Chapter 1

What the hell were you thinking, renting a fourth-floor walk-up?

I trudged up the first flight of steps. Turned the corner. Started up the next flight.

Because this is Williamsburg and all you can afford is a freaking breadbox.

I paused on the landing to take a breath. My backpack and canvas shopping bag felt like they were stuffed with rocks instead of groceries. And had the steps gotten steeper?

I switched the canvas bag to my left hand and kept going, using the rail to haul my tired body up the stairs. By the time I reached the top floor, I was lightheaded and overheated. Putting the bag on the floor, I leaned against the white plaster wall, sucking oxygen like a beached whale.

Mrs. Ortiz was cooking burritos again; the mouthwatering scent of chicken and beans filled the tiny hall. My stomach growled. These days, pretty much anything smelled good, a big improvement on those first months when I hadn't been able to keep down much besides yogurt, apple juice and Cheerios.

Straightening from the wall, I staggered as another wave of dizziness hit me. I'd skipped dinner to pick up a couple of extra hours at BVE, the vintage clothing shop where I worked. Not a good idea when you're five-and-half months pregnant.

I slapped a hand on the wall, breathing through my nostrils until the dizziness receded, then picked up the shopping bag and headed across the hall. I had my key out, ready to insert it in the lock, when I realized my door was unlocked.

I sighed and pushed the door open. I'd told Rio to keep the deadbolts locked even when he was home. Williamsburg was fairly safe, but it was still New York City.

I nudged the door closed with my hip. The lock didn't catch but I kept going. I'd get the door after I put the groceries down.

I sniffed, grinned. "Is that green tofu soup I smell? I'm hungry enough to eat a horse."

Rio was a runaway from Ohio who'd moved in with me a few weeks ago. Well, technically he hadn't been a runaway since he was eighteen years old, but he'd dropped out of high school and had been living in a closed-off subway tunnel when we'd met.

He slept in an alcove behind a curtain we'd rigged up in the living room, and in exchange paid half the utilities and groceries—and cooked dinner. He was a prodigy in the kitchen. I could forgive an occasional unlocked door when he produced meals that good.

The apartment door shut with a soft click. I glanced over my shoulder, but no one was there. No one I could see, anyway.

A splinter of apprehension worked its way under my skin.

He's here. They found you.

But I'd been careful, using cash and a fake ID, changing cities every few days before sneaking across the Canadian/US border six weeks ago and making my way to New York. A big city seemed like the best place to lose myself in.

I shrugged off my uneasiness, telling myself the door had just been stuck, until I realized Rio still hadn't answered me.

My heart bumped against my ribcage. "Rio? You here?"

The apartment was laid out so the kitchenette wasn't visible from our front door. I skirted the striped Ikea couch—the only thing I'd bought for my new place other than a comfortable bed—and turned left into the kitchenette.

"Becky." Rio stood at one end of the kitchen island, his expression pinched. "I'm sorry. I couldn't—" His bony shoulders lifted in a helpless shrug.

All the spit left my mouth. My gaze swung to the other side of the marbled-laminate island to where Talon slouched on a bar stool in an unzipped leather jacket.

His sensual mouth curved in a nasty half-smile. "Hello, Eden," he said in his deep, growly voice. A voice I used to find sexy.

"Eden?" Rio echoed.

Neither of us looked at him.

The canvas bag slipped from my fingers, thudding to the floor. Apples rolled across the fake wood planks. I ignored them, my gaze locked on the uninvited—and pissed-off—vampire in my kitchenette.

"I wouldn't let him contact you," Talon told me.

My lungs filled my throat. For a few seconds, I couldn't breathe…or even move.

Things weren't supposed to go down like this. I'd hoped Talon would just let me go, but that was wishful thinking, and I'd known it. I'd betrayed not just him, but his syndicate.

So I had an escape plan.

But he wasn't supposed to be inside my apartment. He was supposed to come to the door first so I could put my plan into action. I had a go-bag in my bedroom with cash and a change of clothes. I'd figured I'd have a few seconds—time enough to grab the bag and escape down the portable fire ladder which was the first thing I'd bought after subletting the apartment.

