Eternal Flame (Night Watch 3)

He wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her up. No strain there. Such a strong demon. Zane had already healed from the injuries he’d gotten in the wreck and from the tranq shots.

He eased her onto the motorcycle and kept his left hand around her a bit too long. “You could, but you won’t.”

She blinked. “And how do you know that?”

“Because you scoped the place when we pulled up. You saw the two kids pumping up the tires on their bikes, and the old man behind the register inside.” He paused. “You saw them, and I saw your face.”

Dammit. He’d seen too much.

“You’re not blowing anything up here.” He eased in front of her and started the cycle quickly. He knew how to hotwire, too. Figured.

The cycle roared. “Hold tight,” he ordered, like she had much of a choice. “Just another twenty minutes and we’ll be back in the city.”

Yeah, they’d had to drive for a while because she’d hauled butt and gotten them as far away as she could last night. Only to be dragged back now.

She closed her eyes, waiting for him to shoot the cycle forward.

Nothing happened.

Jana opened one eye and found Zane gazing at her over his shoulder. “What?”

His brows were low. “If you were really a cold-hearted killer, it wouldn’t matter about the kids.”

Just figuring that out? Give the man a cookie. “I’m saving all my fire for you, lover.”

He laughed. Flashed her those too-white teeth and laughed.

Then the motorcycle surged forward.

Jana held on tight. The guy’s muscles were like stone beneath her hands and her hair whipped behind her. No helmet. She might as well be begging for death.

Once he dumped her at Night Watch and those powers that be decided what to do with her, well, she just might actually beg.

No.

Begging didn’t do any good. She’d begged before. When she’d first been locked up. Begged to see her mom. Begged for help.

She’d gotten nothing.

Then when those bastards out there on her trail had learned about her power, she’d begged to be left alone.

What had Zane said? Normal. Yeah, she’d wanted to be normal. She’d begged for that, too.

Begging got a girl nowhere, fast. Fighting, shoving, letting the fire rage-that was the only way to make a difference.

When she got to Night Watch, she’d do whatever was necessary to stay alive. And if she had to let out the flames, then the place would burn.

And if innocent people were inside?

She pressed her face against Zane’s back and wondered just how far into the darkness she was willing to go.

The motorcycle took another curve, nice and slow. Zane hadn’t driven fast. He’d been careful the whole time. After one accident, maybe he was worried about a repeat. She sure was.

They eased from the curve, heading down the long road, and sirens screamed at them.

What? Jana’s head whipped around just in time to see a patrol car fly out of its nice, sneaky hiding place on the side of the road. Blue lights flashed, and the siren wailed louder.

Go. Faster. Faster.

She always had the same response to cop cars. Mostly because those cars were usually chasing her. Just like this one.

The motorcycle began to slow down. “No!” she shouted.

But Zane was stopping. He pulled the motorcycle over to the side of the road and shoved down the kickstand.

Her nails bit into his side. “What are you doing?”

He turned his head and met her gaze. “We aren’t wearing helmets. The guy’s got to stop us.”

She gulped. Right. Helmets. A normal stop. And such a Boy Scout thing for the demon to say.

Zane climbed off the bike. The handcuffs glinted in the light.

“And what are you going to tell him about these?” she asked. She wanted those things to be ash at her feet. Unfortunately, her fire didn’t work on them. She’d tried burning them last night. No luck.

“I’ve got my bounty I.D.” He shook his head. “The cops can check me out.”

“Can he get us keys—”

“Step away from the woman!” The barked order carried easily to them.

Here we go. Jana looked at the cop. A young guy, with light blond hair, a handsome, if soft face, and a perfectly pressed uniform.

The cop also had his gun up and aimed at Zane.

She straightened on the motorcycle.

“Easy.” Zane lifted both his hands, which, unfortunately, made her hand lift, too.

“The guy’s crazy!” No harm in trying a little maneuvering, right? Jana jumped off the bike and focused her desperate gaze on the cop. “Help me.” Her voice trembled. “He’s—”

“What the hell are you doing?” Zane snarled at her. Then, louder he said, “Officer, my name’s Zane Wynter. I’m a bounty hunter with the Night Watch Agency. This woman’s a wanted—”

“Undo the cuffs.” The cop had stalked closer. His clipped words cut right through the air. “Undo the cuffs and let her go.”

Jana blinked. Ah, yeah, that had been easy. She could look desperate and pitiful when she wanted but- Too easy.

Tension knotted her gut. That gun was aimed straight at Zane’s chest.

Zane started to lower his arms. “I’ve got my I.D. in my back pocket, just let me—”

“Take off the damn cuffs!” Spit flew from the cop’s mouth.

“Ease up,” Zane said, and his hands froze. “I don’t have the key on me.”

The gun barrel jerked a bit. No, it didn’t jerk. The guy was re-aiming. Setting up his shot so that when he fired—

Oh, hell. “Zane!”

The cop fired.

Chapter 5

The bullet hit the middle of the handcuffs. It couldn’t break the Other proof metal, so the bullet ricocheted and blazed a path of fire down the side of Zane’s right thigh. Fuck.

Zane fell to the ground, dragging Jana down with him. He rolled, fast, putting his body on top of hers. Shield her. Keep her safe.

“Sonofabitch!” Not his scream, though it sure could have been.

He glanced up to see the cop charging him. “I just want her!” the guy yelled.

Why the hell was everyone after his bounty?

“He told me not to hurt you,” the cop threw out, the words directed at Jana as he strode forward and raised that gun. “But with him, deadly force is fine.”

The hell it was.

Jana trembled beneath him and her skin warmed. She was charging up, getting ready to unleash her fire on this jerk coming at her.