Only Vampires Cry Blood (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #3)(10)

“Arys…” My voice trailed off as I tried to form the words. “I love-,”

Another kiss prevented me from returning the words of endearment. In the past six or seven months that we'd been involved, he had never let me finish that sentence. It was nothing short of aggravating.

“But Alexa, about Harley,” he nibbled and sucked on my lips and tongue before pinning me with his deadly serious gaze. “I meant what I said.”

Chapter Three

The unmistakable sound of conflict floated through my office door. Raising an eyebrow in surprise, I paused in typing an email to listen. Lilah and Veryl were engaged in a heated discussion. This never happened.

Feeling like a kid spying on my parents, I quietly got up from my chair and crept to the open door. Murmurs carried down the hall from Veryl's office. His voice was low, barely audible compared to Lilah's angry hiss. Whatever was going on, she was pissed.

Despite my metaphysical shield, her angry energy was able to punch holes in it. I felt nothing from Veryl, but he was only a vampire. Lilah was a vampire, but she had been a demon first and still was. She scared the crap out of me when she was in a good mood. I didn't like the vibes rolling off her.

Slipping out of my office, I made my way to the small kitchen. The sound of Lilah's voice barely faded. Jez looked up at me from where she perused a copy of Cosmopolitan.

The look she gave me was curious. Her cat eyes looked especially brilliant green today. I shrugged and she frowned.

“Hey Lex?” She motioned me over with a finger topped with perfect red polish.

“What do you think of these shoes?”

As I drew closer, I noticed that the shoes on the page looked like punishment devices straight out of hell. The sound of disgust I made earned me a dirty look from the fashion friendly leopard.

“I'm probably the wrong person to ask. I don't know much about shoes other than price and comfort.” Bending down over her shoulder, I brought my lips close to her ear.

Her scent was a mixture of wild animal and Chanel number something or other. Fearing sensitive ears down the hall would hear me, I barely breathed the words. “What the hell is going on down the hall?”

She giggled and squirmed, batting at her ear. “That tickles, cut it out. It's also sending a fun tingle down my spine so you may want to back off. Or do you?” She smirked. I ignored her teasing come-on; she was full of them. When she gestured that she didn't have a clue what was up with Lilah and Veryl, I chewed a nail as the curiosity ate me alive.

Jez slapped my hand away from my face and shook a finger at me. “No wonder your nails are always bitten to shit. You seriously need a manicure, lady.”

I tried to glare at her, but I was too preoccupied by trying to hear the details of the commotion in Veryl's office. “A manicure would be wasted on me. I'd destroy it within hours.”

She huffed at me and turned back to her magazine. I perched on the edge of the table, straining to hear. Yeah, so it wasn't the most polite thing to do, but it sounded big, and I wanted to know.

“So, what are you doing here?” Jez asked after flipping a few more fashion pages. “I thought you weren't taking anymore private clients.”

“I'm not. My reputation has been drawing some pretty unsavory characters lately.

Either they want to kill me or they want me to kill someone that doesn't meet my criteria.

I'm tired of playing games with vampires too pu**y to do their own dirty work.” It also put me in a very vulnerable position. I'd taken many private hits in the past, rarely second guessing my decision. “Veryl asked me to come in.”

The work I did for Veryl was for one purpose only: take out the supernaturals that threatened the rest of us with exposure. I wish I could say it was because they were evil and had to be disposed of. Truthfully, most of them were just stupid, unable to keep a low profile like those of us who value our anonymity. The work I had done on the side was merely for the money. After streams of clients seeking an easy solution to their problems or those looking to get their hands on me, I was done with it. Ever since Harley had shown up at the office when I was alone, I hadn't felt comfortable taking on a private kill.

Before either of us could speak again, a loud bang came from down the hall as Lilah flung Veryl's office door open. The intensity of her anger preceded her.

“I am tired of being manipulated like everyone else around you. Do your own goddamn dirty work from now on. Trust me; I have far greater concerns than any threat you can throw at me.” Lilah's voice echoed down the hall, and the black taint of her power reached out to stroke me like an uninvited hand. It hurt as it rolled over me.

I jumped when she suddenly appeared in the doorway. Her flame-colored eyes flashed with fury. Fixing them on me, she gave her copper locks a toss. “He's ready to speak with you, and he's in the mood to ask for favors. Consider yourself warned.”

Without waiting for me to reply, she spun on her heel and headed for the door. The sound of her combat boots on the hard tile floor seemed unnaturally loud. The woman was an enigma. Nobody fascinated me the way she did. I was dying to know more about her. I'd seen her destroy a demon with no more than a word, so I was, of course, intrigued by her.

Meeting Jez' expectant gaze, I mustered the best poker face I could possibly manage.

When she gave me the thumbs up, I headed for Veryl's office. Neutral expressions were not my forte, especially with Veryl. He’d known all along that Raoul had attacked me and slaughtered my family, and ever since I’d found that out, I had developed a distrust and wariness of him.