Paris After Dark Read Online Free PDF Page A

and ran up the road. He had to be here somewhere. He wouldn’t go to all this trouble, and then hide.
    She scanned the cafes, but didn’t spot him. He couldn’t have gone far. Rachel had left the hotel room the second she’d seen him. At most, he’d be a block ahead of her. She was looking down a side street, trying to decide whether to head in another direction, when she collided with a hard, unyielding male chest. Strong arms enveloped her. Rachel took a deep breath to scream and caught a familiar scent. She looked up and all thoughts of fleeing disappeared as she fell into Gabriel Dumont’s blue eyes.
Four
    Gabriel continued to hold her, enjoying the feel of soft womanly curves in his hands. He longed to pull her closer, taste her full lips, answer the need he could see burning in her eyes. Rachel recovered before he could act on those impulses.
    She grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked. “Did you see him?”
    “See who?” He looked around, but didn’t immediately spot anyone. Gabriel inhaled, catching the familiar fragrance of her floral shampoo. He forced his senses to move on. There were sanguis about, but none nearby.
    “The killer. He was here.” She craned her neck to scan the street.
    Something fluttered dangerously in Gabriel’s chest. “What do you mean he was here?” The calm in his voice belied the building rage scorching his veins.
    Rachel released him. “I just saw him outside my hotel. He had my necklace. Held it up so I could see it. The son-of-a bitch all but dared me to come and get it.”
    Her skin tone had faded to milk, emphasizing the dark circles under her eyes.
    “Are you feeling all right?”
    “Don’t change the subject,” Rachel snapped. “I can tell by your expression that you don’t believe me.”
    There was no deception that Gabriel could sense in her speech. Rachel believed every word coming out of her mouth. She’d obviously seen something that shook her up, but could it really be her attacker?
    “How did he find me?” she asked quietly. If it wasn’t for the fine tension thrumming through her body, he would’ve believed the calm she projected.
    “No idea,” Gabriel said. “Are you sure it was him?”
    “Positive.” A muscle in Rachel’s jaw began to tic. “You’re the only one who knows where I’m staying.”
    Gabriel flinched, his temper pricked by her insinuation. “Are you accusing me of something?”
    Rachel stepped closer. Waves of heat emanated from her tiny body as she peered up at him. “No one else knew where I was staying.”
    “The police knew, but I take it you’ve already ruled them out.” They stood nose to nose. “So you think I moved the body, took you to the police, and then the hospital so that I could turn around and tell your attacker where to find you? Are you even listening to yourself?”
    “I know how it sounds, but that scenario is far more likely than my attacker tailing us all night,” Rachel said. “He’s not an idiot. He isn’t going to sit outside a police station and wait for me to come out. And the police aren’t likely to assist a killer by giving him my address.”
    Gabriel kept his temper in check. “I can assure you that I’ve told no one where you’re staying,” he lied easily. He’d had to list her whereabouts in the report he’d given the high council. All random sanguis attacks had to be reported. It was Sang law. The thought that his actions had somehow endangered her made him ill.
    Rachel touched her head and swayed.
    Gabriel moved quickly, catching her arm. “When was the last time you ate?”
    She shrugged, ignoring the revulsion she felt at the thought of ingesting anything solid. What was wrong with her? Blood made her hungry and the idea of food made her sick. Rachel’s lack of an answer was all the encouragement Gabriel needed.
    “You’re coming with me. We have to get some food in you before you pass out on the street.” He led her down the sidewalk towards Rue de Seine.
    Cafes,