Dee had vanished.
He froze and stared straight ahead.
A soft footfall sounded behind him. Could have been a whisper, could have been—
Simon spun around and came face to face with Dee. She was armed, not with a stake this time, but with her gun, and the lady had it pointed dead center between his eyes.
He probably should have acted scared. Should have mumbled some kind of half-assed apology for following her.
Instead, he just stared at her.
“There a particular reason why you’re tailing me?”
The gun didn’t waver. Those sexy-as-sin lips pressed into a thick line.
“Yeah.” He allowed himself a glance down her body. He’d have to be careful with her. He kept forgetting how small and fragile she was.
Maybe because of the gun. Maybe that was making him forgetful.
She acted tough. But that body—soft curves and sweet, tender flesh.
“Eyes up, asshole.”
Apparently the lady didn’t like him ogling her breasts. Fair enough. “You left before I could get your number.”
Her jaw dropped. “What?”
He shrugged. “Your number. I mean, I saved your life. Shouldn’t I at least be able to get your number for that?”
She growled and finally lowered the gun. “Look, buddy—”
“Simon Chase.”
“Whatever. I don’t have time for this shit. I’m not going to screw you because you shoved me into the pavement. And, just so you know, I didn’t need you to save me. Not like it’s my first ball game, okay?”
I’m not going to screw you. Hmmm. “Don’t remember asking for a screw.” Though he wouldn’t refuse one with her. “Just your number.”
She barred her teeth. Pretty teeth. White and straight. Not too sharp, though, but then, she was human.
His tongue scraped across his own teeth. A bit sharper than hers.
“I’m working now, I don’t have time for this—”
“Yeah, you never did answer my question.” Simon cocked his head to the side. “Just what kind of work do you do?”
She holstered the gun. “The kind you wouldn’t understand.”
Doubtful. “Let’s see…you had a wooden stake and you were about ten feet away from a vampire the first time I saw you.” He paused. “I’d say that makes you a hunter.”
Her gaze raked over him. “So what? You know about vampires? Good for you.”
“Oh, I know about vampires.” Too much about them. “I also know about the demons and the charmers and the shifters that are running this city.” He even knew her boss, Jason Pak. Pak was the Night Watch Agency. He’d started the bounty hunting business almost twenty years ago, and Dee was one of his top hunters.
But she didn’t need to know that he’d already researched her.
His hands were loose at his sides now. “I know all about the Other.” The humidity from the hot July night had his shirt sticking against his flesh. “And I stopped being afraid of the monsters in the dark one hell of a long time ago.”
Her lips parted.
“Fucking hunter.” A snarl, high-pitched with fury.
Shit.
Simon’s stare shot over Dee’s shoulder. The vamp was there, blood dripping down her arm, her fangs bared and her eyes glazed black.
“I’m going to rip your throat open and drain you dry, bitch, I’m going to—”
Dee shifted her stance slightly. Simon’s gaze jerked back to her. “Sure you’re not afraid?” She whispered.
He gave a curt nod.
“I’ll slice your lover open! He’ll beg for death. He’ll—”
Dee spun around. The stake was in her hand. Wow—he hadn’t even seen her grab it and now the wood was in her hand, no—it was in the air. Flying end over end in a deadly arc.
Then sinking into the vampire’s chest.
The vamp gave a muffled scream and dropped to her knees.
“I wanted to take you in alive,” Dee murmured. “But you just couldn’t make this night easy, could you?”
The black faded from the vampire’s eyes.
Dee squared her shoulders and stalked toward the vamp. “And he’s not my lover.”
“Not yet,” Simon said and realized that he was impressed.
Sandra Dee had taken down her prey. She hadn’t let him distract her. She hadn’t given up and faded away when the cops appeared.
And when given a chance for the kill, she hadn’t hesitated.
Interesting.
Finally, exactly what he’d expected.
A team from Night Watch came to clear the alley. The vamp’s body was taken away, hell if he knew where. But, then, he didn’t really care.
Tonight’s exercise had been very fruitful. In all, Simon was pleased with the progress that had been made.
Of course, if he’d gotten Dee’s number, he would have been more pleased.
Next time.
Simon stepped into the shadows and rapped against the black door that waited in the darkness. It opened instantly and he crossed the threshold, already pulling out his money.
The man inside was small, squat, and he had his gun cradled in his hand. Greasy black hair was slicked back from his forehead and his beady eyes gleamed when he caught sight of the cash in Simon’s hand.
The guy reached for the bills—
Simon snatched his fingers back. “You hurt the human.”
Sweat trickled down the man’s cheek. It was hot as fuck in there. But, hell, it was summer in Baton Rouge, it was hot as fuck everywhere. “D-didn’t mean to, when you took the woman down, the bullet clipped him—”
Clipped him, hadn’t killed him, and that was why the shooter was still alive. “I want you out of town, tonight.” Simon kept the money out of the guy’s reach. “If I ever see you again, you’re dead.”
A gulp.
Simon leaned in close, close enough for the shooter to see the intent in his eyes. “And it won’t be an easy death.” Those he delivered rarely were. “Do you understand?”
The man managed a quick nod.
Simon tossed the money to him. The bastard had done his job. He’d taken the shot at Dee. Given Simon the perfect opportunity that he’d needed.
The human’s injury just hadn’t been part of the plan.
Simon turned away from him and headed for the door. There was more work to do. Always more.
The bullet slammed into his back, a hard punch of fire that burned through skin and muscle, and tore right through the bone.
He hit the floor hard, his face slamming down and the blood pouring from his body. Dammit.
Should have seen that one coming. You just couldn’t trust killers these days.
He heard the creak of footsteps and caught the whisper of excited breath. “N-nobody threatens Frankie Lee.” Another shot. This one fired into the back of his right leg.
Simon didn’t cry out. He locked his jaw and battled the pain.
“You’re the one who won’t get an easy death, asshole.” Another shot. Left thigh this time.
Sonofabitch.
Frankie grabbed the back of Simon’s head and wrenched his face up. The gun barrel stared back at Simon and the scent of burning metal filled his nostrils. “Nobody threatens—”
Simon lunged off the floor. One jerk of his hand and he broke Frankie’s wrist.
“Fuck!” Frankie’s face bleached of color.
The gun clattered to the floor. Simon didn’t even glance at it. He wouldn’t need the weapon. The gun really would be too easy, and so not his style.
Simon grabbed the squirrelly bastard, wrapped his hand around Frankie’s throat, and pinned him up against the wall. Frankie’s fat legs dangled a good two feet off the ground.
“How the hell—”
Simon smiled.
Frankie started to shake.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Simon whispered, the scent of his own blood clogging his nostrils. “You had your chance.”
Now, it was his turn.
Chapter 2