“Completely.”
I brought my hand up to cup his cheek. He turned to kiss my palm, and his gaze locked with mine. I wanted to tell him how I felt, but when I closed my eyes, I saw his face the moment I pointed my pistol at his head.
And guilt stole my voice. I tilted up on my toes, kissing him deeply, hoping my body would give him the answer my lips couldn’t.
He carried me back to the bed, and made love to me slowly for hours. This raw, real love made me strong and weak, like a thrill ride and a cup of hot chocolate all at once.
Already, I was hooked.
Chapter Thirty-Three
The sun peered into our room through a tiny opening in the blackout drapes, shining right into my eye. I squinted, trying to see the digital clock near the bed. It was 11:30 a.m.
Shit.
I should’ve woken Sasha, but seeing her dozing beside me gave me time to keep her to myself. When she woke up, she’d be putting her guns on and jumping right back into the center of the fight with Fonthill.
Sometimes reality was a raving bitch.
Sasha’s lashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes with a dreamy smile. “I’m starving.”
I let my head fall back onto the pillow and laughed, pulling her into my arms. She grinned down at me with her bed-head hair.
“What’s so funny? It’s all your fault.”
I did my best to produce an innocent smile. “My fault?”
“Yes.” She kissed me, and then saw the clock.
The afterglow bubble burst.
“Damn. It’s almost noon!” She shot out of bed, hustling toward the bathroom. “We’ve got to go check out the gas station guy at St. Mary’s, and I need to find Sebastian.”
Afterglow officially fucking gone.
I sat on the edge of the bed and turned to look over at her. I was doing my best not to be an asshole, but hearing her mention Sebastian a few hours after I told her I loved her was definitely bringing out my less flattering qualities. “Why exactly do you want to see him?”
She came out and started getting dressed without making eye contact. “Because I think he knows a lot more than he’s telling me.”
“That’s hardly a news flash.” I yanked my hand back through my hair, struggling not to growl in frustration. “The guy is a weasel, Sash. Half-truths and secrets are his specialty. He’s only looking out for himself.”
She spun around so fast I almost flinched. Almost.
“Do you honestly think I don’t know that? I’m pretty sure I know better than most what a lying bastard he is.”
I put my hands up in surrender as I walked over to get dressed. “I just think it’s a waste of time to search him out when he’ll only tell you what
She popped the magazine out of her Glock, checked the ammunition, and slammed it back inside the gun. “I’ll just have to persuade him.”
I got dressed, watching her put on her shoulder holster. She yanked up her pant leg and quickly fastened her smaller holster to her calf. We moved past each other in silence, until we were both ready to go.
“It makes me crazy to think he hurt you before. He’s wasted skin as far as I’m concerned.”
“I’m not really happy about seeing him either.” She sighed. “I checked some dates last night and Fonthill started at the department the same month my parents were killed. I think it’s connected. Nero was watching my sister at her school, too, and they wanted her so it all makes sense. I don’t think they knew I existed until after.”
“Shouldn’t we concentrate on Fonthill for now? We can worry about Nero later.” I held the door open for her, but she stopped.
“Short answer, I think Nero made Fonthill a deal. Someone got him into the force regardless of his other- than-honorable discharge. He’s obviously good with a sniper rifle. He killed my parents for Nero, and in trade, Nero got him a job. Nero wanted Nadya. They didn’t know she had an older sister.” I followed Sasha to the elevator. Once she punched the button she added, “I changed my last name when I entered the police academy. I wanted it to be different than the rest of my family in case I ever crossed the wrong perp in my job. I also didn’t live at home. Nero wouldn’t have connected me to my sister.”
She shook her head as the elevator descended. “It all adds up. Fonthill was in the department when they were shot, and when he got in trouble for beating up Nancy, no one from Nero backed him up. They didn’t need him in place anymore.”
I thought about it as we walked out of the hotel into the afternoon sun. If she was right, Sebastian didn’t come into her life to kill her witness. He came looking for her sister.
…
After we parked at St. Mary’s Hospital, Sasha pulled out her leather wallet and whipped out her fake ID and badge. “Ready?”
I nodded, and we made our way through the parking lot toward the main entrance of the hospital when a window above us shattered. I yanked Sasha in close to me as a man plummeted three stories and landed in a lifeless heap on the pavement at our feet.
Sasha shaded her eyes, staring up at the window, while I started to reach for the victim. I didn’t bother checking for a pulse. Blood already pooled around his head like a dark halo, and medical personnel rushed toward us.
“Watch the front doors. I’ll check around the back,” she said.
“Fonthill?”
“Probably.” Her eyes met mine. “That man didn’t just
Without another word, she vanished into the mayhem. I moved out of the way of the medical team and the curious people trying to sneak a peek at the accident. In the distance, I could already hear the police sirens. News vans wouldn’t be far behind.
I kept my eyes on the front entrance, wishing I had some way of knowing how Sasha was doing on the other side of the building. While I stood watch, I concentrated on the scents around me. At first I didn’t recognize anything—lots of cologne, perfume, body fluids, but nothing that would be out of the ordinary for a hospital. Making my way closer to the automatic doors, I froze. I took in a slow, deep breath, my wolf senses analyzing the scent.
Sebastian.
I tracked the scent through the doors until it ended at an elevator. He must’ve entered from the front of the building but he hadn’t left that way. I searched the ground floor, struggling to find the path he took out. He couldn’t have left from the third floor. He was a professional killer, but he couldn’t fucking fly.
My phone buzzed, and I yanked it out. “Yeah?”
“I’m around back by the fire-escape stairs.” It was good to hear her voice.
“It’s Sebastian.” I was already making my way toward the rear exit doors. “I caught his scent going in the front doors.”
“I know. I’m with him now.”
I ground my teeth as I pushed open the exit door. “Be right there.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
