Lucifer (Brimstone Heat Book 1) Read online

  “You would be a good mate for one of my wolves,” said Marcus. He smiled, thinking maybe he should have the unmated males in the pack visit the library to see if by chance she was a wolf’s mate.

  “Deputy Martinez was definitely interested in Miss Gunner,” said Teri. A huge grin lit up her face. “That is until Sheriff Fitch showed up. I think our sheriff has staked a claim on our librarian, and I think the feelings are mutual.” She rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet.

  “Is that so?” asked Marcus. He raised his eyebrows.

  Angie turned several shades of pink. She had forgotten that Teri could smell her body’s reaction to the sheriff. “I don’t know what either of you are talking about. Besides, they are police officers, and are off limits in my book.”

  “And what’s wrong with police officers?” asked Teri. “I’ve heard they often have bigger guns, and they can be very protective.”

  Angie felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. She knew the other wolves around them were listening even though they pretended not to be. “That may be so, but they’re police officers and I don’t date anyone in law enforcement.”

  “Never?” asked Teri.

  “Never,” said Angie.

  “Is that right?” asked Sheriff Lucifer Fitch.

  Angie squeaked as she whirled around to face the sheriff who had snuck up behind her. “Don’t do that.”

  “Do what?” he asked as the corners of his mouth turned up.

  Angie swallowed as she stared at his lips. Yeah, she was definitely in trouble. The man was walking sin. “Sneak up on me.” She rested a hand on her hip.

  He smiled and winked at Angie, before his face returned to a business-like demeanor as he turned to speak to Marcus Wolfe. “The power to the alarm was cut from inside the building. We haven’t found a point of entry, but we are still looking. Several sections in the library were vandalized, while others were completely destroyed. I need Miss Gunner to look through the destruction and make a list of damaged or missing items for my report.”

  Angie gasped at the mention of things being destroyed. She knew it had been a possibility, but she hadn’t thought much about it. “How bad is the destruction?” she asked. The thought of all their hard work destroyed made her sick at her stomach.

  “It’s not good,” said Lucifer. He didn’t like the emotions coming from Angie. He wanted to pick her up and take her away from all of this and make love toher until she couldn’t think of anything else but him.

  “Is it safe for Miss Gunner to go inside?” asked Marcus. “I don’t want anything harming her, or the others.”

  “I will stay with Miss Gunner the entire time,” said Lucifer. “I don’t want anything to happen to her either.” No one would get close enough to harm her if he had any say in the matter. Lucifer stared at Marcus Wolfe. He wasn’t happy about the wolf alpha questioning his ability to protect Angie, especially in front of her. The silly wolf just didn’t realize Lucifer was his alpha.

  Angie looked from Marcus Wolfe to Lucifer Fitch. She felt the powerful undercurrent flowing between them.

  Marcus tilted his head. He stared at the sheriff. “As long as it’s safe for them to go inside, if anything happens to them, I will hold you responsible. I’ll let you finish your investigation. Call me when your report is ready.” The warning hidden in his words was very clear, even to Angie.

  “I won’t let anything happen to Ms. Gunner. You can count on that,” said Lucifer in a low, menacing voice that sent heat coursing through Angie’s body instead of frightening her.

  “See that you don’t.” Marcus turned to Angie. “Don’t worry about the cost or repairs of anything. Get me a detailed list of everything that needs to be fixed or replaced. As soon as the sheriff finishes with the investigation, I will send in a construction crew to help with repairs. I will take care of the insurance company. Reorder any books you need to replace, and don’t worry about the cost.”

  Angie nodded but didn’t say anything. She was trying to prepare herself for what she was going to see, and having the sheriff with her while she surveyed the damage. Either one was emotional, but dealing with both at the same time was a complete emotional meltdown.

  She closed her eyes and sighed.

  The thought of someone breaking into the library just to destroy books anger her. She opened her eyes and looked at Marcus Wolfe. “I will email you a list of necessary repairs as soon as I can.”

