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She chewed her bottom lip, the surroundings through the window blurring. The image of Kodiak changing forms had frozen in her mind.
It can’t be real.
But it was. And she wasn’t a weakling, wasn’t one who shied from tough truths or difficult things. And this…
Tamaska closed her eyes, squeezing them tight as if to push away what she’d seen. If only the simple action could push away the image forever. The mental battle fizzled out as she shifted her focus to finding the Blood Opal.
“You going to pay?” asked the taxi driver.
Her eyes flicked open. The sight of the Blood Moon Nightclub set her stomach roiling as memories of the blood drinking filled her mind.
The old warehouse looked black even during the day, as if it harboured dark secrets. Her blood pounded hard and fast through her veins, hammering in her pulse points as she reached again for the hard-won calm.
“Don’t tell me you don’t have any money?” He frowned.
“Hang on a minute.” She fumbled to unlock her phone and paid the fee for the trip. Ironic that she had to pay her way back to a place she’d never wanted to return to.
But if that was what she had to do to get the Blood Opal back, then she would push aside her fears. Her life depended on getting that gem back in the hands of its owners and putting her life back on track to running her own marketing business.
“You sure you want to get out here?” asked the driver.
Tamaska hesitated, overwhelmed by the building staring down at her. She refused to let the images of the previous night, or of Kodiak’s transformation, scare her away from finding the Blood Opal.
“Yes.” She pushed the door open and got out before she changed her mind. The sound of the taxi driving away made her stomach clench.
Then a sudden rush of heat, zinging with a sexual need, shot through her. Memories of what she’d done with Kodiak the first time they’d had sex, rushed in and threatened to buckle her knees. How could it be so good when he was everything she hated?
She put her hand on her belly. Things had been going so well between them. The connection had been strong, and she’d started to allow him into her heart, more than she should have.
The taste of acid rose fast to her mouth. She bent, resting her hands on her thighs as she fought the nausea threatening her. But as she breathed that wave passed, and she slowly straightened, hating the sensitivity suddenly taking up residence in the pit of her belly.
She couldn’t even blame her sickness on being drunk. It was good that things had ended with Kodiak.
He was a dog, not to be trusted.
As much as she didn’t want to believe it, she did. She’d seen it with her own eyes.
But one thing she knew was she’d never allow him to get close to her again.
This wasn’t about him. This was about her, the future, finding a way out of the mess, and hopefully by returning the opal, she could somehow use that to bring this place down and avenge her friend’s death.
All she could do was try.
She squared her shoulders and looked up at the building.
I’m out of my depth.
No. She wasn’t letting defeatist bullshit in. Not now, not ever. This was another facet of her. She prided herself on taking whatever came at her.
That’s how she needed to view this.
Her skin prickled with excitement. She loved a challenge, especially when so much was riding on her success.
If she was going to find the gem, she had to think of a way to get in without being seen.
2
Kodiak
