Page 11 of Angel Of Darkness

Silence.

Then, slowly, her fingers unfurled from the man. She shifted her stance, took a step to the side, and Keenan stared right into her eyes—eyes that had haunted him for so many nights.

“How do you know my name?” she whispered.

He smiled. “You’d be surprised at the things I know about you.”

“I’ll take care of him!” Romeo promised.

Oh, I would like to see you try. Keenan lifted a brow at the guy and advised, “You should leave now.” Nicole didn’t glance at Romeo. Her stare stayed focused on Keenan. “Really fast. Leave,” Keenan ordered.

“What? No, we’re?—”

Her head turned toward the man. “Leave.”

His eyelids flickered. “Puta. ”

“Yeah, great, call me whatever you want, but just go.” Her hand came up and pressed against the man’s chest. He stumbled back about five feet. “Go.”

“How did you—” Romeo’s eyes widened and then he turned and ran back into the cantina.

Nicole shoved her hair over her shoulder. Then she braced her legs apart and kept her arms loose at her sides.

Interesting. When had the little schoolteacher learned to prepare for an attack?

“Who are you?” she asked him, her face showing no hint of fear.

“I’m someone who’s been looking for you.” True enough. “For a very long time.”

She gave a little shrug. “And here it is, your lucky night. Looks like you found me.”

No, he hadn’t found the woman he’d expected.

“So what are you going to do now?” Nicole murmured as she walked closer to him. The moonlight spilled onto her face. His eyes narrowed. Her face was a little thinner. Her cheekbones more defined. Her eyes were still as wide and deep, but her lips appeared redder and plumper than before. The woman was still beautiful, no doubt, but a darkness seemed to cling to her.

Her body was as slender as he remembered. Her breasts still round and firm and her hips—no. He shouldn’t be noticing that. Her body didn’t matter.

“Like what you see?” she asked, and her soft, husky voice sounded like?—

Temptation.

He backed up a step.

One black brow lifted. “Now, surely, you aren’t afraid of me.”

“I fear nothing.” After what he’d seen, what he’d done, there was simply nothing left to stir fear in his heart.

“Good for you,” she muttered and the words didn’t seem sexy. More annoyed. But then she blinked and the heavy-lidded mask came back. “Tell me how you know my name.”

She was almost close enough to touch now, but he wouldn’t touch her. No, he never touched. Touching was far too dangerous. You didn’t touch unless you were ready to kill. He wasn’t ready, yet. “I’ve known your name for a long time.” No sense lying. Besides, lies weren’t possible for his kind. “Ever since you were put on my list.”

He heard the hard inhale of her breath.

“L-list?” Now there was fear flickering in her eyes. Her voice hardened as she said, “You’re one of them.”

“Them?” Curiosity stirred within him.

“A hunter.” Her bow lips tightened in distaste when she spoke the term.

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