Once Bitten, Twice Burned

“What?” The only thing she’d like right then would be to hurt this jerk. If Rhett had died in that blaze . . .

“When you burned and you came back . . . and all you knew was the fire and fury, did you like the way you felt?”

The wind blew over her skin, but it wasn’t a cooling touch. In New Orleans, the breeze was humid and hot, like a scorch on her flesh.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she told him, making sure to keep her eyes on his. She wouldn’t let this guy see that she was afraid.

But if his senses were as acute as she suspected, then he could probably tell that truth, anyway.

“Pity.” Now he seemed disappointed. Much less curious. “It’s been so long since I talked to another phoenix. I’d hoped you’d be . . . more.”

Sorry to disappoint you, jerk. “Is that why you tossed some fire my way? To see just how much more I could be?”

He didn’t answer, but he seemed to have stiffened. His gaze darted over her shoulder.

She wasn’t going to make the mistake of turning and following his gaze. The guy was probably just trying to trick her. “Who are you?” Sabine demanded.

“You can call me Dante.”

“Why . . . because you start your own inferno?” She tossed right back.

A faint smile lifted his lips as he advanced toward her. “Something like that.” His fingers brushed over her arm. “I do like the fire.”

In the next instant, Dante was yanked back and thrown to the ground. One very pissed-off vampire stood over him. “Don’t ever touch her again,” Ryder barked.

Her breath came too fast. Fear could do that to a girl. Make her body tight and edgy. Make her breath pant out. She’d wondered where Ryder went, and now she was sure glad he was back.

Sabine began to inch toward him.

Dante rose from the ground. “Vampire.”

Ryder flashed his fangs.

“Do you honestly think you’re a match for someone like me?” Dante taunted. The flames began to flicker in his eyes. “I could kill you in an instant.”

“Then why don’t you just go ahead and give it your best shot?” Ryder invited, taking a step forward.

And Dante did. He leapt forward, his hand full of flames, and he shoved those flames right at Ryder’s chest.

Sabine screamed.

The ambulance sped down the road, rushing fast as its sirens screamed.

“You’re gonna be all right, man,” Vaughn said as he leaned over Rhett. “The burns aren’t that bad at all.”

Yeah, but they still hurt like hell. Gritting his teeth, Rhett glanced up at his friend. “Where’s Sabine?”

Vaughn shook his head. “I don’t know. She was there with us one minute, gone the next.”

Son of a bitch. “I just got her back.” He tried to sit up. An EMT was swabbing some kind of gunk on his arms and hand. The EMT tried to push him back down. Rhett pushed right back up.

“I know you did.” Vaughn’s voice was soft. “But at least she’s in the city now.”

In the city, but where? And with that vampire?

Vaughn looked toward the front of the ambulance, then he peered back at Rhett. “Things shouldn’t have gone down like this.”

The EMT had finally backed the hell off. “Tell me about it,” Rhett muttered. “My sister shouldn’t be a damn vampire. ”

Vaughn shook his head. “That’s not what I meant.” The guy’s voice was tight, heavy with tension. The way he usually sounded when he was coming off an undercover mission.

Only Vaughn had transferred out of Vice. He was supposed to be working homicide now. And . . .

Vaughn had just pulled out his gun. “I never wanted to do this . . .”

“What the hell?” Why did Vaughn have a gun out in the ambulance?

“But orders are orders.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry.”

Rhett started to fight the tubes and wires around him. Furious, the EMT whirled to face Vaughn. “You’re gonna have to help me hold—” He broke off, eyes widening as he saw the gun.

Then Vaughn shot the guy.

Ryder didn’t burn. Sabine had raced forward and she grabbed for Dante’s hand only to realize . . .

Ryder’s shirt was on fire, yeah, but his skin wasn’t burning. Not even blistering.

“I think that instant’s about up,” Ryder muttered.

Dante’s eyes had widened. His stare flew to her. “What have you done?”

What had she done?