He’d level this island if necessary. For the first time, he was glad he hadn’t convinced Mollie to stay behind. It was better to have her where he could see her. Knowing she was safe would help keep him calm.
When a branch cracked on their left, Mike grabbed Mollie’s waist, and lifting her, he planted her firmly behind him.
Mollie swayed, uncertain what happened. One second, she was following Doug, the next she was staring at Mike’s back, and she’d never given her feet the command to move. A blur of movement caught her attention before Doug flew backward and crashed into a tree. Doug’s head cracked off the trunk with an audible thud, and he slid to the ground.
Mollie blinked at the man now standing where Doug had been. His shoulders heaved as strange, guttural noises issued from his throat. His collarbone stood out starkly, and his cheekbones dug into his gaunt, ashen skin. When his eyes latched on to her, the saliva dripping from the tips of his fangs plopped onto his chin and slid to the ground.
Mike released a sound that made Mollie’s bladder clench. The starving vamp didn’t have a chance to react before Mike raced forward, seized the vamp by his throat, and smashed him into the dirt.
The small squeal the vamp released abruptly cut off when Mike crushed his windpipe. The vamp’s hands and feet kicked at the air, but he made no sound when Mike twisted his head to the side.
Mollie looked away when she realized Mike was going to tear the man’s head from his shoulders. She almost threw her hands over her ears to block the crunching of bone and sinew as they gave way, but it was over before she could.
Mike stalked back toward her, and though she didn’t want to see, she got a glimpse of the vamp’s unmoving feet before Mike clasped her arm. His eyes were a vivid shade of red when she met them, and his body exuded aggression, but his touch was gentle on her.
“One down,” Doug murmured, and Mollie turned to find him rising to his feet. He swayed as he rubbed the back of his head.
“You okay?” Mollie asked him.
“Few brain cells scrambled, my skull’s a little dented, and I have one hell of a headache, but I’ll be okay.” He winced when he rotated his head on his shoulders. “Let’s go.”
Mollie stared at Doug’s retreating back as he made his way through the woods. Mike nudged her forward, and she fell in behind Doug again. He couldn’t hide his pain as he held his head stiffly and kept his shoulders hunched up protectively, but his step didn’t falter. Mike stayed close by her side as they navigated the trees and underbrush.
Chapter Thirty-Three
They settledbehind some dense foliage on the side of the mansion. Mike made sure Mollie was hidden from view before turning his attention to the building. From here, he could only see the tops of the chimneys. He’d have to get closer to see anything more of it.
And it would have to be him as Doug was still moving like a robot. “How do you feel?” he asked Doug.
“Better. Give me another hour, and I’ll be good as new.”
And that was about all the time they had left before the sun set. Doug wasn’t up for a trek through the woods without being detected, but was he capable of protecting Mollie?
“I’ll protect her with my life,” Doug said, as if he’d read Mike’s mind.
He meant it, but Mike still loathed leaving her. However, he was the only one capable of getting closer without being detected.
“I can go,” Doug offered.
Even if Doug could make the trek unnoticed, he needed time to recover before they attempted to enter the mansion. The chances of someone discovering the two of them were slim, and if they were found, they had weapons, and he could return to them in less than a minute.
“No, you can’t go,” Mike said.
“I won’t touch her,” Doug vowed.
Mike squeezed his eyes closed as the idea of another man touching her amped up his already elevated bloodlust. Ever since killing that vamp, he’d been walking a fine line between remaining in control and snapping completely, but he stayed composed, for Mollie.
“I know you won’t,” Mike murmured. “I have to go.”
“You’re leaving?” Mollie asked.
The apprehension in her voice caused him to kneel before her and cup her cheek. “Only for a little bit, but I’m not going far, and I’ll be back here in seconds if you need me. I have to get closer, to see what happens at the mansion after sunset, and to make sure enough of them leave so we can try to enter.”
“We’ll come with you.”
“No,” Mike said, stroking his thumb over her silken skin. “One of us will be less noticeable, and this is different than the last time we were here. Then, we left before they exited the mansion and it was still daytime. Now, we’re going to be here after they come out.”
“But—”
