Page 56 of Top Secret Vampire

“Hey,” he said softly, his arms wrapping around me from behind. “I believe you.”

Adrenaline shot through my veins. “I didn’t bring this here. I wouldn’t—”

“Reese,” Detective Carter said, his serious eyes glancing back and forth between us. “I have camera evidence showing you stealing this statue from the historical society last evening.”

I was drowning in ice water. “What? No! That’s impossible. I would never steal anything. I was here all last night.”

“You have no alibi for the time in question.” The detective pulled his phone from his back pocket and swiped into it. He held it up, displaying the image of the statue standing on a table inside the historical society’s lobby. “This security feed shows you taking the item shortly before eight thirty.”

The video played, and he was right. I watched as “I” slunk into the historical society foyer from beside the stairs and walked over to the statue, lifting it and slipping it into a cloth bag before peering around. My face showed plainly in the image. I hurried back down the hall toward the rear door.

Panic surged through me, a tsunami crashing over my senses. “No, that can’t be right. That's not me.” Though it sure looked like me. “I swear, I didn’t do it.” The tremor in my voice betrayed my fear as I caught a glimpse of Wolf, his gaze darkening with a protective fervor that chilled my bones.

Detective Carter placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. “I understand this is unsettling, but you need to listen. I’m going to inform you of your rights now. The evidence is overwhelming.”

“This is unreal.” Confusion and terror roared through me. “I would never take anything. Who would believe . . .?” How did this statue end up in my attic?

“I have to take you down to the station.” The detective held up a set of handcuffs. “Will you come with me calmly or do I need to cuff you?”

Chapter 26

Wolfram

“I. . . I . . .” Reese burst into tears.

With my fangs thrusting down from my jaw and my claws snapping to full length, I glared at the detective dangling the cuffs in the air. I tightened my arms around her. “You. Will. Wait,” I snarled at him.

His eyes widened as I mistified us to the beach below.

“Wolf?” She spun around and the horror and sadness in her eyes as she looked up at me made me determined to hide her away from this forever. “I didn’t steal that statue. Please believe me. I know the camera footage shows I did it, but it wasn’t me.”

“I know it wasn’t.”

“They’re going to convict me. I’m going to go to jail.”

“You arenot.”

“What am I going to do?”

“Want to run away?” I was only half-kidding.

“I’d love to, but that will make me look guilty.” Her gaze flicked to her home perched high on the cliff. “He’ll put out a warrant for my arrest.”

“He knows I was going to take you away.”

Her head tilted. “He thinks we’re gone forever?”

I shrugged. “I believe he’s giving us a chance to speak in private. But I dictate this, not him. We’ll return you to him if you think it’s in your best interest. One word, and we’ll be in Egypt. London. Paris. Wherever you want to escape to. I’m yours for this lifetime and beyond and nothing will steal that from us.”

She sighed. “I can’t leave. I’d love to. But my mom’s here. My aunt even if she doesn’t actually care. My life. I’m not someone who runs away.”

I held her, desperate to shield her from what was coming. She felt too small and fragile in my embrace, and the thought of losing her sent a jolt of fear through me.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, each droplet squeezing my heart tighter. “What if I can't prove I didn't do it?” she whimpered.

The emotions lashing through me fought for release. I wanted to rage at the world that was hurting this woman I loved. I hated that I couldn’t fix this for her. There wasn't anything I wouldn't do to protect the one person who had come to mean everything to me. I tilted her chin and pressed my lips against hers in a sweet kiss that ignited a fire between us.

With our mouths moving together, I poured all my fear and love into our connection. Her tears mingled with the kiss, but the warmth of our bodies wrapped around us, blocking out the world. I lost myself in her taste, the honeyed sweetness of her lips almost driving me mad, each touch a reminder of what was truly at stake here.

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