Page 2 of Daddy's Little Sunshine

“Run!” he screamed at the woman, who was still sitting the ground, her mouth open in shock.

A fist connected with his chin and everything went black for a split second. Fucking hell, was this dude made of steel? Shaking it off, Donovan rolled and pinned Ugly Mug under him.

“I tried to be nice.” Plowing his fist into Ugly Mug’s nose, he savored his satisfaction at the spurt of dark red blood. “I was going to let you go.” He followed up with a second jab that made Ugly Mug’s eyes roll back into his head. “But no. You just had to be an asshole.” He stood and added a kick to the ribs for good measure.

Goddamn it, he hurt. His shoulder ached like a rotten tooth, but he could feel the bones knitting themselves back together. His chin hurt, but the pain from the single punch was already fading. A dozen other scrapes and bruises were makingthemselves known up and down his body as it began the process of healing itself.

Donovan knelt by the unconscious man at his feet and patted his pockets, searching for a wallet. Nothing. No wallet, no money, no identification. Shit.

He gave the limp man a shove. The sleeve on Ugly Mug’s right arm slipped, revealing a small tattoo on his inner wrist. Donovan reached over and lifted his hand to inspect the tattoo. Terror, raw and fierce, twisted his stomach into knots. A single perfect rose was tattooed in blood red on the inside of the man’s wrist.

“Shit.” Donovan leapt to his feet and looked around. The woman was still sitting on the ground by the van, watching him with wide eyes. He marched over and grabbed her arm to haul her to her feet.

“I told you to run.” He gave her a little shake.

“I… Who are they? What’s going on?”

Up close, he could see her eyes were a smoky gray, as beautiful as the rest of her. And filled with fear. He couldn’t leave her. As much as he wanted to, as much as he just wanted to walk away and pretend this whole thing never happened, he couldn’t leave her there. When Ugly and Uglier didn’t show up with their catch, others would be sent in their place.

“Come on.” He tugged on her arm, but she yanked herself from his grip.

“No.” Her voice was stronger now, with the same smoky quality as her eyes. “Not until you tell me what’s going on.”

He didn’t have time for this. Donovan grabbed her arm again and spun her away from him to plant two hard smacks to her rear end. He jerked her around to face him again and leaned in close.

“When I give you an order, you obey. I don’t have time to sweet talk you into listening. Now, walk with me like we’re just two people enjoying a nice stroll.”

He moved his grip to her hand and started walking, pleased when she fell into step with him. Not that he’d given her much choice, but at least she was smart enough not to make a scene.

“Where are we going?”

“My place.”

“What?” She stopped and stumbled forward when he kept walking with her hand clasped tightly in his own. “Listen, thanks for saving me, or whatever, but I’m not that grateful.”

It took a moment for her words to sink in. When they did, he stopped and stared at her. “You think I’m taking you home for some kind of thank you fuck?”

Her eyes went wide, and her pale cheeks colored. “Well… yeah. Aren’t you?”

“Ha. No. You may be gorgeous but no pussy in the world is worth the kind of trouble you’re in. We’re going to my place until I can figure out how to keep you safe.”

Donovan started walking again and she had to hurry to keep up with his long strides. “Safe from what? What trouble? I’m not in any trouble. Look, mister, I’m just a librarian. I’m not in any trouble.”

“Jesus Christ,” he muttered, yanking open the door to his apartment building and pulling her inside with him. “Just be quiet for two minutes, can you do that?”

“Why? What’s going on?”

“You don’t listen well, do you?” Donovan glanced over his shoulder at her and smirked. “That’s okay. I know how to teach little girls to do as they’re told.” He hit the button to call the elevator.

“I am not a little girl. And you’re not going to teach me anything! I’m leaving now. I’m late for work.”

“Sorry, sunshine. You’re not going back to work. Ever.” The doors opened and he pulled her onto the elevator with him.

“What? Why?”

“Because you’re a Variant. And someone wants you dead.”

CHAPTER 2

---