Sterling Read online

  “I want this to end, Sterling,” she said. “I want it over. We walk out that door, my shields down, and we don’t wind-walk to safety either. End this. No one is safe while Dorian is free. We can only hope your instincts are screaming because we have a chance to catch him.”

  Sterling stood there, the sound of slot machines and screams melting into an abyss. No—he would grab her and wind-walk her to safety the minute they exited.

  She reached up and pressed her hand to his chest, as if she sensed the decision he was going to make. “We are trying to stop a monster before he can get his grip on the world. This is the time for you to learn to deal with reaching beyond your protectiveness for me. If you can’t be objective under these circumstances, then you were right to question yourself and us, because you never will be.”

  Clarity came to Sterling. She was wrong. He would do the same for anyone. Okay, with a little more conviction for Becca, there was no denying that. But he saved lives. He took risks so other people didn’t get hurt. He grabbed her hand. They were getting out of here. She yelped as he tugged her forward, pushed through the crowd. The instant they were away from the entrance cameras, they were riding the wind.

  “Wait!” Becca demanded as he shoved open the door only to find her crumbling to her knees.

  “Becca,” he yelled, bending down to pick her up, only to have a piercing pain rip through his head. “Ah. God.” In some distant place, he could hear Becca whimpering, hear people screaming. Somehow, he pulled himself to a sitting position, and holy shit, Jesus help them, found bodies lying everywhere.

  Becca had gone fetal, and suddenly, a young boy was standing above him. Instantly Sterling was captured in the boy’s mesmerizingly lethal stare—pale silver, rather than black.

  “Sterling!” came Damion’s shout from behind. The boy lifted his hand, and glass shattered—a fierce blast that collided with the pain in his head and made him gag. But somehow, he threw himself over the top of Becca. Screams permeated the air then utter silence. A heavy blanketing force replaced the glass. Holy crap. Becca was right. This kid was a nightmare. The only people coming to help them were coming from inside the casino. He wasn’t sure that was possible; there could be a barrier there too.

  Sterling hunkered over and reached for the nicotine weapon in his belt, when bullets would have felt a whole lot more comforting. So would the strength to lift the weapon. The screech in his head was depleting him, zapping his energy.

  “Enough, Dorian,” came Caleb’s voice.

  “Uncle?”

  Uncle, meaning Caleb. Even in his current state of near insane pain, Sterling heard the whimsical fascination in Dorian’s voice about Caleb—the child beneath the evil—with an idol, of sorts.

  “Have you decided to join us now?” Dorian asked. “Father will be pleased to see you.”

  “Stop hurting the woman,” Caleb ordered. “And we will go see your father together.”

  Sterling could feel Becca shaking beneath him, sobbing. And he knew if Caleb could help her, he would. He must have used whatever mind juice he had to get here in the first place.

  But Sterling saw opportunity and distraction when it presented itself, despite the screeching in his head. He told himself to fire now and willed his hand to life. Shoot the gun while Dorian was occupied. He had to fire the gun.

  “I don’t like to disappoint Father,” Dorian said.

  “If you bring me to your father,” Caleb said. “I promise you, Dorian, he will forgive all else.”

  Sterling aimed the gun and fired over and over, but at the same moment, Dorian said, “I don’t think so.” He lifted his hand, and that barrier that had replaced the glass came down on top of them, crushing Sterling and Becca with the force of an eighteen-wheeler.

  And then, suddenly, it was gone—as if Dorian or maybe Caleb had somehow destroyed it. Sterling gasped for air and reached for Becca, turned her over, and found no pulse. He screamed in horror. Frantically, for the second time since meeting her, he began CPR.

  In his peripheral vision, he was aware of Dorian on the ground, proof the nicotine bullets had not only worked they’d crumbled the wall Dorian had created. Damion grabbed Dorian and faded into the wind as Caleb and Adam came toe-to-toe. Michael stepped to Caleb’s side. Then Marcus stepped to Adam’s side before shifting into Tad.

