Vampire: A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella, Rebecca Zanetti [best novel books to read txt] 📗

to her trembling mouth. Raine had watched her in Dallas, and here he was now in Indiana. She’d trusted him. Heck. She’d slept with him. “How can it be him?” she whispered.

The sheriff leaned over and patted her hand with his smooth one. “These guys are really good at what they do. Anybody would’ve fallen for his charm.”

Fallen for his charm? She’d fallen right into his bed. Her heart hurt worse than her head right now, and there was a migraine on its way. “These pictures aren’t enough to show a stalking case, right? I mean, we have to prove he sent the flowers.”

“And bombed his own truck?” Tabi asked, setting down the pictures. “That doesn’t make any sense. Why would he ruin his truck?”

The sheriff spared her a glance. “Obviously to throw us off his tail as well as make Mariana feel vulnerable and in need of protection, which he was more than happy to provide.”

He’d provided more than that. Multiple orgasms to be exact. Mariana clenched her teeth together. “I feel sick.” He’d seemed so genuine and kind. “What about this disease he has? Is that false, too?” Her head was telling her to look at the evidence, but her heart was still fighting the reality. Those pictures were real and did not lie.

The sheriff snorted. “He has a disease?”

“A degenerative one,” Mariana said slowly.

“Yeah. He looks sick,” the sheriff muttered. “Not. Unbelievable.”

Mariana rubbed her hands down her jeans. “I did wonder how the guy found me here. If Raine was the stalker in Dallas, he must’ve followed me.” But it didn’t feel right. Not after the night they’d shared.

The sheriff patted her hand again. “I’m glad we arrested him.”

Tabi lifted her head. “Arrested him? Like booked him?”

“Yes.” The sheriff sat taller. “I’m sure he’s being fingerprinted right now.”

Tabi looked at Evan. “Crap. This is worse than we thought.”

Chapter 10

The only thing that kept Raine from losing his damn mind was the fact that Evan and Tabi were with Mariana. He sat in a cell for nearly an hour before the sheriff deigned to take him to an interrogation room. The human’s satisfied smile nearly got him punched in the mouth.

Apparently Raine’s thoughts showed on his face because the sheriff lost the smile and hustled them to the room, securing his cuffs to a bar across the table.

Then he sat across from him. “Sorry about the delay but I was running through the case with Mariana.” The possessive tone and purposeful use of the woman’s first name set Raine’s teeth on edge.

Yet he kept his bored façade in place. “Lawyer. Want one. Now.”

The sheriff sighed. “Now Raine. Is that really necessary? Don’t you want to get this taken care of? I think in your own sick way, you care for Dr. Lopez. How about you tell me everything, and I figure out a way to help you here? I think you need help.”

Raine studied the man. His eyes had dilated when he’d said Mariana’s name. “You’re interested in her.”

The sheriff’s eyebrows lifted. “This is a case.” His eyes darted left and then back.

“You know, you’re not a very good liar.” Raine crossed his arms.

The door opened, and his brother strode in, briefcase in hand.

Raine looked him up and down. “What the fuck?”

Cade kept his serious expression in place. “I was close by.”

Raine’s nostrils flared as the reality hit him square center. “Were you, now?”

Cade had the decency to wince. “We thought it was a good idea.”

Oh, Raine was going to throw him through the door face first. “Who was with you?” Already he knew. Of course he knew. Cade and Collin were twins and rarely did stupid stuff alone.

“Collin,” Cade admitted. “We didn’t hurt anybody, and it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

The sheriff cleared his throat. “What the hell are you two talking about?”

“Nothing,” Raine growled. “It’s a family matter that we’ll talk about later.” With a punch or two to the face. The twins had kidnapped him and Mariana to force his hand. He might have to kill them.

Cade relaxed. “Yes. Family matter to handle later. Right now, let’s deal with this.”

Raine looked him over. “Nice suit.” It was gray and probably cost more than ten grand. When his brother played a part, he did it with style.

“This old thing?” Cade drawled.

The sheriff stood and puffed out his chest before holding out a hand. “Sheriff Baker.”

“Cade Maxwell.” Cade must’ve gripped too tightly when they shook, because the sheriff failed to hide his wince. “I’m Raine’s brother as well as his attorney. Well, one of his many attorneys. We do like to sue people.”

Raine cut him a look. Cade was twenty years younger at almost three hundred and eighty years old and was just as broad across the chest and as tall as Raine, but his hair was a burnished brown and his eyes a cerulean blue. “Get me out of here.”

“Not happening.” The sheriff retook his seat.

Cade strode around to sit next to Raine. “All right, Sheriff. Show me what you’ve got.”

The sheriff then proceeded to show them pictures of Raine in Dallas as well as the records search showing that Raine was never sentenced to anything in Indiana.

Cade leaned forward. “Well. This is a disaster.” He rubbed his smooth shaven chin. While Raine’s face was all hard angles, Cade had more of a rugged and square look to him. “I mean, it’s horrible.”

The sheriff smiled and looked at Cade with respect in his eyes. “Exactly. Help me to help your brother. The guy is sick.”

Raine sat back to watch. Why not?

Cade blinked. Once. Just once. “Why, Sheriff, I was talking about your case. I mean, come on. You have pictures of my client in Dallas, and none of them show Dr. Mariana Lopez in them. Well, except for this one in the bar. As you can tell, Raine is sitting next to what can only be considered a stunning redhead in a dress that was truly lovely, even if a