Free Moon Bound by Stephanie Julian Page A

mean he wasn’t. “You heard me. No one’s ever seen you with a woman. You skulk around like a wraith, you have no friends. No one knows where you live. Where do you live, anyway?”
    His gaze narrowed. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you. Why the sudden interest in my life?”
    “Because I’ve decided it’s time to move on and you’re the lucky guy.”
    If she hadn’t inhaled her drink, she would’ve been able to think fast enough to figure out the expression that crossed Diego’s face. But by the time she got her thoughts together, he spoke.
    “Luck’s not a word I’m acquainted with, though, for you, I’d make an exception.”
    Bella signaled the bartender for another drink but Diego waved him off.
    She flashed Diego a look that would have made a lesser man cower in fear. “ You are not my brother. Or my keeper. If I want another drink, I’m going to have one.”
    He shook his head. “Right now, I need you sober.”
    She huffed. “Alright, no more alcohol for me.”
    “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get out of here.”
    Diego helped her to her feet and she felt the room swing, reminding her that she was a lightweight when it came to alcohol, even if the buzz wouldn’t last long.
    “I’ve gotta go to the rest room.”
    She swayed on her feet and took a moment to steady herself, taking a deep breath and heading for the bathroom across the hall. She had to cut through a crowd of what looked like Japanese tourists to get there, the smell of humanity almost overpowering her with its blood and tension and sweat.
    In the bathroom, she used the toilet, trying to shut off her olfactory glands as she did. The amount of chemicals they used in this place was going to make her sick.
    Breathing heavily through her mouth, she stepped to the sink to wash her hands, trying not to look at her reflection in the mirror. She knew she must look like crap. Grief and lack of sleep would not be kind to her complexion.
    She needed—
    A slight movement behind her caught her attention.
    She looked into the mirror and saw a woman behind her raise a hypodermic needle.
    * * *
    Diego watched Bella walk away, shaking his head at her unsteady gait.
    He’d always had a soft spot for her, had actually considered taking her for his mate, something her brother had pushed for long and hard. But he knew he’d never have her heart. She’d given that away long ago.
    To a man unworthy of her attention, much less her heart. A man who turned his back on his loved ones was a man Diego did not want by his side in a fight.
    As she disappeared into the bathroom, he scanned the crowd, always alert to a threat.
    He didn’t sense one now.
    Until he saw Bella fly out of the bathroom seconds later, her expression pissed off as she hurried toward him.
    “Someone jumped me in the bathroom,” she hissed. “Female. Wasn’t expecting it. Stupid, stupid.”
    Diego grabbed her arm and started pulling her toward the escalators, tightening his grip when she tried to pull away. “Let’s get the hell out of here before we start laying blame. Do you know her?”
    Bella glanced behind her as they hurried toward the bank of escalators that would take them to the first-floor exit. “No, but here she comes.”
    They made it to the escalators and Diego looked over his shoulder to see a blonde nursing a split lip leave the bathroom at a run.
    When her eyes lit on Bella, they narrowed and Diego could easily imagine flames erupting from her ears. He didn’t wait around to see her light anything on fire. He started down the escalator. Disgruntled travelers sniped as he barreled through, dragging Bella with him. He ignored them.
    “Diego,” Bella said.
    He turned, saw the blonde closing in and jumped the last five steps to the bottom. Bella stumbled but didn’t fall and they ran for the exit.
    “We can’t get to my car without her catching us,” he said. “We need to lose her first.”
    “Diego.” Bella stumbled again as they dodged traffic to get