Zoe's Blockade (Destiny's Trinities Book 5) Read Free

that doesn’t use the bridge?” he asked.
    “Sure. There’s a trail that goes over the shoulder of the mountain and into town, only it’s impassable at this time of year.”
    “No other way?”
    “Not unless you can fly. We just use the truck.”
    He glanced back down the long drive toward the tree line and the bridge. “That’s what I was afraid of,” he said quietly, almost to himself. He climbed the steps up to the verandah and came toward her. “I’m going to have to dump this on you. We don’t have time.”
    “Dump what?”
    Up close, Zoe could see his unshaved chin, dark with growth, and his even darker eyes. He had moved in a way that spoke of reined-in and controlled strength, well beyond the capabilities of a man of his build.
    She had seen that sort of control before. Startled, she studied him anew, looking for more signs. The stubble was not right. It was a human thing.
    His eyes narrowed. “Perhaps I don’t have to dump as much as I thought,” he said quietly.
    Zoe drew in a deep breath and glanced at the front door, which was still half open. “You’d better come inside,” she said. “Keep your voice down. I don’t want you to wake my husband.”
    His brow lifted. “There’s just the two of you here?” he asked sharply.
    “We’re only five miles from town. It’s not that isolated here.”
    His jaw rippled, as if he could say more yet chose not to. “Inside would be better,” he said, instead.
    Zoe led him inside and shut the door. She shucked off her coat and boots and took him back into the kitchen. The coffee would be nearly ready. “Coffee?” she asked him, testing.
    “Thanks. I just had one,” he replied.
    She waved toward the kitchen table and pulled out the stool at the end of the counter and rested her hips on it, so her feet were on the floor.
    He considered her again. “I said I was harmless.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    “You have your feet on the floor, on a chair high enough that you can stand quickly. You put yourself right next to the knife block there, where all the blades are.”
    Her breath caught. “ What are you?” she demanded.
    “I think you know,” he said quietly and scratched at his chin, “despite this.”
    Zoe swallowed. “Vampire….” she breathed.
    “You’re a hunter, which will save me hours of conversation, which we don’t have time for.”
    “Ex-hunter. Why don’t we have time?”
    “How long have you been out of the game?” he asked sharply, as if it was important.
    “Years. Since I left the States.”
    “That would explain why you didn’t notice the build-up on your doorstep.” He nodded toward the big windows. “You’re surrounded. There are creatures out there who have no intention of letting you leave this place. When it’s dark, they will come for you.”
    Zoe’s breath squeezed out of her. “You’re joking,” she said. Yet she knew in her bones he wasn’t. Now he had spoken of it, she could feel the darkness out there, all around the house except for where the mountain barrier sat behind them.
    “Joking about what?” Cole said from the door and rubbed his hand through his tousled blond hair. He was wearing pajama bottoms and nothing else. Zoe was only thankful he’d stopped long enough to put pants on.
    * * * * *
    Cole stared at the Latino man, wondering if he was still dreaming. The words coming out of the man’s mouth were comprehensible yet the meaning was too ridiculous to consider seriously. As the man kept talking, Cole got impatient. He put the coffee mug down with a thump.
    “Diego,” he said. “That’s what you said your name was, right?”
    “Diego Savage,” the man said. “I know this all sounds fantastic. You’ll find out very quickly that I’m not exaggerating. I’m not lying at all. This really is going to happen to you.” He glanced out the window again. “I hope sooner, rather than later.”
    “This bonding thing you keep talking about?” Cole asked. “We’re supposed to be