“Thanks.” Kellen dug out the cell phone from his pants pocket and flipped it open. He dialed Gabriel’s number. The inspector answered on the first ring.
“Where are you?”
Kellen glanced around. “I don’t know, hold on.” He glanced at the teens. “Where am I?”
One of the boys rattled off the address.
“I’m on Jardin and Trois Rivières. The suspect is on the roof.”
“Two units are on their way.”
“How is Sophie?”
“She’s okay and is on her way to the hospital.”
Kellen crossed the street toward the fire escape. “Good. I’ll see you soon.” He snapped the phone closed and slid it into his pocket.
Reaching to grab the end of the metal ladder, Kellen pulled himself up and swung a leg high, hooking the bottom rung. After mounting the first step, the rest was a piece of cake, and Kellen was up the fire escape in a matter of seconds.
Once on the roof, he scanned the area. There weren’t very many obstacles to hide behind, but on first glance he couldn’t see the suspect anywhere. Walking across the pebbled roof, he swung his gaze from left to right, in case Jacques decided to jump out at him.
Halfway across, the roof door burst open and two constables charged out onto the roof, guns raised.
The lead constable was Duncan Quinn.
“Police! Get on your knees!”
Kellen put his hands up in defense. “Whoa! It’s me, Duncan.”
The lycan never flinched. “I said get on your knees and put your hands on your head.”
Kellen stopped moving and met Duncan’s gaze. “You know damn well who I am, Duncan. Don’t be stupid.”
The other officer glanced nervously at Duncan, then back to Kellen. He lowered his weapon.
Gun still pointed, Duncan glared at Kellen. He could see the rage in the lycan’s eyes, and knew he’d have no qualms about shooting Kellen where he stood, no questions asked.
The tension in the air was thick. Kellen tried not to flinch, or even breathe. He knew Duncan was just itching for an excuse, any excuse, to pull the trigger.
Thankfully, Jacques had the presence of mind to pop out of his hiding spot, with his hands up. “I surrender. I surrender.”
The other officer swiveled around and raised his weapon toward Jacques. “Come out—nice and slow.”
Jacques did exactly as he was told. He walked out partway, went to his knees, and hooked his hands behind his head. The other constable came around behind him and handcuffed him.
Duncan still hadn’t moved.
With the suspect in custody, the other officer approached Duncan. “We got the suspect, Quinn. You can holster your weapon.”
Eyes still blazing with hate, Duncan slowly lowered his gun and holstered it. Once he had snapped it closed, only then did he lower his gaze. “We’re not even close to being even, vampire.”
Turning, he followed his partner through the open door.
Once he was gone, Kellen let out the breath he was holding. Sweat soaked the back of his shirt. He’d stared down many a weapon in his life, but this was the first time he actually thought he might die. It was a sobering thought. And one he didn’t want to dwell on.
But it reminded him that he didn’t have much time left. The disease was still rushing through him, bombarding his brain. Sooner or later it would end him.
He just hoped it was later, much later, so he could spend as much time as he could with Sophie. She was the only thing in his life that made him feel like he had something to live for.
Chapter 19
After watching four hours of interrogation by the inspector, it was evident to Kellen that Jacques DuPont was not their bomber.
The guy had other problems. Major issues for which he would likely see the inside of a jail cell, but he wasn’t blowing things up. He’d served in Vietnam, but in supply. It was obvious now what the guy had been supplying.
He was a drug dealer, selling Vampatimine, an ecstasy-like drug manufactured from vampire saliva, out on the street to anyone that wanted it.
The police had found his secret stash, and a false backing in his closet had led to a small lab to make the drug. His drug had also been linked to several date rapes that had been recorded over the past year. All in all, it was a good arrest that would hopefully solve a few open cases.
Which left them with one name and address to still check out—Louis Martin.
The moment Gabriel came out of the interrogation room, Kellen pounced on him. “Let’s check out the other address.”
