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“He’s not here,” one said after a minute had passed. “He must’ve run off. Let’s leave before he comes back with reinforcements.”
“No, he’s still here,” the first man insisted.
Him, Julian decided. He shot out of the darkness and slashed open one man’s throat before anyone could react. He grabbed the gun that the Hunter dropped and smashed it against another’s head, cracking his skull.
The air shifted behind him. He dodged the other Hunter’s blow and kicked backward. The Hunter jumped away, grabbing the gun his comrade had dropped and fired in mid-air. Julian swung behind one wall, but not before the bullet pierced his right shoulder. Fire exploded in his veins, though silver from the previous bullet had started to numb the area.
He needed to finish this.
The Hunter was scanning his surroundings, left and right, standing in the illuminated section of the roof. A good soldier, Julian thought, and would’ve made a good vampire. His lips curved into a smile. What would the Organization think if the vampires recruited from its ranks?
He edged closer to the Hunter, waiting, stalking his prey with a predator’s patience. The second the Hunter glanced away, he pounced. The human put up a fight, firing his gun, and drawing up a silver dagger to slash at Julian. Julian evaded the bullets, ignored the dagger that sliced across his elbow, and punched the man in the temple, taking care not to kill him. The man staggered. Julian punched him again.
The Hunter crumpled to the ground.
Julian grimaced and limped over. His body hurt like hell. A stray bullet had hit his leg. He bent down, his body protesting the movement, and slung the unconscious human over his shoulder.
Fighting the agony the silver wreaked on him, Julian began the long trek back.
Chapter Sixteen
He’dlefther.Alone.Half-naked. Burning with desire for him.
The orgasm had rocked Leah to her deepest core. She hadn’t known orgasms could be so intense and all-consuming.
Julian had shaken her world’s foundations without even losing his tuxedo jacket.
Then he was gone.
It was mind-boggling.
Leah took a few seconds to compose herself until her limbs solidified from their liquid state. Her nerves still tingling after their encounter, she fixed herself up as much as possible and snuck back to her room. She’d fooled no one, receiving several knowing glances and smirks on her way back.
Now, after a lukewarm shower, she hesitated on her next steps. Her skin was too sensitive, too tight. She didn’t want to leave for fear of running into someone, but even her luxurious room was feeling like a prison.
Thoughts of Julian swirled in her head. Why did he leave? Had she done something wrong? Where was he? He’d said, “Duty calls.” What had happened? What could be so important that he abandoned her in that state?
And why wouldn’t he? A part of her whispered. What was she to him? No one. Just another human woman to cross his immortal life. No different from the thousand others before her.
A knife twisted in her chest. Why should she care? She hated him on principle. He was a vampire. Evil. Hadn’t the Organization drilled that into her thousands of times? Why did she keep forgetting that?
No, she couldn’t stay here.
Deciding she’d rather brave the gossip and sly glances than be trapped in her room, Leah left without a destination. Where would she go? Who could she talk to? If only she could reach someone other than Dmitri with the second chip in her brain. Could she even initiate the connection? Dmitri was always the first one to contact.
She would rather jump out of the window than speak to him, and she thanked God for whatever reason kept him away after everything that had happened tonight.
Leah headed downstairs to the lobby. Fresh air would be good. Yes. A walk around the city to clear her head. Maybe some shopping at Bergdorf’s. That always helped.
As the elevator descended, she tapped her foot, impatient. Halfway down, an unbearable agony shot through her right shoulder. She gasped, her breathing ragged, and fell to her hands and knees. Gritting her teeth, Leah squeezed her eyes shut and bit back a scream.
What was happening?
Her heart thundering, she patted her right shoulder but found nothing abnormal. No blood. No broken bones. Nothing. She stayed on the floor until the pain subsided to a dull ache. When she no longer felt like passing out, she struggled to her feet and leaned against the wall, confusion fogging her thoughts.
Leah walked out, acting normal when the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Her plan was foiled when her hand suddenly burned, as if the skin was melting off, eliciting a small scream from her. The few people in the lobby turned in her direction. She had no time to reassure them because another spike of pain lanced through her heart.
Leah crumbled to the floor, her breath coming in quick gasps. She hurt; burning acid dug a path through her veins. Sobbing, she curled up on herself, like she used to do on the streets before the social worker had found her.
