Angels & Sinners: The Motor City Edition by Melanie Harlow, Bethany Lopez, Breigh Forstner, Ashley Suzanne, Bethany Shaw, Cori Williams, D.M. Earl, Jennifer Fisch-Ferguson, Sara Mack, Shayne McClendon Page A

been tortured and beat a time or two in his long life. Killian was an angry man. Don’t think about your troubled brother. It will only make it worse.
    “Are you ready?” Astrid asked. The cool metal pressed against his flesh.
    Kendrick closed his eyes and nodded. White dotted his vision as the blade dug into his side. Good God that hurts . Focus on something else.
    Astrid’s warm breath ghosted across his back as she worked to get the bullet out. Her fingers whispered across his flesh as she treated his injury. Her touch was like heaven and it dulled the pain, making it bearable.
    “Got it,” Astrid sighed heavily. Metal clanked against metal and he opened his eyes. A bloodied bullet set in the aluminum bowl to his right.
    Her soft, warm fingers grazed over his flesh and he let out a long breath as the skin tugged and began to knit itself back together. Werewolf healing did have its advantages.
    Astrid’s digits roamed over the plains of his chest. Does she know what she is doing? Probably not. He closed his eyes, relishing in the feel of her dainty hands on his body. I wish she would touch me like this in bed.
    “When you’re done checking me out, we can go through his things,” Kendrick smirked bringing her out of her stupor.
    Astrid blinked, recoiling away from him. A frown marred her beautiful face. “What did you find?” she asked clearing her throat.
    Kendrick picked up the man’s things from the coffee table. He shuffled through the recent texts and pictures on the black cell phone, letting out a low growl when he found several pictures of Astrid.
    “He’s obviously been following you for a while,” Kendrick stated as he showed her a series of pictures. “Your work, home, oh and look your date from tonight.”
    Kendrick shifted through the other pictures. Crap. There was one of him too. Grumbling under his breath, he opened up the text history. Crud, the guy was working for Killian.
    “I thought someone was following me the other day,” Astrid commented, chewing on her fingernail. “I thought it was you. Do you know what he wanted?” She wrapped her arms around herself and peered over at the large open window.
    What was he doing here? Good question Astrid. “Well, at least you weren’t being paranoid, you just blamed the wrong person,” he started addressing one of her concerns.
    “I already said I was sorry. I mean you have to understand why I thought that,” Astrid stuttered. “It didn’t start until after you showed up. And after everything with Killian, I just . . . ” she trailed off and shook her head.
    “He was definitely working with Killian. Here’s some communicate between the two of them. ” Kendrick gripped the phone tighter, not wanting to turn it over to Astrid. She shouldn’t read what Killian had texted . It would frighten her. Hell he was terrified for her now.
    “Why? What does it say?” Astrid’s voice shook with uncertainty.
    Kendrick exited out of the messages. “I think it’s best if you leave Tuscany.”
    Astrid’s eyes widened, and she visible shuddered. “I’ll pack my things. Killian can’t find me. I… I won’t go back to him. I can’t live as a submissive,” she trailed off and shook her head.
    Kendrick nodded in understanding. Killian was an alpha that thrived on power. He would beat the light out of Astrid and force her to submit and be his mate. If she returned to Killian Astrid would forever be a prisoner. Killian would rape and beat her as often as he saw fit.
    “I’m not going to let Killian find you,” he vowed. “Pack your bags. We’ll leave tonight.”
    “We?” she whispered, meeting his gaze.
    “I know Killian. How he thinks, where he’ll send his men. I can help you,” he urged.
    “Why are you so willing to help me?” Astrid asked quietly. “Why would you risk Killian’s wrath?”
    Kendrick licked his dry lips and stared at the wooden floorboards. “About eighty years ago, I was in love with a woman. When Killian found