Niko: Love me Harder by Serena Simpson Page A

my bra so I wouldn’t have to mess with my purse when I wanted it.”
    “That was great thinking, Dee. I don’t even see your purse now.”
    “That’s me. Always thinking ahead.” Her voice was a whisper. He had to strain to hear it.
    “Stay awake, kitten.” His voice cracked, making her flinch some. His hand touched her breast feeling the coldness of her skin.
    He stretched his fingers and was able to curl them around the phone. “I got it kitten.”
    He brought his hand back with controlled movements and dialed Aran.
    “Aran.”
    “Niko.”
    “Where the hell are you? I can’t sense you anymore.”
    “Something blocking. Dee. Shot.”
    “Leave the phone on, we’ll be right there.”
    “Help is coming, kitten.”
    “Never find us. Want to sleep.”
    “Keep those eyes open. They will be here soon. Tell me a secret, kitten. Any secret.”
    “Dreamed of you once.”
    “What was I doing?”
    “Tux. Standing in a Tux in front of a church.”
    “Why?”
    “Getting married.”
    “To who?”
    “Me.”
    Her head dropped and her body lurched. The car rolled sideways preparing to drop to the highway below. It was caught by six males in beast form.
    ***
    “Stop pacing. You’re making me dizzy.” Niko stared at his brothers, then added Dante to the mix before he started pacing again. She would be dead right now if his brothers hadn’t been there when that car started to roll.
    He might have been dead as well. It was up in the air, since he was still in humanoid form, if he would’ve survived. As if there was such a thing as survival without Dee. That’s why he was pacing the floor.
    They had gone back to his house and taken Dee downstairs to the room that was kept prepped and sterile in case an operation needed to occur.
    They couldn’t take her to a hospital. The gun used was alien in origin, not even from the planet they had called home. It came from the most lawless planet in their galaxy. They couldn’t allow the humans to get their hands on that technology, even if it was destroyed.
    More than Dee’s life would be at stake then.
    How long had he been in there? Nicolas was working on her. He was the best. Niko looked around at his brothers. He caught sight of Rena crying silent tears. He had a sister now too. They all cared about him. They cared about Dee too.
    Family. It was really all he had to offer her. Himself and his family. He would protect her. He’d done a poor job so far, but he would be more vigilant in the future.
    She just needed to live. Him in a tux, her in a beautiful white gown. He could see it. Soon when they were mated he would see that dream for himself.
    Nicolas walked out looking tired and drained.
    “Dee?”
    He nodded his head yes, looking at everyone. “It was touch and go for a while. The bullet hit her lung.”
    Nicolas swung his eyes to meet Dante’s wondering what he’d put in the Rowl they were feeding Dee. Whatever it was he was sure it helped to keep her alive.
    He focused on Niko. “She’s going to live.”

Chapter Eighteen
    He looked at Dee laying on the bed. She’d been out for longer than a day. Nicolas had assured him more than once that she was ok. Her body was taking the time it needed to heal.
    Not that she would just wake up and be fine. She was human. Nicolas kept reminding him that she healed differently than he did, much slower.
    He went and leaned over the bed again, no change. Sighing he left the room and went to the game room, where his brothers had been hanging out waiting with him for signs of Dee’s recovery.
    “What’s going on?” They were all staring at a newscast.
    “They’re here.” A young woman who may have been pretty screamed as the cops surrounded her, trying to contain her without hurting her.
    “Who’s here?” The newscaster asked her. He should’ve said it with a mocking voice, but he seemed to care.
    “Monsters. They look like men but they aren’t.” She screamed and broke into tears. “We have to stop them, before