“Is that why you left me in that swamp? You were afraid of being taken in?”
She smiled and knew that it would be twisted with sadness. “I’m a wanted woman.” A woman who’d finally found something she wanted. “Me and the cops don’t mix so well.” Never had.
He stared down at her, saying nothing. Then, he pulled away from her. His flesh slid slowly out of her body, and she ached at the loss.
He rose and disappeared into the bathroom. A few moments later, he came back. He stood next to the bed, staring down at her. Jana gazed back at him, seeing a dark, looming shadow and feeling … vulnerable with her jeans gone, just clad in the bra. She reached for the covers and yanked them over her body.
“Why did you come to me?” he demanded in a voice gravel rough.
Ah, the million-dollar question. Because I wanted you. Because I knew you’d keep me safe. Because you’re the most dangerous badass demon I know and I need you. Because…
No, no, she wouldn’t even go there in her own thoughts. She sat up and tugged the covers with her. “You and I had an agreement.”
He waited, a dark shadow.
“Something … something happened to me in that swamp.” Said in a rush.
His fingers brushed her cheek and, slowly, his hand slipped down to her neck, to the skin that still ached. In the light, she had a lovely yellow-and-black bruise. She wasn’t sure how strong his vision was, and she hoped he couldn’t see it, or the tremble that slipped over her at his touch.
“I should have staked that bastard.”
She swallowed and remembered the raw flash of fear that had pierced her when the vamp had locked his teeth on her. She hadn’t been helpless in so long, but in that moment …
“I didn’t expect him to attack.” That had been her mistake. Any vamp was a dangerous vamp-she knew that. But in the flames and the fury and her fear for Zane, she’d forgotten.
“Catalina.“
Jana blinked.
“The witch told me to save him … and that shifter.”
Jana stiffened a bit. “She’s the friend you had inside Perseus.” That made her worried. Very, very worried.
“She wasn’t there by choice. They were binding her.”
Her breath left in a rush. She’d heard of witches being bound before. Their powers were slowly stolen from them. Three binding marks … then a witch was helpless. Almost … human.
Join the club.
“You seemed close.” Okay, crap, she couldn’t keep the jealousy out of her voice. “We were.”
Were was nice and past tense, but it also sure implied that a whole lot could have gone on between him and the witch. “You went back in to save her.” That point had stuck with her. He’d braved the fire for the witch.
“Catalina almost burned once before.”
Something clicked then. “The other Ignitor …” The one he’d killed. “Did she…?”
“She started the fire that went after Cat, yeah.”
He’d killed to protect the witch. Then he’d been willing to fight the flames for her again in that swamp. Jealousy tasted like acid on her tongue.
“I went back for her.” He paused. “And you came back for me.”
Jana licked her lips, and her fingers curled tighter around the covers. “I-I had to make certain you were okay.” Sure, the big bad demon could probably handle anything, but she hadn’t planned to walk away and leave him in the fire.
“Why didn’t you tell me that Beth was an Ignitor?”
Her heart slammed into her ribs. “She wasn’t—”
“The cops are pinning the other arsons on her.” His words cut through her soft whisper. “Beth was spotted at the scenes of the other fires. She’s the one who’s going down for them, not you.”
She shook her head and tried real hard to suck in air. “But she wasn’t—”
“Pak has some Other friends in Louisiana. When Catalina and I told them that Beth was an Ignitor-we saw her eyes and that fire-they put the pieces together. You’re clear, Jana. You don’t have to run from the cops anymore.”
Perseus wasn’t after her. The cops-were they really going to let her go?
“You should have told me about her sooner,” he said, an edge creeping into his voice.
Enough. She needed to see his eyes when she talked to him. Jana jumped from the bed and hurried toward the far wall. She flipped the switch and light flooded into the room. “There was nothing to tell!” she snapped. “Beth was an average-level psychic until that night. But she—” Ah, hell, this was the part she’d dreaded. “She took something from me.” My fire.
He hadn’t bothered dressing. His arms were at his sides, his c**k still up, and he just … waited.
“She had someone else with her. A new Perseus recruit.” She could still see the woman coming toward her. “After you left, Beth offered me a deal.”
The faint lines near his eyes deepened. “What kind of deal?”
Her breath blew out on a hard sigh. This was the part she’d dreaded. “She offered me a chance at a normal life. All I had to do was leave you behind and take it.”
You’ll lose the fire, but get your life back. Leave the demon. Walk away and the life you always wanted can be yours.
Beth had sounded so tempting. So very tempting.
When the lights in the upstairs room flashed on, Kelly froze. Then she saw the shadows. Two shadows. But Zane had gone in alone.
“Jana.” Her whisper. She smiled. Talk about an easy mark. Now, she just had to get her girl, without that demon interfering.
Luckily, she knew the perfect way to take out a demon. Every demon she’d ever met had the same weakness, regardless of their power level.
She’d done her homework on Zane. Since that bastard had stopped her from taking Jana, she’d had the Bureau dig into his past. She knew all about his family. His father.
Like father, like son.
Yes, she knew the demon’s weakness, and if she played her game just right, she’d use that weakness to her advantage.
And maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t even have to get her hands dirty on this one. She could let the demon do the dirty work for her.
He could kill Jana Carter.
No, before she was finished, he would kill Jana.
Chapter 14
“Did you take the deal?” His voice was expressionless.
Jana shook her head. “I wasn’t going to leave you there. I’d already seen what they did to paranormals.” Seen, and never been able to forget. “But Beth wasn’t the type to take no for an answer.”