Mollie steadied her hand when it shook on the gun. She cursed the increasing sweatiness of her palms as her heart jackhammered. She’d told Mike she would shoot to kill if it was necessary, but the sound of a gunshot might only bring more of them, and it would be deafening in this confined space.
If she could get them to go away without shooting them, she was going to try. These men had been out in the sun; they couldn’t be as Savage as the vamps who’d held them captive. Maybe they did only want a little taste, but she wouldnotbe the blood supply for some vampire.
Unless it’s Mike. Mollie buried her surprise over the sudden thought and focused on the menace before her.
“Get out of here,” Mollie ordered.
“Only a little taste,” the blond purred in a tone that made Mollie’s blood run cold.
Maybe they weren’t as out of control as the other vamps, but one taste would not be enough for them. These creatures wouldn’t be able to stop themselves once they started feasting. Behind her, Holden released a strangled cry as he seemed to reach the same conclusion as her. He sounded half on the verge of tears and half on the edge of screaming.
Keep it together,she silently commanded him as she took another step back.
“Get. Out.” Mollie bit the words out from between her clenched teeth.
She’d just finished speaking when the blond shoved the brunet at her. Thrown off by the unexpected move, Mollie’s hand jerked and she fired the rifle, but the shot was off the mark. Instead of striking his chest, the brown-haired vamp took a bullet to the gut. Mollie’s ears rang as the shot boomed throughout the cave.
The blond was nearly on top of her by the time she readjusted her aim, and the brunet was already recovering, though he looked far more pissed. If he got his hands on her, he would have no problem dining on every ounce of her blood. She was about to shoot again when Holden placed his palms on her shoulder blades and shoved her forward.
“Take her!” Holden shouted.
Mollie didn’t have time to register her disbelief over his betrayal before the vamps clasped her arms and dragged her forward.
“No!” she screamed when the rifle was wrenched from her hands, and a malicious face filled her vision.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Mollie kickedout and twisted her head to the side when a hot breath expelled against her cheek. Fingers dug into her flesh until she was sure they were going to shred her skin from her bones.
I’m going to die. She despised the thought the second it crossed her mind, but every thud of her heart was filled with the certainty these were the last seconds of her life.
Then a roar rose to replace the ringing in her ears, and someone squealed. The vampire holding her suddenly jerked forward, as if he’d been struck by a blow. A gurgled, wet sound resonated out of his throat and blood trickled from his mouth.
When Mollie’s eyes flew open, her gaze locked on Mike standing behind the vampire. Mike’s eyes blazed such a vibrant shade of red that, for a second, she didn’t recognize him and believed he was another monster who’d come to drain her dry.
But he wasn’t another monster. He was Mike, and he lookedexactlylike one of those Savages.
Fear that Mike had become one of those things and she would die at his hands filled her. “No,” she moaned.
The vamp grunted as his body jerked backward a couple of inches. Then Mike grasped his shoulder and snatched the vamp away from her. He tossed the vamp into the wall on her right. Bones crunched sickeningly, but the already dead vampire didn’t feel any pain.
Mollie’s gaze fell on the heart in Mike’s fist. Blood coated him up to his wrist and plopped onto the floor of the cave as his malevolent eyes focused on her. His shoulders heaved with each of his harsh breaths as his eyes burned into her.
Behind Mike, the body of the blond vampire lay on the ground, though she couldn’t tell he was blond anymore as she had no idea where his head was.
A hysterical laugh bubbled up inside her. The headless guy didn’t bother her; no, it was the knowledge that Mike, the one man she’d come to trust, was about to make her as headless as the blond. After he drained her dry, of course.
The compulsion to laugh abruptly passed and tears burned her eyes. She would not cry. She wouldnotleave this world a blubbering mess.
Straightening her shoulders, she held Mike’s gaze until it flashed behind her. She’d forgotten about Holden until she heard him whimper. She listened as his fingers scoured rock while he scrambled into the back of the cave, but she didn’t tear her attention away from Mike to look at the asshole who’d been more than happy to sacrifice her.
“I saw what you did,” Mike hissed.
The hair on Mollie’s arms rose. She barely recognized his voice as the fangs he revealed when he spoke distorted it. He stalked toward her before passing her and snatching up Holden.
Mollie blinked when she realized it wasn’therhe was so enraged with—it was Holden. Panic flooded her when his words from earlier blazed back across her mind.“Each death pushes them more toward becoming a Savage while it strengthens and weakens them.”
“Mike, no!” she cried when he grabbed Holden’s throat. As much as she’d like to pummel the piece of shit herself, she couldn’t let Mike take this step that would only lead toward his darker side. “Please don’t!”
