When Angels Fall (27 page)

* * * * *

Eva came awake slowly, the radiating pain at the back of her skull second to the churning in her stomach. Her world teetered down, up, down, up, as if she were drifting over something bumpy. She moaned, wished the jostling would stop, wished she could curl into a ball to help ease the sickness. Saliva pooled in her mouth, forcing her to either swallow or heave.

“
We
’
re almost there, Eva girl, don
’
t you worry.
”

The blood in her veins froze, chilling her to the core. James.
The
spinning
of her
head came to an abrupt stop at her last memory. Her uncle knocking her to the floor, slamming her skull against the hard ground, pressing his arm against her throat until spots danced across the harsh lines of his face.

He
’
d killed Greg and Becca.

She opened her eyes, found herself cradled against the hard wall of his chest. He stroked a rough hand through her hair, his callused palm snagging in her curls. It was the same way he
’
d comforted her after she
’
d discovered Greg
’
s dead body. The body he
’
d left for her. Vomit cur
d
led in her stomach.

The stinging cold ripped through her thin cotton shirt, and her surroundings came into focus. She was outside. Trees. Snow. A clearing. A familiar single
-
story log and stone structure.

The hunting cabin.

How long had she been passed out? Heavy boot steps clomped up bowed wooden steps, echoing over the creaking porch. Panic cleared the lingering fog in her brain. She struggled. Tried to but she couldn
’
t move. What had he done to her?

“
Wha...
”
she croaked, found the act of speech required something she no longer possessed.

“
Don
’
t try and talk,
”
James cooed, holding her tighter.
“
I gave you a sedative I got from the clinic to help you relax. I
’
ll take care of you Eva, I promise, but don
’
t make me hurt you again. I don
’
t like to see you in pain.
”

“
Why are you doing this?
”
she managed.

Hot tears leaked from the corner of her eyes, the only warmth against her numbed skin.

One handed, James pulled open the heavy door to the cabin she
’
d spent her summers in. Hinges creaked, a sound that would never again bring comfort. Dark and cold, the air inside tasted musky. The living room came and went, the forest
-
green couch she passed conjuring mocking memories. She recalled when she
’
d been twelve and had sprained her ankle. Much like he carried
her
now, James had set her down on the sofa, carefully removed her shoes and socks.

All hope his intentions were innocent vanished when James brought
her
into the bedroom. He kicked the door closed behind him, a heavy sound that pounded her ears.

Something thudded to the bedroom floor, a duffe
l
bag
,
she saw when James set her in the middle of
the
bed. Paralyzed, she could do nothing but watch him step back and look down at her as if she were his entire world. Under his affection, a perverse desire lurked.

“
Why are you doing this?
”
she asked again, her words clearer this time.

His hands rose to the first button on his thick flannel shirt. Cotton parted. Another button. A glimpse of white hair and a pale chest. He was wearing Greg
’
s clothes, the ones stashed behind the house. Had he been lying in wait for Peter to leave her alone? Her stomach clenched.

“
Peter ruined everything.
”
His jaw clenched, sending a ripple of energy through the room. Another button.
“
I was forced into action.
”

“
How?
”
If only she could keep him talking.

“
Greg stole Jenny from me, did you know that? She was mine. Was going to marry me. When our father died and Greg took control of the Pard...
W
ell, I found out Jenny wasn
’
t as pure as she claimed. She was pregnant.
”

“
With Peter,
”
she guessed.

Her finger twitched. The first spasms of life gave her a surge of hope. She concentrated on her hand, forced it to move again.

James pulled the two halves of his open shirt apart, unthreading his arms through the sleeves, slowly undressing.

The flannel dropped to the floor, a loud sound in the silence.

“
They were together behind my back for months,
”
James said.
“
In this cabin
,
actually. This very bed. They betrayed me.
”

A wave of dizziness rolled over her. She gulped, nearly choking on her next words.
“
Is that why you shot Greg, here, in the woods? Because he betrayed you?
”

James shook his head, unfolded a leather belt from its metal buckle. Ice filled his eyes, turned the man she thought she knew so well into a stranger.
“
No.
”

“
Why then?
”
She swallowed again, tiny stabs of tingling pain racing up her legs. The pain had never felt so good. A few more minutes was all she needed.

“
He wouldn
’
t let me have you. So I killed him,
”
he said simply. His zipper rasped, denim parted.

