Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

NICHOLAS

O nce I passed the platform lights, my vision adjusted to the darkness, and there she was—running straight for me. No, not for me specifically. She was running for safety, any safety. Not everyone considered vampires safe, and we weren’t. Not unless we wanted to be.

And tonight, I didn’t want to be.

I’d fed earlier, so hunger wasn’t my issue. Rage, though? That was burning through me, white-hot and all-consuming. When she was suddenly yanked back by something—her scarf, maybe, or her hair—I heard the strangled sound she made. Choking. It fueled my anger, my fangs fully descending, my growls echoing through the night. The two men didn’t notice me at first, but when they did, it was too late.

The skinny one screamed—a shrill, pathetic sound—just as I slammed into him. I grabbed him by the shoulders, shook him hard enough to hear the sickening crack of bone, and flung him into the shrubs near the parking lot. He disappeared into the darkness with a distant thud.

I turned to the other one, the one holding a gun. His hand shook as he aimed it at me, his pulse thundering loud enough to make me smile. “We don’t want no trouble,” he stammered. “Go on your way and nobody will get hurt.”

Nobody? My gaze narrowed, the scent of blood hitting me hard. Hers. The sweet, infuriating smell of her blood—spiced with vanilla, cinnamon, and something uniquely her—combined with the sight of the split lip they’d given her.

“No one?” I repeated, my voice soft, dangerous. “So, she’s free to go?”

The idiot froze, his eyes darting to her before flicking back to me. In one swift motion, I knocked the gun from his hand and sent him flying with a casual backhand. He crashed into a car, setting off its alarm. The wailing siren scraped against my nerves, an irritating reminder of how fragile and loud human things were.

I took a step toward him, ready to finish what he started, when a sound from her—just a soft, pained moan—dragged my attention away.

I turned, and there she was, trying to push herself off the ground. Her scent hit me again, stronger now, wrapping around me like a goddamn chain. Vanilla, cinnamon, and—cookies? What the hell was wrong with me?

Kneeling beside her, I studied her face, pale and terrified. “Are you okay?” I asked, my voice coming out rougher than I intended.

She gasped for air, clawing at her throat, where that ridiculous scarf was knotted tight. Knitted Santas and dancing reindeer mocked me as I realized what had happened—the bastard had yanked the scarf, choking her.

I ripped through the fabric easily, tossing it aside. She collapsed back, sucking in deep breaths and rubbing her neck, her skin marked red where the scarf had tightened.

The man? He was running now, stumbling across the parking lot. I could’ve caught him in a heartbeat, but I didn’t move. She had my full attention.

Then she punched me and screamed again, shaking her hand.

“You ruined my scarf!” she yelled, her voice raspy but brimming with outrage. “That was my favorite scarf!”

I gaped at her, utterly bemused. “A scarf?” I echoed. “You’re angry about a scarf? Those men almost killed you.”

“That scarf was important to me,” she snapped, grabbing the ruined ends like she could somehow put them back together.

I barked a laugh, sharp and humorless. “Then maybe I’ll leave you to their tender mercies. The other one’s still around here somewhere, probably eager to finish what he started.”

Her wide eyes snapped to mine, the anger draining from her face as she took in my red eyes and elongated fangs. She swayed, then fainted, collapsing right into my arms.

Oh, for fuck’s sake. A fainter. Of course.

Holly

I woke up slowly, my head pounding, and realized I was lying across the backseat of a moving car. My body jolted upright, adrenaline shooting through me. What the hell? Had they grabbed me while I was out? Were they driving me to some dump site?

Wait. This looked like my car. Wadded up blanket. Bags for the grocery store. Stuffed overnight bag with my clothes haphazardly sticking out of it, including a pink bra. My favorite. What the heck?

I blinked, trying to focus on the figure behind the wheel. Big guy, easily over six feet tall, broad enough to make my Subaru Impreza look like a clown car. He was hunched over the steering wheel, hands gripping it so hard his knuckles were white. And the car? Crawling along at a snail’s pace—hell, I could probably out-walk it.

He wasn’t one of the creeps who’d grabbed me earlier. That much I was sure of. But was he some kind of savior, or just the next bad decision in a long line of them?

“Excuse me?” My voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet. “What do you think you’re doing?”

He flinched like I’d just slapped him, his head whipping around. For a moment, he looked startled, then relief washed over his face. “Good, you’re awake.”

