Bad Mouth(9)

Val slapped a hand over Graham’s lips before he could hang himself. He just couldn’t hit that balance between argument and outright insult, not that she’d done the greatest job of that since she’d met Kade. However, Graham made no secret of his loathing for Kade, and she couldn’t let him get torn limb from limb because of it.

Val huffed. “I’m not investigating crimes committed by humans. My job is to find murderous vampires, and you’ve been worthless to this investigation so far. You’re wasting my time.”

The limo door opened. She ignored the driver’s helping hand and stepped out of the car on her own before turning back to Kade.

“I knew this is how it would end up. A vampire would never turn on another vampire, no matter how criminal. Make no mistake about this. I will find the ones responsible, with or without you.”

“Are you done then? Going your own way?” He sounded relieved. She had no intention of letting him off the hook, even if it meant he’d sit on the sidelines during all of the interviews. That would serve him right. He was nothing more than a decoration.

“No. We’ll meet tomorrow night.”

He sighed. “Fine, but keep your sidekick on a leash before he gets eviscerated.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” She couldn’t believe he had openly threatened Graham.

“Try me,” he growled. His eyes flashed at Graham, who looked on the verge of impetuous violence.

Without a word, Val tugged Graham toward his Prius. She had to find a way to deal with the two of them. The more their exposure to each other, the more likely Graham would meet an unpleasant demise. She had to keep them separated.

Or maybe she should cancel meeting with Kade. He wasn’t doing anything to help her investigation. Other than her vengeful desire to make him suffer, there was no reason to continue with him. She’d never have to see him again.

That should have satisfied her, but it didn’t. It made her restless instead. The fact remained that she needed his help. They had several deranged vampires to find, but without the benefit of his position, they had better odds of winning the lottery. If he intended to stand by and watch, she’d simply have to find a way to convince him otherwise.





Chapter Six


Night had consumed the city over an hour ago, but Kade was still sitting on his ass. Waiting. His rock glass shattered in his hand. Cursing under his breath, he brushed the shards off his thighs and the seat fabric. He waved away his driver, who’d jumped out from behind the wheel to assist. Pulling out a new glass, he poured more scotch and downed it in one toss. Fucking humans. They’d invented watches. Couldn’t they read them? His time was precious. Kade snorted at his acrimony and poured another double. Too f*cking bad he couldn’t get drunk this way. After last night’s debacle at Eva’s, he’d need to be drunk to survive any sort of repeat tonight.

Of all the cases they could have checked out last night, the humans had to choose Gas Works Park. So much for trying to impress Val with his power and influence. He counted himself lucky Eva hadn’t noticed anyone at the scene. Or if she had, the little Legion vampire had enough sense to keep her mouth shut. He had to be much more careful in the future, especially with a woman of Val’s station out for vampire blood.

A light rap at the window told him the humans had decided to show, but when he glanced up, only Val’s doormat friend stood there. Who had invited that fool? His mood had already soured at the wait, and Kade didn’t take kindly to the knife twist of the bastard’s presence. After kicking the door open, he stepped out and scanned the curb. An ass-ugly Prius had parked behind Kade’s Mercedes, but no one else waited in it. Val was nowhere in sight. Was he to be saddled with this douche bag the rest of the night?

“Val’s coming,” the man said. Kade grunted, not much inclined to acknowledge the human’s existence. “Look, Mr. Rollins, I apologize for my offense last night.”

“Don’t give it a second thought.” Kade gave Fischer a look designed to chill bones. “I haven’t.” The dumb f*ck probably figured Kade had lost sleep over the bullshit.

“Sorry!” Val called from halfway down the block as she jogged toward them. When she reached them, she was out of breath, bending at the waist and bracing against her knees. Her gorgeous, spun-gold hair spilled forward in a wavy mass, obscuring her pixie face.

“What did you do? Run all the way here?” the douchebag asked.

“Stupid cab…got some call…and dumped me off…ten blocks short.”

“Why did you take a cab?” Kade frowned and then pinned Graham with a glare. Why didn’t that bastard pick her up? “How did you get here? That’s yours, isn’t it?” He gestured to the Prius next to them. Douchebag nodded but looked abashed.

“Well, I’m here now. What are we waiting for?” she asked.

Kade growled. “Next time call me. I’ll get you or I’ll send a car.”

Her fae eyes went wide. “That’s very…kind of you.”

“Don’t get your panties in a bunch. I won’t be kept waiting next time.” Damned if he’d let her think him soft or something. She tilted her head, her brow lined with suspicion, but then her lips tightened and drew down at the corners.

“I said I was sorry. Take it or leave it.”

Ah, hello there, erection. Long time no feel. Good thing he wore a long jacket this evening. It hadn’t taken five minutes of exposure before he was raring to go with the woman. What would she do if he hit on her?

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

He shook his head. “Who have you chosen to beleaguer this night, Val?”

His lips quirked up unbidden. Damn, she was cute, even when she was intolerable. No one had ever challenged him the way she did, and he couldn’t stop himself from being inexorably drawn to her. She seemed to have stowed her anger from the previous evening, though if tonight was a replay, she was sure to find where she’d packed it away.

“We’re going to see Ptolomy Keraunos. He lives in Bellevue and one of the bloodings happened at the edge of his estate. A neighbor walking her dogs found the body.” Her eyes narrowed and her voice lowered to a husky rasp. “Feel free to help at any time.”

He caught her warning but found it more sexy than threatening. “I know Ptolomy. You might get nothing even with my help.” He looped her arm through his and tugged her toward his Mercedes.

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like? Going to Ptolomy’s. Are you coming or not?” When Douchebag made a move to follow, Kade turned on him. “Bring your car.”

He didn’t wait to see how the man took the order. Instead, he dropped his gaze to Val’s slender and graceful hand tucked into the crook of his elbow. He smoothed his palm over the back of it, his nerve endings stupidly giddy at her softness. Despite her obvious misgiving about their shaky alliance, she smiled up at him briefly before ducking into his car. When his belly executed a pirouette worthy of the Kirov performing Swan Lake, a scowl settled onto his face. She made him feel weak inside.

Holy f*ck, he liked her and it burned in his gut. He’d like her even better bent forward over the seat cushion with her slacks around her knees. He would tie her wrists with the seat-belt straps and wrap her eyes with the wispy scarf she wore. Her long hair would make a great handhold. Dammit to hell and back. It didn’t matter how deep in the dirt his mind went. He liked her. A f*cking human.

“What happened in here? Did I miss the party?” She glanced sidelong over her shoulder at him, and that image of her bent over the seat nearly bowled him over. “It smells like a dive bar.”

He bit off a laugh. “A memorial for the untimely death of two jiggers of Glenlivet. Here, let me slide by first.” The sinner in him pushed his hips complete with rigid flagstaff right against her backside as he climbed past her. It didn’t make him smirk as he’d thought it would. Instead, her sweet, round ass humbled him. He wanted to drop to his knees and worship it with his mouth, maybe with a little bit of teeth.

“Would you quit it?” Her exasperation cut through his musing. He’d cleared the seat of glass so she could sit without the danger of splinters. Last thing he needed was her blood in the open air to tease his already manic senses.

“Quit what?” He reclined against the seat and angled toward her with his legs stretched across her floor space.

“Let’s just say you should have a parental-guidance warning across your forehead.”

This time, he let himself laugh. “Rated MA for Misogynistic Asshole.”

He didn’t miss the slight quirk of her lips, even though she rolled her eyes and settled into silence for most of the ride. To his regret, when she broke it, it was to discuss work. “I didn’t get anything more than a summary of Ptolomy’s interview. What’s he like?”