Evan motioned her toward the window. “All right, sweetheart. Give the guy a break.” He looked at the wall behind Raine. “Any luck with the stalker?”
“No. He sent more roses today but used an online form. The IP address traced back to the local library.” Raine was going to owe more favors after the ones he’d called in today, but he was fine with that. “I had a friend hack into the surveillance system at the library, and turns out there isn’t one.”
Evan’s eyebrows lifted. “When I become sheriff, I’ll start taking a look at surveillance in town. We need some CCTV in areas like that, just to keep people safe.”
Tabi sat up. “So the stalker guy is here. Good. Let’s find him and rip off his head.”
“That’s my plan,” Raine agreed. Mariana had turned an alarming pale shade when the roses had arrived. “She’s scared, and I don’t know how to reassure her that she’ll be okay.” Especially since now she knew that his time was limited. “I want to tell her about me, about us, but…”
Tabi bit her lip. “You can’t unless you mate her. I’ve seen the mating mark on your hand. What’s the problem?” When a demon met his or her mate, their marking appeared so it could transfer during the mating.
The problem was that he was dying and he couldn’t ask her to give up her life so he could live.
“Tabi—enough,” Evan said. “Let’s go. It’s starting to rain harder.”
Tabi turned her gaze on her mate through the open window. “You’re immortal now. Rain won’t hurt you.”
“Tabs.” Evan’s gaze darkened. “Let’s. Go.”
Interesting. While Tabi had the strength of her species, Evan was unreal. It’d be interesting to see them wrestle a bit, because Evan would probably win. However, he was still concerned and careful with his newfound strength, and Tabi would definitely take advantage of that. Raine changed his mind. He didn’t want to see them destroy Mariana’s house. “Thank you for your concern, and I will definitely be in touch.”
Tabi rolled her eyes but at least got off his bed and headed for the window. “I’m not done with this.”
Evan lifted her out. “I didn’t think you were.” He looked back at Raine. “I’ve gotten you a brief reprieve. Good luck.” He shut the window and they disappeared.
Luck? There was no such thing.
* * * *
A loud bang jerked Mariana from a nightmare where white roses drowned her. She sat up, gasping. Another bang, this one an explosion, ripped through the night.
Her door flew open. “Mariana?” Raine stood there, outlined by the faint light from the kitchen.
Another explosion boomed, and something hit the side of the house.
She jumped out of bed and ran toward him. “What is going on?”
He slipped a gun into her hand and drew her into the living room, pulling them toward the front door. Keeping her behind him, he opened it.
Heat and the sound of crackling fire hit her first. “Raine?” She held the gun in her right hand and placed her left against his warm and bare back.
“It’s my truck.” He stepped out onto the porch and looked around before lifting his head and sniffing. “I don’t see or sense anybody near.” He paused and didn’t move for several seconds, watching whatever was right in front of him. Sirens sounded in the distance.
She slipped to his side to see spirals of fire and smoke coming from inside his silver truck, which was parked at the curb. Silver paint bubbled on the outside door, and the hood crashed open with another explosion.
Raine turned and covered her as heat washed over them.
Tires skidded to a stop outside. Mariana peered around him to see two firetrucks followed by several other emergency vehicles.
“Go get dressed,” Raine said, prodding her toward her bedroom. “Whoever did this is gone. Just hurry.”
She turned and ran into her bedroom, yanking on jeans and a sweater before securing her hair into a ponytail. Male voices were already mingling when she made her way back to the living room, where Raine sat on her sofa with Sheriff Baker and his son in the chairs across the coffee table.
The sheriff looked up when she entered. “Are you okay?”
She nodded and took the vacant seat by Raine. “Yes.” Then she angled her neck to see out the window where the firefighters were just rolling up the hoses. Smoke still poured from the demolished truck. “Is the fire out?”
“Yes,” Raine said, feeling solid and strong next to her. He’d pulled on jeans earlier but was still bare chested without socks.
The door opened and the fire marshal poked his head in. “Looks like a couple of Molotov cocktails though the driver’s side window. Saw remains of burned glass on the floor, and we’ll have our expert out here to take a look soon.”
“Thanks,” the sheriff said, his gaze remaining on her. “Mr. Maxwell? Is there anything you’d like to tell us?”
Raine arched one eyebrow. “Considering somebody just bombed my truck, I was hoping you’d have some insight. Sheriff.”
“Who are your enemies?” the sheriff barked.
“Don’t have any,” Raine barked right back.
Johnny kept staring at Mariana, and his beady eyes had narrowed more than usual. “Isn’t it a crime to sleep with one of your patients, Dr. Lopez?” He emphasized the title with just enough derision that Mariana’s temper slid into the fear and confusion.
“Watch it, junior,” Raine said, the implicit warning all the more frightening for how quiet his voice remained. “I threw you against a wall once, and I’m more than happy to do it again.”
Johnny didn’t look away from Mariana. Apparently the guy wasn’t smart enough to keep his focus on the biggest threat.
The sheriff hitched himself up. “Was that a threat against a law enforcement officer?”
Mariana hastened to stop the oncoming disaster. “Sheriff, I have a stalker, as you know. I’m sure this bombing was an attack by him. Have you contacted the Dallas police force?”
“I have, and they’re sending copies of the casefile tomorrow,” the sheriff said. “However, since this bombing was against Mr. Maxwell, we really need to look at any enemies he no doubt has.”
“Nope. Everyone loves me,” Raine said, extending his arm along the back of the sofa and resting his hand on Mariana’s shoulder in a move that spoke volumes. His fingers tapped against her neck as if he had every right to do so while his expression remained casual and rather amused.
Both the sheriff and his son looked pointedly at the hand on her shoulder.
She wanted to tell them all to get lost, but at the moment, she’d take Raine’s support over either of theirs. Especially since she didn’t understand this illness of his. Would it attack suddenly? Were there actual attacks? She should’ve asked more questions the night before, but he was so good at deflecting. Was he embarrassed to be ill? He sure didn’t look embarrassed.
“Well?” Johnny asked.
Crap. She hadn’t been listening. “Well what?” she asked.
The sheriff frowned. “I offered to take you into protective custody. Just you and right now.”