Chapter Twenty-Six

Brody

I rolled the Ram onto an unmarked, dirt side road just short of the store, and shut the lights and engine off. The place stood quiet as far as I could see, the lights from the store's interior shining out into the parking lot. The only vehicle parked there was a battered red Volvo, most likely owned by the clerk inside.

No other customers seemed to be around.

I stepped from the cab and walked up the exit ramp to the store's parking lot. If Rivers had arrived early, I wanted to know before he saw me. Walking around to the back, I saw no cars, no Austin. And no cops, either. Stay away, Skinner, and don't call the state patrol.

In hiding, I leaned against the building, concealed in the shadows, watching the highway and the ramps. From here, I'd see anyone approaching from the highway. And should Austin drive up from behind, I'd hear his tires on the gravel.

Belatedly, I thought of Lindsey's guns, and whether I should have grabbed one. I shook my head. I couldn't shoot Austin down, not until he told me where Lindsey was. I had talons, teeth, fire, and a very bad attitude. That should be enough to deal with chicken shit Rivers.

A car's headlights splashed across the store parking lot. I backed further into the shadows and watched as it exited the freeway, and turned toward the store. At that moment, my cell pinged.

Risking the time to look at it, I yanked it from my pocket. "Thank, God," I breathed, studying the app. "Good job, Lindsey. I'll be with you soon."

Austin's black Lincoln stopped near the store entrance, then the lights and engine quit. He opened the door, got out, and looked around. Obviously for me. He'd passed my truck, but perhaps didn't see it, or didn't recognize it as mine.

I sucked in a deep breath and paced into view.

Rivers saw me instantly. He nodded. "Brody. You brought my cash?"

"Nope." I walked toward him, readying myself for battle. "I lied."

His face tightened into a savage anger. "Then you condemned Lindsey to death."

"Wrong." I drew closer, watching his every move, waiting for him to shift. "I know where she is. As soon as I kill you, I'll have her free and in my arms."

"Stupid fool," he spat. "She's wired with C-4. You try to get her out, you're both dead. She shifts, she's dead. You should've brought my money."

My lips numb, my blood frozen, I said, "I never stole your dope, dumb ass. You killed her for no reason."

In that instant, I think he finally believed me. His eyes flickered, his grim tension flagged for a brief second. He suddenly knew I'd been telling him the truth all along. That he'd put his best friend in harm's way, and Greg died. That he'd murdered my mate, my beloved, and our unborn child for nothing. Nothing.

And that he'd never escape me.

No matter how far he flew.

Austin shifted.

As did I.

His strong wings beat the night air, his tail mere inches from my snapping teeth. I shot a heavy burst of flames at his backside, heard him scream in pain. Only a dragon can kill a dragon. Only a dragon's fires were hot enough, deadly enough, to burn through a dragon's thick hide and armored scales.

If I died in the process, Austin would also die.

I only hoped Lindsey, and our child, would live.