  “I know you will.” Marcus nodded to Angie. He looked at Sheriff Lucifer. “Make sure you keep her safe. I consider her a part of the family,” he warned the sheriff.

  “Never doubt. I take care of what is mine.” Lucifer growled. He stared the alpha wolf directly in the eyes, refusing to back down.

  Angie’s heart pounded as a surge of desire wash over her. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from moaning out loud.

  Marcus Wolfe stared at Angie for several seconds. He sniffed the air and raised an eyebrow at her, but didn’t say anything. He turned and gave the sheriff an icy stare. “See that you do,” he growled. “Now, if you will excuse me, I need to talk to some people about making changes to the security system so this doesn’t happen again.” Marcus Wolfe turned and walked over to a couple of men who were working on laptops.

  Angie shook her head. “Men,” she muttered. “Always playing the ‘mine is bigger than yours’ game.”

  Lucifer chuckled. “Are you ready to do this?”

  Angie looked at the sheriff. “It’s not like I can put it off indefinitely, so I might as well get this over and done with so that I can move forward.” She pulled her shoulders back and stood a little taller, though she can no were near the six plus feet of the sheriff. “Lead the way.” She gestured toward the library with her hand.

  “After you, milady,” said Lucifer and stepped aside so Angie could walk past him.

  Angie rolled her eyes, but started walking toward the library. “Is it really as bad as you said?” she asked Lucifer when he fell into step beside her.

  “You need to be prepared for a huge mess,” said Lucifer.

  Angie nodded. It was hard focusing on the library with the Sheriff so close to her. She wanted to reach out and touch him, but knew that wouldn’t be the smartest thing for her to do. She wrapped her arms around herself, hoping it would help her not to embarrass herself by doing something really stupid.

  “Are you okay?” Lucifer watched the emotions flickering across Angie’s face. He sensed the inner turmoil she was battling because of her desire for him. He didn’t understand why she fought it. Maybe it was because she was human.

  Angie cleared her throat. “I’m fine. I’m just trying to mentally prepare myself for what I’m about to deal with.”

  “I won’t lie to you. It’s not good. But remember, you are not alone. I will be with you, and I will help you with anything you need.” Lucifer cringed when he heard the words coming out of his mouth. He was Lucifer, one of the princes of Hell…one of the fabled Four Horsemen, thanks to his cousins. He took what was his, and Angie belonged to him, but suddenly he cared about what was important to her.

  Inwardly, Lucifer winced. If his brothers heard him, they would laugh so hard, they would be rolling on the ground and holding their sides. He shook his head. Yeah, he would just have to do a little pouncing on them until they learned to respect their older brothers.

  “I know you have more important duties to attend to, than babysitting me.” She smiled at him. “I’m a big girl. I don’t need someone to hold my hands.” The smile quickly disappeared when she realized it was there.

  Don’t encourage him, she told herself. It doesn’t matter what you feel. He is a police officer, and you said you wouldn’t date anyone in law enforcement. She tried convincing herself. Her brain was listening but her body had completely different ideas.

  “You are the most important person in my life,” said Lucifer. He held open the rear door to the library.

  Angie paused at the door. “You d
on’t even know me. How can I be important to you?” She looked up at Lucifer.

  “You are my lifemate. You belong to me.” Lucifer stepped in front of her, blocking the entrance to the library.

  “You are funny. I don’t belong to you or anyone else. I am my own person. You’re not on any kind of medication, are you?” She put a blank, innocent look on her face. She didn’t want to admit it, but what he said rang true. And didn’t the woman who saved you say you would meet a man who would be your lifemate?

  He chuckled. “No, I’m not on any type of medication.” Lucifer leaned down. “Don’t ever doubt that you belong to me. You are my lifemate, but I think you already know that. Don’t you? So why are you denying it?”

  Angie raised her eyebrows and propped her hands on her curvy hips. “Even if it was true that you were my lifemate, there is one really huge problem.”

  “And what is that?”

