Rikki glared at him again. I know exactly what you're doing. And she did. His little show of gallantry earned him two things. Blythe would see he was at home in Rikki's house, and it would get him inside where he was not only out of sight but he could shoot someone he considered a threat.

I knew you were a smart girl when you wanted to throw me back into the sea. He was laughing at her even as he took Blythe's order for both cream and sugar in her coffee. Let the inquisition begin.

She sat up straighter. She hadn't considered that. The moment he went into the kitchen, she was going to be interrogated like there was no tomorrow. Squirming, she realized there was no way out. She simply handed him her coffee cup in surrender. "No sugar or cream."

He gave her a cocky smile. "I knew that."

Of course he did. He was observant. She sent him another dagger-cutting stare, but he just grinned as he closed the screen after him.

"Oh my gosh." Blythe caught her hand and leaned into her. "He is so hot. Where did you find him?"

"I pulled him out of the sea and decided to keep him." Rikki's answer was strictly honest.

Blythe burst out laughing. "I'd keep him too. So he really wants to work with you?"

Rikki scowled at her, her most fierce scowl, usually reserved for anyone but Blythe. "For me, not with me. Let's just keep that totally straight. I'm captain. And he's a lowly tender." Her palm throbbed, a dull ache that swiftly turned into an itch somewhere else. She pressed her hand against her leg tightly, trying to dull the sensation.

I accept the position of lowly tender. I'm good with that title.

"He looks like a man who would be helpful on a boat, Rikki," Blythe said.

Rikki growled aloud. "I'm a solitary diver, Blythe." The car was in sight now and Rikki recognized it as belonging to Judith. Both Judith and Airiana were inside. Rikki groaned and covered her face.

"What is this, Blythe?"

"An intervention."

"You have got to be kidding me! Because I bought groceries?"

"You haven't bought anything but peanut butter and bread in four years."

Rikki was indignant. "I buy coffee and broccoli and sugar for you."

"We were going to talk about nutrition. You can't just eat peanut butter all the time, and since you showed an interest in food, we thought this was a good time to talk to you."

Rikki glared at her. "Levi showed an interest in food." See, I remembered.

That's my woman.

"I guessed that after I saw him, but you shopped for soup a couple of days ago, which means he's been here for a while."

Rikki tightened her mouth and refused to speak. Brace yourself. I think they're planning to show up en masse. And when they get going, they're relentless. Last time they came, they insisted I start eating broccoli. It was really annoying. She wasn't touching the "my woman" comment for anything.

He laughed softly in her mind, sharing his amusement over her obvious disgust of anything green and her cowardice. As I want actual food, I'm going to be on their side, he warned.

She growled deep in her throat, warning him of dire consequences. You do and I'll retaliate. Every time you shower the water is suddenly going to go ice-cold.

Judith and Airiana walked up the paved walkway, Airiana looking up at the sky and Judith clearly drawn to the colorful flowers. Rikki found herself relaxing a little as she always did when her sisters showed up. She loved just watching them. In their own ways, they were as different as she was. And they accepted her. It didn't matter to them that she didn't like them going into the house. They might not understand, but if it was important to her, it was important to them. She loved feeling their acceptance.

Maybe that was what appealed to her about Lev. Her peculiarities didn't seem to bother him at all. She smiled at the newest arrivals and indicated chairs. "As long as we're not talking about food, groceries or anything green, I'm glad to see you."

Judith burst out laughing and bent to brush a kiss on top of Rikki's head. She was nearly as tall as Blythe. With her long legs, slender figure and exotic looks, she could have been a model.

Rikki tried to glare. "You ratted me out."

Judith looked unrepentant. "I had no choice. Blythe subjected me to her ..." She whirled her hands around, her long fashionable nails glinting dark red in the sunlight. "That look she gives us when she will get her way. In any case, it was Airiana who blurted out that you'd gone grocery shopping."

Blythe laughed. "You all remember my evil eye when you're thinking of withholding information. Actually Inez called me, worried, so I already knew."

Airiana, a small, fragile-looking woman of twenty-five with natural platinum hair and huge blue eyes, flashed a small grin at Rikki. "I was feeling so guilty."

"I'm sure you were," Rikki said drolly.

Airiana started to sink into the chair Lev had vacated. Blythe caught her arm, shaking her head. "That chair's taken." She leaned forward with a conspiratorial air. "By a man," she added, lowering her voice. "A very hot man. He's in Rikki's house."

Judith and Airiana gasped in unison.

"You let someone into your house? A man?" Judith said, clearly shocked. "I'm going to go see." She started toward the screen.

"No!" Panic welled up. Judith couldn't go into the house with Lev. Not two people. Not together. It was bad enough that Lev was in there, but not someone Rikki loved, not Judith. Rikki shook her head adamantly, barely able to breathe. "You have to stay out here where I know you're safe." She blurted out the order, her heart hammering so loud she could hear a roar in her head.

Judith immediately held up her hands and halted in mid step. "I won't, honey."

Calm down, lyubimaya, just breathe. There is no fire. There is no one close other than your sisters. I would know if an enemy was near. I won't let anything happen to you.

