In Too Deep (2 page)

Walking around the mess, Hayden took a closer look
at where the parking lot gave way to the trees. There were traces of Brody’s blood on some of the leaves, and his tracks were new, but not fresh. They disappeared into the woods like he tore out of there at a dead run. The vampire blood was still warm and couldn’t be more than a few minutes old.

“
Clint.” Hayden turned toward the werewolf enforcer. He hoped the little shit would keep his mouth shut long enough for them to figure out what in the abyss was going on. “I need you to clean this mess up. I’m sure Slater will appreciate the help. No one wants to scare anyone in the bar. Especially not Brody’s brother.”

He hesitated.
“Is Brody okay? What happened?”

With the way Brody ran off, Hayden assumed so.
“I think he is, but I need to find him.”

Brody was a good friend and Hayden
wanted to find him before the vampires did. From what he could see, Brody incapacitated the vampires and ran, maybe to lure them away from the bar. He was probably heading for the alpha’s and had a head start on the vampires.

Clint nodded.
“Sure, cleaning up isn’t a problem.”

Hayden walked back inside
and found Jess on the phone, pacing in her small office. She looked up, her eyes glittering with frustration. “She’s not answering. Damn it.”

“
Who isn’t?”

Jess stopped, turned and glared at him, but spoke into the phone.
“Fallon, I know you’re driving, but you need to answer the damned phone. Of course you won’t, I know you won’t. Shit.” She hung up and shoved her phone in her pocket. “Look, go to my house. Brody and Fallon can fill you in there. I’m not totally sure what the hell happened, but they’ll both be fine. Just go. Please.”

Hayden resisted the urge to shake the answers out of her. The little woman was psychic, but she wasn’t sharing what she saw.
“You’ll answer my questions there?” he asked gruffly, not real keen on wasting time.

“
Of course I will, but I don’t have them all. I just know it has to do with the Dales. You remember those bastard vampires who were snooping around a month ago?”

“
The ones we scared off? The ones who haven’t been back since I chopped a couple of them down?”

“
The very same.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Look, I need to get over there, but I need to tell my staff first. I’ll be home shortly. Do me a favor, make sure Clint cleans that mess up before someone else can stumble on it.” Then she stormed past him.

Hayden walked out the back and to his SUV. He wanted to get to the bottom of this and fast.

* * * *

Damn, Fallon’s head hurt as she blinked up at the stars pulsing like a thousand tiny strobe lights. Her throat was a mess. That werewolf didn’t help when he ripped the vampire’s fangs out of her. She gave him an A for effort, but instead of two punctures she was going to need stitches.

She sat up slowly, tracing the jagged tears in her skin and winced. That was exactly why she should have minded her own damned business. With a sigh, she wove a spell to stop the bleeding, but didn’t have the energy to manage more
.

Once her vision cleared, her gaze caught on washboard abs with a
golden trail of hair she didn’t dare follow down because she already wanted to lick him. She forced her eyes up over his sculpted chest and muscular arms to his face.

Wow, she thought, he was gorgeous everywhere. His smoky blue eyes were wide and glued to her, his brow wrinkled, and his full mouth was set in a frown. He stared at her the same way people watch a lethal accident, unable to pull his gaze away. She didn’t blame him
—but hello, she just saved his ass.

Her eyes narrowed on him.
“You’re welcome.”

He blinked as one corner of his mouth lifted.
“Uh, sorry. Are you okay?” He stepped closer and reached out to her.

“
Yeah. Thanks.” Ignoring his outstretched hand, she climbed to her hands and knees and found her dagger in the pile of clothes and ash. She whispered a word and the blade disappeared in a burst of light, making her vision swim as she felt it meld back into her skin.

“
Any more vampires after you?” She sincerely hoped the answer was no. She was pretty sure she already had a concussion. Luckily, Fallon didn’t sense any Others besides herself and the wolf, but she wasn't at a hundred percent.

“
Don’t believe so. Those were the only two I saw back at the bar.”

She leaned forward on her hands and tried to breathe deep.
The stench of burning vampire overwhelmed her, and nearly made her empty stomach heave. She hadn’t eaten in hours, and healing always made her nauseous and hungry. The last thing she wanted to do was be sick in front of the sexy and very naked werewolf.

Thankfully
it was dark because she really didn’t need a better view of his masculine perfection.

Why the hell couldn’t she get her mind off the werewolf?

He crouched down beside her and helped her back up to a sitting position. “Are you all right?”

Hell no
. She nodded her head anyway. Besides, the werewolf didn’t have a single damned injury.
What the fuck?
That couldn’t have been all her. She barely managed to patch herself up. He had to be really high up in the pack structure to heal so fast. Nothing else made sense.

Fallon stood up and her vision went fuzzy. She closed her eyes a second, and gingerly touched the back of her head. There was a big knot, and it was tender.

She felt his eyes on her, and found him frowning as he took her in. Gritting her teeth, she glared back. She had a good reason to look like hell.

Wait,
she reminded herself that she didn't care what the hell he thought.

“
You have a phone?” His voice was deep, a little rough and growly with a southern drawl. Normally the cowboy thing would annoy her, but his voice felt like a caress.

Maybe she hit her head harder than she thought, because now that the vampires were out of the way, all she could think about was how tempting the big bad wolf was.
That was stupid because she was done with men, especially big, sexy wereanimals.

“
Yeah.” She dug out her phone. He took it and his brow reached for his hairline as he looked at the display. He probably saw all the missed calls from Isaac, but she didn’t think this wolf would know the weretiger she just left.