“A team is already there. I called them out the second I realized that DuPont wasn’t our man.” He started down the hallway back to his office.
Kellen kept pace. “Have you heard anything?”
“No. But I should any minute.” Just as predicted, Gabriel’s cell phone shrilled. He answered it.
After a few cursory nods and okays, he flipped the phone shut. “Louis wasn’t home. They’re searching the house now.”
“Maybe we should go over there.”
They reached Gabriel’s office. “And maybe you should go and take a break. Get something to eat and get some sleep. You look like you could use it.”
Kellen nodded, thinking it over. “Is Sophie still at the hospital?”
“She’s at home, resting. But I don’t think that’s the best place for you, do you?”
Kellen kept the inspector’s gaze. He knew what he was saying to him, but Kellen was a stubborn man. “I like her, Gabriel.”
“I know.”
“And I believe she likes me back.”
“I know that, too.” He put his hand on Kellen’s shoulder. “Pack politics are complicated, Kellen. You have to know that. Just as there are rules in the vampire society, in Nouveau Monde there are rules in the lycan one, too.”
“I’m not big on rules,” Kellen muttered.
Gabriel snorted. “I’ve noticed.”
“Are you warning me away from her, Gabriel?” There was a tinge of menace in his voice that he couldn’t keep out. He was getting tired of being told who he couldn’t have a relationship with.
“No, just giving you some friendly advice.” He let his hand slide off of Kellen’s shoulder. “I’m not your keeper, or Sophie’s, but I am her boss and her friend. I will be rather upset if she gets hurt.”
“Why does everyone assume I’m going to hurt her?”
“Because it can’t work between you two. You know it as well as I do.” He narrowed his eyes and regarded Kellen. “Take a break, go get some food, have a drink and relax. I’ll call you if they find anything worthwhile at Louis’s house.” Gabriel stepped into his office and closed the door, leaving Kellen standing in the hallway alone.
Biting back the urge to slam his fist into the inspector’s door, Kellen marched down the hallway and out of the building. The fresh, tantalizing night air cooled Kellen’s temper somewhat. He took in a few deep breaths and forced his anger back down.
He hated to hear it, but Gabriel had been right. A relationship between Kellen and Sophie was impossible. But it didn’t stop him from wanting one.
And right now he wanted to see her, to make sure she was okay. The sight of her blood and broken bone had knocked the breath from his lungs, and he was still recovering from the blow.
Hailing a taxi, Kellen instructed the driver to take him to his hotel. After a shower, a change of clothes and something to eat, maybe he’d start to feel normal again. There was a hunger deep down inside, a gnawing throb that he ached to fill. The funny thing was, he didn’t think it had anything to do with food.
A rare filet mignon and a glass of red wine later, Kellen was feeling less pain.
Situated just a couple of blocks from his hotel, the restaurant he chose boasted a spectacular menu and titillating atmosphere. Both had been no empty boast. The food had been delectable and the ambiance enticing.
Catering to mostly vampires, the restaurant was dark, moody and had warm blood on tap, provided by eager human
donors dressed in next to nothing. Feeling the way he was, Kellen probably could have done without the extra enticement. His nerves were already running hot; he didn’t need anything, or anyone, rubbing against them.
Temptation swirled in his gut as a lovely woman with long, silky red hair sat at his table and offered him her wrist. He thought long and hard about it. Succumbing to his desire with this substitute just might ease his hunger and dampen his need to see Sophie.
Grabbing her arm, he brought it to his nose. But when he inhaled the young human’s scent and didn’t detect the bold earthiness of nature, the tinge of ferocity that always clung to Sophie’s skin, he lost his appetite.
Standing, he tossed his napkin on the table and bowed to the young woman. “I’m sorry, you’re just not my type.”
Bursting out of the restaurant door and into the balmy night, Kellen tried to shake off the feeling of unrequited desire. Although he already ate, his hunger was growing.
