Bad Mouth(25)

“He was lucky he had company all night.” His lips tightened. “I know you think that was about revenge, but it wasn’t. If it were, I’d have done it myself.”

“Then what was it about?”

“I told you I’ll have answers for you tonight. I have to…do something first.” The glow of his eyes dimmed and his voice grew husky. “The text. That’s why you were upset.” When she nodded, he turned back toward his window. “I’m such a fool.”

The car came to a stop before she could say anything and he stepped out to hold the door for her. The faint glow of sunrise crept over the horizon.

“Will you make it back in time?”

“Doesn’t matter.” His deadpan tone showed her more than she wanted to see. She had hurt him maybe as deeply as she hurt. But he’d have to care about her to feel like that. And if he did care, why would he use her and lie to her? “I’m old enough to survive the sun. Would anyone give a shit if I didn’t?”

It mattered to her if he didn’t, but he didn’t wait for an answer. He disappeared into the car and rode away while her words sat on her lips.





Chapter Seventeen


Sunlight still blasted through the penthouse when Kade awoke. Guess the debilitating rays weren’t adequate to quell his anguish enough for a long sleep. Last night had been the worst of his four hundred seventy-two years.

He didn’t want to admit he cared about his parents. He’d always loathed so much about them, even as he fought to near death for them over the centuries, down to blood and bones on occasion. Everything he did now was ultimately for them and for the Dominorum—things he did that would end in his execution now that Val knew some of the details.

And tonight he’d give her even more. She’d discovered enough information on her own, and it wouldn’t be long before she found out the rest. Get rid of her. That was Ezra’s train wreck of a solution. But he couldn’t even think it without twisting a knife in his gut. She’d dug into him deeper than his own soul.

It wasn’t her body that drew him, though he craved it like a drug. He wanted to f*ck every opening, lick and bite every inch of her skin. He’d known thousands of women over the years just as sexy. Almost. They’d all been vampires. He’d never lowered himself to screw a human. Humans were food.

She’d shoved a hook in him the first day. Humans either worshipped him or feared him and nothing else. She’d done neither; she treated him like a real person. A precious gift no one had offered him before. Even Ezra didn’t treat him that way, that beloved bastard. After centuries, Ezra still held him apart as the royalty he was.

And he’d returned her gift with lies. He was a monumental ass, though he’d had good reason to keep her in the dark. Would she understand his purpose, his duty, or would she serve him up to the Ancients for execution? He leaped from his bed and pulled on clothes to protect him from the sunlight as he moved around the penthouse. He knew of only one thing he could do for her, to bring her peace of mind, and he only had a few hours to do it.

He plowed through every dresser to find his spare cell phone. “Luc,” he said once he’d gotten through. “I could use a hand. Guns with you?”

“No, but I know where he’s at. Whatcha need, leech? And what’re you doin’ up? It’s the middle of the day.”

“Like I didn’t notice? Can’t sleep, but I can’t go out either. This is where you come in. I need you and Guns to track down one of the deranged.” He heard a big sigh on the other end.

“You’re not asking for much, are ya?”

“Well, I guess if you’re not up to it…”

“Hells yeah, I’m up to it. I’ll grab Guns and we’ll get on it. Anything else, oh slave driver?”

“Yes, I need you and Guns here by sunset.”

“On top of finding this dipshi—never mind. We’ll be there.” Luc laughed. “So who’s this deranged fellow? It’s not like there’s only one, unfortunately.”

“William Parrish. Last known sighting downtown on the roof of the World Journal.”

“Seriously? That guy’s America’s Most Wanted. Do I get the reward when I find him?”

“No, but if you don’t, you’ll get my boot so far up your ass you’ll taste the leather.”

“Roger that, boss. I’ll call when I find something.” With a snicker, Luc added, “Enjoy the sun.”

Despite his predicament, Kade chuckled as he hung up. Lucca and Gunner had begun to relax around him, He’d thought fighting side by side might loosen them up, but only time had worked. They’d feared he’d eat them but never seemed wary around Ezra or Killian or even Declan. He’d thought it was because he was a Dominus, but Ezra was one, also. Then again Ezra came across as a big *cat. Kade knew better. The humans didn’t.

Never at ease with humans, he’d passed his orders through Ezra, but maybe his self-imposed distance had contributed to their discomfort with him.

He wasn’t stupid enough to believe finding Will would redeem him to Val, but he needed to give her something. It didn’t matter if she ever forgave him—they had no future. As a vampire, he’d live to the ripe old age of two thousand years or more if luck allowed. She could never stomach the consumption of human blood to turn for him. She deserved to be happy. She deserved to have a family. What the hell did he know about that? He was crude and violent. He had nothing of worth to offer a woman like her.





Chapter Eighteen


To Val’s surprise, Ezra answered the door to Kade’s penthouse. He wore his usual Cheshire grin, but his pale red eyes were diamond-hard.

“Welcome, Ms. Craig. Won’t you come in?”

Said the spider to the fly. His welcoming words didn’t exactly match his tone. Maybe coming here wasn’t such a good idea. Even if she called the VLO, the detention team wouldn’t stand much chance against two Dominorum in an enclosed space.

“Good evening, Ezra. What are you doing here?”

“Kade thought you should meet the guys. Come,” he said, stepping aside.

She saw the guys once she passed Ezra. At one end of the sofa facing her sat a vampire who had to be Killian. He matched Graham’s description perfectly. Beside him sat a man with hair as dark as Kade’s; he was shorter and leaner than the others. On the other sofa were two others with their backs toward her. Those two rose to greet her as she drew closer.

What in the hell was going on?

The darker-haired of the two offered his hand. “Valerie Craig, I’ve heard nothing but good things about your work. I’m Gunner.”

She shook his hand automatically, her mind in a stupor. The fairer man shook her hand as well. “And I’m Lucca, but you can just call me Luc.”

She looked into a serious set of hazel eyes. Luc didn’t seem happy to be there. But…She looked back and forth between the two, noting Gunner’s dark green eyes.

“You’re…human.”

The whole group laughed.

“Yeah, we certainly are,” Luc said. “Guns over here works for the Washington State Police on the Gang Intervention Unit, and I’m an agent with the FBI. I work mostly on abduction cases.” Her eyes widened as he spoke. “This guy over here is Killian. He’s a Legion, and so is Declan over there. They’re both Trackers.”

Killian and Declan did nothing more than nod. They looked at her with suspicion, their expressions guarded. Her gaze swept the room to find Kade standing with his arms crossed at his favorite position by the balcony window. He didn’t face her. She wanted to go to him, but everyone stared like she was a circus freak.

She looked at Killian. “So you can flash.”

“Not as fast as Kade, but I do all right.”

Kade stiffened at the window.

For a moment she just stood there, not exactly knowing what to do or what to think. She wasn’t about to become too emotional in front of this group, however. “Another lie, Kade?” she asked smoothly.

The others looked away, shifting uncomfortably. Confusion clouded Killian’s expression. “Why does it matter if he can flash or not?”

“He said only older vampires can flash.”

“And he’s right,” Ezra said, shooting Kade a glare. “If he were permitted to speak of such things,” Ezra faced her, “Kade would tell you he’s the only young vampire who has achieved the ability.”

“You weren’t supposed to tell me?” she asked Kade.

“No,” Ezra answered again. “And you never should have met us. You’re endangering peace between vampires and humans just by being here.” He began pacing between the sofas.

She put a hand to her head. “Would someone please tell me what you have to do with the fake bloodings?” She grasped Ezra’s arm as he passed. “Was Kade the one who flashed at Lake Washington?”