“Oh, damn it all!”
The girl was just a few steps from the restaurant when her foot suddenly twisted, and the thin heel of her shoe snapped clean off. Curse these sky-high stilettos—uncomfortable, expensive, and now this mess! The blonde yanked off the treacherous shoe and stood there on one leg, staring at it in confusion. What now? Call a cab and head home? What a wasted evening! All that time spent on her hair and makeup, gone for nothing...
Lost in her frustration, she didn’t even notice the restaurant doors swing open. She flinched when a stranger’s hand landed on her shoulder. Quickly lowering her bare foot, she balanced on the sidewalk tiles with her lace-stockinged toes—standing in just one heel was too awkward—and turned around. Well, hello there! Her eyes lit up as she took in the tall, striking man in an expensive suit and a bold red tie. Either a businessman or a politician, no less. And here she was, looking like a hot mess!
The stranger’s brazen gaze traveled from her highlighted hair down her figure, all the way to the lone shoe, a faint smirk playing on his sharp lips.
“Why so glum, gorgeous? Come with me. Let’s have some fun somewhere better—I’m not a fan of this place.”
Sure, that sounded great, but not in just one shoe. She wasn’t Cinderella, and she sure wasn’t about to go barefoot. The girl shrugged irritably, trying to pull her shoulder free, but the stranger held on tight.
“Why are you fighting me, you little fool?”
Oh, so he was going to insult her now? Outraged, the girl swung her tiny purse at him and started backing away.
“Leave me alone! I’m not going anywhere with you!”
The stranger snorted and took a step toward the blonde, but before he could get closer, a young guy passing by overheard the argument and stepped in front of her.
“Back off, man! Can’t you see she doesn’t want to go with you?”
The man sized up this unexpected protector with a look of surprise. The kid was scrawny and short—hardly someone to pick a fight with a guy like him.
“Stay out of this, kid, or you’ll regret it,” he warned, his tone serious.
But the young man didn’t budge, continuing to shield the stranger’s target.
“Fine, have it your way,” the man said with a shrug. He grabbed the kid by the collar of his shirt, hoisted him into the air, and flung him with such force that the poor guy flew across the street and slammed headfirst into the building opposite.
“Whoa!” The girl’s eyes widened in shock. “That’s some serious strength! Are you, like, a superhero or something?”
“Who else could I be?” the man replied, turning back to her with a grin. “And over there’s my superhero ride, waiting for its owner.”
The girl spotted a shiny new BMW crossover—an X7, no less! Not just anyone rolls around in a car like that.
“I’ll carry you to the car like a princess,” the stranger promised.
“Yes! Absolutely!” she exclaimed, thrilled. A guy this hot, rich, and strong as a superhero? A total dreamboat! You’d have to be an idiot to turn down a chance to get to know him better.
The man scooped the blonde up into his arms and headed toward his car, ignoring the dazed young guy across the street, who was clumsily wiping blood from his face, still reeling from the impact.
The BMW roared to life and sped off in a flash.
“So, where are we headed?” the girl asked, her adoring gaze fixed on the man. “How about a nightclub? I’ll dance barefoot if I have to! Let’s hit up Rio or Maximum—they’re the hottest spots in town!”
“How about you stop asking so many questions?” the man shot back, not even glancing at his new companion as he casually steered with one hand.
“Oh, I get it! It’s gonna be a surprise!”
“Sure, a surprise,” he muttered with a reluctant nod.
“Well, let’s at least introduce ourselves! My name’s—”
“We’ll do intros later,” he cut her off brusquely. “A little later.”
The girl faltered, turning to stare out the window, wondering what she’d done wrong.
The car made a few turns as the sky darkened. Lights flickered on in the high-rises, one by one, while neon signs bathed the streets in vibrant colors. Then, suddenly, everything went black, as if the entire city had lost power at once.
“What the heck…?” the girl whispered.
“Just a little pocket of space,” the man said, either to her or to himself, as he pulled the car to a stop.
“A what now?”
“A nice, cozy spot. Because I want you,” he said, not giving her a chance to process his weird answer.
His hands gripped her head, and his lips crashed into hers with a hard, demanding kiss. A wild rush of desire surged through her, wiping every thought from her mind.
“Yes… Yes… Oh…”
Sharp claws emerged from his manicured fingers, tearing at her clothes and scratching her delicate skin, but she didn’t notice, completely lost in the raw, primal passion—until the stranger, having satisfied his urges, sank his strong, white fangs into her throat. The girl screamed. Opening her eyes, she saw not the handsome, polished man above her, but a shaggy, canine head. Her cry choked on the blood as life rapidly drained from her body.
Later, only gnawed bones remained in that pocket of space, and the girl’s name was added to the list of the missing.