He tucked his hands into his leather jacket and, head down, he started to walk. He needed to expend the energy and heat swirling through him like a minitornado. Standing still to allow his thoughts to dominate him would do him no good. He’d do something stupid, that was a given.
As he strode down the sidewalk, images of Sophie tried to overtake him. Thoughts of her naked and in his arms pummeled at his brain like a ball-peen hammer. He glanced up and saw a flashing neon sign advertising just what he was looking for—a distraction. Crimson Road was just the type of club he needed—loud, raucous, and packed with interesting diversions.
The smell of sweat, alcohol and sex overtook him the moment he opened the door and made his way down the steep stairs. Lit only by flickering lamps imbedded into the brick walls, the atmosphere of the place made him nostalgic for the good old days of being a vampire. Sometimes he longed for the stylistic old crypts of New Orleans, with its haunting parish homes to stalk through like a predator. Seducing virginal women had been one of his favorite pastimes when he’d been a young vampire, still hyped on the fact that he would live for a very long time and would never age—and the fact that women seemed to find him alluring. He had loved that part.
Loud, thrashing metal blasted his ears. He reveled in the way the bass rumbled over his skin, making his hair stand at attention. Taking in a deep breath of Otherworlder frivolity, Kellen made his way to the bar and ordered scotch, neat. Slamming it back, he ordered another, and then turned to lean on the bar and check out the action.
It didn’t take long to be noticed. Even in a place, like this, that catered to vampires and Goth-fixated humans who liked to revel in the darkness, Kellen stood out. A trio of attractive ladies approached him, two vampires and a human, all obviously in tune with the dangerous vibes he transmitted.
“Looking for a party?” the raven-haired vampiress purred.
The other vampiress, a striking blonde, snuggled up next to him. That left the human. She stood in front of him, not as confident, not as eager for obvious reasons, and smiled at him flirtatiously. She possessed a vulnerability that he liked and craved, which is why he turned to the blonde, grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the nearest exit. Taking the human would’ve been a huge mistake. He wouldn’t have been able to control himself. And he didn’t want to go over a line he knew he’d regret for the rest of his life.
He heard the twin sighs of regret from the ladies he left behind as he maneuvered through the crowd, the blonde in tow. He located the exit, and pushed through the door and up the stairs toward another door leading outside. Once up the stairs, he kicked that door open, dragging the vampiress with him into the alley behind the club.
She gave a feral-like growl as he backed her up onto the brick wall and nuzzled his face into her neck. Her scent, one of oranges and spice, was arousing. He wasn’t sure what he wanted from her, but he needed something, anything, to combat the gnawing hunger eating him away inside.
Aggressive, like an animal, she ran her hands over him, then flipped him around so his back was to the wall. Then she went down to her knees, and starting at his ankles, ran her face over his clothes, taking in his scent and his power.
His body was shaking with need by the time she reached his neck and then his mouth. Grabbing her around the arms, Kellen yanked her close, eager to sink his teeth into her sweet, delectable vein.
“Sophie,” he murmured.
The vampiress pushed out of his embrace. “Who is this Sophie?”
Groaning, Kellen leaned his back against the wall. “No one. What does it matter?”
She put her hand on her hip and regarded him from head to toe. “I think she is someone. Your eyes definitely aren’t glowing for my sake.”
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. She was right. He’d been dreaming of Sophie, wishing it was her hands on him, her face nuzzling at his neck.
“I apologize.” It was impolite to engage a vampire if there was no intent to follow through.
She nodded curtly, accepting his meager apology, and then marched down the alley, to go back around the main entrance and return to the club to seek another’s affections.
Pushing off the wall, hands curled tight into fists, he decided he would do the same.
A half hour later, he stood on Sophie’s doorstep, his hand fisted to knock on the door, but he let it fall to his side. He was making a mistake. His head screamed at him to walk away, but his heart and his soul told him to stay, to see what could happen.
