Page 61 of Love Bites
She startled and reached for a blanket to cover her body. She stared fearfully at the men, but they stood silently. Then, Hunter Francis strode through the door and smiled at Katheryn.
“My darling!” he greeted her with a mocking smile.
Bile rose in Katheryn’s throat. Hunter had found her, just like she’d feared he would. He’d always find her, no matter how far she ran or where she hid. This time, he’d brought armed men with him, and she feared for Ignacio’s life. She had to protect him from Hunter and his hired thugs.
“Hunter,” Katheryn acknowledged, keeping her voice calm. She wanted to rip his smirk from his face, but kept her face as impassive as her voice.
“I fear we’ve caught you in a compromising position,” Hunter sneered.
“How did you find me?”
She already knew the answer. With his money and power, he could buy anything he wanted, information, hired thugs, guns. It was why she’d wanted to leave for Spain as soon as she’d escaped earlier. Ignacio should have listened to her.
“It doesn’t matter,” he dismissed the question. “What matters is I’ve come to take you home.”
She clutched the blanket covering her body. “Home?” she snorted. “My home isn’t with you.”
“And where is your home?” he snapped. “With your lover? Thatvampire? I paid for you, Katheryn, and you’re coming with me, whether you like it or not. If you refuse, I’ll have them shoot and kill him.”
Icy fear snaked its way into her heart. She staggered back, trying to keep steady, to stay calm. But her head reeled, and chaotic thoughts and emotions formed a vortex inside her. Hunter would kill Ignacio without so much as a second thought, in order to have Katheryn for himself.
She bit her lip, knowing she had no choice. She had to save her Soul Mate’s life by going with Hunter, and doing whatever he told her to do. She wouldn’t let Ignacio suffer because of her, because of Hunter. Her heart ached at the decision she had to make. She was sure she heard it shatter as she nodded her head.
“I’ll go with you, Hunter, if you promise me you won’t kill Ignacio.”
Hunter smiled triumphantly. He nodded then motioned to his men. At his signal, they put their weapons away. “I promise I won’t kill your precious vampire if you promise to do as I say.”
The idea of going with Hunter churned her stomach and filled her with a terrible fear, but she would do anything to protect Ignacio, even if it meant having to give him up. If he died because of her, she’d never be able to live with herself.
She sighed and nodded her agreement. “I’ll go with you.”
Hunter wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Katheryn went cold all over. His touch was like a poison, and she didn’t want it on her, but she had no choice.
“Get your clothes, Katheryn,” Hunter ordered icily.
She nodded but didn’t reply. Tears lodged at the back of her eyes, but she wouldn’t let Hunter see her cry.
“Katheryn?”
Ignacio’s voice snapped her head up. Her gaze flew to the doorway of the bathroom. He stood on wobbly knees with a towel slung low on his hips and steam swirling around his body. His brown hair matted against his forehead, and he stared at her with a horrified expression. There was something odd about his stance, the hunch of his shoulders. Almost as if he were...tired... Then it clicked in her mind. The sun was coming up. Ignacio would be wearing down right now, though he seemed to be fighting it.
“Ah, this is your vampire lover, I assume,” Hunter said, eyeing Ignacio distastefully. “We meet at last.”
Ignacio turned back to Katheryn in question.What’s going on?he asked.
It took Katheryn a moment to realize he hadn’t asked the question aloud. She’d heard his voice like an echo in her mind, as if it had been her own thought. She realized Ignacio had projected his thought into her mind, using their connection as Soul Mates.
Katheryn shook her head slightly but didn’t respond. She knew he’d try to talk her out of it, try to save her from Hunter. And he’d get himself killed in the process. She couldn’t risk it. She’d block him from her thoughts and lie to him.
“Ignacio I—” Her voice cracked, so she cleared her throat and fought to control her voice. Blinking back her tears, she began again. “Ignacio I’m sorry. I’m leaving with my fiancé.”
It hurt to say the words, but she had to do it. She saw the confusion flicker on Ignacio’s face followed by his disbelief.
“What are you talking about, Katheryn?” he demanded.My love, don’t do this.His voice fluttered through her mind.
She threw up a mental wall to block him out.
She needed Ignacio to believe she didn’t want him. If he came after her, he’d get shot. He needed tolive.
