Eternal Flame

by Lauren DeStefano

Page 18

 

  “I had a shot,” Kelly said, her cheeks flaming. “I could have taken out that hunter!”

  “Uh … hunter?” Harold asked, rubbing his grizzled jaw. Gray stubble coated his sagging chin.

  “Zane Wynter, the hunter from Night Watch,” Antonio reminded him, though he knew the reminder wasn’t necessary. The slow-Southern-boy act was just that … an act. Men didn’t come any sharper than Harold.

  “And he’s teamed up with the arsonist?” Harold shook his head. “Why?”

  “There’s no proof he’s teamed up with her—” Antonio began.

  “Bullshit. ” Ah, the agent was eloquent. Normally, he rather liked that in a woman. In her, not so much. “Wynter had Jana Carter in his arms. All he had to do was surrender her to me, and this nightmare would have been over. ”

  Instead, Zane had unloaded on them all and taken the woman who the hell knew where. Antonio sure hadn’t seen that move coming. But then, Zane had surprised him a few times before, too.

  “You took my weapon,” Kelly snapped. “If you’d just stood the fuck down, I would’ve had Jana Carter in custody. ”

  The small office seemed too hot. He could feel the heavy weight of Harold’s stare.

  “You knew my gun didn’t have bullets in it, Captain. Just enough drugs to put them both down. ” Her breath huffed out. “You knew that. ”

  Time to cut the bullshit. Everyone in that office understood the score. “And you know what drugs do to demons. ” He shook his head. “It might not have knocked him out. It could have set him off-it could have made him rabid and the guy could have attacked us all!”

  “He did attack us!” she threw out.

  “Demon. ” Harold grunted, holding up his hands. “The hunter’s a demon. ” He raised one brow. “What’s the girl?”

  “An Ignitor,” Kelly bit out. “An out-of-control Ignitor who needs to be put down. ”

  “But you weren’t putting her down,” the words slipped out instantly. Antonio leveled his stare on the agent. “You were just knocking her out. ”

  “Because I don’t get the pleasure of killing her. ”

  Okay, that was personal. The job and personal issues didn’t mix. The special agent should’ve recognized that fact long ago.

  Papers rustled as Harold opened the files on his desk. “You used drugs on her because your boss, Anthony Miller, gave orders that Ms. Carter was to be brought in alive, and deadly force was to be avoided at all costs. ”

  “He’s not my boss. ”

  “Fine. He’s the senior agent. ”

  “And his ass is in Miami right now. He doesn’t even understand what’s happening here. He doesn’t—”

  “I know Miller. ” Harold folded his hands on top of the desk. “He understands everything. ”

  Her hands fisted at her sides. Her right hand seemed a little too close to her holster. “Wynter might have been a good hunter once, but he’s obviously turned, because of her. She has that effect on men. The woman seduces, gets men to trust her, then she betrays them. ” Her breath rushed out as she stalked toward Antonio. “Your friend is in over his head. Even a demon can’t control her fire. ”

  His brows rose. “Now that would depend on just how strong the demon is. ”

  Her eyes couldn’t narrow much more. “We requested Wynter because he’d handled Ignitors before. He killed the last rogue, I—we-thought he could handle her, too. ”

  The picture suddenly became clearer. “You contracted with Night Watch, and you were hoping the demon would kill your Ignitor, weren’t you? You didn’t want him to apprehend her, you wanted him to execute her. ” He stalked closer to her. “Your hands would’ve been clean then, right? You would have done your job and gotten your wish. Jana Carter would be dead. ”

  Her smug smile was his answer.

  Hell. “Zane Wynter doesn’t kill for sport. ”

  She laughed at that. “He’s a demon. Of course, he does. ”

  He was aware of old Harold stiffening and the temperature in the room dropped a good ten degrees. But the special agent didn’t seem to notice that change. “You think all demons are evil?” he asked her, just to be sure he understood.

  “They’re demons, aren’t they?”