  Sterling turned away and focused on only one thing—Becca. “No!” The word roared from his lungs, the pain and the impossibility of losing her. He should never have let her come here without the complete bond that would have protected her, made her stronger, safer, able to heal on a level beyond what ICE could give her.

  Desperation rose in him, and he grabbed a piece of glass, sliced his hand, and then hers—pressed them together and willed her to life through the completion of their bond. He straddled her, holding her to him, begging her to live. “Come on baby. Come on.”

  And then, finally, she coughed and blinked. He had no idea why, but she was crying when she sat up and flung her arms around him.

  “Tell me you’re okay,” he whispered. “Please. Tell me you’re okay.”

  “Yes,” she said. “I’m okay. Did we get Dorian? Did it work?”

  “Damion got him,” he said, amazed time and time again at just how brave she was. “I hope that means it’s over.”

  She wet her lips. “Did you—did we?”

  “Complete our bond? You bet we did, and you’re stuck with me now.”

  A small smile touched her lips. “And you’re stuck with me too.”

  He kissed her, scooped her up, and turned to find Caleb and Michael returning. Sirens sounded—raw and grinding, dozens of them.

  Around him people were sitting up, waking from their unconscious state, thankfully alive. Sterling could see the headlines tomorrow. “Terrorist bomb set off in casino.” Or “Angry gambler goes ballistic.” Either way, there was a mess to be dealt with.

  “It’s over,” Caleb announced. “Adam’s not foolish enough to bring down the wrath of the army, or the Renegades, while he’s not in a position to win. It’s the big picture, rule the world shit, to him.”

  “Mark my word though,” Michael said. “He’ll come for Dorian, and sooner, rather than later. But for now, their production of ICE is officially halted.”

  Caleb looked at Becca. “You were very brave.”

  “Yeah, you were,” Sterling murmured, staring down at her with more than love—he felt pride and admiration.

  She smiled up at him. “See what happens when you listen to what I have to say.”

  He laughed, knowing they had plenty of time to argue about who was in charge. Right now, he simply wanted to take her to Kelly and make sure she was safe. And then take her to bed and keep her there by his side for an eternity—or as long as she would have him.

  ***

  Adam returned to Zodius Nation, very aware of his son’s absence by his side, but he shared a mental link with Dorian, and through him he would influence Caleb to join him. The world had a way of shaping destiny, and today was no different. Destiny was definitely afoot.

  He’d left Tad back at the casino, squirming like a pathetic ant, begging forgiveness, trying to figure out how to maintain his Marcus identity without ICE.

  Adam wasn’t shortsighted enough to prematurely kill Marcus, though he wasn’t about to share the details with Tad. Torture Marcus? Of course. Kill him? Time would tell. First Adam would evaluate his usefulness. His influence with those Adam wished to control.

  He found his wife Ava in the women’s quarters, lounging on a velvet chair in the center of the room. Chocolates and fruits adorned long tables, roses in every corner. Human females, her followers, surrounded her, eager to be future mothers of their new “perfect” lineage. Ava’s ability to seduce them with her mind so that they would seduce his men with their bodies was arousing. But then, everything about his voluptuous Lifebond aroused him.

  He sauntered to the lounge chair, the women around him all but falling all over themselves.
Their king had arrived. He sat down and pulled Ava close. “Dorian has penetrated the Renegades’ camp.”

  Apprehension slid over her lovely, heart-shaped face. “You are sure that Caleb will try to rehabilitate him rather than kill him?”

  “He is a child,” Adam said. “Of course he will try rehabilitation. And he will believe he has succeeded.” He kissed her. “All is well, my love. And with time, it will be even better.”

  ***

  Sabrina tossed the duffel bag over her shoulder and rushed down her apartment stairs. She couldn’t find Tad, and she was pretty sure, based on the mess at the hotel, his plan had gone badly. Which meant Adam would kill him and anyone near him. She had to get away. Quickly.