I'm not worried about me! She was emphatic. I don't want anything happening to my sisters. She hesitated. Or you. What's taking so long with the coffee?

Rikki found that she could breathe easier, that her strange connection to Lev steadied her.

I'm just holding back for a minute or two to let the others arrive. They're coming up the drive. Their energy feels happy and affectionate, but I prefer to be certain.

Rikki glanced up the drive. Sure enough, there was a small but telling cloud of dust. How did he do that? "If we keep meeting like this, we're going to need more chairs." She got up, vacating hers so her other two sisters would have a place to sit. She perched on the railing, leaning her back against a post, leaving Lev to bring out a chair or sit in the hammock swing.

Lexi Thompson jumped out from the passenger side of Lissa Piner's bright red convertible. Lexi waved madly, her wild mass of auburn hair flying around as she leapt up and down. She looked like a little pixie with her large green eyes and her pale oval face. Rikki adored her. Lexi, at twenty-three, was the youngest of all of them. She'd had the worst life any of them could imagine, yet she remained an upbeat, positive person, one Rikki looked up to. She'd manage to make peace with herself after meeting Lexi.

"I'm here for the defense, Rikki," Lexi called. "I've totally got your back."

Rikki had to laugh. Of course she could count on the little rebel. "Way to go. Sit next to Blythe and every time she mentions vegetables, kick her."

"Lexi's the one growing the vegetables," Lissa reminded and stepped out of her convertible.

Rikki couldn't help but admire her. Bright red hair, deep blue eyes, she had curves and a small waist. Rikki was skinny and she didn't have a waist like that. Lissa was the resident martial arts practitioner and her body was a tribute to her abilities. She also was a carpenter and welder. She excelled at blowing glass and showed many of her glass and metal pieces in Judith's store.

"I do eat your broccoli, Lexi," Rikki said as piously as she could manage.

"And I love you for it," Lexi blew her a kiss.

Blythe waited until both women were seated before she dropped the bombshell. "Rikki's got a man."

Five heads turned to stare at her. Rikki lifted an eyebrow and pushed her glasses firmly on her nose, trying to look nonchalant.

"In the house," Judith hissed. "She won't let me in to see him."

"He's not on display," Rikki defended.

"I want to see," Lexi insisted.

Lissa looked at Blythe. "You met him?" There was suspicion in her voice. "Who is this man and how did he get into Rikki's life? Rikki doesn't just pick up men."

Rikki sent Lissa her most ferocious frown. "I certainly am capable of picking up men."

I wouldn't be saying that where I can hear you.

You have nothing whatsoever to do with it.

Maybe not yet, but I will.

A thousand butterflies took wing in her stomach. She wasn't touching that statement. He sounded far too confident and his killer kisses might have given him reason to believe he might have a say in her life, but it wasn't true. No one, no one, told her what to do.

She could hear her sisters talking around her, but their voices had faded into the background. Her mind was filled with Lev. His laughter was low and amused and all too male. He cut off abruptly, pulling out of her head. For a moment she was dizzy and nauseated. She breathed deep to allow the feeling to pass when it suddenly occurred to her that it was Lev who was sick and dizzy. He wasn't hiding in the house-well, maybe he was because he was inclined to be paranoid, but he hadn't been able to stand more than fifteen or twenty minutes at a time. He'd been up and even cooked breakfast. He must have been resting and trying to hide it from her.

She brushed her hand over her face, hardly able to breathe. She wasn't the kind of woman to take care of sick people. She just wasn't. He needed to have a doctor, or Lexi, look at him. She started to move, when the sudden hush of chatter warned her and she turned to see him standing in the doorway. Her heart jolted at the sight of him. Tall. Masculine. The two-weeks' growth of beard hiding his stubborn jaw. His eyes were deep blue, just like the sea. It was difficult, looking at the obvious muscle, to think of him as being sick or dizzy. He looked too strong, too invincible.

Judith made a single sound, drawing her attention. Judith had gone pale and she turned her head to look at Airiana. The two women exchanged a look of fear. Lexi, Blythe and Lissa flashed bright smiles. Rikki's stomach tightened into knots.

"I shouldn't have had you getting coffee, Levi." She jumped up and took the cups to her sisters. "Levi hit his head pretty hard the other day and he needs care."

"You aren't responsible for him," Judith said.

Rikki was startled by the belligerence in her voice. As a rule, Judith was open and caring. Just the bandage on Lev's head should have produced her usual empathy.

"Actually, I am," Rikki countered. It was true. She was captain. She'd pulled him out of the sea. Her code made her responsible. "Everyone, this is Levi Hammond. Levi, my sisters. You know Blythe already. This is Judith, Lissa, Airiana and Lexi."

"So you brought him home with you because you feel responsible," Airiana clarified, ignoring the introduction.

Rikki scowled at Judith and Airiana. "Why are you being rude? He's a guest in my home. I may not have social skills, but in your homes, I'm always polite to your guests." Okay, that wasn't strictly the truth. She usually backed out and left the moment she saw company, or she simply didn't speak. But she kept her dark glasses on and that could be considered polite. Her throat felt funny, a strange tickle.

