Top Secret Vampire (Monsters, PI #4)

26. Wolfram

Chapter 26

Wolfram

“ I . . . I . . .” Reese burst into tears.

With my fangs thrusting down from my jaw and my claws snapping to full length, I glared at the detective dangling the cuffs in the air. I tightened my arms around her. “You. Will. Wait,” I snarled at him.

His eyes widened as I mistified us to the beach below.

“Wolf?” She spun around and the horror and sadness in her eyes as she looked up at me made me determined to hide her away from this forever. “I didn’t steal that statue. Please believe me. I know the camera footage shows I did it, but it wasn’t me.”

“I know it wasn’t.”

“They’re going to convict me. I’m going to go to jail.”

“You are not .”

“What am I going to do?”

“Want to run away?” I was only half-kidding.

“I’d love to, but that will make me look guilty.” Her gaze flicked to her home perched high on the cliff. “He’ll put out a warrant for my arrest.”

“He knows I was going to take you away.”

Her head tilted. “He thinks we’re gone forever?”

I shrugged. “I believe he’s giving us a chance to speak in private. But I dictate this, not him. We’ll return you to him if you think it’s in your best interest. One word, and we’ll be in Egypt. London. Paris. Wherever you want to escape to. I’m yours for this lifetime and beyond and nothing will steal that from us.”

She sighed. “I can’t leave. I’d love to. But my mom’s here. My aunt even if she doesn’t actually care. My life. I’m not someone who runs away.”

I held her, desperate to shield her from what was coming. She felt too small and fragile in my embrace, and the thought of losing her sent a jolt of fear through me.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, each droplet squeezing my heart tighter. “What if I can't prove I didn't do it?” she whimpered.

The emotions lashing through me fought for release. I wanted to rage at the world that was hurting this woman I loved. I hated that I couldn’t fix this for her. There wasn't anything I wouldn't do to protect the one person who had come to mean everything to me. I tilted her chin and pressed my lips against hers in a sweet kiss that ignited a fire between us.

With our mouths moving together, I poured all my fear and love into our connection. Her tears mingled with the kiss, but the warmth of our bodies wrapped around us, blocking out the world. I lost myself in her taste, the honeyed sweetness of her lips almost driving me mad, each touch a reminder of what was truly at stake here.

When we finally broke apart, breathless, her wide eyes shimmered.

I cradled her face with my hands, my thumbs brushing away the last of her tears. “You are everything to me. You’re brave and strong. I admire you more than you can imagine. You won’t face this alone. We’ll fight this together.”

“I . . . I don’t know how,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

“The strength in your heart is more than enough. We’ll take on this threat and defeat it.” My resolve surged as I pressed my forehead against hers. “We’re a team. I won’t let them tear us apart.”

“Okay.” Easing away, she sucked in a breath and shot it back out. “I can do this. Together, right?” Her uncertain gaze sought mine.

“Forever, Reese. Forever.”

“Forever.”

Her vulnerability stirred something deep within me, a need to protect her at all costs.

“I'm ready to go back,” she said.

With a nod, I took her hand and mistified us back to the attic to find the detective standing in the middle of the room, a cloth bag in his hand.

“Are you ready to proceed?” he asked Reese, his expression unreadable.

“Without the cuffs,” I said, my voice low and steady.

He studied us both before grunting. “I have to follow protocol. But if she agrees to come quietly—”

She straightened her shoulders and looked him in the eye. “I’ll come with you, Detective. Let’s do this.”

“There’s paperwork to fill out,” he said, taking her arm and guiding her toward the stairs. “But it will be relatively straightforward.”

“Thank you.” I could practically feel her resolve harden.

“No questions or comments until our lawyer arrives,” I said as I followed them down the stairs, all the way to the foyer.

“Somehow, I knew you'd say that,” Detective Carter said.

We left the warmth of her home, stepping into the cool air, and my heart ached to see Reese so worried. The video evidence, plus him finding the statue in her attic, was much too incriminating, and I assumed all connected to her stalker who’d just upped the game.

No more games. They'd come for my mate.

I would destroy them.

Outside, he opened the back door of his vehicle and urged her inside. I climbed in with her. There was no way I'd follow, leaving her to face even this part of the process alone.

As he drove the vehicle toward town, I sent my shark shifter friend a message.

“Tell her not to say anything until I get there,” Brandon replied immediately. “I'll do my best to meet you there when you arrive.”