surviving the
death of their mate, but right now, I’m not willing to take that chance.”
“Good call. I don’t think your brother would take your death too well.” Which was the
understatement of the century. Kade looked down at the limp little body. “And you wouldn’t have
been alone in hesitating.”
It wasn’t much, but it at least made me feel a little better. “Thanks.”
He looked up and smiled. “Guardians need to do more than just shoot first and ask questions
later. No matter what Jack or that dick you call a mate preaches, there will always be
circumstances that cause hesitation.” He hesitated himself, then added, “I guess this means we’re
going to have to track down his maker.”
“I hope like hell someone else gets that task.” If only because I didn’t think I’d be able to
control my anger if I found the vampire responsible for making—and then abandoning—the
youngster.
“There are laws in place that should prevent these things from occurring,” Kade said, voice grim.
“I don’t think his maker is going to sidestep the consequences.”
“Good.” It was vehemently said. I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Though it didn’t
help the anger, I felt a little less rattled. But no less sad for the little vampire who never
got a chance.
I glanced at my watch, then said, “I’ve really got to go view those tapes. Can you call the
cleanup team in?”
He raised his eyebrows. “I was under the impression you wanted help with that.”
“I did, but it might take a while to get a cleanup team here, and Jack will not be a happy man if
I haven’t viewed the tapes by midnight.” I hesitated, then added, “When you get the chance, could
you glance through all the reports for the beheading case? It’ll get you up to speed, and you
might just catch something I’ve missed.”
He nodded. “As long as Jack doesn’t hand me another case as soon as I get back.”
Given the backlog of cases we had, that was likely, but I knew Kade well enough to know that he’d
still look through my case files.
Which would be good. I had a bad feeling I’d need the help if I was to have any hope of solving
this one.
Chapter 5
I t was just before eleven when I arrived at Dante’s, and the
place was crowded. I slammed the car door shut and shoved the keys into my pocket as I walked
toward the graffiti-covered building. A bass beat that was both heavy and seductive crawled
through the night, accompanied by the scent of desire and blood. Despite my distaste for what was
happening inside the building, my pulse leapt and raced. I was a wolf, and desire was a scent as
sweet to us as blood was to vampires.
If it had been the Blue Moon I was walking into rather than Dante’s, I would have been tempted to
pander to that surge of desire. But I had no intention of pursuing such a whim here—and not just
because I distrusted strange vampires.
No, in this particular case, it was more not trusting myself if Dante made a serious attempt at
seduction. The charged atmosphere, and the power of the man himself, was too dangerous a
combination.
I showed my badge to the guard, and he scowled as he opened the door. I carefully invaded his
thoughts as I brushed past him. Hatred burned into my mind—hatred and anger. This vamp was one of
the ones not overly pleased with the Directorate’s execution of several vampires charged with
killing blood whores.
Which made me wonder if he’d actually come to my aid if trouble hit inside—although I couldn’t
imagine Starke being happy if he didn’t . After all, given the
business he was running, he’d probably prefer to keep on the Directorate’s good side—no matter
what he might personally think about us.
Once inside, I waited until my eyes had adjusted to the darkness, then walked across to the bar.
The same gum-chewing barman ambled up to serve me—although this time the towel he was using to
dry the
death of their mate, but right now, I’m not willing to take that chance.”
“Good call. I don’t think your brother would take your death too well.” Which was the
understatement of the century. Kade looked down at the limp little body. “And you wouldn’t have
been alone in hesitating.”
It wasn’t much, but it at least made me feel a little better. “Thanks.”
He looked up and smiled. “Guardians need to do more than just shoot first and ask questions
later. No matter what Jack or that dick you call a mate preaches, there will always be
circumstances that cause hesitation.” He hesitated himself, then added, “I guess this means we’re
going to have to track down his maker.”
“I hope like hell someone else gets that task.” If only because I didn’t think I’d be able to
control my anger if I found the vampire responsible for making—and then abandoning—the
youngster.
“There are laws in place that should prevent these things from occurring,” Kade said, voice grim.
“I don’t think his maker is going to sidestep the consequences.”
“Good.” It was vehemently said. I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Though it didn’t
help the anger, I felt a little less rattled. But no less sad for the little vampire who never
got a chance.
I glanced at my watch, then said, “I’ve really got to go view those tapes. Can you call the
cleanup team in?”
He raised his eyebrows. “I was under the impression you wanted help with that.”
“I did, but it might take a while to get a cleanup team here, and Jack will not be a happy man if
I haven’t viewed the tapes by midnight.” I hesitated, then added, “When you get the chance, could
you glance through all the reports for the beheading case? It’ll get you up to speed, and you
might just catch something I’ve missed.”
He nodded. “As long as Jack doesn’t hand me another case as soon as I get back.”
Given the backlog of cases we had, that was likely, but I knew Kade well enough to know that he’d
still look through my case files.
Which would be good. I had a bad feeling I’d need the help if I was to have any hope of solving
this one.
Chapter 5
I t was just before eleven when I arrived at Dante’s, and the
place was crowded. I slammed the car door shut and shoved the keys into my pocket as I walked
toward the graffiti-covered building. A bass beat that was both heavy and seductive crawled
through the night, accompanied by the scent of desire and blood. Despite my distaste for what was
happening inside the building, my pulse leapt and raced. I was a wolf, and desire was a scent as
sweet to us as blood was to vampires.
If it had been the Blue Moon I was walking into rather than Dante’s, I would have been tempted to
pander to that surge of desire. But I had no intention of pursuing such a whim here—and not just
because I distrusted strange vampires.
No, in this particular case, it was more not trusting myself if Dante made a serious attempt at
seduction. The charged atmosphere, and the power of the man himself, was too dangerous a
combination.
I showed my badge to the guard, and he scowled as he opened the door. I carefully invaded his
thoughts as I brushed past him. Hatred burned into my mind—hatred and anger. This vamp was one of
the ones not overly pleased with the Directorate’s execution of several vampires charged with
killing blood whores.
Which made me wonder if he’d actually come to my aid if trouble hit inside—although I couldn’t
imagine Starke being happy if he didn’t . After all, given the
business he was running, he’d probably prefer to keep on the Directorate’s good side—no matter
what he might personally think about us.
Once inside, I waited until my eyes had adjusted to the darkness, then walked across to the bar.
The same gum-chewing barman ambled up to serve me—although this time the towel he was using to
dry the
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