Bitter Blood (Blood and Moonlight Book 3)(27)

Annette’s fingers slid down Paris’s ravaged face. “He told me.”

“You know where he is?”

“I know how to reach him.”

“Then do it. Get him here.” They needed his help. Aidan could be pissed. He’d get over it if Vincent could help Paris.

“I’ll call him,” Annette said softly.

“Yeah, yeah, you do that.” Jane started to pace. Then she looked down at herself…her clothes were singed. Bloody and…

I look like the walking freaking undead.

But wasn’t that exactly what she was? What Paris had somehow turned into?

“Run the blood tests,” Jane ordered Dr. Bob once more. “And let’s see what Vincent has to say.”

***

An hour later, Jane was pacing in the corridor just outside of Dr. Bob’s lab. This building was definitely not as nice as the place they’d been in before. But, since his previous lab and the building that housed it had been destroyed, she knew the city hadn’t exactly been plush with other options. So Dr. Bob had gotten bounced to the little building on the corner, a building that smelled of mildew and fresh paint. Smaller, tighter, but it was still a place for the dead to go.

Only some aren’t staying dead.

What had happened with Paris? She hadn’t bit him. She definitely hadn’t given him her blood. So how in the hell had he become a vamp?

Jane shook her head and kept pacing. Vincent needed to hurry his ass up and get there. She’d borrowed the scrubs that Dr. Bob’s assistant had left in her locker and taken a quick shower to wash the blood away from her body. They’d secured Paris to an exam table, strapping him down as tightly as possible. He hadn’t stirred, not yet.

But she was afraid that he would, soon.

Where in the hell is the vampire? She hadn’t seen Vincent Connor in days. And she’d been glad. The guy scared her. Mostly because…

He broke my neck.

And…

He’s like me. Vincent was born, not made into a vampire. And he’s old. Like Viking-freaking old. With age…came power? If the two of them had to tangle, Jane was very much afraid that Vincent would kick her ass. And she knew that Aidan pretty much hated the bastard so she’d hoped to keep those two away from each other.

The last thing she wanted was for Aidan to fight the vampire.

She heard the click of a door opening. Jane spun around. Footsteps were approaching her as someone stalked down that long, lonely hallway. Her nostrils flared, her body tensed and— Aidan’s familiar scent seemed to wrap around her.

Tears burned Jane’s eyes and she stopped guarding that lab room door. She ran down the hallway—and straight into Aidan’s arms. Her body slammed into his, but he didn’t so much as stagger. His arms—warm and strong—wrapped around her, holding her tightly as he lifted her up against him.

His mouth met hers. No gentle, tentative kiss. Desperate, wild, frantic.

Aidan.

Alive. Safe.

Aidan.

Her arms were locked so fiercely around him. She never wanted to let him go. Never wanted to feel the terrible wrenching terror that came from knowing…

I can lose him.

To flames. To fire.

To…

She pulled back.

To the pain I’m about to cause him.

Her feet slowly slipped back to touch floor. Jane stared up at Aidan. So handsome. There were no marks on his face. Not even a single blister. He’d healed completely.

Amazingly.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she whispered.

His bright stare seemed to pierce right to her soul. “Never do it again.”

“What?”

He leaned down and kissed her once more. A hot, open-mouthed kiss. “Never run into a fire for me again. I’m not worth it.”

“You are to me,” she immediately said. “Aidan, you’re—”

“I’m not worth your life.”

She wasn’t going to argue with him. She also wasn’t about to make him a promise she wouldn’t keep. So Jane just asked, “What if I’d been in that building?”

His face hardened. “You were because of me.”

“Aidan—”

“I was the bait this time, Jane. Don’t you see that? The bomb was set, the place was rigged. He knew I’d be the one to track him. He set all of that for me. And you came rushing in to save me.”

He. Who the hell was this he? “I’d do it again.” And she wouldn’t apologize. Wouldn’t pretend that she’d ever rethink the situation. “Just as I know you’d do it for me.” The tie between them cut both ways.

A muscle jerked in his jaw. “I love you so f*cking much, Jane.”

Her heart melted a bit. It was still new for her, to hear him say those words. And, sure, okay, they didn’t come out all romantic and gentle from Aidan. Aidan wasn’t romantic and gentle. But she knew he meant exactly what he’d just said—Aidan loved her.

Fangs and all.

“I love you, and you can’t risk yourself,” he muttered. “Not again. We were lucky this time.”

No, they hadn’t been. “Aidan…” Jane began. Oh, God, she had to tell him.

Paris was one of his oldest friends. More like a brother than a friend.