Page 75 of Hell’s Half Acre

“He was an asshole. She loved the cat and it was the only thing that gave her pleasure. He got up this morning and stepped in cat vomit. And that’s as far as I’m going with this because I know your sensibilities. Again, believe me when I say his own mother won’t shed a tear to see that bastard gone. I’m not saying what Karen did was right or even justified. Humans are walking kegs of dynamite. Sometimes it takes a while to light the fuse…other times, it’s a quick spark that can’t be put out. Today, Karen’s was short.”

Sorcha hated how right he was. “I see why Rory wanted to blame a demon.”

Luke nodded. “They are capable of it and demons do harm. But I’d rather face a demon than a human any day. Y’all are freakishly creative.”

How she wished she could argue that point.

Trying not to think about it or the police she passed, she made her way back toward their office.

Sorcha hadn’t gone far at all when she heard gunshots.

Two seconds later, pain ripped through her entire body.

Chapter

Fourteen

Luke heard the popping sounds that could only be gunshots. His heart pounding, he knew instinctively it was for Sorcha.

Using his powers, he slowed down the bullets and teleported to the sidewalk where she stood.

Without hesitation, he wrapped himself around Sorcha and turned so that she was facing the building and his back was to the bullets.

He felt the impact in his back, near his right kidney, and one to the spine. Hissing in pain, he wanted blood for the attack.

Just as he was about to pursue them, he realized that Sorcha wasn’t taking her weight back from him. In fact, she’d surrendered all her weight against his body.

No…

Looking down, he saw the blood spreading over her white blouse from multiple bullet holes. “Sorcha?”

Her blue eyes glistened with tears. Her breathing ragged, she clutched her chest where she’d been shot.

He heard one of the unis call into his radio, “Shots fired! Shots fired! Officer down!”

“Kyle!” Reyes went running back inside while Bernadette helped him lay Sorcha down on the sidewalk.

Chaos erupted around him. Officers in pursuit, others crouching behind vehicles. But Luke had eyes only for Sorcha.

Blood oozed from the wound in her chest and shoulder. He used his powers to manifest a cloth and tried to staunch the flow of blood as Bernadette applied pressure to Sorcha’s shoulder.

He was stunned by the pain he felt in his heart. Other than rage, he never really felt any emotion. Fury was comfortable. It sustained him.

But this tenderness he felt for her…

It hurt more than any torture he’d ever endured.

The color drained from Sorcha’s face as her breathing lessened.

He couldn’t lose her. He couldn’t.

Finally, that tenderness vanished beneath the rage he was so familiar with. Pulling her against him, he used his powers to force the bullets from her body.

Gasping, she tensed against him.

“Breathe,” he whispered in her ear as he carefully healed her.

As he returned her to the ground, she scowled up at him. “Luke?”