Edged Blade

by J. C. Daniels

  He was quiet a second and then he said, “Minions?”

  “Yeah.” I stroked a finger down his cheek. “You growl. They scramble to obey. Sounds very minion-ish to me.” Hungry now, I nudged him back and bent over my food.

  “Kit.”

  “Um?” I had just taken a bite of the burger when he spoke.

  “Look at me.”

  I did, only half focused on what he was saying. At times like this, I understand why he and Chang and Scott and Doyle always insisted on putting food in front of me—it tasted so damn good.

  “I’m going to figure this mess out.” Damon leaned against the table next to me. “With your help, preferably….but I’ll do it without your help if I have to.”

  My help?

  I swallowed the chunk of beef before it became lodged in throat. Swallowing, I stared at him. “My help.”

  He inclined his head. “You and Justin are involved in this. You went after them in Georgia, after all, right?”

  “Yyyyeeeaaaahhhhh…” I drew it out, uncertain whether I wanted to commit to anything else. I’d done the Georgia job, yes, but I hadn’t signed on for anything else.

  He bent over me, one hand braced on the back of the chair, the other on the table.

  “So are you going to help me or not?”

  Clearing my throat, I asked softly, “Are you talking about hiring me…again?”

  “Why not? It worked out pretty good the last time.” He flicked at my hair. “So…what do you say?”

  “Eesh.”

  I crammed another bite of burger into my mouth so I didn’t end up saying what I really thought:

  I’m so fucked.

  Chapter Eleven

  I needed to talk to Justin and I knew he hadn’t left town—yet.

  Since he wasn’t answering my calls, I decided I’d hit his usual haunts—the Market first, the communal hall where a lot of the freelance agents hung out next and when I struck out there, I tried Drake’s.

  When I saw his bike, I couldn’t say I was surprised.

  Although it was the middle of the day, the last job had been a rough one. Rough in more ways than one. First, Abraham lays out that we’d almost walked into a trap and then Justin finds out that one of his contacts is a skin-trader. I didn’t even know the bastard and I wanted to string him up. Justin had to be feeling like he’d been sucker-punched.

  After all of that, the rescue gets underway and we found exactly what we’d been afraid we’d find. I guess that shouldn’t be surprising. But we’d been hoping for the best—hoping that it was all rumors and that nobody had been hunting NHs just to turn them over to the hospital.

  So much for hoping.

  “So. Saul.” I dropped down on the seat next to Justin. “What’s the deal there?”

  Justin slid me a look. “What do you mean?”

  “Abraham told you he’s a skin-trader. Guy’s been working with you for a while, seems like, and it sounds like he was trying to set us up. That pisses me off.” I jerked up a shoulder in a shrug and waved down Drake for a beer. “Seeing as how he almost put my ass on the line, along with yours, I want to know what’s going on. You wanted a connection to the hospital…you found it. Now what are we going to do about it?”

  Justin stared straight ahead. He had a tall glass in front of him, nearly half-empty. As I sat there waiting, he reached out and picked it up. He took a healthy swig and then put it down. I continued to wait on an answer. That was fine. I wasn’t going anywhere until he talked. “Saul… is not a pleasant person. But he is… no, make that was useful. Now, he’s going to be a dead person.” That familiar sly grin lit his face as he glanced at me. “Problem solved.”

  I wish it could be solved that easily. But if he had been setting us up, he hadn’t been doing it on his own. There were others involved. Was he connected to whoever had kidnapped Shanelle? Shaking my head, I said, “Not good enough. Not good enough by a long shot.” I gave him a hard look when he went to argue. “Look, you dragged me into this. I’m involved. You’d be the same way and don’t tell me otherwise.”

  Justin muttered something low under his breath.

  I chose to ignore him.

  After another moment, he swiveled on the barstool to glare at me. “You know, you’re finally back with your fur-boy. Why don’t you just focus on your life and let me handle this mess?”

  I was tempted to grab his glass and dump the contents onto his head. Maybe that would wash away the smug-ass attitude. But I was never one to waste good alcohol.

