“Because I only just got the call myself.”
“Alright. I’ll get it figured out ASAP. Luck is on our side because one of the D.A.M.N.E.D. is staying with me, so I’m hoping she can help find whoever is doing this faster. I’ll keep you updated, B. Promise.”
“Umm, I feel like there’s something I’m missing here. There’s a hunter staying with you?” Bella asks, voice rising.
I have to hold my phone further out to keep from blowing one of my eardrums. “B, it’s not the time to have this conversation. I need to get ready and wake her up so we can get over there.”
Bella groans. “Fiiiiine. If you need more backup, let me know, and I’ll get some out to you. But youhaveto tell me,” she says, knowing how I am.
“I’ll be fine, B. Let me get myself going and I’ll get to the crime scene—”
“Crime scenes,boo. There are two, and I’m warning you now that the unsub seems to be escalating. The scenes are totally different, but it seems like the same MO. I fear that whatever is doing this will only get worse the longer they go unchecked.”
I take a deep breath and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Fuck. Okay. I’m going to focus as much attention as I can on this.”
She sighs. “Look, I don’t know what you’re up to, but I need you to make this your number one priority until we find the unsub. I really need you to do everything you can to prove B.I.T.E. has what it takes to protect humans and supernaturals alike. If there’s even one more death, S.I.R.E.N. is taking the case from us, which could be our downfall.”
“I know, B. I’ll get it taken care of.”
“Thank you, Addie. Love you.”
“Love you too. I’ll text or call in a bit,” I say, then hang up.
Two more bodies in such a short time is definitely concerning. The fact that things have escalated is even more so. I need to get my ass going, so I toss my phone onto the kitchen counter and head back into the bedroom.
The first thing I notice when I enter is that Avie is missing from the bed. Both Roxi and Vaelyn are still fast asleep, cuddled up to each other. It’s kind of cute, to be honest. I stand there and admire them like some sort of creep until I hear the toilet flush, so I wander into the bathroom, where I find Avie at the vanity washing her hands. She’s still as naked as the day she was born, and I fucking love it. Her curves make my mouth water every single time I see them.
“Who called you so early?” she asks, voice still raspy from sleep.
“My boss, Bella. And apparently it’s already almost noon. She said there’ve been two more bodies found, and I need to go check everything out. S.I.R.E.N. is threatening to give the case to the D.A.M.N.E.D. if another body is found, so I have to figure this out before that happens. Bella did say she’s worried the unsub is escalating because these two scenes are so different.”
Avie dries her hands and turns to face me. I have to force myself not to look at her impressive tits… or the rest of her body. “What can I do?”
“Help me find whatever is doing this. Two sets of eyes are better than one. Plus, you’re insanely smart, hence why you’re a hunter.”
She rolls her eyes. “I study patterns and track my targets. Being what I am, my sense of smell is nowhere near as enhanced as yours, but I’m able to pick up on different things. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I use my strengths to my advantage andkeep my disadvantages in mind, so I’m aware of what my limits are. That’s what it takes for me to be a hunter, not my ‘smarts’.”
I stare at her for a moment in awe. She quirks an eyebrow, and I just huff out a laugh. “You’re incredible. I wish you could see that for yourself.”
She waves me off. “Whatever you say. Let’s wake up the others and let them know what’s going on.”
After getting dressed and barely keeping our hands to ourselves, we wake Vaelyn and Roxi. Both of them are fairly hard to rouse, which makes me laugh. Of course, my harpy wakes up grumpy, but that’s nothing new for her.
Once everyone is upright, I explain the case’s rapid progression over the last few days. Roxi looks like she’s going to vomit as I explain the women’s injuries in detail, but I continue anyway. When I’m done, everyone sits there, staring at me.
“Why are Roxi and I staying here? More eyes means a higher probability of finding this…thing,“ Vaelyn says, irritation seeping into her voice.
Avie answers, “Because Roxi isn’t used to this sort of thing. We need someone to stay here with her, and I feel it should be you because Addie and I both do this for a living.”
I sigh. “I agree with Avie. The more eyes, the better, but when there’s someone inexperienced—sorry, Roxi—it can cause hiccups in the investigation.”
Vaelyn huffs. “You’re right, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Roxi pulls her knees to her chest and wraps her arms around them. I move toward her, but she shakes her head and scoots herself against the headboard. Tears well in her eyes as she says, “Vaelyn is right. The more of you looking this over, the better, and this thing needs to be taken care of. No one has to stay here with me.”
Across the bed, Vaelyn’s brows furrow. Climbing onto the bed, she places a hand on Roxi’s knee. “I want to stay here with you. They can let us know if they need our help. Why don’t we whip up some breakfast while we wait for them to come back? I’d say we can order in, but I don’t really have money.”
I take my credit card out of my wallet and hand it to Vaelyn. “Get whatever you guys want. Don’t worry about how much it costs, either.”
