My Immortal Read Online Free PDF Page B

arms. “Something is wrong if you run away from me.” And lie. The fear and anxiety in her head read like a billboard in his mind. Her issues lay with the incident at the New Haven Police Department. He refused to ignore her pain any longer when all he wanted was to take it away. “Tell me about that night.”
    “No.” The images in her mind faded to black. With her jaw set and her gaze hard, she frowned. “It’s none of your business.”
    Biting back a growl, he dropped his hands. She wasn’t going to block him out again. “You’re my partner. Anything that has to do with you is most definitely my concern.”
    “If you say so.” Stevie looked away, but her voice remained firm. “I’m not made for you. I’m not made for any man.”
    “Bullshit,” he spat. Storm forced his anger away and replaced his tone with softness. “If you weren’t made for me, then my cock wouldn’t point to you like an arrow every time I’m near you.” Her chin quivered and he pulled her into his embrace. “I want you to tell me what happened and don’t run from the truth.”
    If he could only do the same—stop running from the truth of who and what he was. Stop drinking that damned blood wine to dull the need for human blood or using his hand while he pictured Stevie satisfying him. He’d be the man Stevie needed him to be. He’d tell O’Toole to fuck off and leave the innocents alone.
    “I’m not running because I refuse to label myself a victim.” Stevie fisted her hands behind Storm’s back, returning his thoughts to the present.
    He smoothed his hand over her soggy hair. “Stevie, I—I talked to Lieutenant Sorenson. I know you’re a strong woman who left the force with her chin in the air. But you need to tell me why.”
    She raised her head. Her eyes widened. “You checked my references?”
    “You expected less?” Storm took her hand and sat on the bed, pulling her in his lap. Her bare bottom rested on his naked thighs. Stevie sniffled, which made him fall for her more. She oozed innocence in a time when innocence didn’t exist. “I didn’t check you out, if that’s what you’re implying, Stevie. I wanted to find out the truth.”
    “Did you talk to Cole and Marello?” Her eyes narrowed and her words came out clipped. “You know they won’t tell you the truth if it makes them look bad.”
    He shook his head. “I heard about the hazing and the abuse through the gossip channels, but no one can substantiate it because those jackasses kept their silence. Trust me, I wish I could’ve taken your place.”
    “I don’t want your sympathy.” Stevie raked her fingers through her hair. “And if you slept with me to play junior psychologist, I’m outta here.”
    Storm cupped her jaw. “I refuse to give a strong woman pity.” Her chin quivered again and he kissed her temple. “I want to be at your side, baby.”
    Stevie pressed her palm against her lips and stared at the carpet before she spoke. “My last night as a beat cop, I worked the Baker stabbing. When I got there, LouAnn wasn’t dead but she didn’t have much time left. I tried to comfort her in those last moments.” She wiped her face with the back of her hand and took a couple of deep breaths.
    “She knew she was dying and told me she’d be fine. It tore me apart inside to see her like that and to know that the EMTs wouldn’t get there in time. I didn’t know her personally, but I knew that son-of-a-bitch of a husband of hers used the knife on her. Her blood and vomit coated my uniform. When I got back to the station, I used the locker room showers.”
    Storm curled his arms around her and held on tight as she cried. When he closed his eyes, he saw her memories as if they were his own.
    Stevie dropped her head against the taupe tile wall in the NHPD locker room as the water sluiced over her skin. Tears wetted her lashes. “I should’ve checked on her earlier. Grant lied about the abuse.” She gulped air and flicked the shower handle