“
Have me...?
”

“
I petitioned to have you as my mate.
”
Stepping close to the bed, he kneeled on the mattress. He cupped her cheek and she forced herself not to move.
“
I can provide for you
,
Eva. Take care of you the way a man is supposed to take care of a woman.
”
The tender grip changed, tightened.
“
But Greg wouldn
’
t even consider it. He didn
’
t even want to give you to Mark. He wanted to keep you to himself. Last week he
’
d changed his mind. He decided Mark wasn
’
t strong enough to protect you. He planned to call Peter home,
”
his lips curled into a sneer,
“
for
‘
his son to take his rightful place among the leopards.
’”

Her mouth would have dropped open if James hadn
’
t pressed his palm against her lips. She struggled for breath, to fight the rising panic. He reached beside him, lifted a thickly braided strand of rope.

Oh god.

“
I couldn
’
t let some stranger have you. You see, I was a broken man after Jenny. I hated him with my entire heart, couldn
’
t stand to look at my brother, or to take orders from him, but I had no choice. You obeyed or you got your throat ripped out. And then, you came into our lives and changed everything. You gave me strength, Eva. I waited for the right moment, waited until I could have everything I
’
d ever wanted. The Pard. A family. A child of my own.
”

Her stomach pitched. A child. Peter said she
’
d been fertile. Had everyone else in the Pard known too?

The rope thudded to the bed next to her head. With the hand not covering her mouth, James unlaced one boot, then the other. Heavy rubber soles thudded to the ground. She trembled, tried to scoot away from what she knew was coming. James held her down, forcing her still, and she struggled to draw in enough air through her nose.

“
You were ready for a mate and Greg was just going to give you away. Peter didn
’
t deserve you. I knew if I wanted the Pard I was going to have to take it. So I did. I shot my brother, watched him bleed to death. Without any other leader, the leopards would turn to me. They did turn to me.
”

One finger at a time, James released her mouth. Gasping, she sucked in mouthfuls of oxygen. He pulled her arms up, over her head. Hot tears trailed from the corners of her eyes.

“
Why leave the notes? Why kill Becca?
”

Regret flashed, but didn
’
t stop the abrasive scratching of twine wrapping around her wrists
and attaching them to the headboard
.
“
I only wanted to scare you a little so you
’
d come to me on your own. I didn
’
t want to kill Becca...but she saw me at the clinic, kept asking question after question. No one was supposed to be there. Being an Alpha means you have to make tough choices. So I did what I needed to do. I made it quick, painless.
”

Anger drove the blood through her veins quicker. He
’
d made it quick. Rage spurred life into her limbs, and she pulled at the ropes imprisoning her.

“
You betrayed the Pard
.
N
o one will forgive you after that,
”
she said, her voice low and feral, not one she recognized.

He stroked her cheek, rubbing his thumb across her lower lip.
“
I
’
m the one in control now, they do what I say.
”

Eva opened her mouth, drew his finger inside and bit down as hard as she could. Blood stung her tongue and James reared back. In the same instant, an explosion of sound crashed from the front of the cabin. Her breath quickened. The thunderous din of her heartbeat drowned all other noises except the pounding of feet.

Half a second later, something banged against the closed bedroom door. Wood bowed and then shattered. Through the dust, the only thing she saw was glowing emerald eyes. Rage, feral and untamed, encompassed the creature
in front of her
, half man, half leopard, the force of it electrifying the air.

Peter snarled, lips lifting to expose sharp canines. The low hiss emanating from his throat promised death. He rose onto two legs in a wide, powerful stance, his massive bulk blocking the doorframe. In this new form, he was taller and wider, a true force of nature. Fur rippled from skin not quite thick enough to hide the definition of sinewy muscle. His gaze, hot, furious, possessive, ran over the ropes around her wrist
s
before settling on her face. Their eyes met and the entire world narrowed down to him and her.

He
’
d come for her.

She never heard the first bang, not really, only saw Peter jerk back from the impact of something hitting his chest. Time slowed.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Three quick, distinct gunshots echoed over the sickening thud, thud, thud, of steel into flesh.

“
Peter
,
”
she screamed, time
spinning forward.

James stepped forward, into her line of sight, the gun in his hand unwaveringly aimed at Peter
’
s heart. A sob tore free. Her heart shattered. Peter lurched forward as James pulled the trigger. Bang.

“
No!
”

Peter collapsed to the ground, the impact a shockwave she felt in the pit of her soul.

Chapter Sixteen

Peter hit the ground hard. Knees, elbows, and then forearms. He hardly felt the jarring impact, not when the sound of Eva
’
s heart-rending scream pierced the air. Searing pain stole his breath, blackened his vision, threatened to consume
him
. His jerking muscles demanded he curl into a ball on the floor, as if the fetal position would protect his vital organs from the burrowing ammunition ripping through him.

