Avenging Angel (The Fallen #4)(19)

“I-I don’t want to hurt you.”

He laughed darkly at that. “I don’t think you can.” His tongue slid over the edge of one fang. “If you could, your heart wouldn’t be racing so fast right now.”

Over the centuries, she’d seen firsthand just what sort of violence vampires could unleash. She’d seen the empty shells left of angels—shells discarded after vampires had drained them dry.

Not me.

She shoved out at him as hard as she could. The vamp flew through the air and slammed into the back door. Marna scrambled a few steps away, and her fingers curled around a knife that had been tossed to the floor. She put her hand behind her back, hiding the weapon.

But then he rose too quickly, pretended to brush himself off, and he said, “Interesting. You’re stronger than you look.” One blond brow rose. “But is that all you’ve got?”

No, she had a knife she could drive into his heart. A knife won’t keep a vamp down. “I—”

His hand was around her throat. Moved too fast. He’d leapt toward her and attacked in an instant. “I thought your kind killed when you touched.” There was no missing the anger in his voice. “That’s what you were supposed to do.”

Wait, had this guy wanted her to kill him?

Wood shattered as the back door was smashed in. “And you were supposed to stay the f*ck away from her.”

Tanner.

She’d never been so glad to see her panther shifter.

The vampire didn’t look away from her. Um, shouldn’t he be turning to face the new threat? But he just leaned in closer to her. “I know,” he whispered to her. “If you aren’t careful, they’ll all know.”

Tanner yanked him away from Marna and raised his claws. “I warned you.”

The vamp just laughed. “Go ahead. Cut off my head, but then you’ll never know who’s after your little angel.”

“Maybe I won’t start by cutting off your head.” Tanner flashed his own growing fangs as he lifted his claws. “Maybe I’ll have some fun and I’ll make you beg to tell me all you know, before I cut off your head.”

Still no fear from the vamp. “Now is that any way for a cop to act?”

Tanner pushed him against the nearest wall and drove his claws into the guy’s shoulder. Marna flinched and glanced away—and she hid her knife.

“Why does the sight of your claws . . . ” the vampire asked, voice sly, “make her go so pale?”

Marna looked back at them.

Tanner stiffened and glanced her way. “I—”

The vampire slammed his head into Tanner’s, and a powerful punch from the blond had Tanner stumbling back.

“I’ll tell you what I know. Tell you every little thing.” The vampire’s eyes were black now. She knew a vamp’s eyes turned to black when they were either having sex or—or—

Killing.

“I’ll tell you,” the vampire promised, “but there’ll be a price for that information.”

Tanner put his body in front of hers. “Isn’t there always?”

A hard laugh from the vamp. Then he said, “She bleeds for me, and I’ll talk.”

“Not gonna happen.” This time, Tanner was the one to drive a punch, one that rammed into the vampire’s chest. Marna heard the sickening crunch of bones.

The vamp spat out blood. “Kane. I’m Riley Kane. When you’re ready to deal . . .” His eyes found Marna’s over Tanner’s shoulder. “You come back here, and you ask for me.”

Voices rose. Shouts came from out in the bar.

The vamp shook his head and spared her another fast glance. “You called humans . . . to come and help in Hell? How do you really think this will go down?”

Sirens screamed.

Tanner swore. What? Why was he swearing then? He’d been the one to tell her to get help.

“Better run, cop.” Now the vamp was warning them. “Even humans can smell blood in the air.” Then Kane whirled and leapt through the shattered remains of the door.

Marna turned back toward the shouts. She had to find a way to help the humans. With all those supernaturals in there, it would be a nightmare for them.

A nightmare that they never expected to see.

“Don’t.” Tanner caught her arm and pulled her back toward the broken door—and the waiting night. “This place is enchanted. The humans won’t get inside the bar. The spell keeps them out.”

“But . . . the screams . . .”

“There’s always screaming in Hell.” They were outside now and moving so fast that Marna had to run to keep up with him. “And the EMTs who are on night-shift duty, trust me, baby, they understand more than you think. Half of them are paranormals. They’ll find the body, and the right people will know how to handle her.” His eyes glittered in the darkness. “I’m not the only paranormal on the force. Not even close.”

They’d circled back to the parking lot just a few blocks away. They jumped in his vehicle and raced from the scene, even as the ambulance roared toward Hell.

They passed the ambulance, and the glowing circle of lights lit up Tanner’s SUV.

Then . . .

Silence.

The miles flew past. Marna’s heart began to slow to a normal rate, but when she looked down, she realized she had blood on her hands. She swallowed and fisted her fingers. “I-I wish we could have saved her.”