He dialed a number.

Wondering where exactly she was, she turned to take a look around. All Fallon remembered was that she was in Washington, and heading toward Idaho, because what the hell and Canada didn’t seem all that appealing.

His annoyingly sexy voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
“Hey, Slater, I need a pickup and some clothes. Bring the flatbed. I wrecked a motorcycle, and I need to help the owner.” He paused briefly and frowned at her. “You should have Dakota come by to heal her, but I’m not sure what she is.” His brow wrinkled as he studied her. “Not a mage, or witch, but definitely some kind of magic user. She saved my ass, we need to help her.”

Slater? Why do I know that name?
She shook her head and had to press her hands to her eyes until her the dizziness abated. Help? She didn’t need help. She needed some food, a motel room, a shower and then some sleep, preferably in that order.

She stumbled toward her bike and stared down
at it with a heavy sigh. Her motorcycle looked about as good as she felt, which was saying something because she felt like roadkill.

Fallon heard the werewolf describing their location. Something about what he said rang a bell.

His back was to her when she looked. She couldn’t help noticing the tattoo of a wolf head on his shoulder-blade. The artist was good, maybe not as good as her, but definitely talented.

Then she noticed his tight, round ass
and really wanted to take a bite.

He started to turn, and she dropped her gaze back to her bike. The world spun, so she closed her eyes, but her knees started to give. His warmth enveloped her as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her against his big hard body. She was tempted to snuggle into him.

Oh, hell no
.

Before she could protest, he let her go and stepped back, raising a single brow with one hand still on the phone.
“Sitting would be better,” he told her.

Her jaw clenched.
Who does he think he is? My Dad?

He snorted.
“Not you, Slater. This woman’s stubborn. I think I’m making her nervous, but she’s hurt. Probably concussion, maybe worse, but neither the vampires nor my wolf scared her—Yeah, see you soon.”

He hung up and passed the phone to her.
“Why aren’t you healing yourself?”

Fallon shrugged, and winced at the pain in her throat.
“Too wiped out.”

“
You didn’t have a problem fixing me.”

She folded her arms over her chest and glared at him.
“You all heal so damn fast. I just patched up your obvious wounds and put your shoulder back in place. The rest was all you.” And she may have used too much energy when trying to ease his pain. She could cast offensive magic all day long, but healing wiped her out. For some stupid reason, she didn’t like the idea of the werewolf hurting. Not that she would ever admit it.

The werewolf shook his head and smeared his fingers in some of the blood on her jacket. Before he could reach her throat, she caught his wrist and held his hand back.
“Oh, no you don’t.”

“
Stubborn.” His eyes narrowed to slits. “It's an easy fix. Even I know that.”

Raising one eyebrow, she shook her head.
“Sure the vampire blood would heal the wound but I’m not taking any chances. Their blood has mingled with Goddess knows what, and unlike
you,
I can get sick.” Besides, there was a good chance some of the blood was his from when he was still a wolf and could possibly infect her. Being wereanything would screw with her magic
.

The look of concern on his face made her uncomfortable. She turned her gaze back to
her busted motorcycle.

* * * *

Brody just wanted to help the woman but she wasn’t making it easy. Clearly she didn’t want to act weak in front of him, but he could smell her pain. She needed to sit down and take it easy.

With a weary sigh, she glanced up at him.
“Happen to know where a good shop is?”

Maybe he
could
help her. “Yeah. Actually, I own a shop. I specialize in rebuilding Harleys.” He nodded toward the bike and turned to look at her. “I think I owe you for that.”

Her laugh was harsh.
“You had vampires after you. It's not your fault you didn’t see me.” She shrugged, a smirk playing on her lips. “Besides, I had the lights out and a silencing spell going.”

His mouth fell open.
“What? Why? It’s pitch black out here?”
Christ, was she trying to kill herself?
His heart hammered in his chest.

She snorted.
“Didn’t want to be pulled over. Again.” She casually reached out for the tree like she was going to lean against the trunk, but missed and nearly fell.

Once again, he caught her, wondering why the hell she couldn’t just admit she was hurt and needed
to rest. This time he sat her down on the side of the road.

“
Please, just sit,” he growled.

“
Fine,” she grumbled, but didn’t argue. She crossed her legs Indian style and put her hands flat on the ground behind her

Brody sat down
next to her, hoping she’d stay put. He wanted to make sure she was okay, but had a feeling she’d kick his ass for trying. That made him smile.

She sighed, and he looked over to find her staring out into the woods. She was absolutely stunning, had attitude up the wazoo,
and brass balls the size of a semi. Plus, he’d never seen a sexier woman in his life.

When she finally met his gaze, she said,
“Look, I don’t have a lot of cash. I left in a hurry and couldn’t carry much. Is there a cheap motel nearby?”

Brody slowly nodded.
“I have a better idea.” Her eyes flashed, but he put his hands up in surrender. “Just hear me out. Okay?”

“
Talk.” Her eyes narrowed, and she looked awfully dangerous just then, injured or not. Apparently she wasn’t real trusting. Then again, she had a naked stranger sitting next to her. He wouldn’t trust him either.

“
I’m Brody Dean, and I’m pretty sure you’re Fallon O’Shea. Jess Abrams was the last person to call you. You missed her call.” He watched her mouth pop open, and her eyes widen. He was willing to bet Jess called to warn Fallon, and he wished she had warned him before he ever left the bar.