Dark and Deadly: Eight Bad Boys of Paranormal Romance Read Online Free Page A

don’t want you anywhere near humans, understand? If you leave Shiftertown, I will have your carcass hauled in front of me again, and then you won’t walk out of here so easily.”
    “Begging Your Honor’s pardon.” Liam Morrissey shot her his charming grin. “Ronan’s job lies outside Shiftertown, just outside the gates, in fact. He works for me, and he supports three kiddies with his salary. It would be a great hardship on his family if he couldn’t go to his job.”
    “Fine.” The judge scowled, but even she wasn’t immune to Liam’s smile. “He goes to work, then right back home. Consider him under house arrest. I’m holding you responsible for him.” The judge pointed her gavel at Liam then banged it on the bench. She got up, robes swirling, and stalked out through the door behind the bench, which closed with a bang.
    Elizabeth was bursting to ask Liam what had happened at her house, but she had to wait for the bailiff to unlock Ronan from his shackles and then unlock the doors to let them out. Both Ronan and Kim had to sign things after that, and then they all had to walk out of the courthouse, back to the dark streets outside.
    “What about my sister?” Elizabeth nearly shouted at Liam as soon as they cleared the front door.
    Ronan put a large hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder, but it was comforting, not heavy. Kim walked close to her other side.
    “Mabel’s fine, lass,” Liam said. “My brother and dad got there in time. They and my trackers scared the bad guys away.”
    “What bad guys? Why were they trying to break into my house?”
    They started down the street to the nearly deserted parking lot a half block away. Only two vehicles stood in the lot: Elizabeth’s small pickup and a sweet-looking Harley.
    “I don’t know,” Liam said. “Sean only told me that your sister was safe and that the trackers were sniffing around, seeing what they can find out.”
    “Trackers—you said that before. What trackers?”
    “The trackers work for Liam,” Ronan said. “They’re guards, finders, warriors. Some of them can be complete assholes, but they’re the best at what they do.”
    “Nothing will happen to Mabel with my trackers looking out for her,” Liam said. “I promise you that.”
    Elizabeth closed her eyes a brief moment in relief. “Thank you, Mr. Morrissey.”
    “Yeah, thanks, Liam,” Ronan said. “And you, Kim. Especially you.”
    Ronan shouldered Liam out of the way and snatched Kim into a big hug.
A bear hug,
Elizabeth thought, feeling a little hysterical. Kim hugged him in return, and Liam stood by, not seeming to mind the large man holding on to his wife.
    Kim patted Ronan’s back. “You’re welcome, big guy. Can I breathe now?”
    Ronan released her and stepped back, then damned if he didn’t turn and enclose Liam in the same kind of hug. Elizabeth watched, eyes widening, as Liam wrapped his arms around the bigger man and held him close.
    “You get used to it after a while,” Kim said. Her nose wrinkled with her smile. “Sort of.”
    Liam and Ronan broke apart. Liam reached for his wife—no, his
mate
. Elizabeth was never going to get used to these terms. Liam hugged Kim and kissed her firmly on the mouth, and then he turned to Elizabeth and Ronan, one arm securely around Kim.
    “Take her home, Ronan.”
    Elizabeth blinked. “What? He can’t. He was put under house arrest ten minutes ago. That doesn’t include driving across town to my house.”
    Ronan stood very close to Elizabeth. She could feel the heat from his body, remembered the feel of the powerful bear rushing past her in his intense and deadly charge. Ronan had saved her life, tonight. His Collar might not have gone off, but no matter what Elizabeth had told the judge, the bear in him had been ready to kill. Elizabeth had seen the need for murder in men’s eyes before, and Ronan had definitely had it.
    “No room for me on Liam’s Harley,” Ronan said. “I’ll have to go with you.”
    Liam and Kim had