Bad Mouth(7)

…

“Where do you suggest we begin?” Val asked.

“Fuck if I know. It’s your investigation. I’m just along for the ride.”

He turned from them and dropped into the corner of one of the sofas, his long legs sprawled out in front of him and his toned arm draped along the sofa back. Val wanted to punch a wall. He’d just proclaimed he could be helpful, but he was already acting like the roadblock she’d expected. Her exasperation grew when he said nothing more.

She raised an eyebrow, but he only grinned and patted the sofa cushion next to him. She perched instead on the sofa across the coffee table from him. Graham sat beside her, a tad too close. He looked like he’d tasted something rotten, and she tried not to let that please her.

“My office sent you the details of the case. Did you receive them?”

“I did.”

She sighed. “Well?” He smiled again, but said nothing. Her patience neared its limit. “Any impressions, thoughts, ideas?”

“Yes. Humans are brutal.”

“Kade, you know very well humans didn’t kill those people.”

“I know no such thing. Do you always jump to conclusions?”

“Dear Lord.” She rubbed her temples. “I follow the evidence. You know—proof. I’m sure you’ve heard of it.”

The infuriating vampire laughed.

“Oh, stop it,” she said. “I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to spin me up. No matter what you do, I’m not calling Olen.”

Well, that worked. He made a frustrated sound low in his throat and leaned toward her. “Maybe I’m trying to shake you off that f*cking high horse, knock that pretty head clear so you’ll actually listen. I can’t help if you won’t listen.”

“I am listening.”

“No. You’re telling me how it is.”

Was he right? Possibly she may have missed something that he’d caught, but she couldn’t see how a human could cause the damage she had seen in the photos. Plus, the derangements were real and humans couldn’t create those. Still, she had to ask…

“Did you find evidence that humans did any of this?”

He took a long moment before he shook his head. “No.”

Unfortunately, Graham took this moment to chime in. “We have evidence of vampire involvement yet you continue to implicate humans. Who’s the one who needs a knock on the head?”

Val closed her eyes, wishing she could tape Graham’s mouth shut with his foot still in it. She stole a peek at Kade. He didn’t address Graham but stood, holding his gaze on her. Mortification sat hot in her cheeks.

Kade offered her his hand. She slid her hand into his as she stood. His skin felt unexpectedly warm and work-roughened. Not the cold, smooth hand she expected of a vampire prince.

“Mr. Rollins…”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Graham’s confused expression. He couldn’t help it—he was too new around the Dominorum to understand their power, and he’d probably misjudged Kade because of the plain, faded clothes the vampire wore. She’d tried to explain that he had to tread carefully in their presence—they were like grenades with the pin removed.

Of course, she’d said worse before realizing who Kade was.

“Kade,” he said. “For you, it’s Kade. Think about who among the Immortalis you’d like to interview, and come to me tomorrow evening.”

“We couldn’t get anything from them. Are you sure you can get them to talk?”

“I wouldn’t guess you’d give up so easily.” His smile softened his words. “I told you I can be quite helpful.”

“Good. I’m counting on it.” Reclaiming her composure, she backed away from him and pulled free from the compelling heat of his touch.

“Tomorrow evening, Val. Come to me.”

She nodded, shaking off yet another shiver. Come to me. The words whispered under her skin as she left the penthouse with Graham. Who was this adjuvant? Darkness lurked behind his eyes.

As she entered the elevator, she opened the pictures from Alice. They made her stomach riot. He did this to his subjugates, deformed and mutilated them, scarred them inside and out. The pictures didn’t fit with the vampire she’d just met. His language was distasteful, he had a short fuse, and he seemed more than capable of violence, but he’d done nothing to harm her or Graham despite their ignorant remarks. He’d shown nothing but restraint, and in fact, seemed willing to cooperate and contribute to her investigation.

“We should get someone else,” Graham said after they’d reached the lobby doors.

“You go ahead and call Olen, but he won’t change his mind once it’s made. He doesn’t make decisions lightly.” A parade of emotions crossed Graham’s face, but she couldn’t interpret any of them. “You know, I thought you were vampire-happy.”

“Not with him.” He scowled. “He looked at you like he could eat you whole.” His voice was as bitterly cold as the night air. They walked at a brisk pace to one of the available cabs at the curb. The fog of his breath brought to mind fire from an angry dragon, but his manner gentled when he opened the cab door and guided her in. “I don’t like it. I don’t like him.”

It didn’t matter how either of them felt. They didn’t have a choice as to who they could work with. With a sigh, she relaxed against the seat and waited for the customary adrenaline shakes. And waited.

They never came.





Chapter Five


Val’s nerves were strung tighter than piano wire by the time she arrived at Kade’s door with Graham. Her disquiet had only grown with each step that brought her closer to Kade. He was like no other vampire she’d encountered, and her physical response to him was like nothing she’d felt for any man, even for Will.

“I’ll deal with him today.” Graham nearly growled the command. Her instincts said to growl back, but maybe he had the right idea. She felt like prey around Kade.

“All right.”

His head spun toward her so fast, she worried he’d given himself whiplash. “No arguments?”

“Why would I argue?”

He laughed, and she realized it was the first time he’d done so since they’d met with the Ancients. She’d missed his lighthearted humor. “Well, you’re a bit of a control freak, V.”

She sent him a grudging smile. “Maybe. Just don’t put your foot in it like you did last night, and I’ll be fine.” Like she’d done any better.

“You could have told me he was royalty.” A scowl marred his pretty-boy face.

“And I would have if I’d known. I was as surprised as you were.”

“You knew before I did, judging by that death glare you gave me.”

“All right. You’re forgiven. You missed that part of the conversation.” She patted his arm affectionately and then held on a moment. Her voice softened. “I’ve missed your friendship, Graham. I don’t know how I would have picked myself back up without you after…you know.”

His expression tightened and then relaxed into a soft smile. He put a hand over hers. “I missed you, too. I’m sorry for pushing you. I know what you’ve been through and I should have been more understanding.”

The door to the suite swung open and Kade filled the doorway, tall and imposing. He looked deliciously disheveled in his worn jeans and navy T-shirt, the color’s intensity turning his irises a deep crimson. His hot glare went back and forth between her and Graham, and then his eyes narrowed on their joined hands on Graham’s arm. “You *s gonna stand out here all day, or shall we get this shit over with?”

Heat infused her cheeks, though she couldn’t be sure whether his language or his possessive gaze caused her uncharacteristic blush. “I’d rather you keep that language to yourself.”

“I’d rather you found someone other than me to work with.” He stepped forward, towering over her as if to intimidate. Her gaze went straight to the hollow at the base of his throat where the V of his shirt’s neckline framed smooth, taut skin. Would it be cold against her tongue or warm like his hand the night before?

She cleared her throat. “There is no one else.” She didn’t care if he thought she’d prefer anyone other than him.

“Then get used to the language, sweetheart.” His words formed a low, sexy rumble near her ear. Oh. More shivers. Big surprise that her body continued to betray her. Kade stalked toward the elevators without a backward glance. Graham nudged her forward.

“I thought I was the one dealing with him today,” Graham whispered in her ear. His voice was deep and rumbly, too. Why didn’t it give her the same thrill? Her friend was an incredibly handsome man with a wealth of charm. For the first time, she wished she could see him in that light. Her life would be so much easier.