Embrace the Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page B

leaning out the window and steadying his hip against the door. He paused, sighted, pulled the trigger, and took out the front tire with one shot. On the other side of the car Shay sprayed a line of bullets, at last puncturing the other tire. The pursuing car pulled hard to the right and Viper managed a shot through the side window, hitting the driver although it was impossible to tell if it was a kill-ing blow.
    The car plunged off the road and Viper sent his thoughts to Pierre who was already slowing the limo. He wanted those men. He wanted them in his clutches to drain them of every last thread of information they might possess.
    And then he intended to just drain them.
    Whoever, or whatever, wanted his Shalott was proving to be more than merely a pest.
    He needed to know precisely what he was up against.
    The thought had barely crossed his mind when the skidding car rammed into a light pole. He muttered a curse, and then another as the car promptly exploded into a ball of flames.
    Well, devil’s balls.
    Didn’t that only happen in the movies?
    Folding himself back into the car he gave a rap on the divider. On cue the limo sped easily into the darkness.
    Viper watched as Shay lowered herself back in her seat. Closing the windows he held out his hand for the gun. There was only the faintest hesitation before she placed it in his hand and Viper bent down to place both guns in the hidden cabinet.
    Settling more comfortably against the leather he flashed her a faint smile. “Not bad.”
    â€œIt pulls right.”
    His smile widened. “Yes, I know.”
    Her eyes slowly narrowed. “You thought I might turn it on you?”
    â€œWas it not a temptation?” he demanded.
    â€œA gun can’t kill you.”
    â€œThe bullets are silver and would have at least caused me damage.”
    Her eyes glittered with the unspoken warning that she wanted to do far more than cause mere damage.
    â€œYou said that you trusted me.”
    â€œI have not survived so many centuries without realizing that I can occasionally be wrong. I fully embrace the motto ‘better safe than sorry.’”
    She tossed herself into the corner of her seat, yanking at the long raven braid that was draped over her shoulder. She had been angry when he had demanded her pledge not to offer him harm, annoyed that he had easily read her noble spirit. Now she was angry that he remained cautious.
    Part demon or not, she was as contrary as any woman.
    â€œIf I wanted to hurt you, I wouldn’t need a gun,” she muttered in low tones.

Chapter Three
    Shay wasn’t entirely stupid.
    She knew that baiting a vampire under any circumstances was dangerous. Like playing Russian roulette with a fully loaded pistol. Especially when she was completely and utterly at his mercy.
    But while every sense might warn her to keep her mouth shut and disappear into the butter soft leather seat, her raw pride simply refused to listen.
    Beyond being a vampire Viper was everything she disliked.
    He was too beautiful, too obscenely rich, and worst of all, too brashly confident of his own worth.
    That grated worst of all.
    Deep within her she envied that cool, stately arrogance. Even if she lived a millennium she would never attain such a sure belief in her own worth.
    She was a mongrel. Half demon and half human. She didn’t belong in either world. And never would.
    The vampire settled back in his seat and regarded her with a steady gaze.
    â€œA fascinating discussion, pet, and one we will no doubt explore in depth at some point. But for the moment I prefer to concentrate on who, or what, is so desperate to get their hands on you.”
    â€œI don’t know,” Shay retorted with complete honesty. She didn’t have a clue who was after her. She had spent her life in the shadows, never drawing attention to herself. It had been her only means of survival.
    â€œNo bitter past owner?” he demanded.
    â€œBesides Evor who