chapter 1

texas, july 29

after a lifetime of successfully evading the hunters, lexi johns was no longer prey. she was bait.

zach was here. she could feel him nearby, drawing closer with every beat of her heart, as if somehow he'd become a part of her. she wasn't ready for him to show up yet. she needed more time to prepare herself for what she had to do and what it might cost her.

the fine hair along her limbs lifted, and she felt a tingling run over her skin. she'd felt it before, the night zach had marked her skin, and she knew what it meant. zach was closing in.

lexi wasn't sure she could do this-lie in wait for him to come to her-but she had no choice. the fate of the entire human race depended on her ability to fool him into thinking she needed his help-that she believed the lie he told, that he was one of the good guys. she knew better. her mother had made sure of that.

as far as she was concerned, most people weren't worth the trouble she was bringing down on herself, but helen day was. and the sentinels had her. zach was her only way inside the compound where helen was being held prisoner, her only way to help helen escape.

lexi's hands shook as she wiped down the worn wooden tables. the bar where she worked had just closed and was nearly empty. there was one man in back, cleaning the small kitchen. she could hear him singing in spanish as he worked. gus, the bar's owner, was at the cash register, figuring up tonight's sales. from the grin on his weathered face and the way her feet and back ached, she was pretty sure he'd made a killing.

the lump in her apron pocket from her tips wasn't as big as she'd hoped it would be. not as many people paid with cash as they used to, and gus liked to hold on to her money as long as he could, so she wouldn't see those tips until her paycheck. not that she was going to be here long enough to collect it. she was sure zach would find her before then.

the idea made her skin heat and her mouth go dry; it made her shake with fear and something else-something hot and illusive she couldn't name.

too bad. it was time to suck it up. helen needed her. lexi had to free her friend, and then find a way to undo whatever brainwashing helen had suffered. thank god she had the defenders of humanity on her side. those big ol' redneck boys seemed to know what they were doing, even if they were a bit . . . intense about it. if anyone could deprogram helen, it would be the defenders.

lexi upended the chairs onto the table so she could sweep and mop. she'd just picked up the last chair when the skin on the back of her neck tingled with awareness. she looked over her shoulder to see who was watching. gus's head was bent over a calculator. the mirror behind him reflected the dim room. she caught a glimpse of pale green eyes in the mirror and froze in panic for a split second, her heart pounding as it primed her limbs to flee. then she realized it wasn't zach. it was just the eyes of the leopard tattoo on her shoulder staring back at her from beneath the edge of her tank top.

zach wasn't here yet. she still had time to get a grip.

relief made her sag against the table. she was going to have to find a way to control herself before he showed up for real. and based on the tingling of her skin where his mark glowed beneath the tattoo, that wasn't going to be long. this time when he showed up, she wouldn't run.

lexi had spent most of her life running, and she was sick of it. she wanted a real home with a real bed, not the backseat of her car and a rest-stop bathroom, or maybe a cheap motel room if she was lucky. if she couldn't have a real home, then the least she could do was make the sentinels suffer as much as she had. after what they'd done to her mother, helen and countless others, they deserved whatever they got. and then some.

lexi turned to get the mop from the kitchen and caught sight of those leopard green eyes again, only this time, they weren't staring at her from a tattoo.

zach was here. watching her.

lexi froze, unable to move, or even breathe.

she wasn't ready. she wasn't strong enough to face him yet. the urge to flee rose up in her, and she fought against the desperate panic, gritting her teeth and clenching her fists.

zach made no move to attack her. instead, he lounged in the doorway, one broad shoulder propped casually against the frame. he watched her with the uncanny stillness of a predator. his brown skin blended into the shadows falling over the paneled walls, making his light eyes stand out even more.

lexi's heart kicked hard, though she wasn't sure if it was because he'd surprised her or because that was just what he did to her. even in her dreams he had the ability to make her sweat with his hot stare.

he was bigger than she'd remembered, or maybe that faulty memory was just her mind's way of helping her face him down by making him less threatening. his straight black hair was different from the way it had been the last time she'd seen him-tied back like he was ready to go into battle.

maybe he was. lexi had no idea what to expect now. for all she knew, he was here to kill her despite his pretty words, and all the planning she had done with the defenders would be for nothing.

i need you, honey. he'd said that only days ago. said it in a way that made her resolve melt.

she had to stay calm and act casual. move slowly. he was like a wild, predatory animal, and she was afraid that if she moved too fast, he'd pounce.

lexi gave him a level stare, letting him know she'd seen him. pretending that she wasn't afraid.

zach smiled, showing off his bright white teeth. it wasn't a smile of greeting. it was a smile of conquest. victory.

lexi swallowed hard, trying to work some moisture back into her mouth. "gus, i'm taking off early," she told her boss, keeping her eyes locked on zach, watching for sudden movements.

