Beyond the Shadows Read Online Free PDF Page B

What troubles the young stud this lovely, warm day?” As he finished speaking, the rain came harder, a heavy, gray rain that sapped a man’s energy and made him wish for nothing more than a warm fire and a strong whiskey. In a few minutes the dirt streets would be slippery with mud.
    Kai stared out his window at the few pedestrians hurrying along, their heads bent against the downpour.
    He sighed. “Women.”
    “Lucky bastard.”
    “Right.”
    “I’m just ribbing you, old man. I know you’re the good guy, taking care of as many women as you can, the way you do. Not many would do it.” He laughed again, his customary good nature beating back the black of the day. “Not many could do it.”
    Kai shrugged. “Someone needs to care for them.”
    “You’re a good man, like I said. How many of them are you bedding nowadays?”
    Kai allowed a quick grin. “As many as will let me.”
    “You’re still asking, then? You know they don’t expect you to ask permission. They belong to—”
    “Yeah, yeah.” Kai waved an impatient hand, touchy as always on the subject of someone actually belonging to him. “I’m not their master. I’m their protector.”
    “So what’s the problem?”
    “I have a new woman.”
    “Yeah!” Erik held up a hand for a high five, which Kai ignored.
    “I didn’t ask her . I commanded her like a soldier, and I fucked her without giving her an opportunity to say otherwise. And for all she knows, she has to obey my every demand or I’ll send her back to the hellhole she sprang from.” He shook his head, disgusted. “I made sure she knew I was her master.”
    Erik studied him quietly. “What’s different about this one, friend?”
    “I wish I knew. I mean, she’s incredibly beautiful, but I’ve a house full of beautiful women. It’s something else. And when I look at her…she drives me crazy. Makes me want to hurt her for getting to me. I wanted her the moment I saw her. Now I have her and…” He pushed a hand through his hair, blowing out a long breath. “Hell, I’m completely out of my depth.”
    “Well, that explains why you’re out here in this mess.”
    Kai laughed. “I guess it does. Women—they’ll kill you.” Then he held up a hand. “Stop the truck. Looks like Amelia is holding off a few mangy-looking men. Think they’re from Springland ?” He didn’t pause for an answer. “That woman is one crazy sheriff. Let’s go help her.”
    Erik braked sharply and peered through the rain-splattered windshield. He turned to pound on the window behind him, alerting the men in the back. Most of them had probably fallen asleep. “Grab your guns, boys! We have a skirmish coming up.” He grabbed his door handle. “We’ll get you some activity; get that woman out of your head.” He grinned at Kai, his wolfish smile eager and happy.
    This was what Erik lived for. Women be damned. Give him a good battle, let him break some heads, and he was a happy, happy man. Kai laughed, Erik’s bloodthirsty attitude contagious.
    He jumped from one of the three precious trucks in his possession, yelling to his men, who were now spilling from the back. He stomped through the mud, running to meet the enemy. They’d chosen the wrong fucking day to mess with Kai Trinder .

Chapter Seven
     
    At the sound of an engine, Sarah ran to the window and threw open the glass to allow rain and cooling night air to greet her. She watched Kai jump from a truck, looking, even in the pale glow from the lights, muddy and covered with dark blotches that could have been blood. Oh, to be out there in the excitement, fighting and laughing and being part of the world. But she’d been given little choice as to what her purpose in this life would be.
    A fucking whore and a traitor. A delicate in need of a protector, a bored, withering woman with a lonely, longing soul.
    Kai glanced up, and she pulled back quickly, wondering if he’d seen her. Soldiers milled around, hoping, she was sure, for the hospitality