  “I don’t date cops,” said Angie as she smiled sweetly at him.

  Lucifer grinned. His eyes sparkled. “That’s good, because I’m not a cop. I’m the sheriff.”

  “Same thing just different names.” Angie shook her head and rolled her eyes. “It’s like trying to say teachers and instructors are two very different things when they are not.” She shouldered her way around Lucifer and went into the library.

  “It isn’t the same.” Lucifer followed her.

  “The answer is still no. I don’t date anyone in any type law enforcement. I don’t care if they’re a sheriff, cop, deputy, or whatever. The answer will always be no.” Angie stopped and stared at the alarm system, or at least what was left of it. “I don’t remember it looking like that when I left this morning.”

  “I had the technicians go ahead and look at the alarm system so they could tell me what exactly happened to it. I know Marcus Wolfe is planning to replace the entire system,” said Lucifer.

  “That’s costly.”

  “But necessary. Whoever cut the alarm also fried it. The new system will be harder to disable.” Lucifer liked the idea of a better security system.

  Angie nodded. She looked up at Lucifer. “I’m ready to see the rest.”

  “Several of the officers are still collecting evidence, so don’t touch anything that is roped off with the yellow tape.” Lucifer watched her nod again.

  “Look but don’t touch. I got it.” Without waiting for the sheriff, Angie walked through the doors leading to the main room of the library. As soon as she stepped into the room, she gasped and stopped dead in her tracks.

  “Miss Gunner? Angie?” Lucifer walked up behind her. He put his hand on her shoulder, hoping she would draw some strength from his touch.

  For a few brief seconds, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to feel his touch and his presence. But then her eyes opened and she realized what she was doing. Angie wiggled her shoulders to loosen his hand. She took a couple of steps forward.

  Slowly, she scanned the room. Bookshelves were overturned and books were scattered everywhere. Pages had been ripped from some of the books, and were strewn about the entire room almost like confetti. The chairs that weren’t reduced to kindling had their seats cut open and the stuffing pulled out. “Why would someone do this? Why would they destroy the library?” Angie turned and stared at Lucifer. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “This was way more than just someone vandalizing the library for fun.”

  “I don’t know why someone did this but you’re right about this not being just a case of vandalism. Have you received any kind of threats about reopening the library?” The idea of anyone threatening her made him extremely angry.

  Angie shook her head. “Every communication we’ve received has been positive. People in town want the library open. So who would have done this?” She looked at the mess. “How am I going to get this mess cleaned up and books replaced so that the library can open? The grand opening is just a couple of weeks away.”

  “Marcus Wolfe said he will get a construction crew in here. He gave his word, which means it will happen, no matter the cost,” said Lucifer, trying to reassure Angie. He hated seeing his lifemate so upset.

  “I know. Things can be repaired and books replaced, but that’s not the point.” She gestured to the room. “This was intentional hatred. But who or what is it directed at?”

  Lucifer closed the distance between them. He started to pull her into his embrace, but Angie turned her back to him and wrapped her arms around her waist. He stepped back. “Have there been any threats against you?”

  “What?” Angie turned around.

  “Has anyone threatened you?” Lucifer asked again.

  Angie blinked several times. She thought about Ted Whitley, the man who kill her parents, but dismissed the idea. She hadn’t received any personal threats at least not sense Ted Whitley’s trial, but the last she heard, Whitley was still serving his seventy year sentence with no chance of parole. “No, I haven’t received any threats. “ Angie didn’t think there was any point to mentioning Whitley and her connection to him. He was in prison, and she didn’t want to discuss her past.

  “If you think of anyone, let me know,” said Lucifer.

  “As soon as I get the chance, I’ll go back through my emails, but I don’t remember any threats.” She looked around the room and closed her eyes hoping to keep the tears from falling. “There is so much to do.” She opened her eyes and glanced at Lucifer. It was all she could do not to run to him and wrap arms around his sculpted body. She wanted to feel his strength wrapped around her. He put the cover models on her favorite romance books to shame. “When will the deputies finish their search for clues?”