Fuck that bullshit.

The steel bullets in his chest and shoulder were merely flesh wounds. The image of his mate tied to the bed, tears streaming down her face, James looming over her, spurred him into action. It was going to take a lot more than a gun to keep him from protecting her. He wouldn
’
t fail her, not again.

Adrenaline pumped in his veins, carrying away the pain. The rumbling howl he let loose vibrated the air. He raised his head from the ground, met James
’
arctic eyes and snarled. Muscles shifted, bones popped. Receding fur rippled, washed over him as if he
’
d been injected with morphine. He was too pissed to feel anything except numb.

Teeth clenching, he pushed from the ground. Blood, hot and sticky, ran down his chest. He twisted his head from side to
side
, cracked his knuckles to loosen the tension holding him rigid. When this was over, he
’
d see James
’
body ripped into ribbons.

“
Oh, God, Peter,
”
Eva sobbed.

He couldn
’
t afford to look at her again, and yet he couldn
’
t ignore the sounds of her struggles. The creaking mattress and hiccupping breaths painted a picture of her body twisting and turning against the offensive ropes, the image as vivid as if he had stared at her.

“
He
’
ll kill you,
”
she said.
“
Go, please just go.
”

Ignoring Eva
’
s pleas, Peter
’
s mouth curved into a deadly smile of anticipation.
“
You made a big mistake, old man.
”

“
This is the way it has to be. I couldn
’
t let Greg call you home. For the sake of the Pard, for Eva. You
’
ll only hurt her,
”
James said, thumb compressing the trigger.

Peter couldn
’
t care less about his uncle
’
s reasoning. He leapt into action, knocking
away
the gun aimed at his heart. The shot went wide, thudding somewhere behind him. Peter slammed a balled fist to the underside of his enemy
’
s jaw, the impact forcing the older man
’
s head back. James stumbled backward, crashing into the wall with a thud.

Savagery filled Peter. Blood. Pain. Teeth scattered across the floor. He would inflict as much damage as he could before he ripped out James
’
throat. Peter
’
s balled fist snapped out in two left-handed jabs, nose, eye, the force of impact breaking bones. Blood gushed, streaming like a fountain, its scent spurring the beast. Peter
’
s
other
fist sailed through the air in a gratifying right hook that smashed into his
uncle
’
s
temple with enough strength to punch a hole through a tree tru
n
k.

Eva yelled something, words he couldn
’
t hear over his own pounding heartbeat. Eyes fluttering, rolling into the back of his head, James slid limply down the wall. Claws speared from the tips of Peter
’
s fingers and he carefully wrapped his hand around
the older man
’
s throat, holding him upright before he hit the ground.

He brought them nose to nose, waited to speak until consciousness returned to his uncle
’
s eyes.
“
I will cut every inch of flesh from your body for touching her.
”

Spinning his uncle from the wall, Peter threw the man across the room. James bounced off the wall and landed in a heap on the floor. Satisfaction surged
in Peter
with every advancing step.

“
Peter, stop,
”
Eva pleaded.

Cutting his head to the side, he met her wide-eyed gaze. Fear scented the air and made it impossible to keep a clear head. He would kill James.

“
He touched you. Killed Greg and Becca,
”
he snarled.
“
I won
’
t stop until he
’
s dead too.
”

Peter forced his gaze from Eva
’
s. He stalked forward as James rose on unsteady feet, the line of crimson trailing between his eyes a mocking reminder of the bullet hole in his father
’
s forehead. The crime scene photos were still fresh in his head.

His uncle spit out a mouthful of blood.
“
I am not so easily defeated, boy. Leave now and I won
’
t kill you. I
’
ll keep Eva safe and happy.
”

Peter threw his head back and laughed.
“
You arrogant prick. Eva is
mine
. My mate.
”
He brought his hands to his chest and stepped closer.
“
I
’
ll be damned if I let you or anyone else take her from me. I
’
m going to enjoy watching you bleed all over this floor, old man.
”

“
This Pard is mine, and you won
’
t take it!
”
James bellowed, his fingers flexing as if he could force strength back into himself.

“
Not anymore, it isn
’
t.
”

“
We
’
ll see about that,
”
his uncle growled. Fists pumping at his sides, James tipped his head back. Veins bulged and muscles clenched. Less than a second
later
, the feline with
in him
burst free like an explosion.

Feline eyes the color of ice regarded Peter with the promise of death.
Bring it on
. Peter released the burden of restraint, letting his leopard have its own revenge. He shifted forms. Teeth bared in a snarl, Peter circled his uncle, closing in tight. They lunged at the same time, the massive bulk of their animals collided. Fangs pierced. Claws ripped through flesh. James, quicker than he would have thought, broke free before he could do any real damage. The other leopard faked left, lurched right and sank canines into Peter
’
s hindquarter.