Run, damn it!

My breath whooshed in. "Okay," I said, more to say something than because it made sense.

I slid a foot backward.

Talon rounded the kitchen island, all six-feet-plus of him on the prowl. Outwardly calm, but I saw the muscle ticking in his jaw. He was furious with me.

I swallowed dryly. Slid the other foot backward.

My muscles tensed. I readied myself to make a dash for the door.

I couldn't let him find out about the baby. My loose shirt and thigh-length jacket hid the still-small bump. He'd never know.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rio shift to the left and casually reach behind him, feeling for the knife block on the counter behind him. He was going to try to protect me, and Talon would kill him for it.

My stomach bottomed out.

"It's okay, Rio," I said without looking away from Talon. "I know him."

Rio lowered his brow and dropped his chin, a young, na?ve bull about to charge. "He can't make you go with him. There are laws about that. Treaties."

Talon was right in front of me now. He had wolf eyes with irises that changed from dark brown at the outer edges to gold as you moved inward until the band around his pupil was almost yellow. They bored into mine.

"Actually, I can," he said. "Eden signed a contract with my syndicate. Didn't you?"

I moistened my lips. I'd never felt so much like prey, even in my first few weeks as a syndicate thrall.

"Becky?" asked Rio, clearly upset.

"Eden," Talon bit out. "Her name is Eden."

Rio flicked him a look, frowned. To me, he said, "You signed a contract?"

He might be young, but he wasn't stupid. He knew how these things worked.

Talon was still staring at me. "Tell him," he said silkily.

His face filled my vision, an implacable mask I couldn't look away from.

"He's right," I told Rio, my voice a thready rasp. I cleared my throat and tried again. "I signed a contract with his syndicate."

"Which she broke," Talon explained in those same silky, dangerous tones. "After she conned me and my primus. Spied on us."

He—Brien—wasn't the primus at that point.But that was nitpicking. I'd known that what I was doing was wrong, and I'd done it anyway.

"Oh, girl." I dragged my gaze from Talon in time to see Rio shake his head. "You're fucked."

"Yeah." My laugh held zero humor. "I know."

Talon leaned closer. I edged backward until my backpack hit the refrigerator.

His dark brows formed an irritated slash. He shoved the canvas shopping bag out of the way with his foot. "Turn around."

When I obeyed, he removed the heavy backpack while I stood passively, letting him move me around like I was a doll with flexible limbs for him to position as he pleased. Inside, my mind worked desperately, searching for a way out.

I couldn't let Talon take me back. If it were only me, I'd woman up, accept my punishment. But this wasn't just about me. There was the baby, too.

And I'd messed up, big time. Rio had no idea.

If I were a man, I'd probably already be dead.

But I was a woman, a former thrall pregnant with Talon's child, even if he didn't know it. If the syndicate found out, they might take my baby away from me. I was in that much trouble.

And if they took my baby, I might as well be dead.

Talon put the pack on a stool next to the kitchen island. I bent to pick up the apples and canvas bag. By some miracle the eggs hadn't broken.

"Leave it," Talon told me, but I'd already put the apples back in the bag. With a scowl, he took the bag from me and placed it on the island.

I sent the groceries a longing look. They represented independence. As a thrall, I'd never even had to step foot in a kitchen. I mean, I'd liked it—who wouldn't? But that wasn't me. Being pampered like that had felt strange, like I was playing at being a grownup.

At least Rio could use the groceries. His job bussing tables at a hipster restaurant paid his share of the bills, but what he really wanted was to be a chef. He was saving up to take classes at ICE, a fancy culinary institute in lower Manhattan.

"Just let me get my wallet and phone." I turned the backpack so I could unzip the outer pocket.

Because when I escaped—and I would—a wallet and phone would make things a helluvalot easier.

Talon's strong fingers landed heavily on my nape. "No."

