Undying Embrace Read Online Free

a thirty-yard leash. “You owe me, Ted. And I’m collecting.”
    Ted chuckled on the other end of the line. “Aw, man. You always were so much fun.” Laughter faded, and he cleared his throat. “What do you want?”
    He proceeded to explain David’s unfortunate turning, and how the kid needed someone to take him in and teach him about his new life. “I see…” Ted paused for a moment. “I have just the person in Fairfield that I’m sure can be there within the hour. His name is Jeremiah. He’ll be able to take the kid in and show him the ropes.”
    “This Jeremiah…” Arran began, then lowered his voice. “What type of payment or expectations will he have regarding David?”
    “Don’t worry. Part of the favor. Jeremiah’s one of the good guys. I’ll take care of what he needs. He won’t expect anything from David.”
    “See that you do,” he said, his voice a rumble of warning before he ended the call.
    The seat clicked into place, and turning the lock, he secured the cell phone back in the compartment. Shoving his keys back in his pocket, he ambled over to the oak David had planted himself against. A breeze rustled the leaves hanging on the aged tree’s branches, the fragrant scent of wisteria blooms lingering on the warm summer night’s wind. Breathing deep, he shook his head. Such a sweet-smelling contradiction to the putrid evil lurking in the dark.
    “I’ve found someone to teach you what you need to know.” David glanced up. “You’ll be safe there. There won’t be any sexual demands.”
    “When will they be here?”
    “Jeremiah will be here in about an hour. But I do want something from you before I leave.” Arran braced one arm on the bark above David’s head. “Tell me everything you know about Commander Markus, including where I can find him.”

Chapter Two
    “Wicked Ways…” Gabrielle Stevens allowed the name of the club to roll off her tongue. This was crazy. What had her sister been doing, hanging out in a club for goths? At least that was the story, according to one of Alexandria’s neighbors. Elle had knocked on every door of anyone Alex had ever mentioned in her e-mails and phone calls. No one had seen her sister for at least three weeks. The only lead left to check out was this club with the sinful name near Fairfield University, where someone had spotted Alex the weekend before she’d disappeared.
    Sitting on the edge of her sister’s bed, Elle slid her feet into the new black leather, four-inch-heel boots she’d bought for tonight. So not her normal style. There was way more heel than she was used to, since she was already considered somewhat tall at five eight, but she had to admit they made her feel ultra-sexy. She leaned over and smoothed her hands along the buttery-soft cowhide encasing her calves up to her knees. Man, she did love the feel of nice leather. Elle eased to her feet and tested her balance. Okay, yeah, she could do this. The thin heels tapped against the hardwood floor as she made her way to the oak dresser sitting across from the bed.
    The studded leather choker she’d purchased lay stretched across the glass top of the vanity. She trailed her fingers along the tips of the cool spiked metal and glanced into the mirror. With her hair pulled back, the pale jagged scars on the right side of her neck stood in sharp relief against her olive skin. On a slow inhale, she reached up and slid her fingertips over the bumpy surface of the ugly reminder that seven years hadn’t erased. Elle wrapped the wide band around her neck and tied the laces in the back. The width did its job. It left no visible evidence of her past.
    The long black wig wasn’t exactly her color, but she had to look the part. She worked the pins into place, making sure it fit tight against her scalp, and tossed her head from side to side. The locks of blue-black hair fell past her shoulders. She stared into the mirror, the fake stud in her nose sparkling in the dresser’s lamplight.