Page 40 of Property of Fire

Fucking hell. I didn’t even think to look for Kinley.

“She’s in the middle of transition as we speak.” Zaff chortles.

“Fire,” Evelin whimpers and struggles against Holstein’s hold on her.

I hold her gaze, aware of Holstein watching me, but I communicate to her that everything will be okay for her. My hands burn at my sides. With one touch to just a piece of furniture, I knew the house would be going up in flames. If there’s one thing that vamps are scared of more than sunlight, it is fire.

Stepping forward, I allow the fire coursing through my veins to pour out of my hands while running my fingers along the edge of the chair. Evelin’s eyes sparkle as she glances at where fire leaks from my hands to the chair.

The two men with Holstein jump back while the man himself seems to be thinking and calculating his next move.

“I suggest you let my woman go before I send this whole place up in flames burning you alive, Holstein. You think yourself invincible, but we’ve got you outnumbered,” I tell him, touching another piece of furniture.

“You think a little fire is enough to scare me?” Holstein scoffs. “Fire doesn’t scare me.” His body language says something different.

“Boss, we gotta get out of here,” the one he called Zaff says.

Holstein snarls, curses, and tosses Evelin forward. I jump, catching her as she stumbles.

“This isn’t over with. I will have Evelin and what I want. Until then, I’ll take what I already have for the time being.” Holstein sneers and vanishes before our eyes. All three of them vanish into thin air.

“Fuck, did he just disappear into thin air?” Pyro demands.

“Kinley,” Evelin calls her friend’s name weakly.

“I’ll go get her,” Heat remarks, moving through the quickly burning house.

“Come on, baby, let’s get you out of here and see to that neck.” Scooping Evelin in my arms, I carry her out of the house.

Hotshot stops me on the sidewalk. “Let me take a look.”

Evelin cocks her head slightly, and to both of our surprise, her neck is already healing.

“How’s that possible?” Hotshot asks.

“Don’t know,” I tell him and kiss the top of Evelin’s head. “You feel okay?”

“I’m fine physically,” she remarks, her breathing ragged. “I’m worried about Kinley.”

Moments pass by before Heat and the rest of my brothers come out of the house.

“Where’s Kinley?” Evelin asks, wiggling to get out of my arms.

I set her on her feet but don’t let her go. The whole time I do this, my attention is on Heat. “Prez?”

“She was gone,” he growls, lip curling. “They had to have taken her with them.”

“No,” Evelin whispers, her knees buckling. She would have collapsed if I hadn’t caught her. “This is all my fault. All my fault.”

“They already had her before you got here, baby. This isn’t your fault.”

“It is,” she snaps, shaking her head vigorously. “If I’d just said something sooner. If I hadn’t kept it a secret. If I hadn’t been so damn stubborn?—”

“Eve, stop it,” Heat barks, his tone harsh, but his eyes speak something different. “We’ll find Kinley and get her back.”

Evelin slumps more against me and sobs.

“Let’s get back to the clubhouse, we’ll discuss everything there. We’re too exposed out here.” Heat rakes his hand across his face, and lets out a harsh breath.

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