Demons were real particular about letting humans into their playgrounds. And from what she’d learned over the years, they didn’t feel a whole lot of love for shifters, either. But then, who did? Shifters were the black sheep of the Other family.
She’d been to Paradise Found before. Once she’d hung out there far, far too often.
The place still looked the same. Dim lighting snaked across the bar, hiding the demons in the darkness. The old dance floor was still as small, and as packed with humans as ever. Jesus, the place even smelled the same. Sweat, alcohol, and sex.
Very carefully, Emily unclenched her hands. When had she balled her fingers into fists? Probably the second she’d stepped over the threshold and entered the bar.
Bad memories. There were a lot of bad memories here.
Her gaze drifted toward the long, black bar top. That’s where she’d almost died, where Myles had tried to shove his power into her mind and make her into one of his damn human puppets.
"I don’t see Donnelley." Colin paced in front of her, tension tight in his body. He was already attracting more than a few nervous stares.
Her hand touched his arm. "He’s probably in the back." She motioned toward a row of booths heading down a thin corridor. "Let’s look over there." Emily walked across the dance floor, easily dodging the crowd and letting her gaze scan the back row of booths. She could feel the supernatural energy in the room swirling around her. So many Other. Demons, vamps, charmers. She’d better keep her shields up. Keep them strong and-
"Hold on, Doc." Colin snagged her wrist, stopping her at the edge of the wooden floor. "Why do I get the feeling you’ve been here before?" His words were spoken into her ear. His breath blew against her.
She swallowed but didn’t turn back toward him. Now wasn’t the time to rehash her past. Hell, she’d be happy if she never had to rehash it. She’d been a kid, she’d made dumb-ass mistakes, case closed. "Colin, I-"
A man rose from the shadows of the back booth. Lifted his hand to her.
"There he is," her voice whispered out.
Colin’s fingers tightened around her. "Remember, Doc, this is my show." A distinct warning laced his words.
"Like I could forget," she muttered. Jesus. How many times was the guy going to remind her? She got it. The investigation was his game. She was supposed to play the good little girl and sit back and let the big, bad guy do his job.
Well, she’d never been a good little girl.
Good little girls didn’t get sent to-
"Come back to play with me, huh, Emily?"
Her head jerked up at the deep, rumbling voice, and Emily found herself staring into the midnight black eyes of Niol.
Shit. The dark waves of his power lapped at her, and a dull headache immediately formed behind her eyes.
The guy made her sick. Literally.
Come back to play with me. Not damn likely. But she’d better not burn any bridges yet. She and Colin needed to find out exactly why Preston Myers had a picture of this guy in his house. "Uh, hello, Niol."
Colin stepped up to her side. Bared his teeth. And kept his hold on her wrist. "I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure." He held out his right hand.
Niol lifted one black brow. "No, Detective, I don’t think you have." He took Colin’s hand, his fingers tightening for the briefest of moments.
Colin kept his smile-well, it really wasn’t a smile, it was that same baring of fangs that he’d flashed at Darla-on his face as he said, "I see you know who I am."
"But not what you are." Niol’s gaze returned to Emily. "If you’re with Emily, then that means you must be…special."
Colin didn’t respond.
The dancers around them crept back, giving them plenty of space. Probably running away from Niol.
Niol crossed his arms over his chest. "But you’re not my kind, are you, Detective?"
"Your kind?" Colin shrugged, a faint ripple of muscle, of menace. Then he brushed back his jacket, subtly revealing the butt of his gun. "And just what kind would that be?"
Niol laughed softly, and the sound sent a chill skating down Emily’s spine. Oh damn, but this guy was trouble. Serious trouble. His power was so strong, she could practically see the black energy waves in the air around them. Even with her shields up.
"Ah, so you like to play games too? Just like our lovely doctor?"
"Our?" Where the hell had that come from? Her back teeth locked.
"We’re not here to play games," Colin told him softly.
Niol’s dark stare drifted down Emily’s body.
Then Colin’s.
"Pity." Niol pursed his lips. "I have a feeling I could have enjoyed myself with you two for a time." He centered his attention back on her. "But if your detective doesn’t want in on the fun, then perhaps you and I could-"
"Don’t even fucking think about it," Colin snarled, stepping forward. He’d dropped her wrist, clenched his hands into fists.
He was as big as Niol. As tall, as muscled.
As a shifter, he’d be Niol’s match in physical strength. But as much as she’d love to see the demon lord get an ass kicking, now wasn’t the time.
"He’s just messing around, Colin." She glanced at Niol. Met that dark stare. Unlike other demons, Niol didn’t bother disguising his black eyes. Didn’t bother pretending he was anything other than what he was. A very, very dangerous demon. One that it didn’t pay to cross. Keeping her eyes on Niol, she told Colin, "He doesn’t mean it." He’d damn well better not mean it. She’d sooner live the rest of her life sexless than be with a guy like him.
Niol was watching Colin, calculation plain on his face. "So it’s like that, is it?"
Colin jerked his head in a nod.
Niol licked his lips. "Pity," he said again.
It was a pity that she hadn’t let Colin kick the jerk’s ass. But they were at the bar on official business. She kinda thought McNeal would frown on a fight between his detective and the bar’s owner. "Niol, we need to ask you some questions."
"We?"
What, had she stuttered? Emily glared at him. "Yeah, we."
"Working for the cops now, are you? How disappointing." He sighed. "I’d hoped you’d come work for me one day. I could always use a woman with your talents."
Emily plastered a bright, completely false smile on her face. "Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got a job." Two, actually.
"You know, love, people still talk about the way you burned out that demon. Nearly died doing it, didn’t you? But you took his power away, every last drop."
Her eyes narrowed and her head kept throbbing. Time to stop the painful walk down memory lane. "About those questions…"
Niol’s full lips stretched into a smile, a smile that showcased his perfect, white teeth. "Let me save you some time, love. Yes, I knew Preston. He was a fairly wealthy guy who wanted to invest in my place. No, he wasn’t my kind. And, no, I didn’t kill him."
Emily blinked. Well, the guy wasn’t playing dumb about the case. That was good. But was he telling the truth?
For an instant, she was tempted to lower her shields. Just a few seconds, that would be all she’d need…
From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the long, gleaming bar.
She’d fallen against that bar, fallen, hit the floor, screaming, clutching her head-
Emily exhaled. Bad idea. Very bad idea. She couldn’t drop her shields in this place; there were too many unknowns. She couldn’t risk a burnout in the middle of a crowd teaming with Other.
Wouldn’t be good for business.
"You say you didn’t kill him," Colin drawled. "You got an idea who did?"
Niol shook his head. "Someone who hated him."
"You didn’t hate him?"
Emily watched his reactions carefully. Niol appeared calm, perfectly in control. As if he got questioned about a murder every day.
"I didn’t like him," Niol replied. "But hate? No, too strong of a word. I just…didn’t really care one way or the other."