"like hell you are. not until the floors are mopped."

"sorry. gotta go," she said. "family emergency."

"you don't have any family."

"she does now," said zach. his rich baritone voice sank into her skin, making her shiver.

"who the hell are you?" asked gus. "and how did you get in here? the doors are locked."

zach didn't answer. instead, he pushed off the wall with a powerful bunching of muscles and stalked toward her. lexi held her ground through sheer force of will. she would not run. not this time.

"relax," zach told her. "you're safe now." his green eyes held her still, mesmerizing her like she was some kind of prey-a timid little bunny rabbit frozen with fear. the image pissed her off enough to drive away some of that fear.

he was closer now. too close. lexi's breathing sped until her head spun, and she was sure she'd make herself pass out.

"you need some help, alex?" asked gus.

"alex?" asked zach, lifting a black brow in question.

lexi tried to give him an indifferent shrug, but her spine felt stiff and rusty. "new town, new name."

"new look, too," he said, his eyes roaming over her body like the territory belonged to him. "i like it."

she'd had blond spiky hair when he'd met her. since then, she'd dyed her hair back to its normal color-a plain, average brown. it was longer, too, falling over her nape, baby fine and completely limp after her long shift.

"you look . . . softer." he said it like it was a good thing, and lexi suddenly wished she hadn't gotten rid of her spikes. at least she could have used them to put out his eye if he got too close.

which he was doing right now.

"alex?" questioned gus again, this time with more force. he had a gun back there behind the bar and wasn't afraid to use it. typical texan.

"i'm fine," she told gus, lying through her teeth. "he's just an old friend."

zach's smile widened. "i just came by to catch up on old times."

he reached for her, and lexi knew she couldn't flinch away. gus would know something was up, and although gus wasn't exactly the nicest guy on the face of the planet, he had given her a job when no one else would. she couldn't repay him with trouble. and zach was definitely that. more than six feet and two hundred pounds of walking, talking trouble.

his wide hand wrapped around her wrist, and he pulled her toward him. lexi went, ensuring gus's gun was kept safely tucked away. she let zach wrap his arms around her. she wasn't sure what he was going to do. strangle her? grab her and haul ass out the door? heaven knew he was big enough to fling her over his shoulder and run out of here before anyone could stop him.

but he didn't do any of that. all he did was engulf her in a hug.

lexi's mind sputtered, trying to make sense out of his action. her arms were limp at her sides. she couldn't even find the presence of mind to push him away. she tried to convince herself that it was because she didn't want gus to get hurt, but part of her knew better. as much as she feared what zach would do to her, as much as she hated him and his kind for ruining her life and the lives of countless others, there was still something about him that called to her-something that quieted the rioting corners of her soul. maybe it was just his handsome face or his mouthwatering body. or maybe he was already brainwashing her and she just didn't know it. that was how brainwashing worked, right?

his hands roamed over her back and down her bare arms. his skin was warm against hers, rough with calluses and utterly manly. she was pressed hard against him, subjected to every devastatingly muscular inch of his chest, abs and thighs. her hands itched to reach out and see if he felt as good under her fingers as he did against her body, but she held back.

he was her enemy. lexi couldn't forget that. problem was, it was easy to forget right now. she couldn't remember the last time she'd been hugged, but she was sure it had been nothing like this.

his scent enveloped her, sliding inside her with every breath she took. she felt her body relaxing and knew this had to be some kind of trick the sentinels used to subdue their prey. a chemical weapon. one that was working like a charm.

against her better judgment, her cheek settled on his chest and she could hear the strong, steady beat of his heart. the shimmering necklace he wore pulsed with color, swirling in an almost hypnotic display. his arms were thick, hard bands holding her in place, locking her against him, but he wasn't hurting her, as she'd feared. in fact it was just the opposite. she could feel a subtle vibration running through his limbs, like he was being careful not to crush her.

lexi pulled back, hoping to end the hug, but zach didn't let go. his grip was desperate. unbreakable.

he buried his nose in her hair and pulled in a deep breath. "you're okay," he whispered as if he'd been worried about her. "i didn't get here too late."

those were not the words of a murdering madman, but lexi knew better than to be tricked.

"is helen okay, too?" she asked.

zach pulled back then, just enough to look down at her. "she's fine. happy. just like you'll be once i get you home."

dear god, he was practically admitting he was going to brainwash her. she couldn't let that happen. helen needed her.