Vampires Among Us [Vampires Among Us 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)

released her lungs, and silently willed herself to calm down as she started her car. Her mind refused to listen though, as insecurities seemed to plague her. Yes, she was taking control of her life, but she was also putting another family’s lives in danger. Would Shawn try to destroy them if he found her? Did she have any other options? She certainly couldn’t see any. No, she was smart enough to know if she didn’t get away soon, it would be too late.
    She put the car into drive and pulled out of the driveway. She tried hard not to consider the consequences if she wasn’t successful. She floored the gas pedal, in a hurry to put as many miles as possible between her old home and the new life she was starting.

Chapter Two
     
    Kevin stared down at his phone, hardly believing the conversation he just finished having with Erica. He could only surmise that she was in enough agony and pain, had seen an opportunity to make a run for it, and decided to do so. This is precisely what he had been waiting and hoping for. As he hung up the phone, he quickly glanced up to Marshall, who was now standing in front of his desk.
    “Well, is it game on?” Marshall asked eagerly.
    Kevin smiled briefly, as he stood up from his chair and grabbed his keys. “Put everyone on alert. I’ll let you know the second she is at my house, and then yes, it is most definitely ‘game on.’”
    “Damn, we have been waiting for this moment for a while. I’m glad to see it has finally arrived. I take it she is staying at your place?” Marshall inquired, as he gave his boss a grin.
    Kevin shot a dark look back at him. “I can’t think of a safer place to put her while we take care of this little problem.”
    “Are you planning on wiping her memory?” Marshall pressed.
    Kevin spun around to face his second-in-command with a hard glare. “I have no intentions of wiping her mind, and neither will anyone else!” he roared. Kevin hadn’t told a soul that Erica was his mate yet. He wanted to get her to safety, have some time to gain her trust, before she was faced with everything from his world.
    Marshall held up his hands in defense. “Hey, I’m just saying, you know the rules. If a vamp and a human split, the human’s mind has to be wiped of the memory of us. Of course,” he added with a bit of a grin, “that wouldn’t be necessary if she were to get with another of our kind.”
    Kevin refused to give Marshall the satisfaction of acknowledgment. He strolled to the door, calling over his shoulder, “You’re in charge of this mission, Marshall. I am sure I’ll have my hands full getting Erica settled most of this afternoon. I’ll call you later for an update. Call me if you need me.” Kevin felt confident leaving the team in Marshall’s capable hands. He also felt confident that with Erica safely out of harm’s way, Shawn Harper would pay dearly for his actions against his young wife! As he jumped on his Harley and headed home, he thought about what Marshall had just pointed out. Yes, he knew the laws of their kind, hell, he enforced them every day of his life, but Marshall had a point. Even though he truly believed Erica was his mate, he would have to get her to fall in love with him in order to get around wiping her memory. He only hoped he would be given the time he knew he would need to get her to come around.
    Erica caught Kevin pacing up and down the driveway as she pulled in. By the time she had stopped the car and cut the engine, Kevin was at the driver’s door holding it open for her. She stepped out of the car, and in his excitement to finally have her safe, he snatched her up for a tight hug. Her small strangled cry stopped him cold. He immediately released her and stepped back, berating himself for not remembering her injuries. The look of pain in her eyes caused his chest to hurt.
    “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to hurt you. Are you okay?” he asked cautiously.
    “Yes,” she quickly replied. A little too quick for Kevin’s liking. “It’s just…” She glanced down and bit her bottom lip as she gently lifted the side of her shirt, revealing the dark purplish-black bruises standing out against the creaminess of her skin on her ribs. A low hiss escaped between his lips, as his hands clenched into tight fists on either side of him. He wrestled with his temper for the next minute and a half. It would do no good for Erica to become frightened of him. Although he concentrated on taking a few deep breaths to rein