Bad Mouth(11)

“I will cut to the point, Ms. Craig. I did not witness or hear the attack at the edge of my property.” That fact no doubt infuriated him, judging by his hard tone. “But the security cameras caught two humans at close proximity to the site of the blooding.”

“Humans? Are you sure?” she asked.

“Without doubt. You couldn’t miss the humans. Goth with piercings, and one had a Mohawk, the kind with big spikes. One of my staff said he’d seen them before, near some abandoned buildings along the waterfront.”

Finally, maybe they were getting somewhere. “Did he say where along the waterfront?”

“South end of Harbor Island at the mill.”

“The old Fisher mill? What was your man doing out there?”

“His sister works at the marina.” Ptolomy’s smile turned lecherous. “But he wandered off a few streets for a…bite to eat.”

She groaned. Were they all this warped? “I thought the place burned down a couple years ago.”

Kade answered, “Just one of the piers.”

The area Ptolomy spoke of was isolated. The only reason for anyone to wander down there was to find or cause trouble. She’d send a VLO team to check it out in the morning.

“You have video of these guys then?”

“Yes. Greta will make sure you have a copy before you leave.” With that, he pushed the nymph off the couch. The girl frowned, but left to do Ptolomy’s bidding. “You can’t see the blooding because it happens off the edge of the camera, but you get a glimpse of the humans.”

“Not the vampire committing the murder?”

“No.” Ptolomy smiled and stood. “That is all I have for you, young one.”

She shook her head. It sounded odd coming from one who appeared half her age.

Ptolomy walked them toward the doorway and looked back at Kade, a warning in his expression. “Soon, my never friend.”

Kade nodded once, and then Ptolomy was gone. “Did you get what you need?”

“Sort of. He’s not one to answer questions, is he?”

“Never was.” He gave her a wolfish grin. “See? I can be helpful.”

He certainly had been helpful. She surmised the boy vampire wouldn’t have cooperated if her interactions with Kade hadn’t so amused the Ancient. Maybe Eva hadn’t been lying as Val had assumed. But her instincts had never failed her in the past.

She nearly jumped from her skin when Graham appeared and offered his hand. She’d been so focused on Ptolomy and Kade, she’d forgotten about Graham. He held up the disc with the video on it. Frustration clouded his face, but he held his tongue. She didn’t doubt that once they were alone, he’d clue her in on whatever bothered him.

When they walked into the chill Bellevue air, he leaned down to her. “Ride back with me.”

She glanced at him and then at Kade, who was speaking to his driver. Her stomach sank as Graham maneuvered her toward his Prius. Kade scowled her way and headed for her. Graham tugged until she jerked her arm from his grasp.

“I can walk on my own, thank you very much.”

He made an irritated sound. “I’m just trying to get out of here. Why are you dragging your feet?”

She sighed, but he’d made a good point. They were done with interrogations for the evening. There was no reason to spend any further time with Kade. Why was that such a disappointment?

Kade approached her with a determined stride. “Where are you going?”

“Home. We’re done for tonight.” She hoped he couldn’t hear or see her lack of enthusiasm. He had a big enough head without thinking she enjoyed his company.

“I could take you home.” The hardness of his face softened, and it made her want to stroke the skin. Bring him closer for another kiss like the one they’d shared earlier. She could almost forget he was a vampire.

When she started to speak, Graham cut in.

“I’m driving her. We have work to discuss.” He grabbed her elbow again, pulling her back a step. She yanked away again. His manhandling had gone too far.

“Go wait in the car,” she said, with maybe more force than necessary. He winced, but did as she requested. She exhaled and turned back to Kade. Her sigh turned to a gasp at the dangerous glow of his eyes as they followed Graham to the car. “Look, I’m sorry he’s so rude, but he doesn’t think you’re safe for me to be near.”

