Page 65 of Act of Passion

Malik locked gazes with Gram. “Princess, will you let Uncle Gram holdyou?”

Bethany shimmed out of Malik’s hold and ran to Gram. He lifted her, holding her close to him, nodding at Malik. “I’ll keep her safe. You’ll get Brookeout?”

“Yes,” saidMalik.

Striker eyed the two men. “Och, can I trade one of you? The redhead is nae safe to benear.”

Gram touched Auberi’s shoulder and Duke pushed in front of them all, taking point. Gram was next with Bethany and Auberi pulled up therear.

“I’ll lead,” said Duke. “Auberi?”

“Right behind you,” saidAuberi.

Striker made a move to grab Edee just as something crashed in both of the rooms near him. Instantly, he smelled vampire, mixed with something else. Twisting, he slammed into a vampire and tackled him to the ground as another came at him from above. Just his luck they’d bemultiplying.

The one under him bit his arm and Striker punched the man in the face. The other one grabbed his head, attempting to snap his neck. He reached up to knock it away when all of a sudden a lamp hit it. Edee threw herself at the vampire trying to break Striker’sneck.

Much to his shock, she managed to knock the vampire offhim.

Worried for her safety, Striker let claws emerge from his fingertips and then slashed open the neck of the vampire below him. It gurgled and twitched. Pushing off the vampire, Striker ran at Edee and lifted her off the vampire as she kicked and hit it. He set her aside and the damn woman spun around and kicked him in theshin.

“Och! I’m on yer side,” he said, stiff-arming the remaining vampire, never taking his gaze offEdee.

She gave him a hard look. “Iknow.”

“But you kicked me anyways?” he asked, hitting the vampireagain.

Edee nodded. “Yes. Be warned, I want to do itagain.”

The vampire came at him again and Striker let his claws out again. He slashed and took the vampire’s head off with oneswipe.

Edee did a double take and then put two thumbs up, smiling wide. “Badass, Scot, totallybadass.”

“Yer nae right in the head, are you?” he asked as another vampire came through the window. “I’m getting really tired ofthis.”

Garth was suddenly there, helping as yet another vampire used the window as a point of entrance. Garth let his hand partially shift and rammed it into the vampire’s chest, killing it atonce.

Striker went to grab Edee to get her to safety when he saw her staring wide-eyed at Garth, before paling and dropping to the floor. She huddled there, shaking and crying. When he realized it was because she no doubt thought Garth was the man who’d tortured her, his chest tightened. He wanted to find Grid and kill the bastardhimself.

Garth put his hands up as they returned to human form. He met Striker’s gaze and connected on their mental path.I don’t want to move and scareher.

Aye, saidStriker.

He moved to the redhead quickly and then tentatively touched hershoulder.

She lowered her arm slightly, peeking out at him, red rimming her eyes. When she saw Striker, she launched herself at him, hugging him around the neck, clinging tohim.

“Lass, yer safe. That’s nae the same man who hurt you. Garth has a twin brother with a scar by his eye. He’s nae a guid man. Garth is. He’s worried that he’s goin’ to scare you more, so he’s nae moving a muscle rightnow.”

He eased Edee to herfeet.

She stared up at him, her gaze searching his face. “Really?”

“Aye,” returnedStriker.

She sank against him and put her face to his chest, relief going through her. She stepped out of his grasp, but didn’t go far. Wiping her cheeks, she looked atGarth.

Garth eased closer, keeping his hands up. “Edee, I’m so sorry for what Grid did to you. Know that when I find him, I will kill him, brother ornot.”

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