Seduced by the Night by Robin T. Popp Read Free Book Online Page A

opposite building, with no means of escape. She was going to die— and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She stared in horror as he bared his fangs and lowered his head toward her neck. She screamed.
     
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Chapter 4

     
    Held in his viselike grip, Bethany fought for her life, expecting at any moment to feel the sharp stab of pain when he bit her. Suddenly her attacker jerked ramrod-stiff and a strange expression came over his face. He looked down, and following the direction of his gaze, Bethany saw the glistening tip of a sword sticking out of his chest. As her mind struggled to make sense of it, his grip on her relaxed and he crumpled to the ground at her feet.
    She stared at him in stunned surprise for several seconds, and when she dared to look up, Dirk stood there, sword in hand and a cold, feral expression on his face.
    With a sob of relief, she threw herself into his arms. He embraced her, pulling her close. "Please tell me that you're all right," he said softly, his chest rumbling against her cheek.
    "I couldn't find you…" A shudder ran through her.
    "It's okay, Beth."
    "You weren't in the doorway."
     
    "I'm here now. I won't let anything happen to you."
    She almost sobbed with relief, because she knew that he would protect her, unlike… "Oh, God! Mr. Yarbro — there's another one upstairs."
    Dirk jerked his sword from the body and, taking her hand in his, started for the building. "Come on."
    She pulled back and shook her head. "I can't go up there." She felt her lips tremble as she pleaded with him to go without her.
    "Beth, I can't leave you out here alone. You have to come with me." He stared deep into her eyes, willing her to trust him. "I won't let them hurt you."
    Slowly, she nodded.
    They went inside and as they rode the elevator to the third floor, Dirk kept an eye on Beth. Several times, he saw her gaze drift to the bloodied blade of his sword and then to him. She wasn't stupid. Even now, as terrified as she was, he knew her mind was putting together all the pieces. He prayed she waited to ask questions until later, when he had time to answer them.
    The elevator slowed to a stop and when the doors opened, he tensed for an attack, but none came. From where he stood, the hall loomed long and empty before him.
    Pressing the button that would hold the elevator there until released, he stepped out. He suspected that the vampires were gone, but it paid to be cautious.
    Bethany 's apartment was at the far end and when they reached it, they found the door standing ajar. Dirk paused to listen for any sounds from within. Then, hearing nothing, he pushed the door open farther and peered through the crack to make sure no one hid behind it.
    Moving into the foyer, he paused at the entrance to the living room. There, lying in the middle of the floor, was the bodyguard.
    It was obvious the man was dead, and even from several feet away, Dirk could see the two holes in the side of his neck. Behind him, he heard Bern 's gasp, so he steered her past the scene, needing to check the rest of the apartment.
    He had to stay alert to the possibility that more vampires lay in wait. It would be unusual for them to stick around, but nothing about what he'd witnessed over the last several nights had been "usual." Hell, he'd already killed more in this one night than was normal. There had been the three he'd dispatched in the alley before he heard Beth's scream and then the one who'd tried to kill her. Four in the last hour alone. If Harris and Patterson were behind this assault, they must be growing desperate.
    With Bethany right behind him, Dirk slowly worked his way through the entire apartment. In the bedroom, he found the window open and a bloodstained handprint on the curtain where it had been pushed aside. He didn't know if this was how they'd gotten in, but it was definitely how the one had escaped.
    Dirk stepped out on the fire escape and looked around, but saw nothing. He contemplated going to the roof, but