Blood Secrets - By Jeannie Holmes Page 0,3
that?”
He turned to face her squarely. “How do I do what?”
“Get Damian to agree to whatever you want.”
He grinned, showing the full extent of his fangs. “It’s part of my French pig charm, chérie.”
She rolled her eyes. “So what’s this scene we’re going to?”
“You’re familiar with the Mindy Johnson case?”
“The girl who disappeared three days ago.”
He nodded. “Someone located her car in front of the women’s dorms at Nassau County Community College. Damian and the forensic team are there now.”
“Sounds like the scene is under control. Why bring me in?”
Varik rose and pulled her up along with him. “Because you have an ability to see things others don’t.”
“You want me to use my psychometry to get a vision of what happened to Mindy?” She tried to move away but he held her close. “It doesn’t work like that, Varik. I can’t control the visions.”
“I know.”
“There is no guarantee I’ll even sense anything.”
He kissed her forehead. “Will you at least try?”
Reluctantly, she nodded.
“Thank you.”
They took turns in the bathroom, and she was surprised by how easily they fell into a familiar routine. As she washed up, Alex checked her reflection in the age-spotted mirror above the sink. The bruising that had encompassed her ribs, stomach, and the right side of her face had finally disappeared but the fractured cheekbone hadn’t fully healed. She could still feel the soreness when she smiled. A bright pink scar ran diagonally over her right biceps, the result of a sniper’s bullet grazing her arm.
She secured her shoulder-length auburn hair in a low ponytail. Another scar marred the left side of her neck, a jagged slash starting behind her ear and extending to her collarbone. She fingered the scar, a permanent reminder of a chapter in her life she thought was behind her. Fate, however, had other plans for her.
As if summoned by her thoughts, Varik appeared in the mirror, leaning against the doorjamb. His dark eyes steadily meeting her reflected gaze. “Ready to go?”
She nodded. “I just have to get my sidearm.”
He grabbed her arm as she tried to push past him. His thumb traced the blemish on her neck. “I’m sorry I caused you pain,” he murmured.
Six years ago, when they’d been engaged to be married, he attacked her, savaging her neck. He’d taken her blood and forged a psychic bond between them. Time and distance had weakened the blood-bond, but a few weeks ago she’d turned the tables and attacked him, re-strengthening the bond. It hadn’t been a conscious thought, unlike when she later slept with him and continued to sleep with him even though a portion of her said she shouldn’t.
Her attention flicked to a matching mark on his neck. She followed the jagged edge of the healed wound with her finger. “I know,” she whispered. “But now isn’t the time to discuss it.”
“You always say that.”
“We’ll discuss it later.” She gave him a quick kiss. “I swear.”
He released her in silent agreement.
She grabbed her Glock from the side table and paused to give Dweezil’s exposed belly a quick rub. “Behave yourself,” she told the purring cat. “No barfing on the bed or carpet.”
Dweezil yawned and stretched in response.
Varik was shaking his head when she joined him at the door. “Sometimes I think you like that cat more than me.”
“Love me, love my cat.”
The door automatically locked behind them as they headed for the elevators. “Actually, I’m quite fond of your pus—”
She punched his arm. “Don’t you dare complete that sentence, Varik Baudelaire, or I’ll kick your ass right here.”
He clutched his shoulder, laughing. “Promises, promises.”
Alex growled in frustration and hurried ahead, wanting to place some distance between them before she really did hurt him, and pressed the elevator call button. She was still sorting out her feelings for Varik, and even though she cared for him, he often irritated her, especially with his insistence on providing for her.
Her apartment had been damaged in a fire and wasn’t ready for her return. She’d been staying with her brother, Stephen, in a studio apartment he rented out over Crimson Swan, Jefferson’s only legal blood bar for vampires. However, arsonists led by Harvey Manser, the now former sheriff of Nassau County, had destroyed the bar, leaving her homeless once again.
The hotel room that became her temporary shelter had originally been reserved by Varik when he first arrived in town. Her suspension from the Bureau left Jefferson without an Enforcer so the Bureau had assigned Varik as her provisional replacement and had provided him with