Deadly Pursuit (A Blood Hunter Novel, #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

thetensionintheroomratcheted.
    “Rico!”
    Someonespokeurgentlybehindhim,butRicoseemednottohear.HestalkedtowardJon,hislipscurledbackrevealingrazor-sharpfangs.
    Aflashofprimordialfearrolledoverhim,butheheldhisground.Shiftingwasn’tanoptioninsuchaconfinedspace,andbesides,therewasnowhereforhiswolftorun.Instead,heconcentratedonhisrightarm,heardthebonescrackandtheclawspopfromhisskinuntilitwascoveredinthickdarkbrownfurandendedinviciousclaws.Heflexedhisfingersandsmiled.
    “Comeon.Let’sparty.”
    Theycircledeachotherwithfocus.Thistime,Jonmadethefirstmove,divingforRicoandhurtlingthembothtothefloor.Theyslidalongthesmoothsurfaceandcrashedupagainstthewall,thevampontopofhim,soclosehiscoolbreathskatedacrossJon’sskin.Hisnostrilsfilledwiththescentofdeath.Heusedhisfreehandtogripthevamp’sthroat,holdinghimoffwhileheraisedhisclawedrighthandandtriedtogetananglesohecouldripintothejugular.
    ThefangswereonlyinchesfromJon’sveinasthevamppressedforwardwithinhumanstrength.Jon’sarmtrembledunderthestrainofholdinghimback.
    Alaserpistolflashedbehindthem.Rico’sgriploosened,andherolledaway.Thereekofsingedfleshfilledtheair.
    Jonlayonhisback,staringatthepatternontheblackandsilverceiling.Afterafewseconds,hepushedhimselftohisfeetreadytoresumethefight.
    RicolayonthefloorwiththeCollectivewomanstandingoverhim,herlaserpistoldrawn.
    “Ow.Thathurt,”hesaid,rubbinghisbackside.
    “Itwassupposedto,”shesnapped.“Ididtryandasknicely.”
    “Ineverheard.”
    “No,youwerehavingtoomuchfunwithyournewfriendoverthere.”
    “Youknow,I’msureIrememberyoupromisingtolovemeforever.Notmorethanfourhoursago.”
    “Actually,IsaidI’dthinkaboutit.Anddon’tbesuchababy—itwasn’tevenonfull.”
    “Itstillhurt.”
    Shegrinned.“Don’tworry.I’llkissitbetterforyoulater.”
    “Toorightyouwill.”
    Thevampstretchedouthishand.“Helpmeup.”
    Thewomanreacheddownandslippedherhandintohis.Amomentlater,shewasdraggeddownontothefloornexttohim.Jonwatchedthroughnarrowedeyesasthevampirekissedher.Foramoment,sheappearedtorelaxagainsthim,thenshepushedawayandscrambledtoherfeet.
    ThevampfollowedherupandcastasidewaysglanceatJon,buttheanimosityandtensionhadvanishedfromhisfeatures.Helimpedacrossthefloorandpickedupthetornshirt.Hemadetowipehisfacebutchangedhismindandrippeditinhalf,tossedonehalftoJon,whoreachedoutandcaughtitinstinctively.
    Thesnakeladystrolledover.“SocanItakeitvampiresandwerewolvesdon’tlikeeachotherverymuch?”
    “Ilikethemwellenoughforlunch.”Ricolickedhislips.“Actually,theymakegoodpetsaswell.WeusedtokeepthembackonEarth.Putacollarroundtheirnecks.Leashthem.Youcouldeventrainthemtodosimplethingsifyouwerepatientenough.”
    Someonesniggered.
    Jongrowled,andtheCollectivewomanswungaroundandraisedherpistolsoitpointedathisheart.
    “I’vegotaprettygoodideaRicoherewillsurvivealaserblast.You”—shewavedtheguninJon’sdirection—“Idon’tknow.ButI’mwillingtotaketherisk.”
    “Yeah,youcankillhimwiththat,”Ricosaid.“Butmakeitadirecthitotherwisetheytendtogetsnarky.”
    “Thanks,”shemuttered.
    Jonsteppedcloser.“Pointagunatme,lady,andyou’dbetterbereadytouseit.”
    “Oh,I’mready.”
    “Sheis,”Ricoadded.“Sheshotme,andshelovesme.Whoknowswhatshe’lldotoyou—probablydisintegrateyou.That’sonetoughwoman.”Hegrinnedwithpride.
    Jonraisedhisrighthand,stillclawed,someinnerdestructiveurgedrivinghimon.Someneedtoseehowfarshewouldgo.Herfingertightenedonthetrigger.
    Andsomethingslammedintotheship.

ChapterThree

    Thewholeshiplurchedsideways,hurlingAlexoutofherchair.
    El Cazador screamed under the strain, and the lights flashed and went out. They spun out of control, and Alex was tossed onto the floor like a doll. Someone landed on top of her, and the air whooshed from her lungs. She gripped on to whoever it was as the ship rolled, and this time she fell, presumably hitting the ceiling only to be flung to the floor again as El Cazador righted herself.
    “Shit.” The word sounded close. Alex thought it was Jon, but in the darkness, she couldn’t be sure.
    She