Enemy Mine by Katie Reus Page B

the
    restaurant alone.” Her weird eyes flicked
    to Melina. “It’s how he knew where you
    were.”
    “Why is she talking like that?” Melina
    asked, frowning at the woman as she
    digested her admission. Her words were
    stilted, as if she didn’t want to be talking
    but couldn’t stop herself.
    “Ronan can compel other vampires to
    speak the truth. It’s one of his gifts,”
    Kiernan said.
    Wow. Melina was silent as Ronan
    dragged the woman forward another few
    feet. Immediately Kieran stepped half in
    front of Melina, blocking her. She didn’t
    bother biting back a smile at his over-
    protectiveness. “So the other night she
    called the Mazzonis to tell them I’d be
    leaving?” It had alarmed her how they’d
    known so quickly, but she’d assumed
    they’d just been following her.
    Ronan nodded at her, then focused on
    his brother. “I thought it was weird that
    she called me out of the blue, so I did
    some checking up on her phone records
    and found she’s been in frequent contact
    with Uberto Mazzoni very recently. She’s
    been watching your woman for a couple
    weeks, but hasn’t been able to get close
    because of you or her pack. It’s why Tisha
    was at the restaurant in the first place. She
    followed you there and wanted to stir up
    trouble between you two, hoping to get
    Melina alone.” Ronan’s voice had a biting
    edge to it that made Melina shiver.
    Melina hated that someone had been
    watching her and she hadn’t even been
    aware of it. But she was also thankful that
    Kiernan had been in her life these past
    few months, his presence alone a
    protection.
    “Tell them what else you told me,”
    Ronan ordered the female, his voice a
    deep, almost inhuman growl.
    “Uberto’s Alpha, Abel, was poisoned
    with silver. . . . Got into his blood stream
    and he’s dying.” Her shoulders slumped
    and it was as if she’d decided to stop
    fighting the compulsion. She sighed and
    her words came out much smoother. “They
    wanted you to heal him but knew it would
    likely kill you to expend so much energy
    to save him. They’d also planned to take
    one of your cousins to ensure you’d help.
    Or if that hadn’t worked, they were going
    to threaten some innocents.”
    “Tell them why you did it,” Ronan
    growled again, his fingers tightening
    around her arm.
    She gritted her teeth as she said,
    “Money.”
    Before Melina could blink, a syringe
    appeared in Ronan’s hand and he’d
    shoved it into the woman’s neck. The
    redhead’s eyes widened for a split second
    before she slumped against him.
    Melina stepped forward. “Oh, my—”
    “She’s not dead, just unconscious,”
    Ronan bit out, answering Melina’s
    question before she could voice it.
    It was subtle, but she noticed the way
    Kiernan relaxed then. There was a slight
    loosening in his shoulders as he stepped
    back and wrapped his arms around her,
    pulling her close. “Thank you for doing
    that,” Kiernan said quietly.
    His brother nodded. “I’m taking her to
    New York for Father to deal with.”
    Melina was equally grateful but still
    curious. “Thank you, but . . . why did you
    bring her here? You could have just told
    your brother.”
    Kiernan squeezed her shoulders so she
    looked up at him. “He did it so you’d hear
    firsthand and relay it to your Alpha. Even
    though she was involved, we’ll be
    punishing her. She’s not a member of any
    coven so technically she doesn’t fall under
    our jurisdiction. But she plotted against a
    healer, my healer. She’ll be held
    accountable.” Now Kiernan growled, the
    sound low and deadly.
    Melina’s eyes widened at that tone,
    glad it wasn’t directed at her, though she
    was touched by the protective vibe he was
    putting off. By the time she looked back at
    Ronan, he was already carrying the
    woman from the house.
    Once they were alone, Kiernan lifted
    her up and placed her on the counter.
    Immediately she spread her legs and
    wrapped around him. He bent to her neck,
    raking his teeth