Page 49 of Act of Passion

Brooke lay there and closed her eyes a moment as her body began doing what it did—healing. Her arm and leg began to burn and she knew the bullets were starting to dislodge as her body expelled them. The act always hurt as much as getting shot. And she’d know, she’d been shot enough over the years. Hissing, Brooke managed to turn over onto her back as the bullets pushed all the way out ofher.

Her gaze went up and she saw that the men from the roof were nearly to the base of the fire escape. The men aimed their weapons past her, ontoMalik.

A burst of adrenaline moved through her and she thrust up and off the ground, snatching a discarded weapon on her way up. She stood, swayed, and began firing. She was no stranger to guns anymore. Gone was the naïve girl of five years ago. The Corporation had killed her, leaving the new Brooke in herplace.

She hit four of the men in suits before stumbling to the right and nearlyfalling.

Auberi grabbed her around the waist with one arm before taking the weapon from her and firing at the remaining men. They fell like flies onto the ground. “That won’t keep them down long. We need to get you out of here. Of course, we need to get Malik to calm down enough not to attack usfirst.”

She leaned against him as her upper leg began trying to heal the damage from the bullet wound fully. It burned as if someone was pouring acid on her. She cried out and clung to Auberi, who held her, rocking her inplace.

“Tut, she lives and she’s in great pain. Cage the lion or you willreallylose her,” said Auberi, his French accent going from slight tointense.

Malik kept cutting through the men in suits as if he’d never even heard Auberi speak tohim.

“Brooke, the bloodlust has taken him. Soon he’ll fully shift and could possibly be stuck in that form forgood.”

She shook. “He’s really ashifter?”

Auberinodded.

“W-what are you?” she asked. “A shiftertoo?”

“Hardly!” he shouted, clearly offended at the suggestion. “Don’t be afraid, but I’m avampire.”

She calmed slightly, her attention going back to Malik. He looked feral. “What’s wrong withhim?”

“It’s the bloodlust I mentioned. It means his beast has too strong a hold on him. Talk to him,” he said, still holding her. “He’ll listen toyou.”

She doubted Malik would listen to anything in the state he was in. He looked like a one-man killing machine. As he took down the last of the men near them, he stared around, his amber gaze rimmed withred.

“Malik, stop. Please,” she said softly. “Think with your head, not yourfists.”

He tipped his head in an unnatural way that screamed animal, not human. Blood dripped from his clawed hands. He looked savage. Nothing like the man she remembered. The Malik before her was lethal. That should have terrified her. Itdidn’t.

She pushed out of Auberi’s embrace and tried to take a step in Malik’s direction. Her leg gave out on her and she started goingdown.

Strong arms caught her, lifting and holding her close. At first, she thought it was Auberi—until she glanced over to see him standing there, grinning. Brooke sucked in a big breath as she realized Malik was the one who hadher.

He stared down at her, and she saw the red and amber receding from his eyes. The fur on his arms vanished as well. He looked confused. “I saw you fall off the side of the building. I thought you weredead.”

“I thought you were dead too,” she said, barely able to get the wordsout.

“She’s not dead?” asked Malik, his gaze moving toAuberi.

The vampire snorted. “No, though if you squeeze her any tighter you might be the death ofher.”

Malik eased his ironclad grip and she wiggled to get down. He set her on her feet but kept her close. “Brooke? How? When? You’re nothuman?”

Tears broke free from her as she stared up at him. With a tentative hand, she reached out and touched his cheek. “They told me they killedyou.”

His hand moved over hers. “Theylied.”

She criedharder.

He hugged her to him. “My sweet. No tears please. I don’t think I can handlethem.”

She shook as she cried harder, pressing herself to him. A small laugh came from her as she eased back. “You’re not humaneither.”

---