Lev put his hand on her shoulder. "It's natural for them to worry about you, Rikki." Even as he said it, his head whipped around, looking toward the trees.

"His aura," Judith broke off, gasping, one hand going to her throat. She began to cough.

Airiana leapt to her side. "What is it?"

Judith shook her head and held up her hand as she tried to breathe. Lexi rushed over to her. Rikki went still. She pulled her glasses off and her gaze locked with Lev's. She knew she was giving him the death stare, but if he was responsible, she was never going to forgive him. She couldn't tell by his stony expression or his eyes. He was completely inscrutable.

Judith coughed again and Rikki hurried to get water, her mind racing. Lev was telepathic. He'd admitted to other gifts as well. His strongest drive was self-defense. Would he see Judith as a threat to him? She should never have brought him anywhere near her family. It bothered her that she had even conceived the idea that he could be a threat to Judith, but she couldn't get the nagging doubt from her mind.

She handed Judith the water. Lev hadn't reassured her. And she had observed him enough to know he had some healing abilities, but he wasn't rushing to assist Judith. He stayed quiet, out of the way, standing over near the railing where she'd been sitting. He was looking out toward the sea or maybe up to the road, but he wasn't looking at Judith.

Judith managed to get water down, and she slumped in her chair, gasping for breath. Lexi put calming hands on her and Judith drew in more air. "I have an allergy to something, I think."

"Has this happened before?"

The suspicion in Lev's voice startled Rikki. He was still looking out toward the road. A chill went down her spine. What did he sense out there? She couldn't stop herself. She stepped in front of her sisters, all huddled around Judith, and she faced the road as well, trying to make herself larger, even going so far as to spread her arms out.

"What is it?" Lissa whispered, coming up behind her.

"I don't know. Something. Can you feel anything?" Rikki murmured back in a low tone.

Lissa was a warrior woman. If something was wrong, she might be able to feel it.

"Go in the house," Lev snapped. "Now. All of you."

Horror was a metallic taste in her mouth. All of them together in her house? She shook her head. Lev didn't argue, he simply caught her arm and thrust her inside. "You fucking stay there, you hear me? The rest of you get inside and stay away from the windows. You keep Rikki inside and out of sight."

She felt the push in her mind, knew he was using some sort of strong compulsion along with his command. He didn't need it. His demeanor and voice alone would have stopped her sisters from going outside against his wishes. He dragged her through the kitchen into the living room.

Rikki couldn't breathe. The temperature in the house was extraordinarily hot. She broke out in a sweat, she was dizzy and weak. Her panic was full-blown and she couldn't talk, couldn't get the words out. Lev strode past her into the bedroom and began strapping on weapons. She could see him from where she was, but her sisters were oblivious, all peering out the windows. Airiana started to protest, but Lissa stopped her.

"He's right," she agreed. "I feel something out there."

"Call Jonas," Blythe said, all practical.

"Stay the hell away from the windows," Lev snapped, as he stood in the doorway of the bedroom. "Keep Rikki in here." He crossed to her side and bent down, his face close to hers, his hands on her upper arms as he pulled her against him. "I know you're worried about fire, lyubimaya, but no one is going to get past me to get to you. Just breathe this away and I'll be back soon." He brushed a gentle kiss across her upturned mouth and abruptly strode away, leaving her in shock.

Blythe, Judith, Airiana and Lexi stared at her with open mouths, obviously not believing what they'd just witnessed.

Lissa followed Lev through the bedroom to the back window. "I can help."

"He'll be long gone. He's watching the house. He's up on the high ridge to the north. I caught the flash of his binoculars. Could be nothing, but then again, I don't want a pervert lurking around either."

"Rikki can't have us all in the house," Lissa advised, hanging on to the windowsill. It was impossible to see the northern tree line from where they were-which meant whoever was watching couldn't see Lev as he went out.

"I know. You can get her through it. Better a panic attack than a bullet"

Lissa went to catch his arm, but as fast as she was, he was out of reach, his eyes were flat and cold. "Just watch over her until I get back."

Rikki tried to make her feet move, to follow him. She didn't want him going out alone, not with a concussion. He was sick and dizzy, but he was functioning. That made her feel worse, guilty even. He managed. There was nothing wrong with her at all, but she was so upset over her sisters gathered under her roof that she couldn't move.

Lissa put a hand on the nape of her neck and pushed her head down. "Breathe, honey. We're by the door. If the house catches fire, we'll all get out safely. No big deal."

"Lissa's right," Blythe's tone was brisk. "Judith, have you had this happen before?"

"No. Never. But I do have allergies," Judith answered. She took another swallow of water. "That man is very, very dangerous."

"He's out there trying to protect us," Lissa reminded.

Airiana shook her head and stepped close to Rikki as if to protect her. "Judith is right. We both can see auras and his is very strange. He carries many colors, but the colors are layered and surrounded by a deep red and then covered completely in black. The man lives with death and shadows. Whatever is inside him is eclipsed by his violent nature. I've never seen a man so dangerous."