  She exited the back of the building, the lot dark, a fine mist of rain starting to fall. Nerves jittery in her stomach, her heels clicking on the pavement, she all but ran to her car and yanked open the door when headlights shined on her. She stilled, feeling the squeeze in her chest of certain death.

  All of a sudden, a car was there, a shiny black sedan. The back window slid down. A distinguished man appeared, his hair laced with gray, his features shadowy in the inky darkness.

  “Hello, Sabrina,” he said.

  “Who are you?” she asked, wetting her lips nervously.

  “A friend who wants to help you,” he said.

  “Help me how?”

  “Stop depending on men with big promises and no ability to deliver.”

  She snorted. “And I suppose you can?”

  “I’m the one who brings the right people together with the right solutions, even if they think it’s a coincidence. It never is. I’ve been watching you, Sabrina.” Moonlight shimmered across the twitch of his lips. “I can make you the first woman to enter the GTECH program—the ‘Madame’ of many others who will become like you.”

  “How?” she asked. No more running, no more hiding, no more wanting and wishing.

  “All you have to do is come with me,” he said, popping the door open and disappearing inside.

  She looked at her broken-down Toyota and thought of the slim wad of cash in her purse that would last maybe a year. She climbed into the car and pulled the door shut. He wore an army green dress uniform, and she knew enough to know he was high-ranking. She glanced at a medal on his jacket and read the name.

  Then she smiled, soft and sexy. She was cool with military men. She was cool with anyone who gave her the power, once and for all. “I’m all yours, Captain.”

  “That’s General, Sabrina. General Powell.”

  ***

  Near sundown, two days after their Lifebonding was complete, Becca and Sterling were in Houston on her front porch, watching as Damion trotted from the moving truck to the porch and grabbed a box. “That’ll do it. We’re off.” He smiled at Becca. “See you in the city.”

  As in Sunrise City, the Renegades’ headquarters, and her new home. Becca smiled and leaned into Sterling. “See you.”

  When the truck pulled away, Sterling turned her into his arms and kissed her. Becca ran her hand down his cheek. “I’ve been thinking about you being a little more human than the other GTECHs.” He stiffened and frowned. She frowned right back. “Don’t look like that. Don’t you see? It’s just like we thought. There are no coincidences. You had to be as you were, so you could be my anchor and help me learn to control my abilities.” Her voice softened. She loved this man so much. “You really do complete me, Sterling. It’s the most amazing feeling.”

  Black eyes stared back at her, though to everyone else they were teal. After their bond, he no longer needed his lenses to camouflage their color, and he no longer had wind-walking limitations.

  “There’s something I need to ask you,” he said softly.

  A smile froze on her lips as she recognized the sudden tension in him. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  The wind lifted around them, and suddenly they were on a balcony of a high-rise hotel, and she was facing a rail with Sterling nestled close behind her, miles of Vegas city lights around them, twinkling in spectacular glory.

  “It’s gorgeous,” she said, leaning into him. “Where are we? What building is this?”

  “The View Hotel and Casino,” he said, softly, too softly. “In the honeymoon suite.”

  “What?” she turned in his arms to face him, and he went down on his knee. Her heart thundered in her chest, and her eyes watered. “What are you doing?”

  He produced a small velvet box. “You didn’t exactly get to pick when we Lifebonded, but you can choose if you live your life by my side. So Becca, I would very much like to take you to the chapel and make you my wife. Or anywhere in the world you want to go, whenever you want. I’m impatient though. I want you to be mine—tonight. I want to know you choose me, just like I choose you.” He flipped the box open, displaying a single, elegant white diamond that would rival all the lights around them.

  Becca bent down in front of him. “I choose you. Yes, tonight. I love you so much, Sterling, it hurts sometimes.” Relief and happiness washed across his features, and she realized he’d been nervous. How could he possibly have doubted she would say yes?

  He slipped the ring on her finger. “You like it? Because if you don’t—”

  She kissed him. “I love it and you.”