  “As I already said, you and I are involved in this. You ensured that the second you asked me to help you on this.” When he tried to argue this time, I leaned in and jabbed him in the chest with my index finger. “And maybe this hasn’t occurred to you, but it has to me—that hotel was probably under video surveillance. So whoever showed up after we left already knows I was with you, as well as Abraham. If Saul goes missing as quick as that, we’ll be the first place they look. This is something that requires stealth. And Justin, honey, you don’t have stealth.” I gave him a brilliant smile. “That’s my domain.”

  He opened his mouth, then closed it.

  I knew I had won. I gave him a moment to adjust before giving him the other sucker-punch. “Now, for the really good news, Damon wants to hire us.”

  He stared at me blankly. Then he shook his head, reaching up to rub his ear like he was trying to clear it. “What did you just say? Could’ve sworn…”

  “I said, Damon wants to hire us,” I repeated, drawing each word out.

  Justin slid off the stool and walked to the door of Drake’s. He opened it up and then leaned outside. Curious, I followed him. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m looking to see if the moon’s turned to blood or if frogs are falling from the sky. I could’ve sworn you said Damon wants to hire us, or some crazy shit like that.”

  I burst out laughing. “I don’t think the world’s ending. At least, not right now. Since we were already involved in tracking down the missing NH’s and getting them home, he wants us to help with the next step. He wants to know who’s involved and figure out who kidnapped Shanelle and the other cat. And why and how.” The door squeaked softly as it closed behind Justin. His sigh was soft and low. He turned to look at me and I met his gaze soberly. “He’s going to be looking into this anyway. He’s got good people and somebody is going to unearth something, probably Chang. We can help each other or just fumble around on our own. Why not work it together? They’ve got a vested interest in it, just like you do.”

  Justin slid his tongue across his teeth as he studied me. Then, jerking his head in a ‘come-on’ motion, he ducked into one of the back rooms. He didn’t bother to ask permission, but then again, Justin rarely did.

  Drake wouldn’t say anything.

  A few months ago, I’d found out that Drake had been with Banner before he had decided to go back into the civilian life. Of course, before he had been with Banner, he had been in the Special Forces. He had been human right up until he had been bitten. That had been the end of his career in the military.

  As the door swung shut behind me, Justin moved to stand on the far side of the room. “Just what is your interest in this, Kit?”

  I had to fight to keep my jaw off the floor. He was serious. When I didn’t answer right away, he turned to look at me. He must’ve seen something on my face. “What do you mean, ‘what is my interest in this?’” I took a step closer to him, struggling to vocalize the rush of emotion inside me. “My interest? My interest is you, you dumbass. And now that I know they’re going after the cats and witches, my interests are my friends as well. They’re targeting people I care about. Why shouldn’t I have an interest in it?”

  Justin sighed. “Kit, it’s not like they’ve declared open season on all of us. They’ve been selective. They haven’t gone after Colleen and they’re not coming after me.” Then he shrugged. “Well, they might have been. But Saul got his plans thrown off. Right now, honestly, they’re goi
ng after people nobody will miss. There’s no rhyme or reason to who they’re grabbing. But they aren’t grabbing anybody who’s hugely important in our community.”

  “That doesn’t matter,” I snapped. Frustration bubbled inside. I shoved a hand through my hair and fisted it, hoping it might lessen the tension building in my head. “You think this is connected to the hospital, Justin. That hospital needs to go down, and we both know it. I haven’t forgotten what they threatened you with. Even if there is no other reason, I’d be involved for that and that alone.”

  “Why, Kit. You still care.” A curious smile curled his lips.

  My heart gave a funny bump against my ribs and I had to fight the urge to squirm. “Justin, don’t be any more of an ass than you already are.”

  “Just how much of an ass do I have to be? I like to know my boundaries.”