He turned me and marched me toward the front door…which was blocked by a pair of syndicate soldiers in leather jackets and chinos.

I started in surprise.

So there had been someone in the shadows. Two someones, in fact—Adrian and Nathan. You'd think after almost three years as a syndicate thrall, I would've sensed them, but I hadn't. I'd been too focused on getting myself, my ever-expanding belly, and the groceries up the stairs.

Talon's grip on my nape tightened. He must think the tiny jerk I'd given was me trying to get away.

My insides clenched. He could snap my neck so easily.

But he wouldn't, unless he decided that was my punishment for running away. Talon didn't act impulsively. He took his time coming to a decision, and everything he did had a logical reason.

Which is how I knew that once he'd decided that all I was to him was a thrall—nothing more—he wouldn't change his mind.

And I'd been damned if I'd stay with a vampire who'd vowed never to love a human. Who believed human DNA would contaminate his blood line.

Not that Talon had asked me to stay.

I cast Adrian and Nathan a beseeching look. Both men were dhampirs with vampire fathers and human mothers. Adrian was a slim, dark-haired guy who was supersmart about tech. He'd probably had a hand in tracking me down. Nathan was a by-the-book guy with short brown hair who looked kind of like Marcus Mumford. Talon would've brought him along as muscle.

Adrian folded his arms over his chest. Nathan just eyed me coldly, like we hadn't grown up together. Adrian was from a small town in New Brunswick, but Nathan was from the island, same as me. We'd played together as kids.

My chest constricted. I suppose I deserved their unfriendly stares, but something about how they were looking at me slapped me out of the stunned hopelessness that had descended on me along with Talon's grip on my neck.

As we passed the couch, I dug in my heels. For some reason, Talon allowed it, and we came to a halt. Outside, the elevated train at the end of the block rumbled by, vibrating the floorboards.

I turned my head toward Talon. "At least let me pack a bag."

Maybe I could still climb out that bedroom window.

His expression darkened like he'd read my mind. He couldn't, but he could read my emotions. He'd probably detected my surge of hope. "We'll buy you anything you need."

He palmed the base of my skull, forcing me to look forward. He propelled me the rest of the way to the door. Adrian and Nathan unfolded their arms and moved aside.

Rio shot to my side, his gawky teenager's body tense. He glared across me at Talon. "Promise me you won't hurt her."

Talon just gave him a look and nodded at Nathan. "Open the door."

Rio tugged my arm, trying to pull me away from Talon. "You can't just kidnap her."

Talon stiffened. Adrian and Nathan's expressions turned murderous.

Adrian grabbed Rio by his T-shirt. "This is syndicate business. Get your hands off her before I rip your fucking head off."

I turned slightly toward Rio, all I could manage with Talon gripping my skull, and gave a frantic shake of my head.

Actually, Talon could do whatever he wanted with me. When I'd signed that thrall contract with the Maritime Syndicate, I'd signed over most of my rights for three years in return for a boatload of money. However, they didn't own me. I was a thrall, not a blood slave.

Unfortunately, by taking a bribe to spy on the syndicate, I'd broken the contract. They could legally punish me for betraying them. It was right there in the fine print.

And if I disappeared, no one would ever find the corpse.

Rio ignored Adrian. "I want your promise," he told Talon.

His expression hardened. "Let her go."

Rio's swallow was audible, but instead of releasing me, he gave my arm another, firmer tug. Talon bared sharp white fangs and leaned across me, pushing his face into Rio's.

"Let. Her. Go."

The teenager dropped my arm like it was a hot poker.

"Stay away from the lieutenant's woman." Adrian shoved Rio in the chest.

He reeled backward, arms flailing. When he caught his balance, he muttered, "Lieutenant? Damn," his light brown skin ashen. But he didn't back off. "That doesn't give you motherfuckers the right to drag her out of here like a freaking pet dog."

Christ.

A cold bead of sweat trickled between my shoulder blades. I had to defuse this before Talon decided Rio was more trouble than he was worth.

