania’s eyes closed, a sound she didn’t want to identify filling her head. Bile rose sharply.
    Clawing into the ground, she fought to roll over. She had to get away, from whomever, everyone. When she managed to reach her side, she threw up. After wiping her shaking hand across mouth, she took a breath and spit.
    Without warning, strong arms encircled her and eased her from the ground. Titania struggled against uncompromising strength. Her fists pummeled at solid muscle. She had to get away.
    “Shh, cara . You are safe.”
    Relief was so strong at the sound of his voice, she went limp. It was all she could do to bury her face into the leather of his coat.
    “He will not hurt you again.”
    She trembled in his hold, overwhelmed. She moaned when he cradled her closer. Somehow he got her to her room without being seen.
    “What were you doing outside alone?” he demanded gruffly. He laid her on the bed and she rolled away from him, her body twitching in shock. Everything was in agony. “ Cara ?” His hand was gentle, stroking her hair. Even that hurt somehow.
    “Don’t. I know. Houston is going to kill me,” she whimpered in a quaking voice. “I left something in the limo. I tried to catch it. I had no idea someone was waiting, watching.” A sob tore through her as the moments replayed in her mind. Her lungs burned as fresh fear made taking a breath impossible.
    “I am not angry with you, cara . How could I be? I promised to protect you. I did not.”
    “Diego,” she croaked, sobs coming thick and fast. He gathered her shaking body into his arms and let her cry.

Chapter Four
     
     
    Diego brought Titania close to comfort her, listening for her breathing to grow normal again. Rage rolled over him in waves. Someone had laid malicious hands on her, intent to harm and worse.
    He had believed she would be safe with her friends after the concert, going to her hotel room. Diego had hunted. There was no remorse for the death of her attacker. The man had asked for it, harming one under his care.
    He rocked her sitting on the edge of the bed with her held protectively into his chest. He realized the instant he