I struggled into a full sitting position, arms crossed like I could somehow shield myself from whatever fresh hell this was. “Obviously. Where are you taking me?”

“I don’t know,” he said, his voice low, almost sheepish. “I just need to get somewhere safe for the night.”

“Join the club,” I muttered, my fingers curling into fists. Then it hit me—the flash of fangs, the red eyes from earlier. I scrambled back as far as I could, pressing myself into the seat. “You’re a vampire. Oh my God, you’re saving me for a snack later, aren’t you? Well, I’m telling you right now, I am not premium blood. I eat like crap, I don’t exercise, and I’m chubby. There are way better options out there.”

To my surprise, he grinned. Not a full, terrifying fang-baring grin, but just enough to make him look—well, almost handsome. “Don’t worry,” he said, a hint of humor in his tone. “I already ate. For today. But the sun’s coming up, and I missed my train. I need somewhere safe to hole up.”

“So you decided to drag me along for the ride?” My voice pitched higher with incredulity. “What am I—dinner, a midnight snack, or something?”

“Or something.”

Before I could demand clarification, a blaring horn snapped my attention to the street outside. We were stopped in the middle of the road, blocking traffic. Cars were lined up behind us, their drivers leaning on their horns. “You need to drive,” I hissed. “Now.”

“I don’t know where to go,” he admitted, his voice calm, like this wasn’t a disaster waiting to happen.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. What was it about me that screamed caretaker to every stray or lost soul within a five-mile radius? First, the cats that had overrun my apartment complex and gotten me evicted, and now this guy. Fine. Whatever. “Pull into that parking lot,” I said, pointing at an all-night diner. “For now.”

He obeyed, turning into the lot. When he cut the engine, he twisted around to face me. “Nicholas Frost,” he said. “You’re in trouble.”

“No shit, Sherlock.” I glared at him, my frustration bubbling over. “I’m Holly Winters.”

He flashed a hint of fang again, and this time his grin was less charming, more predatory. It helped that the fangs looked smaller, less scary. “I can help you.”

“The police said the same thing,” I shot back, bitterness seeping into my voice. “After they ‘verified my story.’”

He snorted. “I’m guessing that didn’t go well.”

“Not exactly.” I hesitated, unsure how much to tell him, but he already knew I was in trouble. “I saw something I shouldn’t have, and now they’re after me. I don’t even know who ‘they’ are, but they want me dead.”

My throat tightened, tears pricking at my eyes. God, I hated crying. It didn’t matter if it was a Hallmark commercial, a soldier surprising his kid, or a damn animal video—I always cried. And now, in front of a vampire, of all people? Perfect. Just perfect.

To his credit, Nicholas didn’t look horrified by my tears. If anything, he looked regretful. “They won’t stop,” he said finally. “If you stay, they’ll find you. Public transportation? They’ll track you down. But if you come with me, you might have a chance to escape.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Go with you where?”

His expression soured, like he’d just bitten into a lemon. “Home. I’ve been summoned for the holidays.”

“Summoned? What are you, a servant or something? Why wouldn’t you want to go home? If I had a family, I’d never leave.”

“Trust me, it’s complicated.” He sighed. “But I need to get home, and my train’s gone. I need a ride. And a companion.”

I frantically searched my scattered mind for what I knew about vampires. I came from a small town in western Pennsylvania. We don’t have too many supernaturals and no vampires. The closest we had were a small wolf pack and a couple of orcs who all kept to themselves. As long as the wolves didn’t hunt the livestock, most people were fine with them, and the orcs were great blacksmiths. But I didn’t have any experience with vampires, so anything I knew came from rumors and stories. I sensed that put me at a huge disadvantage. I wished I had my phone to do some research, but I didn’t see it anywhere around me.

There was one thing I had to make very clear. “I’m not a blood bank or meals on wheels,” I warned.

He rolled his eyes, exasperated. “I told you—I don’t want your blood. I want your driving skills. If you drive me home, I’ll make sure you’re safe. Completely off their radar.”

“Disappear?” I raised an eyebrow. “That sounds ominous.”

“It means a new identity,” he said patiently. “You’ll be alive, but no one will find you.”

It sounded too good to be true. But what choice did I have? “Fine,” I said finally. “But no nibbling on me. I mean it.”

“Deal.” His grin returned, this time more amused than menacing. “Shall we?”

God help me. What had I just agreed to?