Skin parted under razor
-
sharp teeth. The pain fueled him, kept him from collapsing to the ground. Peter twisted, slashing claws across his uncle
’
s side. James release
d
his flank and came at him again and again. They grappled around the bedroom, fur flying and blood spraying. The moment Peter gained the upper hand, James outmaneuvered him. He was strong and smart, nothing like Mark or David had been. Behind him, Eva
’
s cries grew more frantic, a constant echo in the back of his mind.

If he lost this fight, James would take her whether she agreed or not. Not on his fucking life.

An unexpected image filled his mind as he remembered Eva stretched out beneath him, gazing into her eyes, bodies gliding against
each
other, their hands locked in an intimate embrace. He was thrusting into her as she lifted, tenderly pressing her lips to his, meeting him where he was. He
’
d claimed her body slowly, thoroughly, with the gentleness she deserved. In turn, Eva had claimed his heart.

Fucking Christ. He loved her. The knowledge made him even more determined to defeat James. He couldn
’
t lose, if for nothing else than to keep Eva from spending the rest of her life with his cruel words hanging in the air
:
“
There is no us.
”

James lunged at him. Peter
’
s back hit the ground and the moment the other feline closed in for the kill, Peter rolled, switching positions so James was on the bottom. Teeth closed around fur and flesh. The claws tearing at him were nothing but an annoyance. He pinned the cat to the ground, bit his throat, and shook his head from side to side. Blood exploded on his tongue. Wanting more, Peter growled and locked his jaw, tearing deeper, not letting go until the feline beneath him stilled and the blood running into his mouth stopped.

Peter chuffed, slowly backing away from the motionless cat. James
’
s fur receded, skin emerging as his uncle reverted to a man in death. Peter turned his head, seeking Eva, needing to make sure she was still there, still okay. She
lay
on the bed, her face white and her mouth parted in horrified silence.

Shifting forms took the last of his energy, and he limped toward her. Blood gushed from his flayed flesh, a blanket of wet heat.

“
Are you hurt?
”
he growled in a fierce whisper, clumsily struggling with the ropes around her wrists.

His gaze raked over her prone body, searching for signs of trauma, something he could do now that the threat was gone.

“
Untie me,
”
she whispered, her lower lip quivering, her eyes filling with tears.

The bindings loosened, and the moment she was free, Eva threw herself into his arms. He hissed at the impact, and despite the agony of having her touch his open wounds, he clutched her tight. He
’
d crawl naked over hot coals to get to her. His fingers dug into the fabric of her thin shirt, holding her to him,
en
suring she wouldn
’
t go anywhere. He pressed his nose to her neck, inhaled her sweet honey scent.

She was safe. She was his.

Eva drew him
back
from her throat and cupped his cheeks. She searched his eyes, whispered,
“
You
’
re hurting. Let me heal you.
”

Shaking his head, his hand slid up her spine until he cupped the back of her head. He brought her forward, slammed his mouth against hers for a desperate kiss. She opened for him, the warmth of her tongue more soothing than anything else she could have given him. Her hands glided down his neck, moved over his shoulders to cup the muscles there. Heat surged from her palm
s
and he tore from her lips on a gasp.

Light flared, a flash he saw for only a moment before it barreled into his flesh. His skin tightened, the sensation drawing a ragged sound
from him
. As the bullets in his flesh reversed direction, pain tore through him. He gritted his teeth, clutched his angel and watched what little color was left in her cheeks vanish as she healed him. She would not harm herself for his sake.

“
You have to stop,
”
he said, gripping her hands, forcing them off his skin.

“
No.
”
She wrestled, fought to press palms against wounded flesh, a new wave of tears streaming down her pale cheeks.
“
I
’
m not finished.
”

“
Enough, Eva,
”
he demanded, holding her an arm
’
s length away.

She shook her head as a ragged sob tore free. Her entire body
trembled
.
“
I thought he was going to kill you.
”
The last remnants of her strength left.
As
in the clearing, the bones in her body seemed to dissolve. Her eyes closed and she sagged forward, falling into the arms he opened for her.

Her lips, soft and moist, pressed against his throat, a gesture that felt more right than anything else in his entire life had. His heart cracked open. He cradled her trembling body closer.

“
I love you, Peter,
”
she whispered, her last words before she went completely still.

He stroked her hair, leaned in close to press his lips gently against the side of her head. His angel.
“
I love you too.
”