Born in Chains (Men in Chains) by Caris Roane

around so that his body would have a chance to protect her once the gunfire started.
    Everything happened so fast.
    He heard the shots, one after the other, at least thirteen rounds in quick succession. He expected to feel the bullets slam into his back. Instead, he felt Lily pushing at his chest. At least she’d stopped screaming.
    Turning around, however, he couldn’t figure out what had happened. He saw that both the bouncers and Hardesty were down. Two of them still moaned. The newest vampire lay still with his eyes wide open, pupils dilated, blood coming out of his mouth.
    He glanced down at Lily, who now saw what he realized was her handiwork. “Wait, you did this?”
    “Yeah, I just had this feeling and went with it. But I think you’d better get us out of here. Now.”
    Shock held him immobile for about two more seconds. He tested his ability to pass through the door, or any other wall, but he couldn’t. He reached down and pulled the dead vampire away from the door.
    He shoved Lily through then followed after.
    The club was small and he had to get outside and into the air quickly, before reinforcements arrived.
    He turned toward the back hall and, pulling Lily against him, flew toward the back door. Once there, he kicked it wide and without looking back flew into the night sky, making a hard right, then spiraling high.
    Lily hugged him hard. She shook, and his speed caused her pain, he could feel it.
    Once they had passed above the Eiffel Tower and were nearly back to his apartment, he slowed down. He heard Lily moaning. Damn altered flight. Damn weak human.
    He passed through his building, back into the hallway outside the bathroom.
    As soon as he touched down, she dropped the Glock, ran to the toilet, and threw up.
    He took off his coat and saw the bullet holes. She’d made Swiss cheese of some really fine, expensive leather. He had to admit, she’d been smart about the business because she’d caught all three vampires by complete surprise. He’d dropped his dagger the moment he’d turned to protect her with his body.
    Without thinking, he started to head to his office to reload the Glock, but the chain snagged him and Lily cried out, “Hey. I can’t move yet.”
    “Sorry,” he called back.
    He returned to sit down on the carpet outside the hall, setting the gun beside him. He pulled his knees up and rested his elbows on top but ended up with his head in his hands.
    His world, his goddamn disorganized world. Lily had saved them both tonight with her smart shooting and quick thinking. With that much firepower aimed at him, he’d probably be dead, she’d be dead, and that would have been the end of the story.
    Lily appeared next to him, wiping her face.
    He looked up at her. “How’s the head?”
    She nodded. “More like a cantaloupe split into two parts instead of merely exploded. I guess that’s better.”
    He stared at her wondering who the hell she was. “You saved our asses back there. I owe you one.”
    She met his gaze. “I wish we’d gotten more information than what Hardesty delivered.”
    “You still intend to go forward with this, even after almost getting killed?”
    She met his gaze, her lips clamped together for a long moment, before responding. “Sure, why not?”
    “You said something back there that doesn’t make a lot of sense. Hardesty asked how much you had and you said a lot. ”
    She didn’t look at him as she responded, “Kiernan has a lot, but he wouldn’t pay half a billion.”
    Adrien took hold of her wrist. “You have money, don’t you?”
    “I have some.”
    He narrowed his eyes at her. “Then, why?”
    “None of your goddamn business, vampire.”
    Adrien frowned at her. He could tell she was lying about something, but what? Then again when it came to humans and greed, lying was part of the bargain.
    “I need my clothes,” she said. “My soap, shampoo. I can tell this little journey of ours is going to get messier by the second. Any chance I can get