Tags:
Fiction,
Romance,
Contemporary,
Paranormal,
Adult,
supernatural,
romantic suspense,
Erotic,
Bachelor,
Identity,
bear shifter,
Protection,
Forever Love,
Single Woman,
Charade,
Benefactor,
Chosen Mate,
Sarkozy Brothers,
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Pro-Bono Law Firm
bitch. Then I'll be back for you and--"
He didn't finish the sentence.
Something slammed into his side, a hulk of a man, who grabbed the assailant by the throat and lifted him off the ground. "Don't you ever touch her again." The words were growled, feral and filled with fury.
Kat blinked. He sounded like Lukas, but her profile view obscured his face. And the black claws sprouting from his oddly shaped fingers made her certain this man was not Lukas.
But the claws... bear claws.
She barely registered the glint of the barrel of a gun as her assailant produced a weapon or his maniacal grin as he glanced at Kat, standing on trembling legs a few feet from them. His finger was already on the trigger as he aimed the weapon at her, but the large man's claw-tipped hands moved so fast it blurred. When the gun went off, the barrel was pointed at the man's own gut, his eyes wide in shock and fury.
Her rescuer had twisted the man's hand around and made him shoot himself. His fast thinking had saved Kat's life.
And for the first time in all her years, Kat almost fainted. She was surprised when warm arms closed around her and she felt herself rise from the ground, as if she was floating.
When her rescuer headed into the elevator, Kat lifted her head and stared at his face.
His gold-flecked green eyes gleamed, and Kat gasped.
She uttered only one word before she finally did faint.
"Lukas."
28. LUKAS
L UKAS LAY K AT ON THE bed, unable to hide the quaking of his hands. Marek touched his shoulder, drawing him out of the room as a woman with dark, curly hair slid between them to enter the room.
"Carson will take care of her."
Marek led Lukas to the private lounge and poured him a brandy. Lukas wanted to tell Marek that he though Carson was a knockout and that his brother was a very lucky guy. He wanted to say congratulations because he knew well enough the scent of a woman carrying a bear shifter's baby.
But no words left his mouth as he downed the drink and set the crystal glass back onto the coffee table a little too hard.
"She's fine, Lukas. She's not hurt. From what Carson said, Kat is a tough girl."
Lukas glanced at his cousin, noting the fear and grief already lining his face. He'd already begun to grieve the loss of Marko. Lukas sighed. "She's unhurt, yes. But I told her the truth about us. Chances are, come morning, she's as good as gone."
Marek was shaking his head. "Trust me, brother. Whatever happens, just fight for her. Someone I know once told me to figure out if Carson was worth fighting for. I have a feeling Kat is worth it too."
Lukas stared at Marek's face, the dark hair, the strong features. He looked like a goddamned wrestler, but the man had a heart of gold. Lukas rubbed his face, pressed his fingers to his eyes.
He'd driven Kat straight to the Sarkozy Hotel suite, having no idea that Carson and Marek had made up barely an hour before. He couldn't believe that he'd left his staff vulnerable to an attack by James King. Maria's boyfriend had upped the ante with this threat.
He sighed. It wasn't the time to be thinking about getting Kat to testify that King had attacked her. Tomorrow.
Right now, he looked at Marek. "What's the update?"
Marek brought him up to speed, but nothing significant had developed, apart from the fact that half a dozen families had gone to ground already. They still needed to get themselves sorted.
"Does Delta Corps need us?"
Marek grunted during a second shot for Lukas. "Probably. But that can wait until tomorrow."
Lukas nodded and took the glass, sipping slowly this time.
Kat in danger had frightened him more than he'd ever thought possible.
Maybe it was for the best if she did leave.
At least then she'd be safe.
29. KAT
K AT OPENED HER EYES AND swallowed. Her throat almost refused the action.
She sat upright so suddenly that she felt like she was going to pass out again. But when the memories of last night's attack came flooding back, the only thing that stood
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