Free The Warrior Vampire by Kate Baxter Page B

steps in his direction, pulling the crazy-ass dagger from behind her back. She stopped right at his feet and leveled the knife at his face. “See, the thing is, Ronan, I’m not playing.”
    Hot. Damn. Oh, she was playing, all right. She just didn’t know it yet. “Take these cuffs off of me,” Ronan said, giving her a taste of that no-nonsense tone she was so fond of.
    â€œNo.”
    Ronan sighed. This back-and-forth was getting them nowhere. “Look, Naya—”
    A knock came at the door and Naya jumped as if she’d never heard the sound before. She looked around, frantic, and Ronan had to admit, he liked seeing her thrown off her game. Whoever was at the door deserved a tip of his hat, for sure. “Get up,” she ground from between clenched teeth. “In the bedroom. Now.”
    â€œNaya, I know you’re here. Your car’s parked out front!” the male voice on the other side of the door called.
    â€œBoyfriend?” Ronan cocked his brow in question. A wave of jealousy stole over him, congealing into an icy lump in his gut. He’d tear the throat from any male who thought to lay claim on her.
    â€œShhh!” Naya hissed as she pushed him into the bedroom. Ronan didn’t even bother fighting her; this was just the distraction he needed. Once through the door, she gave him a none-too-gentle shove against his shoulder— strong for such a petite little thing —and he made a show of tumbling to the bed. “Sit. Don’t move. You so much as whisper, I’m coming in here to gut you. Understand?”
    Ronan pursed his lips together tight as if they were glued shut. Another round of door-rattling pounds came and Naya shut the bedroom door behind her. “Hang on, Santi!” she called in an airy voice. “I’m just getting out of the shower!”

 
    CHAPTER
    6
    Santi looked her over, his mouth screwed up into a pucker. “I thought you were just getting out of the shower?”
    Naya looked around for the first available hard surface to bang her head against. “I meant I was just about to get in the shower.” She leveled her gaze, daring him to doubt her. “What’s up?”
    No one but Santi and Luz knew about Naya’s house. And right now she wished neither of them did. The male’s senses were keen. Hiding Ronan in her bedroom wouldn’t do shit to keep his presence a secret. She needed to get him out of there. Like yesterday.
    Santi narrowed his eyes as he regarded her. His nostrils flared. He’d be able to smell the anxiety wafting from her if she didn’t calm the hell down. “Paul wants you tracking again tonight.”
    Another hunt? What in the hell was going on? It seemed that rogue magic users were running rampant lately. Tonight would mark ten straight nights of hunts. In a town that boasted fewer than ten thousand residents, Naya considered herself busy if she made one or two repossessions every six months. El Sendero drew the occasional magic usurper to their area, but the recent number of incidents to hit the area was unusual.
    â€œNot a problem,” she replied with a shrug. In fact, it was a huge problem. What was she supposed to do with Ronan while she was out working?
    Santi walked deeper into the living room. Too close to her bedroom for Naya’s peace of mind. His dark gaze flicked to the closed door and back to her. “Are you okay?”
    Naya drew on her power and used it to project a façade of calm. “Of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?”
    Santi canted his head. “I know, Naya. There’s no use trying to play it cool.”
    Shit! Shit, shit, shit. “It’s not what you think. I was trying to—”
    â€œFor the record, I don’t agree with Paul, or the council. Why the rush to pair you off? A mating with Joaquin is ill-timed. We need to neutralize these threats that keep cropping up first.”
    A sigh of