  I looked around for something handy to throw at him. Sadly, the room was lacking in projectiles. Something shifted in the corner of my eye and I looked up to see Justin less than a foot away. I tensed, bracing myself. After a moment, he reached up and brushed my hair. I reached to catch his hand, but he took it away. “Kit, I don’t want you involved in this. I realize you feel obligated—”

  “Obligated?” I bit the word off. I no longer wanted to throw something at him; I wanted to throw him. “Obligation has nothing to do with this. Justin, you’re my friend. You’re one of my best friends. If you need me or if you have a need, then I want to help.”

  “But Kit, that’s just it. The things I need, you can’t help me with.” He gave me a sad smile and then cut around me. As he headed to the door, he said over his shoulder, “I’ll get back to you about the deal with Damon. As for Saul, I’m going to handle him. You’ve already done enough.”

  If Justin thought I was going to let it go, the son of a bitch had another think coming. There was no way I was going to let him get involved in something like this on his own. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one thinking that, although I can’t say I was happy to see who else was thinking along those lines. When I got to my office, there was a vampire waiting for me. The unwelcomed scent of the undead tinged the air. The unwelcomed feel of his presence skittered across my skin like dry autumn leaves on an isolated country road.

  He stood in the shadows, but it was rather clear that the late afternoon sun had little effect on him.

  Abraham Allerton was one powerful son of a bitch. With deliberate slowness, I climbed out of my car. I took my time taking my weapons out and settling them into place. If I lingered a little longer on the katana I had chosen to take that day, who can blame me? Abraham’s gaze flicked to it, but there was no change in his expression.

  I took my other blade from the back seat, and out of habit, I stroked my fingers across her hilt. She warmed under my touch.

  “The sign says closed,” I pointed out. “You can call and make an appointment if I’m not in.”

  Abraham inclined his head. “I had the time.”

  You had the time, but do I have the patience?

  “Is this business related?”

  He inclined his head.

  “Okay.” Pasting a blank smile on my face, I said, “It’s your dollar.”

  A few minutes later, we were within my office. My skin didn’t crawl in his presence and I considered it a win. Every time I could be around a vampire without freaking out, I’d call it a victory. Considering that this guy was younger than Jude, but just as powerful—or more—this was one mega victory.

  As I settled my swords against the desk, Abraham strolled around the office. He lingered by the weapon wall and I could see him studying each of the swords. “You have a fondness for blades.”

  “Ya think?”

  His lips twitched. Softly, he said, “You’re not the first weaponsmaster I’ve ever come across. I don’t think I’ve known anybody who is as…gifted as you are.” He slid me a sidelong look. “And I’ve known a great many.”

  I lifted a shoulder and dropped it. “Well, I imagine you haven’t known a great many who have it running through their DNA. Literally.” Since he’d opened the door, I decided to walk through it. “How old are you? A hundred twenty?”

  He cocked a brow, a surprised look on his face. “Very close. I died one hundred and twenty one years ago next month.” A thoughtful look crossed his face. “How could you tell?”

  “It’s just a knack of mine.” I leaned against my desk. My blades were still behind my desk, but oddly enough, I didn’t feel the need to keep either of them close. I still had my Glock and numerous knives. I didn’t think I’d need them. Now that I’d let myself relax—or now that my body had let me relax—I’d realized I’d found a kindred soul here. Deciding to go with my gut, I spoke the truth. “You should know that as a rule, I can’t be around vampires without hating them on sight.”

  Abraham studied me for a long, quiet moment as he thought over his response—and he did think it over. I could see a hundred words flitting through his gaze before he finally settled on what he chose. “If you didn’t hate them, then I would think you lacked brain cells, Ms. Colbana.”

  “Kit.” I frowned at him.

  “Kit, then. If you’ll agree to call me Abraham.” He gave me a distasteful look. “And it is Abraham. Justin has an annoying habit of calling me Abe. That is not my name.”

  “Well, then. Abraham it is.” Absently, I stroked my hand down one of the sketches of ink on my neck. “Annoying is one of Justin’s strangely endearing qualities.”

