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  Closing his eyes, he imagined the pleasure he’d take from slicing the bastard into little pieces. That wasn’t his usual way of doing business. The Others he fought died quickly, if not painlessly. This time, he planned on savoring it.

  “Uh, Blake? I don’t know what you’re thinking about, but it can’t be pleasant.” Brenna’s eyes reflected worry and maybe a touch of fear again.

  Damn, it was bad enough she thought he was some kind of alien creature, without scaring her on top of it. He dragged his attention back to the present and picked up the bill. “Let’s go. I don’t want to keep Jarvis waiting.”

  She reached across the table to lay her hand over his. “Can’t we talk first?”

  “About what?” He didn’t move, enjoying the warmth of her hand on his.

  She waved her fork in the air. “I don’t know, whatever people talk about. The weather? The last book you read?”

  He glanced out the window. “It’s hot outside.”

  Brenna rolled her eyes and sat back. “Well, so much for that subject. What have you been reading lately?”

  He hesitated, not wanting her to read more into his answer than was necessary. “One of your books.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, I told you back in the hospital that I’d read all but the newest one. What’s the matter? Do you think we’re some kind of primitive life form that can’t read?” He held out his hands. “We’ve got opposable thumbs and everything; with special training, we can even turn the pages for ourselves.”

  Brenna surprised him by laughing. “I wish you could see your face, Blake.”

  Rather than taking offense, he took pleasure in seeing her smile again. It felt damn good to see her enjoying herself, even if it was at his expense.

  “Seriously, though, I’m just flattered that you’d buy my books and read them.”

  He shrugged. “I like the way you bring history down to how it affects an individual. Most of the time, we only see it from a distance.”

  Her eyes lit up with pleasure. “That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said about my work. Some of my coworkers at the university sneer because I write for public consumption rather than for some dusty old scholarly magazine.”

  She took his hand in hers again, tracing the line of calluses built up from hours of hefting a sword. “I’ll have to send you an advance readers’ copy of the next one. It will be coming out in just over eight months.

  His good mood plummeted. If his test results were to be believed, there was a damn good chance that he wouldn’t be around in eight months. He pulled out his wallet and laid down enough money to cover the bill.

  “Time to head out.”

  Brenna’s smile faded. “Fine with me. Are we still going to stop on the way?”

  “Yeah, I think we should.” He glanced at the black cat clock on the diner wall, its tail swishing off the seconds. “I’d better give Jarvis a call and let him know that we’ll be later than I thought.”

  “I’m going to stop in the ladies’ room. I’ll meet you at the car.”

  She walked away a little too quickly; he watched until she disappeared into the forbidden territory of the women’s restroom. What was she going to do in there that had her glancing back at him so guiltily?

  Hell, was she going to do something stupid like write a message to the police on the mirror with a lipstick? He tried to remember if he’d seen her wearing any but came up blank.

  No, it was more likely she was going to make a phone call. But to whom? She hadn’t mentioned any close friends since they’d been on the run. He made a mental note to find out more about her private life when things slowed down. Not that he wanted too many details; it would only make it harder to walk away when the time came. He didn’t want to be able to picture her apartment or that college where she worked. Or worse yet, anyone she might be dating.

  That thought had him walking toward the restroom, with no idea of what he was intending to do. The realization that he was overreacting brought him up short, and he veered off toward the front door. No matter who it was she called, the two of them would be safely underground in the tunnels before anyone could track them down.

  She followed him outside only a moment or two later. He’d been expecting her to drag her feet, giving her mysterious white knight time to come charging to her rescue, but she climbed right into the car. When he started the ignition, though, she put her hand on his.

  “We need to stop across the street.”

  He turned his head to see a Super Wal-Mart surrounded by swarms of arriving and departing customers. “Why?”

  She looked away. “I need to pick up a prescription.”

  “You should have told me if you were in pain. We would have stopped yesterday and gotten you something.”

  “I’m not in pain.” Her cheeks flushed pink.

  “Then what?

  “I need my birth control pills.” She glared at him as if daring him to say something.

  But at that moment, he couldn’t have strung together two coherent words. Good God—birth control hadn’t even crossed his mind last night. How many time times had they…? Not that it mattered; once without protection was enough. Twice was asking for it. And four or five times…

  If he offered to also buy a box of condoms, would she think he was assuming that they’d pick up where they left off this morning? But if she’d missed several doses, she’d be at risk to get pregnant. As he waited for a break in traffic, he tried to decipher his reaction to the situation.

  Shouldn’t he be in a panic? The last thing either of them needed was for her to get pregnant by him. She’d been raised by a single parent, but her father had been an exceptional man. Blake didn’t want Brenna struggling to juggle parenthood and her career without a husband there to help. An image filled his mind of a small boy with light gray eyes showing off an impressive tower of blocks to his proud mother. Then with a fiendish grin, he knocked them down, giggling at the noise and destruction.

  “Blake, it’s not that big a deal. Lots of women take birth control pills for medical reasons.” She sounded disgusted now.