  “They should be done within the next fifteen to thirty minutes,” he said.

  Angie bit her bottom lip. Lucifer’s voice was absolutely too sexy. She felt as if she was going to melt every time she heard it. Angie nodded. “I’ll grab a notepad and pen from the front desk and start on the list for Mr. Wolfe. It is okay for me to get the notepad and pen off the desk?”

  “I’ll get them for you.” Lucifer glanced at his watch. “It will be lunchtime in a about thirty minutes. How about I take you out to lunch, and when we get back, I can help you.”

  The offer was tempting—too tempting, but Angie shook her head. “I’ve actually have plans for lunch. Thank you for your offer of lunch and to help me, but I have to turn both your offers down.” It really hurt to tell him that, but Angie kept telling herself it was for the best. She didn’t need to get involved with a cop.

  If only she could convince her body that they didn’t need or want him.

  Chapter 4

  “I still can’t believe someone actually broke into the library and trashed it.” Gracie took a drink of her iced, sweet tea. “It doesn’t make any sense. Why would anyone do that?” She set the glass down next to the almost empty plate.

  “I don’t know. But you’re right, it doesn’t make any sense.” Angie shrugged her shoulders. “From the mess, you would think it was a bunch of teenagers. But the alarm system was not only disabled, it was completely destroyed. Somehow the system was fried. That’s not exactly something teenagers would think about doing.”

  “Are you going to have to reschedule the opening?” asked Gracie.

  Angie shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. I hope I don’t have to, but there’s a good chance I will have to reschedule the opening. A construction crew is going to rebuild the damaged bookshelves, but furniture has to be replaced, and then there are the damaged books that have to be reordered and inventoried into the system before they can be put on the shelves. And that doesn’t count sorting through the damaged books and removing them from inventory.” She shook her head. “I just don’t know what to do.”

  Gracie shook her head. “All of this because of one idiot who has something against libraries.”

  “I would like to get my hands on that idiot and teach him a lesson. Even just five minutes with him or her would make me feel better.” Angie took a deep breath and then exha
led slowly. Her blood was at a boiling point. “It’s ridiculous the amount of work one person has caused. The more I think about it the angrier I get.” She wanted to slam her fist down on the table, but because she was in a public place, she fought the urge.

  “If you need any help, I’ll be there,” said Gracie. “And I’ll get Quinn and the others to help.”

  Angie stared at the crowd as she chewed on her bottom lip. Her thoughts drifted to Lucifer Fitch.

  “What’s wrong?” Gracie leaned forward.

  “Nothing’s wrong.” Angie picked up her glass and took a drink.

  “Something’s bothering you, and I don’t think it’s just what happened at the library.” Gracie shook a finger at her. “What is it? And don’t you dare tell me there is nothing wrong. You and I bother know you are lying.”

  Angie rolled her eyes. “Sometimes, you are just a little too nosy for your own good.”

  “Yet you still love me.” Gracie grinned. “So spill it.”

  Angie propped her arms on the table and leaned toward her friend. “What can you tell me about Lucifer Fitch?”

  Gracie stared at Angie and blinked several times. “The sheriff?”

  “No, the deputy by the same name.” Angie rolled her eyes. “Of course, the sheriff.” She sighed as she sat back. “You know what? Just forget it. It’s really not that important.

  “You just caught me by surprise. You’ve never asked me about a guy before. Gracie’s mouth dropped open. She stared at her friend. “You’re interested in him aren’t you?”

  Angie shook her head. “It’s nothing like that,” she said. Yeah, it’s nothing like that. I just want to get naked and wrap him around me.

  “Denial after a question like that, is a sure sign you are interested in the person. I can see it in your eyes. So, what do you want to know about the good sheriff of our town?” Her lips slowly turned up into huge smile.

  “It was nothing. Just forget I asked,” Angie said again. Her cheeks grew warm and turned pink.