Page 78 of Hell’s Half Acre

Luke.

She should have known he wouldn’t have left left her.

As soon as she was upright, Reyes scowled at Sorcha’s shirt. “It looks like bullets went in.”

Sorcha looked down, noting the pointed lack of blood on her shirt. She tried to make light of the experience. “Can’t explain it. Sounds like most days on our job.”

Reyes looked less than amused.

“Well, this was a lot more exciting than I wanted it to be. From nightmare beginning to this horror.” Bernadette let out a long sigh. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

So was Sorcha. Last thing she wanted was to die. Especially before she had a chance to slap handcuffs on the bastard who’d killed her sister.

Sorcha brushed at the holes in her shirt. “I need to get back and change my clothes.”

“Not until we check you out.”

She growled at the paramedic. “Fine. Can you make it quick?”

“Sure.”

They might have agreed to that, but the little bastards took their time. It wasn’t until they finally finished that she realized why.

They didn’t want to take Karen to the hospital. Even with her handcuffed, the paramedics were scared of her.

Honestly, Sorcha couldn’t blame them.

Knowing what the woman had done…

The fact that she sat handcuffed in the corner opposite Helly, still singing that Partridge Family song while she rocked…

It wasn’t something Sorcha would forget anytime soon.

Or ever.

The saddest part? While her actions were definitely disturbing, they weren’t as bad as some of the cases she’d worked in New Orleans. As Luke noted, it was terrifying what people were willing to do to each other.

At last, the paramedics let her leave. Reyes, Bernadette, and Ryan had already returned to their office.

Rory helped her up. “I’ll walk you back.”

“Don’t you need to finish up?”

“It’s pretty…” Rory’s words trailed off.

She imagined he was about to say ‘cut and dried,’ but given the gruesomeness of the murder, she understood why he didn’t want to go there.

“Wrapped up with a bow?” Sorcha offered.

“I can’t believe you just said that.”

“Sorry. I’ve been hanging out with Luke too much.”

Rory shook his head. “I won’t say anything to that. You know how I feel about it…and him.” He let out a sigh. “Sorry I wasn’t honest with you.”

“About being a Nephilim?”

“Yeah.” He opened the door to let her outside. “It’s not something I usually tell anyone.”