  “Medical reasons?”

  “Don’t ask. I need the pills. Is that all right with you?” There was a little temper in her words.

  She didn’t want the pills because she was having trouble resisting his dubious charms. No, she just needed them. Disappointment was swift and bitter. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t pick up the condoms—just in case. It might be too late already, considering last night, but he wanted to be prepared.

  Jamming his foot on the accelerator, they burned rubber across the street. He took the first spot he found and followed her into the store. She wasn’t going to like it when he bought the economy-size box of condoms, but he’d learned years ago to always be prepared.

  The Ozark countryside rolled past Brenna’s window with beautiful tree-covered hills and sparkling rivers. This had always been one of her favorite places to take a leisurely drive. For her last book she’d spent hours roaming the area, tracing the paths of women who had come before her, raising their families in log cabins throughout the Ozarks.

  With Trahern at the wheel, the drive was anything but leisurely. They flew past a mileage sign, warning her that the roadside park he’d mentioned was only a short distance away.

  She was still trying to deal with that little episode at the store. Just as she was about to pay for her prescription, Blake had set a large box of condoms on the counter, leaving her no choice but to pay for both with the money he’d given her.

  It really hadn’t hit her until that moment that they’d been playing with fire, having unprotected sex. Even if she’d only missed a few days of her pills, they were at risk until her new prescription took effect. Her hand strayed to her stomach. She’d always wanted children but had planned to find a husband first, in the ordinary way.

  Blake Trahern was anything but ordinary. He leaned more toward extraordinary. How would she explain to a child what he did
for a living? Honey, Daddy will be late tonight because he and his friends have to kill alien invaders. She wanted to giggle, though there was nothing funny about the whole situation.

  Blake slowed for the turn into the park and then stopped. She reached for the envelope they’d tucked under her seat and held it out to him. He accepted it, his silver eyes looking grim.

  “Don’t you want to read it first?”

  She did, but it wasn’t addressed to her. “No, you go ahead.”

  He nodded and climbed out of the car and came around to her side to open her door for her. When he held out his hand, she accepted it without hesitation. No matter who or what he was, he was still the man who had held her in his arms and made her feel safe.

  The small park, which offered a panoramic view of the rolling Ozarks to the west, was deserted. Trahern chose a picnic table at random, sat down on the top, and stared at the envelope in his hands, a strange expression on his face.

  Rather than hover, she walked the short distance to the restroom to wash up a bit. The splash of cold water on her face felt good. She leaned across the sink to study her face in the mirror. She was tired, and it showed in the dark circles under her eyes. Even so, she felt better than she had two days ago. Too bad she couldn’t borrow some of Blake’s spooky ability to heal.

  To give Trahern some privacy, she next walked over to read the small marker that explained the park had been built in memory of one of the founding families in the area. When her life got back to normal, their story might provide the seeds for another book. She loved delving into the past and finding a way to bring it back to life in the minds of her readers.

  Blake walked up beside her. She shivered despite the heat, wanting to lean against his oak solid strength, but resisting the temptation.

  “He asked me to give this to you.” The legal-size envelope had her name on it in bold letters. “I’ll share the rest of it with you when you’re ready.”

  He started to walk away, but she reached out to him. As soon as he stopped, she dropped her hand away from his arm. She knew she was giving him mixed signals—wanting him close, not wanting his alien nature. Maybe it wasn’t fair, but not much in her life was, right now. “Don’t go too far.”

  He turned to watch the road, staying close by.

  Her fingers shook as she opened the envelope. It hurt to know her father had been so sure of his potential death that he’d felt it necessary to write down his last thoughts to her. Unfolding the paper, she blinked her eyes clear of tears so that she could see the words.

  Dear Brenna,

  I’m sorry if you are reading this because it means that something has gone horribly wrong. There’s always the potential danger from an irate defendant, but that goes with the territory of being a judge. I accepted the risks and trusted the law to protect the two of us.

  What I never told you was that my love for the law caused me to take on another role, becoming a member of a secret group called the Regents. Although it is imperative that they operate under the radar of everyday, ordinary people, I will trust you with the truth.

  Our world is in constant danger from invasion from another world. I know this sounds like some crazy sci-fi story, but I swear to you it is the truth. However, our world has also been blessed with a class of warriors, straight out of one those fantasy books you always loved, whose job is to fight unto the death to stop the Others in their tracks. Our old friend Blake Trahern is one of these amazing Paladins. I knew it from the first time he was dragged into my court.

  If you are reading this, I am dead and you are with Blake. I would trust him with my life and, more important, I would trust him with yours. I am proud of the man he has become and want you to tell him so.

  I love you, Brenna Marie. You have been the light of my life. I’m sorry I won’t be there to walk you down the aisle or to hold my first grandchild. Think of me on those days, and know your old man wishes he was there beside you.

  Again, trust Blake to keep you safe. I fear for both of you until he and his friends root out the corruption that threatens to bring down the Regents. If that were to happen, the whole world will suffer.

