Shiver by Yolanda Sfetsos Page B

head. “She’s going to get into a lot of trouble one of these days. And so are you.”
    Lian snorted. “You mean more trouble than if Meiling finds out the three of us are stealing slaves right from under her nose?” If she found out, Hogan’s life wouldn’t be the only one threatened.
    Hogan’s eyes hardened.
    “What happened when you told her they were gone?” asked Lian.
    “I didn’t. As soon as I got back, I headed out to the crash site.”
    She tried to catch a glimpse of the man in question, but Hogan stepped in front of her.
    “Your mother is pissed, though. We’re going to have to be really careful now.” Hogan looked away. “We might have to skip more than a few groups, to give her suspicion time to die down.”
    “No way! We can’t,” she said with a shake of her head. “That’s why I’m here, Hogan. We need to get this guy out before Meiling comes back.”
    “Uh-uh, not gonna happen.”
    “What’re you talking about? It’s what we do.”
    “Lian, we protect innocents from being sold into slavery. A grown man who stole one of your mother’s ships is not someone we need to help.”
    “But, Hogan—”
    “You need to go. There’s no need for you to worry about this guy.”
    “I can’t do that.” She ducked under Hogan’s arm before he could stop her, until she stood only a few feet away from the man from her dreams. What had appeared to be dark stubble on his head was actually lighter under the moonlight. His chin hung low, pressed against his blood-streaked chest where an X was scabbing over his skin. Had her mother done this to him? “I want to know who he is.”  
    This stranger set her heart racing.
    “You don’t need to know anything about this monster.” Hogan put a hand on her shoulder. “Step away from him. He’s dangerous.”
    She barely heard him. All she could do was imagine what someone as strong as this man could help her achieve. It wasn’t just that she saw him as their way to freedom. He had a physical effect on her like no one ever had before. She wanted to know his name, where he was from, how he’d ended up here—everything.
    Even during her time with Hogan, she’d never felt this sense of connection . Her stomach was aflutter, her hands clammy with anticipation.
    When the man raised his head and his dark eyes peered into hers, she gasped. An electric shock of excitement tore through her.
    Hogan must have misunderstood her reaction for fear and tightened his hand around her shoulder, gently encouraging her back. “Don’t look him in the eye. I’ve heard monsters like him can hypnotize and make people do things they don’t want to.”
    Lian shrugged his hand off her shoulder. “He’s secured. He’s not going to hurt me.” Besides, she was pretty sure she’d be willing to do plenty of things with this man, without the need for hypnosis.
    He’s not a monster.
    She’d managed to hear most of her mother’s interrogation and knew what they thought he was. She didn’t care if they were right. She’d actually seen him take blood from someone during her dream, and it hadn’t discouraged her.
    “Damn it, Li, don’t do this,” Hogan said.
    “I don’t know what you mean.”
    “Don’t give me that innocent look. You’re as attracted to the danger he poses as you were to the danger of us getting caught.”
    She opened her mouth to protest, but shut it. Was he right? Was it just the danger drawing her in? This man certainly fit the rough and dangerous bill, and she’d always found the prospect of getting caught with Hogan exciting.
    No, this was different. The dreams meant something, she was sure of it.
    “I knew it.” Was that pain in his eyes?
    “Hogan…”
    They both turned to find Vera standing by the open doorway, arms at her sides. Her timing was perfect. Lian didn’t want to have this conversation right now. Maybe six months ago, even three—but not now.
    Hogan glared at Vera. “What are you doing here?”
    “You know she’s