Vampire: A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella by Rebecca Zanetti (love letters to the dead .txt) 📕

sarcasm on her tongue almost burned. “That has got to be the worst line I’ve heard in my entire life, and I’ve heard a couple of doozies before.”

He scratched his whiskered chin and eyed her like she was unstable. “It’s the truth.”

“Right,” she drawled, turning back for the already open bottle of 2017 La Carrodilla Syrah on the counter. “If you don’t leave now, I’m calling the moron sheriff. At least he doesn’t act like I’m stupid.” The worst part was that they’d been headed to the bed if Raine hadn’t pulled this jackass move. She’d wanted him, and she probably would’ve said yes.

Raine’s phone rang in his back pocket, and he pulled it out to press to his ear. “Raine here.” He paused and listened. “Hi, Grams. Yes, I know.” Then he quieted as he listened for almost a minute. “Yes. I understand.” He sounded patient and stubborn at the same time. “But I—” He became quiet again and then pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yes. Okay. Love you, too. Bye.” He put the phone back into place.

Mariana crossed her arms. “You’re telling me that was actually your grandmother.”

“Yes.” He rubbed his forehead as if a headache loomed. “She was just checking in.”

The guy made no sense. He propositioned her after giving the worst line ever, and then he talked to his grandmother like a nice person? “It sounded like she was giving you the business,” Mariana observed, pouring herself a glass of wine.

“You could say that.” Raine tucked his thumbs in his pockets.

“About what?” Mariana inhaled the fragrant wine and then took a testing sip.

He shook his head.

“Is she concerned about your impending death?” Mariana drawled, her lips still tingling from his kiss.

His gaze sharpened to emerald blades. “Yes.”

Right. Maybe he was crazy. It was sad, but she’d rather he was nuts than purposefully trying to manipulate her. She could deal with nuts. Assholish was beyond her level of expertise. “Then you should probably go back to Montana or wherever your family is and spend your last days with them.”

“I don’t much care for your sarcasm,” he said, sounding more thoughtful than irritated.

“That’s easy to remedy.” She took another drink of the wine. “Get out of my house.”

His stance remained relaxed. “I thought I’d take care of your stalker before leaving.”

Oh yeah. “You’re my great protector, now aren’t you?” She studied him and tried to see beneath the too handsome exterior. What if he had engineered her kidnapping? She had trusted him until he came up with the dying ruse. How could he be dying? He looked perfectly healthy, and if a genetic mutation was so prevalent it killed all males in his family, there would’ve been some research conducted. “How exactly are you going to die?” She sipped more.

He blinked. “I slowly get weaker and then my brain stops functioning.”

Yeah, he was full of crap. “So somebody has to pull the plug, huh?” The wine was good. She should stock up on more.

“In a manner of speaking.” He cocked his head. “You don’t believe me, and I guess I don’t blame you for that. How about we forget the last hour and go back to trying to find this stalker before I leave town?”

“That plan no longer works for me.” She swirled the liquid in the glass. “Either you’re deranged or you’re a moron, so I don’t want your help. I do, however, want you to leave.” It was too bad he was the sexiest man she’d ever met.

“Deranged or a moron? How do you figure?” His drawl held the slightest bit of warning.

She sighed. “You’re deranged if you believe your story, and you’re a moron if you think I’ll fall for it. Either way, I’ll handle the stalker without you.” Why hadn’t he pulled this crap after they’d had a night together? Based on that one kiss, it would’ve been a night to remember. “There are several good shrinks I can refer you to.”

“You’re the only shrink I want,” he drawled.

Her lungs compressed, and her nipples sharpened. Just from one sexy statement from him. Maybe she needed the shrink. Enough of this. She drew her phone from the counter. “Leave or I call the police. It’s up to you.”

“Fine.” He whipped his phone out and dialed a number, waiting until somebody answered. “Hi. I’m calling in my favor.” His tone lowered to gritty. “Yeah. Now. I need Faith to talk to Mariana and tell her I’m not full of shit. Yes—within those perimeters. Of course. Thank you.” He handed the phone over.

Mariana gingerly accepted it. “Hello?”

“Just a sec,” a familiar voice boomed. “Hey, Doc Lopez. How are things? This is Benny.”

Benny? Mariana set her glass down. “How are you?” He’d only shown up at the group meeting to pick up Ivar, but the mammoth man made an impression. “And why are you involved in this?”

“Oh, I owe Maxwell a favor, and if all I have to do is hand the phone to Faith, then hey. Why not?” He sounded like he was walking outside in the rain.

“Who’s Faith?” Mariana asked, her head reeling. This was all too weird. Way odd.

Benny chuckled. “That’s a good question. Faith is a pretty famous neurosurgeon or something like that. She’s the only doctor Raine and his family trust enough to consult with. You could look her up if you want. Dr. Faith Cooper.”

Mariana moved for the laptop on her kitchen table and flipped it open to research the doctor. The woman was impressive and had published several papers as well as worked at several different hospitals, most recently in Denver. She was now working in the private sector but didn’t have any forwarding information.

Muffled voices came over the line before a women’s voice cleared. “Hello? This is Dr. Cooper.” She sounded curious.

“Um, hi. This is Dr. Lopez, and I’m wondering how I’m supposed to believe that you’re Dr. Cooper.” Mariana tilted her head to the side to watch Raine. This whole afternoon was spiraling out of control.

The woman laughed.