Page 3 of Kidnapping Their Third

Kimble’s expression turned stubborn, and he tugged the blanket higher as he repeated, “Kept safe!”

He was so weak, Pike had to help him get the blanket to his shoulders. “I know that’s what you meant to do,” Pike agreed with a sigh. “We can talk about it later.”

Kimble made a grumpy sound, rolled on his side and closed his eyes. Cora got the distinct impression the vampire was pouting.

Turning to face her, Pike pointed to the living room. Walking ahead of him, she came to a stop in the center and eyed the front door.

She could run. The door was right there. Everything she knew about Pike told her that he wouldn’t try to stop her.

“Please don't leave. Give me a chance to explain."

Cora turned to face Pike. He was standing with his back to the closed bedroom door, hands in his pockets, and looking at her with his typical sincere expression. He was such a big guy that most people would be intimidated by him, but it had taken Cora all of five minutes to realize he was a gentle soul wrapped in a hulking body.

“If I let you talk, can I leave after?”

“You can leave at any time,” he started to say, and she snorted derisively, making Pike wince. “I mean, you can leave now that Kimble is so weak. I won't try and stop you, but I really hope you'll give me and Kimble a chance.”

She must’ve taken a blow to the head because she wasn’t turning tail and running. Instead, she looked at the ancient couch next to her. At one time, it had probably been a light tan color, but grime and stains had turned it into a dirty Rorschach test.

“I'm not sitting on that. I might catch something.”

Pike grinned. “I don't blame you. It came with the apartment.”

He pointed to the kitchenette area where there was a small round table with two chairs. “Are you hungry or thirsty?”

His question made Cora realize she was dying of thirst. “I could use a drink.”

With a nod, he walked to the fridge. She followed him to the kitchen area and sat. Both the table and chair were sturdy but battered. She knew Pike worked three jobs and made decentmoney, but everything he owned looked like it should be taking up space in a landfill. Where was all the money going?

“Do you have any of those Coca-Cola’s? The ones in the glass bottle that have the cane sugar in them?” she asked as he rummaged around in the fridge. How had she gone from being afraid for her life to asking for a sweet drink? If she didn’t know better, she’d think she was stuck in a bizarre fever dream.

Pike emerged from the fridge with a glass bottle held in each hand. Nudging the door closed with his hip, he flicked the caps off the bottles with his thumbs. Huh, neat trick. A single stride brought him to the table, and he handed her a drink as he sat down on the opposite side.

Neither talked as both took long swallows. The sweet flavor tasted good, and the cold carbonation was soothing on her throat, sore from screaming and cursing at Kimble. The sugar hit her empty stomach, making her instantly feel better. She drank half the bottle in one go, then set it down on the table with a clink.

“Time to explain to me what the fuck is going on.”

Chapter 2

Pike

Pike hadn’t cried since he was young, but then Kimble had come into his life and tearing up became a more common thing. This moment was only one in many evenings where he felt the urge to weep.

The last nine months had been stressful and turbulent, but things had finally started looking up. Kimble was starting to talk, giving Pike hope the vampire was finally getting better. Then Pike met Cora and his inner bear went ecstatic because she was their mate.

Knowing Cora was human and didn’t know anything about the magical world that existed alongside her own, he’d planned to introduce her slowly. It helped that he’d found out her best friend wasn’t only a vampire but had claimed one of Pike’s good friends as part of her flock.

He was sure Imani would help him ease Cora into their world, only to have her kidnapped and almost killed. He would never forget the terror and helplessness he’d felt watching Vincent bearing down on Cora, intent on murder. Only Kimble’s timely arrival had saved her life. All their lives really.

Then Kimble had undone his good deed by shifting into a griffin and flying off with Cora clutched in his talons. It wasn’t the first impression Pike wanted to make, but the damage was done.There was nothing to do but try to talk Cora into giving him and Kimble another chance.

But where to begin?

He wanted to touch her so badly but worried she’d reject him so he greedily ran his gaze over her while waiting for inspiration to hit.

The purple highlights in her long black hair gleamed in the kitchen's harsh light. The dirt and dust covering most of her didn’t detract from her beauty. She had an adorable button nose sitting in the center of her heart-shaped face, but Pike was most fascinated by her eyes. He hadn’t known humans could have gray eyes until he met Cora.

He could gaze into her eyes for ages.

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