He stepped in front of her, so close she could rest her cheek against his chest if she wanted. And darn it, she kind of wanted to. Instead, she tipped her head back to see his face clearly. He bent even closer, as if to kiss her again. Her breath seized in her chest, and her lips parted. This couldn’t happen. Graham sat in his car not ten feet away watching them with rapt attention that burned into her back.

“I’m not safe for you,” he murmured in her ear. He darted his tongue out to taste her earlobe, sending a miniquake traveling down every nerve ending. A whimper escaped before she could cut it off. She clenched her hands to keep them from clinging to his shirt. He backed away and smiled at her. “You see?”

Her nod was jerky. “Yes,” she whispered.

Then his stone visage returned, and his eyes lit red again. “I’m even less safe for him.” He tipped his head toward Graham. “He wants you.”

“That’s ridiculous. We’ve been friends for years.” She wasn’t sure why she resorted to the lie, but it felt easier than dealing with Graham’s feelings.

Kade’s cynical expression indicated he could see right through her. “I’m not known for my control, Val. Do something about him, or I damn well will.”





Chapter Seven


She’d left without Graham this time, and part of her dabbled with guilt. He’d be incredibly angry, especially after confessing his thoughts about Kade. It wasn’t a good idea, though, for him to mingle with Kade. Both of them were getting territorial over her, and Graham would never win if pitted against this Dominus.

It had become a safety issue and nothing to do with a desire to be alone with Kade, of course.

She spent the short cab ride going over the documents in her satchel. They were already memorized, but she needed something to do while her heart raced and jumped like a bunny on ephedrine. This kind of eager anticipation couldn’t be good. Before she could go through the paperwork for the tenth time, her ride came to a stop at the curb.

After suffering the stale sweat smell in the cab, she welcomed the frozen air and took her time to cross the plaza, watching the billowing of her cloudy breath. She swung her hands in the chill to dry her clammy palms before ducking into the Akkadian Towers. As she rode the elevator up, she stared at the water dripping from her thick-heeled boots to pool at her feet.

Maybe she should have brought Graham. Intense physical attraction aside, she found Kade far too personally appealing. There was nothing fake about the man. Nothing pretentious, only 100 percent Kade. He didn’t care what anyone thought of him, yet he cared about others. His moment of tenderness with Eva, and then his moment with her in the car when she thought she’d have a meltdown showed her that something wasn’t right about his reputation. And forget his comment about not being kept waiting, he’d offered her a car because he cared. Chivalry was alive and well in him, and not just as an empty gesture. Maybe his age had something to do with it, but she doubted that. It was plain to see he wasn’t proud of that honorable side of him. Somehow, that made him even more charming to her.

Kade opened the door this time. He gave no sign of recognition, no smile, no reaction whatsoever. He only stood aside and motioned her in. A knot tightened in her middle.

“Good evening,” she said.

“Where’s f*ckface?”

“Where’s what?” He crossed his arms patiently. Oh. He meant Graham. She turned toward the balcony and covered her mouth, but she couldn’t stifle her mirth. Her shoulders shook as the laughter snuck out. So unprofessional, and she really should stick up for her friend, but Graham had asked for it.

“I’m sorry.” She collected herself enough to face Kade. “He’s otherwise engaged this evening. We’ll have to make do without him.”

He smiled that familiar smile and her tension scattered. She removed her jacket and walked farther into the room.

“Come. Have a seat.” He offered a drink, which she declined. She needed to stay focused. “Who did you come up with?”

“Selene Stavrou,” she answered. “She was most evasive when questioned, and where she stayed two weeks ago gave her a clear view of one of the murders. She’d have to be deaf and blind not to have seen something.”

“Ah, Selene.” He looked thoughtful. Something in the way he said the name got her back up.

“You know her.”

“Oh, yes. I know her quite well.” His suggestive tone brought the catty right out of her, and the shock of it speared her insides. She bit her tongue and took a deep breath, pushing her irrational displeasure to the back of her mind. It wasn’t her business what Kade had done with the woman.