  Love,

  Dad

  All the grief she’d been holding back finally came crashing down on her. As her heart shattered, tears blinded her, leaving her groping for something solid to hold onto. Then the world tilted—and she fell to the ground.

  Chapter 9

  B lake caught Brenna’s collapse from the corner of his eye. Son of a bitch! He barely managed to break her fall. He scooped her up in his arms, carried her to the nearest table, and settled her in his lap. At first she fought him, trying to break free, but he wasn’t about to let her go.

  Burying her face against his chest, she sobbed, her tears burning hot through his thin T-shirt. He wished like hell that he had the right words to comfort her, but all he could offer was the sanctuary of his arms for as long as she needed him to hold her.

  The hurricane of her pain tore through them both. His own grief was as intense as hers, but he lacked the release of tears. It felt as if she was crying for the both of them, even if she was unaware of it. Judge Nichols had been Blake’s personal savior. Without him, he would have died over and over in the streets years ago. The man had given Brenna life, but he’d given Blake hope: a much rarer gift in this world.

  He was grateful that they were alone when the dam broke; anyone who stumbled across them would have been shocked by the intensity of Brenna’s tears. But finally, slowly, she grew quieter, and he gently stroked her back, hoping it brought her some peace.

  She mumbled against his chest that she was finished now, and he crooked a finger and gently lifted her chin. Her face was blotchy and her eyes swollen and red from her tears—he’d never seen anyone more beautiful in his life. With more gentleness than he’d known he possessed, he slowly lowered his lips to hers. She met him more than half way.

  Their sweet kiss brought him the comfort he craved. He tucked her head down against his shoulder and rested his chin on her hair. Her hand found its way up to his face. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the soft caress before turning his face to kiss the palm of her hand.

  “Thank you, Blake. I didn’t mean to lose control like that.”

  “Don’t sweat it. I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner.” He gave her a quick squeeze to tell her he was glad to have been there when it hit.

  She angled her head to see him better. “My father wanted me to tell you that he trusted you with his life and with me.”

  Her words stabbed right into his chest. He had put the man at risk, and it had cost the judge his life.

  Evidently Brenna could read him better than anyone else. “No, Blake. This was not your fault. You didn’t plant that bomb. If you hadn’t alerted my father that something was wrong, someone else would have. And you know there was no way he would have kept his nose out of things.”

  He wasn’t convinced, but her words helped ease his guilt. Another kiss was definitely in order, though if they kept that up, he might very well want to try out this picnic table. He doubted Brenna would be up for that, even if he was. Literally. The idea had him smiling.

  “Blake Trahern, I do not trust that look.” When his grin widened, she figured it out on her own. “No. No way.” She sat up in his lap, which only made her more aware of his body’s reaction. “I will not get naked with you out here in broad daylight.”

  Did that mean she would get naked when it got dark? He hoped so. He moved her beside him; the distance would help him concentrate on the matters at hand.

  “We need to get going before Jarvis sends out the troops. I promised we’d be there by three at the latest.”

  “I’m ready.” Then she realized that she’d dropped her father’s letter. She scrambled off the table to retrieve it and handed it to him. “I think he meant for you to read this, too.”

  He quickly scanned the letter. At least the judge had told his daughter good-bye and that he’d loved her. She might
not appreciate it now, but later she would draw some comfort from that little bit of closure. But if the man had suspected he was in danger, why in hell hadn’t he called? He knew Blake would have come and brought along trustworthy friends. Together, maybe they could have prevented this whole disaster.

  There must have been no time.

  He handed the letter back to Brenna. “He was a good man who took his oath seriously. The world is a poorer place without him.”

  “Thanks, Blake. That means a lot coming from you.”

  They returned to the car.

  “What else was in the envelope?” she asked.

  “A computer disk and some spreadsheets. He wrote a note that I could trust Jarvis, and should get his help deciphering the information on the disk and the printouts.” There had also been a letter for him—one he wasn’t ready to share with her and perhaps never would.

  “Then we’d better get moving.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” He turned the key in the ignition and left the small park in their dust.

  Jarvis swore. If that damned Regent called or stopped by one more time, he was going to do something they’d both regret. But it might just be worth it, considering what a total prick the man was.

  He hated Ritter’s expensive haircut and hand-tailored suits. Even more, he hated the way Ritter sneered at his jeans and scuffed shoes. Screw him! The Regents paid the Paladins handsomely, but Jarvis didn’t spend it on clothes. The bloodstains were too hard to get out.

  His phone rang.

  Checking his watch, he realized that it might be Trahern. He snatched up the receiver. “Jarvis.”

  He listened to what the guard at the entrance told him. “Would you repeat that?”

  The second time didn’t make him any happier. What the hell was Trahern thinking? Why couldn’t he have stashed the Nichols woman at some local hotel? Obviously the idiot was thinking with the wrong part of his body. A blind man could see that Trahern had it bad for Brenna Nichols, even if he didn’t want to admit it.