Oh, crap. Her powers were gone. How the heck had that happened? “This town is bad luck,” she yelled, throwing her hands up and knocking him beneath the chin with the drill.
He snatched it from her hand. “Ouch.”
“Thathurt you?” she yelled, fury ripping through her with the force of a real demon mind attack. One that actually worked. “You should be slobbering all over the pavement right now.”
The clouds parted, and the moon beamed down, highlighting the angles of his rugged face. His beyond blue eyes laser focused on her. “Are you all right? Maybe we should get you to a professional or something.”
Yeah, she probably did sound like a lunatic.
Evan stiffened and then partially turned toward the street.
The air grew heavy, and Tabi sighed, her stomach dropping as a demon strolled their way from the shadows. “This day just couldn’t get any worse,” she muttered. “Evan? You might want to run now.”
* * * *
Evan shifted his weight to put the blonde pain-in-the-ass behind him while he faced the threat. There was no doubt the man heading toward them, body relaxed, eyes intense…was a threat. He would’ve known that even if Tabitha hadn’t just told him to run. “What kind of trouble are you in, darlin’?” he asked, resting his hand on the butt of his gun.
Her sigh stirred the air around them. “The kind you wouldn’t understand. Please leave, and I’ll handle this.”
He almost grinned. The woman was frighteningly petite with long blonde hair and the deepest black eyes he’d ever seen. While she looked fragile, she moved with a power and confidence that had intrigued him from the first time he’d arrested her. Yet there was no way she could fight the guy headed their way. Although Evan wasn’t at his best right now, either. If this current weakness in his limbs continued, he’d have to give notice at the department. But not tonight or until he solved the murder of the dirtbag Monte Loften. Tonight, he was helping Tabi.
The guy finally arrived and stopped walking a couple of feet away. “Hello, Tabitha.”
So they did know each other. Evan cocked his head. “Care to introduce us?” His adrenaline flowed through his veins, and he sank into the sensation for the briefest of seconds. He missed feeling strong and healthy.
Tabi stepped to his side. “Detective O’Connell, this is Richard Goncharov. He is now leaving.”
Had her voice trembled? Evan studied the newcomer as he was studied right back. Tall and broad, Evan wasn’t accustomed to looking up at anybody. This guy was about six-foot-seven with dark eyes and thick blonde hair almost as light as Tabi’s. Were they related? “Your brother?” Evan asked.
Richard smiled, revealing strong white teeth. “Her betrothed.”
Betrothed? Oh, hell no. Evan snorted. “What century are you from?”
The smile widened. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
What was going on with these people? “Tabi?” Evan asked.
“It’s a long story.” She elbowed him in the ribs and settled her feet next to him. “But we haven’t done anything wrong, so please let us be, Detective.”
No way was Evan leaving her with this guy. While he might not understand what was going on, his instincts had never failed him. “Actually, you’re both skulking near the bank, and I can take you in briefly for questioning.” Which might be a good idea.
Richard stared down at Tabi. “Is this guy for real?”
She exhaled. “Yes.”
Richard lifted his nose, sniffing the air. He paused and studied Evan with even more intensity. “You’re dying.”
Evan jolted and then regained control. How the hell did he know that? “Excuse me?”
“Leave him alone.” Tabi pushed forward with the nylon rope still around her shoulder and a grappling hook in her left hand. “Let’s go, Richard. We can fight about our future and leave the detective be. I won’t allow him to be hurt.”
“The mere fact that you don’t want him harmed makes me want to harm him,” Richard said slowly.
What the fuck? Evan shoved Tabi behind him again and tossed the drill to the ground. “That was a threat against a law enforcement officer.” Well, kind of. Either way, he could get this guy away from Tabi and run a background check on him for crimes. “You’re coming with me.”
“I’m bored.” Richard lowered his chin in the same way Tabi had earlier. “Say goodbye to your brain.” He focused hard on Evan’s face.
“That’s it.” Evan reached for the cuffs in his back pocket.