"It's okay," I told him. "I'll be all right. But call BVE for me, okay? Tell them I won't be coming back to work. That I went…home."

"I will. Of course." His fists clenched at his sides. "But Becky…I mean Eden…whatever. I'll call 911. They won't get away with this."

"The cops won't do anything," I said. "These guys aren't even from New York. They're not even from the United States." Not that the cops would do anything even if Talon was from the local syndicate.

"And everything in my room is yours." I had five thousand in cash in my go-bag. If I couldn't take it, I wanted him to have it.

Rio shook his head.

I sent him a pleading look. "Please, Rio."

I sensed Talon eyeing me. I blanked my expression and tried to blank my emotions as well. But it was too late, because Talon said, "He's coming, too."

"What?" I blinked rapidly. "No! He's nothing—a kid."

Talon jerked his chin in Rio's direction. "Get him," he told Adrian and Nathan.

The soldiers bracketed Rio, each grabbing an arm.

I sucked in a breath, afraid Rio would fight back. He was tough and he didn't take any crap—he'd never have lasted in New York otherwise. He stiffened and drew in a breath, then sent me a look and went along with it.

That was worse. Despair filled me.

"Please." I clutched Talon's leather-clad arm. It was hard for me to beg, but for Rio, I'd do it. "Let him stay here. He has nothing to do with this. We've only known each other a few weeks. He helps with the bills, that's all."

Talon glanced around my tiny apartment, his left brow hitched up. Something he did when he was curious or disturbed.

Probably wondering what had happened to the money I'd left Canada with. But he was a rich vampire who lived rent-free in a goddamn castle. He wouldn't know that in Williamsburg, even a one bedroom went for four or five thousand dollars.

He folded his lips in. "The kid's insurance," he told me.

"Insurance?" I felt the steel bars of a cage closing around me.

"To make sure you come with us, no tricks. Soon as you get on the jet, he goes free. If not—" Talon moved a big shoulder.

The door to the cage started to swing shut.

I searched his face, trying to find a hint of affection, or at least, softening. "Don't do this."

Talon's lip curled. "Don't do what? Take your lying, betraying ass back to Lilith Island?"

I glanced at Rio's tense face. "It's okay," he told me.

But it wasn't okay. Rio had left Ohio to escape the bullies in his small town. He shouldn't have to deal with Talon and company.

"I don't care what you to do me," I told Talon. "I'll go back with you, I promise. But leave Rio. He has nothing to do with this. We just share the apartment."

Talon narrowed his eyes. "He sleeps in the living room." He glanced at the sheet we'd hung across the middle.

"Yeah, of course." I frowned. "Wait. You thought he was sleeping with me?" Rio was still a teenager—and besides, he was interested in boys, not girls. "For fuck's sake, he's practically a kid. I'm five years older than him."

"That's why he's still alive. If I thought you were sleeping with him, he'd be dead."

I gulped. "So let him stay. Please."

"He comes," was the unyielding reply.

I briefly closed my eyes. "I'm so sorry," I told Rio. "I never meant for you to be involved in this."

His chin jutted. "Fuck them," he mouthed at me. "I'm not afraid of them."

"Funny," said Adrian under his breath. "You don't look stupid. Now let's go."

"You too." Talon urged me forward after them.

The cage door slammed closed.

My head pounded. Tiny lights danced at the edges of my vision. It was too much after being on my feet all day at the shop, and then picking up groceries. Plus, the last time I'd eaten except for an apple on the way home was at lunchtime five hours ago.

I swayed on my feet.

"Eden?" Talon took me by the shoulders.

I was falling down a dark tunnel. I clutched his upper arms. Even angry at me, he was still an anchor, the man I'd fallen in love with despite that stupid thrall contract.

"What's wrong with her?" Talon demanded. He sounded…worried.

The world shifted, and then I was in his arms, my cheek tucked into the curve of his neck. He smelled so male. So familiar. Leather and earth and crisp autumn air.

"She's pregnant, you asshole." Rio's voice. "And you're stressing her out."

The darkness pulled me under.