omething in his sight that would give away his location。 But Bella was deep in shadow； and his eyes were focused only on her frightened expression enjoying the fear there。 Her face was blurred in his mind by the memory of other faces。 first victim。 Bella was not his The sound of my growls shook the frame of the car； but did not distract me。 There were no windows in the wall behind her。 Somewhere industrial； away from the more populated shopping district。 My car squealed around a corner； swerving past another vehicle； heading in what I hoped was the right direction。 By the time the other driver honked； the sound was far behind me。 Look at her shaking！ The man chuckled in anticipation。 him the part he enjoyed。 Stay away from me。 The fear was the draw for Her voice was low and steady； not a scream。 Don t be like that； sugar。 He watched her flinch to a rowdy laugh that came from another direction。 He was irritated with the noise Shut up； Jeff！ he thought but he enjoyed the way she cringed。 It excited him。 He began to imagine her pleas； the way she would beg I hadn t realized that there were others with him until I d heard the loud laughter。 I scanned out from him； desperate for something that I could use。 the first step in her direction； flexing his hands。 He was taking The minds around him were not the cesspool that his was。 They were all slightly intoxicated； not one of them realizing how far the man they called Lonnie planned to go with this。 They were following Lonnie s lead blindly。 He d promised them a
little fun One of them glanced down the street； nervous he didn t want to get caught harassing the girl and gave me what I needed。 I recognized the cross street he stared toward。 I flew under a red light； sliding through a space just wide enough between two cars in the moving traffic。 Horns blared behind me。 My phone vibrated in my pocket。 I ignored it。 Lonnie moved slowly toward the girl； drawing out the suspense the moment of terror that aroused him。 He waited for her scream； preparing to savor it。 But Bella locked her jaw and braced herself。 He was surprised he d expected her to try to run。 Surprised and slightly disappointed。 He liked to chase his prey down； the adrenaline of the hunt。 Brave； this one。 Maybe better； I guess more fight in her。 I was a block away。 The monster could hear the roar of my engine now； but he paid it no attention； too intent on his victim。 I would see how he enjoyed the hunt when he was the prey。 thought of my style of hunting。 I would see what he In another partment of my head； I was already sorting through the range of tortures I d born witness to in my vigilante days； searching for the most painful of them。 He would suffer for this。 He would writhe in agony。 The others would merely die for their part； but the monster named Lonnie would beg for death long before I would give him that gift。 He was in the road； crossing toward her。 I spun sharply around the corner； my headlights washing across the scene and freezing the rest of them in place。 I could have run down the leader； who leapt out of the way； but that was too easy a death for him。 I let the car spin out； swinging all the way around so that I was facing back the way I d e and the passenger door was closest to Bella。 I threw that open； and she was already running toward the car。 Get in； I snarled。 What the hell？ Knew this was a bad idea！ Should I run？ Think I m going to throw up Bella jumped through the open door without hesitating； pulling the door shut behind her。 And then she looked up at me with the most trustful expression I had ever seen on a human face； and all my violent plans crumbled。 She s not alone。
It took much； much less than a second for me to see that I could not leave her in the car in order to deal with the four men in the street。 What would I tell her； not to watch？ Ha！ When did she ever do what I asked？ When did she ever do the safe thing？ Would I drag them away； out of her sight； and leave her alone here？ It was a long shot that another dangerous human would be prowling the streets of Port Angeles tonight； but it was a long shot that there was even the first！ Like a mag； she drew all things dangerous toward herself。 I could not let her out of my sight。 It would feel like part of the same motion to her as I accelerated； taking her away from her pursuers so quickly that they gaped after my car with unprehending expressions。 She would not recognize my instant of hesitation。 She would assume the plan was escape from the beginning。 I couldn t even hit him with my car。 That would frighten her。 I wanted his death so savagely that the need for it rang in my ears and clouded my sight and was a flavor on my tongue。 My muscles were coiled with the urgency； the craving； the necessity of it。 I had to kill him。 I would peel him slowly apart； piece by piece； skin from muscle； muscle from bone Except that the girl the only girl in the world was clinging to her seat with both hands； staring at me； her eyes still wide and utterly trusting。 Vengeance would have to wait。 Put on your seatbelt； I ordered。 My voice was rough with the hate and bloodlust。 Not the usual bloodlust。 I would not sully myself by taking any part of that man inside me。 She locked the seatbelt into place； jumping slightly at the sound it made。 That little sound made her jump； yet she did not flinch as I tore through the town； ignoring all traffic guides。 I could feel her eyes on me。 She seemed oddly relaxed。 It didn t make sense to me not with what she d just been through。 Are you okay？ she asked； her voice rough with stress and fear。 She wanted to know if I was okay？ I thought about her question for a fraction of a second。 to notice the hesitation。 Was I okay？ No； I realized； and my tone seethed with rage。 I took her to the same unused drive where I d spent the afternoon engaged in the poorest surveillance ever kept。 It was black now under the trees。 I was so furious that my body froze in place there； utterly motionless。 My icelocked hands ached to crush her attacker； to grind him into pieces so mangled that his body could never be identified 。 But that would entail leaving her here alone； unprotected in the dark night。 Bella？ I asked through my teeth。 Yes？ she responded huskily。 She cleared her throat。 Not long enough for her Are you all right？ That was really the most important thing； the first priority。 Retribution was secondary。 I knew that； but my body was so filled with
rage that it was hard to think。 Yes。 Her voice was still thick with fear； no doubt。 And so I could not leave her。 Even if she wasn t at constant risk for some infuriating reason some joke the universe was playing on me even if I could be sure that she would be perfectly safe in my absence； I could not leave her alone in the dark。 She must be so frightened。 Yet I was in no condition to fort her even if I knew exactly how that was to be acplished； which I did not。 Surely she could feel the brutality radiating out of me； surely that much was obvious。 I would frighten her even more if I could not calm the lust for slaughter boiling inside me。 I needed to think about something else。 Distract me； please； I pleaded。 I m sorry； what？ I barely had enough control to try to explain what I needed。 Ju