Blonde & Blue (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #4)(29)

The scent of blood was strong and immediate. It hit me hard, teasing me even as I watched in horror. The guy on the ground gave a strangled cry that became a horrible gurgle as blood entered his windpipe. Oh God, this was not good.

Jez grabbed Zoey around the waist and threw her. She skidded across the pavement with an angry cry. Her victim was beyond help. He was bleeding out fast. The scent was tantalizing, stirring my hunger. The urge to taste him was almost impossible to resist. I had no real options left. I moved fast. Grabbing his head tightly, I closed my eyes so that I didn’t have to watch as I snapped his neck.

“Oh my God!” Kylarai was clearly distressed. Her eyes were wide, and she trembled. “Oh my God! What just happened?”

I glanced around the parking lot. Nobody appeared to have heard the commotion. In downtown Edmonton, it likely hadn’t been enough to draw the wrong attention. Regardless, we had to move the body before someone came along.

“We need to throw him in the back of your truck, Ky. We can’t leave him here.”

“Are you crazy? I’m not putting him in my truck.”

Jez held out a hand to Kylarai for the keys. “We have to. Not for long. Just to avoid having anyone find him.”

Zoey stood several yards away, watching us in silence. Blood stained her face and clothing. She didn’t say a word, but when Jez pulled Ky’s Escalade to a stop beside us, she moved quickly to grab the body.

I pulled out my cell phone and hit Kale’s number without thinking. I didn’t know what else to do. I watched as Kylarai paced back and forth beside the vehicle. Come on, Kale. Pick up! Kale’s voice had never sounded so good.

“Please tell me you’re not busy. I really need your help.” I barely let him get a word out. “I’m at a club downtown with the girls. We’ve had a bit of an accident.”

“What kind of accident? Where are you?” The noise in the background indicated that he was at The Wicked Kiss.

“I have a body here that I need to get rid of. You were the first person I thought to call. We’re at a place called Dominoes.”

“Alright. I’m on my way.”

I hung up and took a long look at the situation. Kylarai was swearing at random to nobody in particular. Zoey was silently staring at the bloody spot on the concrete, and Jez was looking at me expectantly. We had a body stuffed in Ky’s truck and a vampire on his way to get rid of it. So much for a normal night out with the girls.

* * * *

The four of us were quiet. There wasn’t much to be said. Zoey had shown me what a liability she was. It had taken very little to make her snap. She was high-strung and dangerous. I knew this already, though. She’d murdered countless people, one being her father. I was conflicted as I stood near the Escalade waiting for Kale.

Not so long ago, I had wanted nothing more than to kill Zoey Roberts. Nobody would let me, not even Shaz. I’d claimed her as my own pack mate out of obligation, hoping for the best. As I stood there questioning that decision, I knew I was being a hypocrite. A killer was a killer, and I was one, too. Hell, I got paid for it.

I recognized the sound of Kale’s ‘73 Camaro before I saw it pull into the parking lot. Good. The sooner this night of f**ked up insanity ended, the better.

It didn’t occur to me that things could be more awkward until Kale got out of his car. He and Kylarai had dated for a few months before she’d paired up with Julian. They had developed a genuine affection for one another, but Ky didn’t want any part of the vampire world. They’d quickly called it quits. Ky didn’t know about the strange dynamic that had developed between Kale and me, and I preferred to keep it that way.

“Hello ladies.” Kale nodded to the others as he approached me. His gaze lingered on Kylarai who stood at the opposite end of the Escalade.

She took a few steps toward us but stopped as if uncertain. “Hi, Kale. It’s nice to see you again.”

“It’s nice to see you, too. You’re looking beautiful, as always.” The smile he gave her was endearing. I was relieved to see that he wasn’t all vamped out tonight. I should have confirmed that before calling him over here.

“Thank you.” Kylarai blushed slightly and ran a hand through her hair in a nervous gesture.

Uncomfortable didn’t even begin to describe how I felt. I waited while they exchanged pleasantries, doing my best not to let my discomfort show on my face.

Jez was completely unfazed by everything. In fact, she seemed bored with it all. “Where were you tonight, Kale? We didn’t drag you away from anything good, did we?”

“Nothing good enough to make me pass up the opportunity to assist four lovely ladies.”

“Oh, please. Your charm is wasted on us. Might as well save it.” She gave him a playful smack and pointed to the back of the Escalade. “Our friend is in there. What do you think?”

Kale peered into the truck and immediately looked at me as if he assumed that I’d done it. I shook my head and frowned.

“I’m sorry. You were the first person I thought to call.” I shrugged and tried to look apologetic instead of offended. “Things got out of hand here. It happened so fast.”

“Don’t apologize. I’m glad you called. You know I don’t mind.” The look he gave me revealed the fire lurking in the depths of his eyes. I tore my gaze away, hoping nobody else sensed the sudden increase in my heart rate. He pressed his car keys into my hand, and I jerked back as if his touch had burned. “Take my car and go to The Wicked Kiss. I’ll deal with this and meet you there.”