On The Prowl Read Online Free PDF Page A

forgot her.
    “Why would I want to forget?” The SUV drove past the road that opened onto the left. “You’re the vampire I’ve been looking for.”
    It took a moment too long for his words to sink in.
    Too long.
    Her head whipped toward Simon, but he was already moving. Simon kept one hand on the steering wheel and with his right hand, he drove a syringe into her throat. The needle jabbed into her skin and she felt a hot liquid pour into her.
    Dammit.
    “You took out my backup in the alley, but I think I can manage to bring you in alone.”
    “Think again,” she gritted out. Then she leapt toward him. Rose drove her elbow into his face and heard the crack of bones. She grabbed for the steering wheel, but he was fighting her. The SUV swerved into the next lane—and Rose heard the loud blare of a horn.
    “You’re going to get us both killed!” Simon yelled as the SUV flew off the road. It bounced hard and hurtled straight for a tree.
    “Lucky for me, I’m already dead.” She closed her eyes and waited for the impact.
    It was just as hard and brutal as she’d expected. Glass shattered. Metal groaned and she heard Simon screaming.

Chapter Two
    Julian Craig jumped off his motorcycle and rushed toward the wreckage. He could smell blood and the acrid odor of gasoline in the air.
    “They came right at me!” A woman was yelling. A human who was frantically spinning around in the middle of the street, wringing her hands. “Crossed the line and nearly hit me! Must be drunk or—”
    He reached the passenger side of the SUV. Rose was trapped inside, penned by the twisted metal. Broken glass was all around her. Blood trickled from her cheek. “It’s okay, love,” he said quietly. “I’m here.” He grabbed that door and yanked it hard, tearing it right from the vehicle. The metal groaned as it gave way, and he tossed it to the ground.
    “Dear God.” It was the human female behind him. And she sounded terrified.
    She should be.
    Julian spared her the briefest glance. “Get the hell out of here.”
    She took off running.
    He bent toward the SUV. The driver was still trapped inside. The blond wanker from the club. His eyes were closed, but he was breathing.
    Julian didn’t really care about that fellow.
    Rose mattered.
    He unhooked her seatbelt and carefully pulled her from the car. “I’ve got you.” She was warm in his arms. He could feel the stir of her breath against his neck when he lifted her up, but Rose’s green eyes didn’t open.
    With her held tightly against him, Julian walked away from the vehicle. The scent of gasoline was growing stronger. If that SUV ignited, Rose couldn’t be near it. Fire was a surefire way to permanently kill a vampire, and Rose wasn’t going to die on his watch—not ever again. That was a vow he meant to take to the grave with him.
    “Love?” He eased her down near the road. The woman who’d been screaming before screeched away from the scene in her sedan as her tires left a trail of burnt rubber in their wake. He brushed back Rose’s hair as he searched for injuries. But…
    She just had a few scratches. Nothing too terrible. Nothing that should have made Rose stay unconscious this way. She was a vamp. Vamps were strong. Too strong for this.
    “
Help…me…
” It was the blond bastard, groaning and waking in the SUV.
    Julian didn’t look at him. “Rose.” He’d said her name, roughly, demandingly, but his touch was tender as he stroked her cheek. “Wake up.”
    She didn’t.
    Why the hell not?
    Icy tendrils seemed to snake around his heart. Fear. He didn’t usually experience fear. Emotions were for the weak, and he didn’t have time to waste on them. But with Rose, it was different. With Rose, everything was different.
    He pulled her into his arms once more, holding her tightly, and he turned toward his motorcycle. He’d get her to safety. She was breathing, there was no sign of deep injury…
    Drugged.
    He stilled, just a foot away from his motorcycle,