Flowers and Fangs (Stake and Dust series, Book II) Read Online Free PDF Page B

that it wasn't locked
after all, but she didn't have time to think about it. She threw
the lock on the ground. Her hand held the handle, but before she
could unlatch it, she was tackled to the ground.
    She struggled and managed to knee her captor.
She was rewarded with a grunt, but the guy's arms were made of iron
and his grip didn't falter.
    "Let me go," she demanded.
    "Derek?" another man's voice called from the
direction of the house.
    Her movements stilled for a moment then she
frantically struggled again. If there were two of them, her chances
of escape were becoming slimmer.
    "Stop it," Derek hissed in her ear as he
clamped a hand over her mouth. His calloused palms were rough
against her skin. He knew this man who called to him, but for some
reason he didn't want to reveal his location.
    Her brows furrowed as she stared at him. At
this close range, his rugged face half lit by moonlight proved
almost too beautiful to be on a face of a madman. She pursed her
lips realizing how stupid her reasoning sounded. If potential
killers had crazy tattooed on their forehead, they wouldn't
have any murderers and rapist roaming the streets. The police could
just arrest them on sight. Then she realized what the man standing
at her backdoor had said and her eyes narrowed. The madman was
named Derek. Her gaze riveted to him, taking in every feature with
knowing dread. She did know him. The truth hit her hard and her
breath solidified in her chest. Older and more muscular…but it was
Derek Hayes. What had happened to him? Sure he'd been the bad boy,
the one not afraid to do as he pleased, but he'd also been kind. He
stood up to bullies, protected the underdog. It was what drew her
to him.
    Lad growled, but not at Derek who held her
captive. Her dog's attention was focused on the newcomer.
    Derek murmured something under his breath, a
curse she would imagine, but she didn't have time to think about it
as he managed to drag her to her feet and usher her behind the
shed. His body was pressed against hers, in a manner that would be
deemed inappropriate. "Don't even try to call out," he warned
her.
    She rolled her eyes at him. It was a little
difficult to call out with his hand clamped over her mouth, but he
didn't seem to notice.
    "That's Axel, my brother." He gestured toward
the back door. "You don't want to draw his attention. Whatever
you're thinking about me, he's ten times worse. He reacts before he
takes in the whole situation. And believe me little lady, you'll be
toast."
    She didn't understand any of this. Tim's
attack and… She was going to end up with a permanent crease between
her brows if she kept frowning. But this was Derek. The boy whose
kisses made her toes curl. What was he doing here? Did he remember
her? He didn't act like he did. 'Cause he's crazy , the voice
in her head snapped. And talking to one's self—silently or
otherwise is too.
    Derek saved her from Tim's attack, but then
he threatened her with a crossbow and dagger. She wanted answers to what-in-all-that-is-holy-and-not was going on. She grabbed
at his hand in hopes of dislodging his hold.
    His gaze riveted to hers. Green eyes narrowed
in on her, making her gulp. "If I let you go, do you promise not to
scream?" he asked.
    She gave him a quick nod and immediately the
pressure of his hand lessened until it fell away. She leaned
forward to catch a glimpse of this brother in question, but came up
short when Derek's scent hit her nostrils. She inhaled the musky
male aroma of her captor mixed with perspiration from their
struggles and…something more tantalizing, but she couldn't quite
decipher what it could be, but it made her lick her lips.
    He flinched and jerked back. "Don't even
think of biting me."
    "What?" Her gaze met his in confusion. "I
wasn't. I wouldn't…"
    "This better not be a mistake," he muttered.
She wasn't sure what he thought was a mistake: helping her or not
calling out to his brother.
    He kept his grip on her waist as he peeked
around the