  “Uh … you know it’s biological, right? It’s not like they’re the devil’s minions, they’re just—”

  “Supposed to be descended from the Fallen. Right. Whatever. They’re not human. I’ve stared into their eyes. Their real eyes, and I know they’re evil. Just as evil as she is. ”

  Antonio could only shake his head. “You don’t have a lot of faith in people, do you?”

  She didn’t answer.

  Right.

  “What did Jana do to piss you off so much?” “You mean, other than go on a burning and killing spree for her entire life?”

  “Yeah, other than that. ” He felt Harold’s eyes on him.

  “She—”

  “I’ve heard enough. ” Harold’s bearlike growl filled the room as he shoved to his feet. “Special Agent, you need to go check in with your boss. ”

  “He’s not—”

  “Check in with your senior officer. ” His right hand held a fountain pen in its white-knuckled grip. “Maybe he’s got word on your would-be prisoners. ”

  “Fine. ” She jerked her thumb toward Antonio. “What about him?”

  “Don’t you worry about Antonio. I’ll handle my man. ” “See that you do. ” One hard nod, then she whirled on her heel, and stormed for the door. Of course, the woman didn’t open the door and softly shut it behind her. No, she slammed the damn thing hard enough to make the framed commendations on Harold’s wall shake.

  “I don’t believe I much like Special Agent Thomas,” Harold said, and Antonio glanced at him just in time to see the chief of police drop the glamour from his eyes.

  Demon black eyes stared back at him. Antonio had always carried his suspicions about the chief, but …

  “We’re not all fucking monsters. The special agent and those dicks at the FBI with their extermination list-they need to realize that. ”

  Antonio exhaled. “Am I suspended?”

  “Hell, no. ” That pen stabbed toward him. “What you are is on your way to New Orleans. I got a report that Wynter was headed that way with the woman. ”

  “But I don’t have jurisdiction—”

  “Screw jurisdiction. I’m not letting Agent Thomas get her hands on Wynter first. He’s a hunter, but he’s also one of mine. ”

  “Yes, sir. ”

  “Get your ass down there. Find Wynter and find that girl. ”

  “Carter? What do you—”

  “It’s come to my attention that she may know certain … pertinent facts … about a group the FBI has been trying to infiltrate for years. A group that is quite dangerous. ” He paused. “To folks like me. ”

  “Sir?”

  “If Jana Carter has got the info I need, I do not, do not, want her winding up in Special Agent Thomas’s hands first. I want her, understand?”

  “I think I do. ”

  “Good, then, son, because if you want that promotion that you been chomping at the bit for, bring ‘em both back. Alive. ”

  Unfortunately, that last part might not be so easy. Especially since he was a cop who happened to be one-hundred-percent human … stepping into a world that wasn’t.

  Good thing he knew exactly where to go for some paranormal backup.

  “Why are we going into a hospital?” Zane asked, shaking his head. “We need to get to Perseus before—”

  “This is the way to get to Perseus. ” Jana stared at the swirling ambulance lights. Our Sisters of Mercy Hospital was booming tonight. She and Zane had gotten into New Orleans earlier, then laid low until the sun dropped.

  As soon as the night fell, they’d been ready to hunt, and the hunt, well, it began here.

  “There’s a nurse insid
e. Her name’s Nancy Gilbert. ” Low on the Perseus totem pole, but she was still a way to make contact. “She reports to the group on any … unusual patients that check in. ” Like a twenty-year-old girl who’d escaped a four-alarm fire without any burns.

  Stupid. I’d just stared up at the nurse and said, “I did it. ” After so many folks not believing her, she’d sure never expected the nurse with the cold gray eyes to believe her.

  Or to pump her full of drugs and have her taken from the hospital.

  “We need to get you in there, and we need you to fake an injury. ” Her gaze darted over him. “Or maybe we should give you a real one. ”

  He held up his hands. “Thanks, baby, but I’m fine with a fake injury. ” His eyes narrowed. “Will this woman recognize you?”

  “No. ” The last time she’d seen Nurse Nancy, Jana had been sporting short, streaked blond hair, darkly tanned flesh, and she’d been five years younger.

