Luther's Return (Scanguards Vampires Book 10)

Silence descended on the room. Nobody said anything. Nobody moved.

Luther’s voice cut through the quiet. “It won’t come to that. There’s another way.”

Katie lifted her lids to meet his gaze. “It’s my fault that he’s got Isabelle. I put her in danger. Had I not changed roles with her, this would have never happened. If I—”

“It doesn’t matter whose fault it was,” Luther interrupted. “I won’t allow an exchange. Once he’s got you, what’s to stop him from killing Isabelle anyway?” He shook his head and looked past her to the other men in the room. “We’ll find him. I know how.”

“And what do we tell Samson?” Wesley asked calmly.

“Nothing,” Blake said. He nodded to Grayson. “Are you with us?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“No.”

“Guess you have my answer then.” He took a step toward Luther, lifting his chin. “One false move, and you’re dust.”

Katie caught how Luther acknowledged the threat with a simple nod.

“How will we find Forrester?” Blake asked.

Suddenly Blake, Luther, and Grayson snapped their heads toward the door. A moment later, Katie heard it, too. A sound outside. Their sensitive vampire hearing had picked it up a few seconds earlier. Wesley drew his weapon, just as Blake and Grayson did, while Luther grabbed her and pushed her behind his back, shielding her from whatever was outside the door.

When the door opened, Katie peeked past Luther. Relieved, she went around him, though he tried to hold her back.

“I’m fine.” She pointed to the new arrival. “That’s John, he’s with them.”

The tall vampire with the southern accent stepped into the room, his eyes quickly scanning the room. Apparently satisfied with what he saw, he addressed Blake, “Somebody’s approaching.”

“Vampire?”

“Yeah.”

“That must be Striker,” Luther said. “He owns this cabin. I sent him out to get info on Forrester.”

John furrowed his forehead. “Are you talking about Striker Reed?”

“You know him?”

“I know of him.” John tossed his colleagues a sideways glance. “I’d suggest you lower your weapons, guys, because that dude is trigger happy, and if he finds you in his house uninvited and armed, he’ll shoot first and ask questions later.”

“Your friend has a point,” a voice came from the hallway behind them.

Katie spun around and stared right into their host’s glaring red eyes, a gun leveled at them.

Luther’s arms locked around her, pulling her into the protection of his body. “Striker, don’t!” Luther yelled. “They’re friends.”

“Then tell them to put down their weapons.”

“Guys, please,” Luther said over his shoulder, his arms still around her, pressing her against his warm body.

The gesture made her feel protected, and the knowledge that Luther’s first instinct had been to protect her, sent a pleasant tingle through her body.

Slowly she noticed Striker relax. Then he pulled one side of his mouth up. “When I said make yourself at home, Luther, I didn’t mean you could invite your friends for a party.”

Katie felt Luther’s muscles relax, but he didn’t let go of her. She was glad that he kept her in his embrace, giving her a chance to enjoy a few more moments of closeness.

“It was kind of last minute,” Luther said with a chuckle, “and a little unexpected. Not to say inconvenient.”

At his last words, Katie lifted her face and caught Luther’s gaze. Did he regret the interruption of their lovemaking as much as she did? The look in his eyes seemed to suggest it.

Striker approached, holstering his weapon at his belt. “Don’t you wanna introduce me?”

Luther released her from his embrace, albeit seemingly reluctantly. He motioned to the other men in the room. “These men work for Scanguards: meet Blake, Grayson, Wesley, and John.”

All the men nodded.

“This is Striker Reed. He was the council’s best tracker.”

“Still am,” Striker threw in and grinned. “I just don’t work for them anymore.”

“A tracker?” Katie asked.

“I find people,” Striker said cryptically.

“People who don’t want to be found,” Luther explained, turning to her. “Mostly escaped criminals. It’s one of the most dangerous jobs out there. There are few vampires who make the cut to be a tracker, and even fewer who want the job. Though I hear the council doesn’t take no for an answer when it sets its sights on a capable candidate.”

Striker pulled one side of his mouth up and tilted his head to the side. “Something like that.” Then he exchanged a look with Luther. “I have a location for you.”





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