I dropped the tracker into the thing’s open mouth. It flicked against one of the rotten teeth, then fell back, deep into the dead monster’s gullet. Whatever prick was tracking Veronica would have to stick his hand down into that horrifying abyss to retrieve it. That would serve him right.
Standing, I nodded toward the door, once again pulling my pistol from the holster. “Time to go.”
Veronica nodded and grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder.
“Dec! Declan!”
I spun, lifting the gun and aiming the barrel at the open door where the shouting came from. Instead of another intruder or monster, skull-faced Danny stood panting at the door, Dom right behind him, both men looking harried.
“Dec, someone saw some freaky little kid down the street asking about your lady friend,” Dom said. “He…”
The man trailed off as his eyes peered around the disaster of the apartment and the twisted dead corpse of the changeling at my feet.
“Oh,shit,” Danny said from behind him.
“You’re a little fucking late with your warning, boys,” I growled, lowering the pistol. “Goddamn great job.”
“Fuck, man,” Dom said, taking a wary step back. “Sorry, bro.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I said, waving at him, digging into my pants pocket. I tossed two hundreds down onto the monster. “Get rid of this shit, will you? It’ll start to decompose pretty soon. These things turn to sludge in less than a day when they die. It’s why the humans never find any sign of them. Get it gone, and you get the run of the place. I won’t be back. The apartment is all yours. At least until I sell it.”
“Sweet!” Dom said. “A crash pad.”
Danny looked less enthused, even with his skull tattoo obscuring most of his face, I could see the disgust and horror in his eyes at the prospect of moving the dead creature.
“Veronica?” I said, holding an arm up for her.
She hurried over, allowing me to put the extended arm around her shoulder and guide her out past the two small-time crooks. I still wanted to put a slug into both of them for what they’d said to her when we arrived, but that would have to wait ’til later. Right now, I had to figure out what would be a safe place for her.
Hurrying past the two men, I allowed my hand to remain on Veronica’s shoulders. As little as I wanted to admit it, I enjoyed the contact. There was something about the touch of a woman I’d missed. I didn’t want to be a jackass, but I couldn’t seem to kick it. Like a smoking habit, or alcoholism. It didn’t help thatthiswoman was one of the most beautiful I’d seen in my life.
At the end of the alley, I peered around both corners. The sunlight now arced down, piercing between the huge buildingsaround us. Gone were the creatures that had slunk around in the dark—the vampires, wraiths, and incubi. Now, there were shifters, werewolves, and demons in their human form, along with a dozen other types of creatures that would pass for human on any given day. None looked our way as they passed, and after a few seconds, I decided it was safe to head for the car.
“Come on. We’re gonna head back to my place. I don’t know where else to go for now,” I said.
Veronica nodded. “Thank you for this,” she said as we walked. “You’ve already done a lot for me. I hate that I’ve made your life miserable.”
Usually I’d have brushed off her thanks, but the way she said it? The look in her eyes? I could see shetrulymeant it, and that deserved an actual response. Pausing, I took her hand, holding my gun against my leg to prevent people from seeing it.
“Hey,” I said, doing my best to be sincere and push my usual gruff nature aside. “It’s my pleasure. I’ll help you in any way I can. Okay?”
She smiled and put her hand on my chest. An inexplicable surge of warmth shot through me—not from magic, but from my own hormones. I swallowed hard, trying not to imagine her fingers on my bare skin, sliding down my stomach until they slipped around my cock. Hopefully, she didn’t see any of those fantasies in my eyes as she looked at me.
“That means a lot. I… Well, I don’t have many people to rely on.” She made a sad little sound, something between a sigh and a humorless laugh. “I suppose right now, I don’t haveanyoneto rely on. I don’t know what I’d have done without you. If that thing had found me alone, I’d be dead right now.”
I cleared my throat and nodded, still trying to keep my thoughts professional rather than X-rated.
“Let’s get going. After running all night, I bet you could use a nap,” I said, then grinned at her. “And after a pretty lady dragged my ass out of bed at the crack of dawn, I could use one too.”
I couldn’t help but notice how cute she was when she gave me an embarrassed smile.
Declan, what the hell is going on with you? I thought as I helped her into my car.
When I got into the driver’s seat, I surreptitiously adjusted my pants because I was rock hard. As I started the car, I chastised myself. This was not the way to go about a job. I’dneverin all my years of work felt like this for a client. But there was something about Veronica. I had to admit it, whether I wanted to or not, I was incredibly attracted to her. The face, the body, and the personality… all of it was beautiful.
The realization should have elicited relief and happiness. It meant I wasn’t as dead inside as I’d thought. Though, instead of relief, I was only filled with a deep dread and worry. I wasn’t in love with this girl—God no—but I was already beginning to care for her. And something or someone wanted her dead.
As I drove back through town, I brooded on that. What would happen if I failed? What would I do if whatever was hunting her succeeded? I didn’t know if I could survive failing once more. More blood on my hands? More innocents’ deaths?