  Now that she’d gone back to her dark hair and her skin hadn’t seen the sunlight in months, she doubted Nancy would recognize her. Nancy had only been with her a few hours that fateful night, anyway.

  Not that Jana had ever forgotten her. You didn’t forget the woman who changed your life. Payback.

  “So how do we get from point A to point fucking Perseus?” Zane demanded.

  She grabbed his hand. Now or never. “Leave that to me. ” If he wanted to walk into hell, she’d take him and maybe, just maybe they could bring down the devil together.

  Then I’ll be free.

  If only.

  Running hadn’t worked-they’d just come after her. They’d keep coming, until the Perseus group was stopped. Zane was strong; she knew he was high on the demon scale. Would he be strong enough to stop the bastards? I hope so.

  She and Zane hurried forward, and as soon as Jana caught sight of two EMTs returning to their ambulance, she let out a high, desperate scream. “Help me!” She shoved against Zane, sending him stumbling. “My brother-he’s—” She whispered to him, “Hit the ground. ”

  Zane collapsed.

  “He’s having a seizure again! Oh, God, he’s been having them almost constantly, and I don’t have his meds, I don’t—”

  The EMTs-a man and a woman-rushed over to them. Jana held onto Zane’s hand, clinging tightly and, because she was one fine actress, she let the tears track down her cheeks as the EMTs loaded Zane onto a stretcher and rushed him inside the hospital.

  “What kind of medication is your brother taking?” one of the EMTs demanded.

  “Uh … uh … rufinaide. ”

  The EMT blinked and squinted at her.

  What? That was a seizure medication, wasn’t it? Just then, Zane moaned and his head sagged against the stretcher.

  “It’s over,” she whispered, letting her own head drop forward. From the corner of her eye, she saw a familiar figure bustling over to them. Nurse Nancy always liked to take a look at every new arrival. After all, that was her job.

  Jana had been back a few times over the years, back to take a look at the nurse. You screwed me over, Nancy.

  When paranormals were sick or injured, usually it was harder for them to mask exactly who-what-they were. Nancy counted on that. She preyed on their weakness. Everyone at Perseus did.

  The EMT said, “We need to get him stable and—”

  “What’s going on here?” the nurse asked.

  Jana squeezed Zane’s hand. Hard.

  His eyes fluttered open, and in that instant, she caught his demon-black stare.

  Nurse Nancy sucked in a sharp breath.

  A blink from Zane and his eyes were back to green. “Wh-what happened?” His head turned slowly, and he focused on Jana. “Did I … Shit, the hospital. ”

  He shoved up, but the EMTs grabbed his arms and tried to hold him down.

  “Easy, sir, you’ve had a seizure. You need—”

  “Fuck what I need. ” He broke their hold in an instant and surged to his feet. He wavered for a moment, and his body shuddered.

  Okay, so the guy was a pretty good actor, too. She’d need to remember that.

  He caught her arm and hauled her close. “You know better than to bring me here,” he muttered. “You know …”

  Nurse Nancy stepped in front of them. “I’d like to talk with you a moment, sir. ”

  He shook his head and, keeping his hold on Jana, skirted around the nurse.

  “We can’t let him leave!” the male EMT called out. “He might have another—”

  “I know why your medicine isn’t working,” Nurse Nancy said calmly.

  Of course, she knew. Meds never worked the way they were supposed to work on demons.

  Zane froze. Then he tossed a hard glare back over his shoulder. “Oh, you do?”

  “Umm …” The nurse didn’t wear one of those annoying white uniforms. She wore dark blue scrubs, and a stethoscope dangled around her scrawny neck. “Come with me into the back. Let me check you out thoroughly, and I can explain everything. ”

  Right. Step into my web. Nancy was a pretty woman, with gray-streaked black hair and the faintest of lines around her eyes. She didn’t look like the devil. Really, she didn’t.

  Zane glanced back at Jana. “What should I do?” he asked softly.

  She stared into his eyes. “We need help. Let’s see what she has to say. ”

  He gave a curt nod. Together, they turned to follow Nancy. But the nurse held up one hand, stopping her. “I’d like to speak to him privately. ”