  Long minutes later, they were inside the room, stripping off each other’s clothes. They went down on the bed together, Sterling on top of her, big and strong, and perfect in every way. “I thought we were going to the chapel?” she teased.

  He slid inside her, stretched her deliciously, filling her in ways she’d never known possible. “I booked us for midnight.” He brought her finger to his mouth, kissing the diamond that said she was his. “I figured we’d need some time to celebrate our engagement.” He brushed his lips over hers. “When we come back, we’ll celebrate the wedding.” And he proceeded to show her just how well he understood the meaning of sin in the city.

  Epilogue

  A month after Dorian’s capture, Becca stood in the amazing underground world that was Sunrise City, complete with restaurants, entertainment, living quarters, military, and scientific facilities. But the room that kept drawing her was this one—the mini surveillance room outside the two-way mirror looking into Dorian’s room.

  Becca stood at the window, watching him now as he read a popular teen novel, looking so very normal and so very alone. Behind her a pot of coffee brewed in the miniature kitchen, and a newspaper rested on the table next to her laptop, with speculation about the “terrorist” attack inside a popular Vegas casino.

  The door behind her opened, and she turned to smile as Sterling entered. “Hungry?” he asked, carrying a box of—yes—his favorite doughnuts.

  In the weeks since they’d Lifebonded, she’d worked with Kelly to perfect an immunization against ICE that was going to be flushed through the water system. With Kelly and Becca at the helm of the project, the army was actually supporting a community center to help ICE users endure the painful, but not deadly, withdrawal from ICE. The really exciting part of this to Becca was the cancer research some of the doctors here in Sunrise were beginning to embark on based on her medical records.

  Becca shook her head at Sterling as he set the doughnuts on the table. “You’re addicted.”

  He closed the distance between them and pulled her close. “I’m a ‘you’ addict.”

  “Says the man who’s been Lifebonded for all of a month,” she teased.

  He brushed hair from her eyes, his expression softening. “A month I plan to turn into a very long lifetime.”

  She raised on her toes and kissed him. “I love you,” she said.

  “I love you too,” he said. “But if you could say that with a distinctly happy vibe, not a sad one, it would do wonders for my male ego.”

  She rested her hand on his chest, the warm strength of him washing over her, reminding her how lucky she was to find someone so special. Everyone wasn’t so lucky. She turned to the window and watched t
he little boy inside. “He’s a product of greed,” she said. “A victim.”

  He stepped beside her. “This from a woman who practically changed his name to ‘evil’ when we were trying to capture him?”

  She touched the glass. “I’d never seen him like this. Being a boy. Maybe Caleb can change him. Bring out good instead of evil.”

  Sterling turned her into his arms. “Definitely not a bet I would take. But…” His eyes twinkled mischievously. “A group of the guys have a Friday night card game.”

  She gaped. “You want to play cards?”

  “No,” he said. “But it would really amuse me to have you play and win. They won’t be expecting it. Oh yeah. Good times. What do you say?”

  “And if I don’t win?”

  A slow smile slid onto his oh-so-sexy mouth. “I’ll bet on you every time.”

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to the staff at Sourcebooks for being so supportive and overall wonderful. Thanks to Deb for editorial guidance to make the book shine. Thanks to Susie, Cat, and Danielle for invaluable support. To Lisa’s Underground Angels—I love you ladies. Special thanks to Wendy and Fedora! Finally, a shout to my fellow Dangerous Women and all our dangerous readers. Love you guys!

  About the Author

  Award-winning author Lisa Renee Jones has published more than fifteen novels in several languages, spanning multiple genres of romance—contemporary, romantic suspense, dark paranormal, and erotic fiction. In each book the hero is dark, dangerous, and sexy. She debuted for Nocturne and Blaze on the Bookscan bestseller list. You can find Lisa on Twitter, Facebook, and her blog for regular updates. Her website with these links can be found at www.lisareneejones.com.