Night's Promise(21)

“Yes.”

“We’re trying to get in touch with the man you were with. He’s a friend of ours. We were hoping you could tell us where he lives.”

“I thought you were friends?”

Scarface smiled. There was no warmth in it. “He moved recently and we lost touch.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t help you. I just met . . .” She paused at the eager look in the man’s eyes when she started to say Derek’s name. “I just met him.”

Scarface looked at his companion, then shook his head.

Sheree glanced around. If she yelled for help, would anyone come to her aid?

“All right, let’s go at this from another angle,” Scarface said. “What do you know about him?”

Sheree shook her head. “Nothing. I told you, we just met.”

“Did he do anything that seemed unusual?”

“Unusual? In what way? We had a few drinks, we danced. That was all.”

Scarface looked at his companion again. “We’re wasting our time here. She doesn’t know anything.” He nodded at Sheree. “Sorry to have bothered you.”

Sheree watched the two men as they made their way to a table in the back corner, where they sat with their heads together.

She grabbed her handbag and practically ran toward the door. When a hand closed around her arm, she let out a startled cry.

“Let’s go.” Scarface pushed her out the door. “Where are you parked?”

“D-down there. The-the blue one.”

Fear choked her as the second man wrenched her purse out of her hands and unlocked the doors.

“Keep your mouth shut if you know what’s good for you,” Scarface warned, crowding her up against the side of her car.

“Please, let me go!” Sheree implored. “I don’t know anything!”

Scarface opened the rear door and pushed her inside.

With a cry, Sheree lashed out at him, raking her nails across his cheek, kicking out at him as hard as she could.

But Scarface was bigger, stronger.

He hit her once and she fell back on the seat, certain her life was over.





Derek had been sitting in his car across from the Den, debating whether he should go inside or head back home, when he saw Sheree exit the club, a man on either side of her. Her face was pale, her eyes wide and filled with fear. Her heart was pounding so loudly he was sure he would have heard it even without his preternatural senses.

The men had turned left, herding Sheree toward her car, which was parked at the end of the block.

Derek muttered, “What the hell?” when the scar-faced man started to shove her into the backseat, grinned when she fought back, even though it was a losing fight.

When the scarred man struck her, Derek went into action. Faster than the eye could follow, he raced down the street, grabbed the man by the hair, and slammed his forehead against the car. The man dropped like a stone.

The second man whirled around, his hand reaching inside his coat.

With a low growl, Derek broke both of the man’s arms and shoved him out of the way. Whimpering, the guy fell to the pavement, all the fight gone out of him.

“Sheree?” Derek touched her shoulder lightly. “Sheree, are you all right?”

She stared up at him, her mouth agape.

“Come on.” Taking her by the hand, Derek settled her into the passenger seat. “We need to get out of here.”

She didn’t argue.

He picked up her fallen handbag, dropped it in her lap, then fastened her seat belt.

Moments later, he pulled away from the curb.

“Who were those men?” Sheree asked, unable to keep the quiver out of her voice.

“Beats the hell out of me.”

“They said they knew you.”

Derek shook his head. “I never saw either one of them before.” He slid a glance in her direction. Her pulse was still a little rapid, but the color had returned to her cheeks. “Did they say why they were looking for me?”

“No.” She glanced out the window. “Where are you taking me?”

“To your place.”

“What about your car?”

“I’ll pick it up later.”

“I could have driven myself home.”

“It’s okay. I don’t mind.”

She turned her head away from him, her hands clasped in her lap, obviously nervous in his presence. He supposed he couldn’t blame her. He’d seen her a few times and then left her with no explanation, but hell, what was he supposed to say? I’d love to pursue a relationship with you and get to know you better, but I’m a vampire and you’re prey and I really don’t see this ending well for you. Yeah, right.

“How’ve you been, Sheree?”

“Fine. I’m going back home to my family.”