Ripper (Hunter #1)(57)

I had no idea what he was saying, but I liked the way he said it.

“What the hell was that about, Marcus?” Zack asked, though he was still looking at me.

Marcus curled my arm around his. He shrugged negligently. “The wolf and I had a small difference of opinion. You should tell your master that the wolves are getting restless. He will have problems with them.”

“And you? Were you intending to let that wolf tear you apart?” Zack asked.

“He would not have been allowed to do so,” Marcus said in a low, seductive voice. “Kelsey would never have allowed the big bad wolf to harm me. I was perfectly safe.”

Zack’s eyes narrowed as he looked at us. “Yes, I think she can hold her own. You’re lucky you took that check from Dev or I’d be forced to kick your butt for carrying in here. As long as you’re working for the boss, you’ll be allowed a gun in the club. Now, I think it’s late. I’ve been informed to call Stacy at the club and make arrangements for you to meet with her tomorrow night.” Zack held out his hand. “Let me have your cell. I’ll program my number in and you can call me if you need anything.”

I reached in my bag and pulled the phone out.

The wolf quickly entered his numbers and handed it back. “I need to get home. My wife is going to have my head staying out so late. My daughter won’t go to sleep until I kiss her good night, so Lisa is dealing with one cranky baby girl. Why don’t you escort Ms. Atwood home? She has a big day ahead of her tomorrow.”

“It would be my pleasure,” Marcus said. “Come along, Kelsey.”

I was tired and I’d gotten everything I was going to get out of tonight. I had four of five girls ID’d and an invitation to get into the club. It was probably time to call it a night.

“Do I get to ride in the Bentley?” That was one sweet car.

“If that is your preference, then certainly.” He led me out of the lounge.

It was getting late and the crowd was starting to thin out. I wondered if Gray had already gone to bed, if he’d already forgotten about me. Maybe he’d called up an old girlfriend.

“You are thinking of the demon?” Marcus’s face was a polite mask once more.

“No,” I lied. “I was thinking about the case. Maybe Quinn is wrong and I should talk openly about it. Maybe if the wolves knew it couldn’t be a vampire they would back off.”

“I doubt it,” the vampire replied, patting my arm. “That small faction of wolves wouldn’t be swayed by your evidence. If they discovered there had been murders and they had been conducted during daylight hours they would simply accuse me or the king himself.”

I thought about what I hadn’t told the vampire. Maybe it was time for full disclosure. “What if they knew the murders were being committed by a copycat?”

Marcus stopped. “Who is the murderer copying?”

“This is so cliché,” I said with a sigh. “He could try being a little more original. He seems to like his murders old school, this guy. He’s gone back to the original, if you know what I mean. He’s pretending to be Jack the Ripper.”

Any color Marcus had drained quickly.

“That’s bad?”

“Oh, Kelsey,” Marcus said with a shake of his head. “That’s bad for all of us. I doubt he is performing the killings himself since some have been in daylight, but if he isn’t involved it will be a miracle.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“His name is Alexander Sharpe.”

“Joanne met with an Alexander on a couple of occasions.” I got that thrill that came with knowing I was on the right track.

“I’m sure she did.”

“Why are you so sure he’s involved?”

“Because Alexander Sharpe was Jack the Ripper,” Marcus replied simply. “Now, he is a vampire. He might also be the one who brings down the king.”





Chapter Ten





“Seriously?” I stopped almost in the middle of the dance floor. “Jack the Ripper is a vampire?”

Marcus gave me a stern look and pulled me along. “Keep your voice down, Kelsey. There are always ears listening here. We can talk about this in the car. Wait for me at the bar. I must go and retrieve my keys. Try not to cause trouble.”

“I didn’t try to cause trouble before,” I said, aware of the grumpiness in my attitude.

The vampire ran his index finger along the curve of my cheek. “You don’t have to try, bella. I’m certain that trouble simply follows you.”

“Well, I hid from it for about ten years, so maybe it’s making up for lost time?” I replied with a sad smile.

Marcus ordered the bartender to attend me with an imperious wave of his hand. “Give my bella ragazza anything she would like. I will return shortly.”

I managed to hop up on the barstool with minimum effort. I’d practiced the move a lot. “How about a cup of coffee?”

What can I say? I was trying to do what the vampire wanted of me. I was trying to be good. Something about Marcus Vorenus calmed me. I wanted my head perfectly clear for our ride home and not because I worried he would try something. I enjoyed talking to him. He seemed to accept that I was a hot mess and perversely it made me less of one.