She didn’t move, and he’d advanced again until they were almost touching chests. I’d been around enough volatile men to know Murphy’s next move would be to strike her in some way.
“Ma’am, um, Ms. Fire Chief Lady?” I said. Why hadn’t I paid attention when she told me her name? “I really need to talk to you, please!”
My words or panicked tone must’ve gotten through to her because she finally moved away from Murphy to give me her attention.
“Sure, Willow,” she said, expression going from ready to throw down with a guy who outweighed her by a hundred pounds to caring and sympathetic in 0.5 seconds flat. “I know I introduced myself as Fire Captain Lane, but you can call me Millie.”
“It’s short for Maleficent,” Murphy interjected, not ready to give up the conversation yet. “She’s named after a witch because she’s a bitch.”
“That doesn’t even make any sense,” I muttered, making Millie laugh. Of course that was the entirely wrong move because Murphy stomped towards us, one hand fisted and the other one on the handle of his gun. He wouldn’t draw it on Millie, would he?
I looked around for a brick or piece of rubble to use as a weapon and resigned myself to a night in jail.
That’s when Vie showed up. He appeared from behind one of the emergency vehicles.
“Vie!” My voice was a little shrieky, but I didn’t care. In truth, I didn’t need to yell; he was already striding toward me. He was staring at Millie, probably because I was touching her. I shifted my gaze to Murphy so Vie would know where the real threat was.
His glowing blue eyes focused on Murphy, and he moved with preternatural speed that made him blur a little. Between one blink and the next, he was between us and the furious cop.
Murphy’s expression went from annoyed to surprised at the interruption as he was forced to look up to meet Vie’s eyes. Surprise was quickly replaced with discomfort.
He tried for false bravado first. “Sir, you need to move out of my way, or I’ll make you move.”
“I’d like that,” Vie said.
Even though the quiet words weren’t aimed at me, I could feel the threat. Murphy might not know what he was dealing with like I did, but he could sense the danger Vie posed.
Vie’s voice dropped, and I wasn’t sure if I was hearing him with my ears or through our weird connection.
“I can taste the harm you’ve done. The people you’ve hurt and killed. But worst of all, I can tell you enjoyed it and craved more.”
The color drained from Murphy’s face, but he tried hard to pretend Vie wasn’t affecting him.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. “But if you don’t move, I’ll charge you with obstruction of justice.”
I couldn’t help the snort that came out of me. I’d love to see Murphy try to put cuffs on Vie.
“Shut up, bitch,” Murphy said, leaning to the side so he could look at me.
Vie moved close, putting his chest against Murphy’s. “Say that again,” he hissed. “Say it to me.”
That was it, Murphy wilted. Stumbling back several steps, he put a hand on his gun as if preparing to draw it if Vie tried to move closer.
“I have to car…I mean I have to go to my car, because, uh, work. Paperwork.”
I enjoyed hearing the shakiness in his voice. With a last sneer, he turned and fled. It was only after he disappeared around a fire truck that I relaxed a little.
With the threat gone, Vie was quick to turn and sweep me into his arms. “Are you hurt?” he asked.
I melted into his embrace. “Not physically.”
Vie growled low in his throat, and I felt a wave of magic against my skin.
“I’ll take care of him later,” Vie swore.
“It’s not just him, it’s that,” I said, pulling away so I could point to the burned-out shell that had been Unique Finds. Tears gathered in my eyes as I stared at it. “Everything’s gone.”
Vie focused on the damage. “I can feel the same presence here that I went hunting for with Vengeance.”
