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Drew

It&039;s been hours since I was dragged into this room and left in a heap on the floor My injuries healed while I searched every square inch of the dark space, seeking a way out My labors proved fruitless, forcingif the two men will corace in our failed rescue atte her here Sure, the three in the hotel can&039;t fly the jet home, but if they don&039;t hear froet back to the safety of the inn

By the feel deep in my bones, I can tell the sun has risen The desire to fall into a restorative sleep calls like the warht Fear over what awaits when I shut ue to stay awake Anyone could co able to stop theer aware of the ti the peaceful lull of sleep A shuffle sounds in the hall A figure pauses by my door, and a soft knock breaks the silence Would a captor knock, or just unlock the door and co stupid Who the hell could be trying to rescue me?

For the next fewin the lock I craard the sound, waiting to see what happens next The handle jiggles and the cold steel barrier swings inward Bright light fro me as Rafe&039;s familiar scentto my feet "Is that you?"

"Shh, not so loud, you fool" He shoves some small metal pieces into his pocket "Yes, it&039;s e for the door, adrenaline fueling me when my heavy muscles want to lie down and rest My shoulder ser into the hall Rafe looks cool and collected, the reek of fresh va off him in waves, despite his clean appearance

"Holy shit," I whisper "Who did you kill?"

Rafe shows no expression, his gaze intense, lance up and down the hall beforecorridor like he owns it I lurch forward to follow,s for hours and have only found you" He glances back over his shoulder "Tell me what happened"

I recount the events as briefly and quietly as I can, all too ae&039;re in ene you before placing you in there?" he asks e get to a point where the hall splits tays

I stop dead in my tracks "Good point" Rafe hears me halt and turns to face ot to be in one of the rooms nearby Back the e came"

We turn around, and I can&039;t help but notice so feels different about Rafe He&039;s always been a big man, but he&039;s never used his size before, if that makes sense He stalks with purpose, whereas in the past he&039;s held hiround

It&039;s like he&039;s purposely taken a back seat to Vivian&039;s over-the-top, despotic-ruler ways I&039;d assumed his deference was out of necessity rather than an actual choice on his part The look in his eye and the way he&039;s holding that iron poker next to his leg haveto reassess the laid backthe corner spurns Rafe to act The poker swings back and overhead in an arc, s into the va theinto a wall Rafe tosses the poker, which I catch before it hits s the still form of the vampire inside

"Get in!" he shouts "Shut the door!"

Shock runs throughthe door as fast as I can Rafe kneels over the va the fallen h force to sail across the storage rooer from behind his back and cuts into the man&039;s chest as the vampire starts to stir

Rafe holds hiain, dammit!"