Closing his eyes, he sighed and rested his forehead against the wood door. He didn’t know what to do.
Chapter 20
The battered copy of People Weekly slid across the coffee table and landed on the carpet on the opposite side, where Sophie tossed it. Boredom was starting to grate on her. She hated sitting at home not able to be at the lab working on the case. She felt useless.
Pushing up with her arms, she repositioned herself on the sofa. Her ankle throbbed, but it was a good pain, a healing pain. Lycans were quick healers, and she was doubly so. Her father had told her it was because her blood inside was as stubborn as she was on the outside. After the first time she healed a laceration on her forearm in one day, she believed him.
It would take more than twenty-four hours to heal her ankle, though. She’d managed to snap a bone and lacerate her skin. The skin was almost knitted back together; it was the bone that would take the most time. If she hadn’t been so eager to show off her leaping skills, she wouldn’t have pushed herself over the limit and landed so awkwardly.
At least they had gotten the suspect. Gabriel had phoned her to let her know and to tell her that he wasn’t the guy, but that he had been a criminal, nonetheless. So that was something. To Sophie, every criminal they managed to get off the street was a just reward. Someone’s daughter, mother, sister or friend would be spared the horror of being raped using Vampatamine because she and Kellen had chased down the suspect.
When the inspector called, she had asked after Kellen. Regrettably, she had heard the desperation in her own voice, and she was positive that Gabriel had heard it, too. He had promptly told her to not worry about him and heal herself. She had heard the unspoken meaning, loud and clear.
She wondered if there was anyone out there who didn’t object to whether she and Kellen liked each other. It seemed as though they were coming under fire from all directions.
Not that it mattered anymore. It was obvious to them both that a relationship was next to impossible for various reasons. They would just work together and try to ignore the simmering of energy forever humming between them.
Yeah right. Good luck with that.
Pushing to a stand, Sophie hopped across the living room toward the kitchen. She needed more to eat. Fuel for healing. Right before she entered, she paused and sniffed at the air. A sweet odor wafted to her nose. It smelled like cookies, the kind she used to devour as a child. Lifting her nose, she inhaled again. It was coming from her front door.
And it smelled like cinnamon.
; Hobbling across the room, she stood in front of her door, too nervous to open it. She grasped the handle, turned it and slowly pulled the heavy oak door open.
Kellen stood on her porch, his hand curled in midair, as if poised to knock, his other hand was behind his back. “I thought you’d never open the door.” His voice was so wistful it made her heart throb.
“But you didn’t knock.”
“I know. I’ve been standing out here for the past half hour hoping you’d sense I wanted to.”
Shaking her head, she couldn’t stop her lips from curling into a smile. “Do you want to come in?”
“Yes.”
She smelled the alcohol on him as she held the door open and stepped to the side to allow him entrance. Smiling, he came in, immediately surveying the living room. Once he toed off his shoes, he swung around and offered her the flowers clutched in his hidden hand.
She gazed at the roses, two red, two yellow and two pink, then noticed the torn stems. She took them and inhaled the pleasant aroma, smiling at him from over top the open buds. “They’re lovely. Thank you.”
“Your neighbor has a beautiful garden,” he said as he wandered through the living room eyeing various pictures on the walls and knickknacks on the shelves.
“I’m not even going to ask.”
He grinned. “That’s probably best.”
It didn’t surprise her in the least that he’d stolen them from her neighbor. She actually found the action endearing and a little quirky. Smiling, she moved into the kitchen to grab a vase for the flowers.
When she returned, Kellen was sitting on the sofa, thumbing through her discarded magazine. Was he nervous for some reason? His gaze rested on everything in the room except her.
She set the flowers on the coffee table and settled in beside him.
He set the magazine on the table. “How’s the ankle?”
“It’s healing. It should be good as new in about a week.”
“Wow, that’s quick.” He lifted the hand that Duncan had torn open. It was still pink with newly grown skin. “I wish I could heal that fast.”
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