  “If you insist.” He looked amused. “As I was saying…or perhaps I hadn’t quite reached that point…” He took a step toward me, his expression somber. “I might be crossing a line here, and I do apologize if I am, but I feel the need to tell you….” He paused, looking almost lost, then said, “Have you ever researched how I was changed?”

  I don’t think he could have caught me any more off-guard if he tried. “Why would I have done that?”

  “Why wouldn’t you have?” He lifted one shoulder in a lazy shrug. “You would not have been the first. Not by a long shot.”

  “Frankly, Abraham, you haven’t come on my radar enough. I’m not looking to kill or rob you. There’s no reason for me to know that stuff about you.”

  He angled his head to the side. “Yet another reason you puzzle me. I’ve known so many with an insatiable sense of curiosity. You seem to have none.”

  “Oh, I’m curious about a lot. I just don’t go prying where I have no right to pry.”

  An embarrassed expression crossed his face. “I see. I didn’t expect that of you. I guess that’s unfair. You have much of you that is human. I’m not used to that—respect, you see—from humans.” A look of shame crossed his features. “Forgive me. That is unfair. I was human once, as well. Perhaps that is my failing. It was my curiosity that led me to what I am now.”

  Now it was my turn to look lost. I held out my hands. “You’ve gotta help me out here. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I realize that.” His expression was reluctant.

  “Look, if you don’t wanna talk about this, that’s fine.” I was starting to feel reluctant myself. He had secrets he felt the need to share, but I don’t know if I wanted to hear them. I had more than enough pain on my own.

  “As strange as this may sound, Kit, I find that I do want to talk about this. And how odd is that?” He looked pensive.

  “Ah… I dunno. Why don’t you tell me?”

  He laughed softly. “If you only knew. I haven’t spoken of this… in, well ever.” Moving over to the sole chair in front of my desk, he hitched up his trousers and sat down, each movement languid, graceful—yet you could still see the predator. Death incarnate. I had death incarnate in my office.

  And he wanted to tell me about his death.

  “I was twenty-eight when I died,” he said, his gray eyes still focused on the weapons that hung on my wall. “When I was still mortal, interest in the occult was all but unknown at that time. I was ostracized b
y my community for my interest. But I was convinced that there were other creatures out there besides humans. I don’t know exactly what I believed existed out there, but I knew there was something else. So I looked…investigated. Searched. People thought I was a charlatan, a fake, or simply crazy. The few who didn’t think I was insane or a fraud wanted nothing to do with me. So naturally, anytime someone was willing to listen, I cleaved to them like ivy to a tree. When she came into town, I was enchanted.”

  Immediately, my skin went cold. Ice replaced the blood in my veins. Pushing away from my desk, I went to the window. The word stop rose to my lips, but I bit it back. Maybe it was because I recognized what it was like to have poison inside you.

  This was Abraham’s poison.

  “Eve was unlike any other woman I had ever met.” Abraham looked at me now and I saw it there, that poison I’d sensed. “I lived in a small, backwater town in Oregon. My father was the town’s only doctor. I was expected to follow in his footsteps, but I had no desire to. The only one who seemed to understand me was Eve. She was this bright light in my dark world. And when she listened to the things I had to say, it was life-changing. I spent more and more time with her and found myself getting caught up with her, everything she did and said. And when she asked me to come away with her, saying no was unthinkable.”

  I turned then. He was staring at the floor. As though he sensed my gaze, he looked up and met my eyes.

  “If only I’d known how right I was.”

  I don’t know if he was even aware of the fact that he had reached up to stroke his throat.

  “You are aware, I’m sure, of some of the vampiric abilities?”

  I scowled. “Which ones?” A thousand unflattering things sprang to my lips, but I bit them back.

  The look on Abraham’s face told me he heard every one, nonetheless. He didn’t look offended. “At the time, I was completely unaware that I had been under her thrall, almost from the time I had met her.”

  My heart slammed against my ribs as a chill settled in the air. It sent a shiver up my spine, but I clenched my teeth together to keep them from chattering.