Dalton, Tymber - Love and Brimstone [Brimstone Vampires 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read Free Page A

hold out much hope.
    His cell rang. He answered then shook his head when Taz looked hopefully at him. Nothing yet. He walked into his office and closed the door.
    “We have a whole fleet out.” It was him, personally. He rarely called Tim, and never while Tim was at home or with Taz. He’d also never heard him sound so grim. “If they can be found, they will.”
    “Good.”
    “Do you think…I mean, should I—”
    “No,” Tim said firmly. “I’ll take care of her. You stay away. It’s too soon.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Absolutely.” Tim had a thought. “You don’t think someone planned this, do you?”
    “I thought about that,” he admitted. “She was supposed to be on the flight. She was listed on the passenger manifest. Keep her close to you until we know for sure.”
    “Of course I will.”
    Over the next days and weeks with no word on her parents’ fate, Tim guided Taz through the process. She spent many nights curled up on the couch with her head in his lap, twenty-four, but fragile as a child, crying herself to sleep. He ached for her, knowing he could help, but to do so would push things along too soon. She needed time to heal. Others had survived tragedies far worse than this.
    She decided to sell the house, and he thought that would be the end. When he mentioned looking for his own place, she looked horrified.
    “No, you can’t! I need you!”
    He smiled. “Taz, you don’t need me hanging around.”
    She nodded, frantically. “I’ll get a big condo near the office. Big enough you can have your space. Please, you’re the only family I’ve got!”
    She looked desperate. Her parents had messed up the original plan by getting themselves killed on their trip to Rio. The revised edition was for her to finally be on her own, but he couldn’t stand to see her so miserable and upset.
    He nodded. “I’ll stay.”
    She threw her arms around him and hugged him, sobbing with relief. When he finally had a chance to be alone and phone about the change in plans, there was reluctant agreement.
    “I’m not going to abandon her,” Tim said, adamant. “There’s plenty of time. Maybe this is for the best.”
    “When does she start her new job?”
    “Three months. Once she graduates from law school and completes her internship.”
    “How’s she doing?”
    “Brilliant. She will go far. She’s already got quite the reputation for fixing sticky situations, smoothing things over.”
    “Excellent.”
    “Everything will work out fine. You’ll see. Did he get the paperwork?”
    “I think he’s still drooling over her picture.”
    “Now do you see why I insisted on waiting for him to meet her?”
    “Yes, you were right. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
    “It helps.” He paused, wanting his words to carry weight. “I meant what I told him. Make sure he understands my position clearly. If he breaks her heart, I’ll kill him with my bare hands.”
    “He understands.”
    “Good. He’d better. Because I don’t care how powerful he is, or how much money he has, or how long we’ve been friends. There won’t be a place on this earth he can hide from me if he hurts my little girl.”

Chapter One

    “What kind of asshole sells automatic weapons to a demon anyway?” Rafael dropped the carry-on tote on his cousin’s desk and plopped down in one of the chairs facing him.
    “Is that it?”
    Rafael nodded. “And we need to speed this up. I’ve got a date at seven.” He leaned back, propping his feet on the desk and crossing his legs at the ankles.
    “You always have a date.” Matthias unzipped the tote and removed a sealed plastic bag containing a large severed head. Semi-lupine in shape, vicious teeth jutted from the lower jaw. “Any problems?”
    “Naw, customs was easy. Homeland Security my ass. And one less ‘chupacabra’ to terrify the locals.” Rafael used finger quotes around the word to show his disdain. “Friggin’ jerk. He had a whole warehouse full of guns. Oh, Matts,