Edge of Night (26 page)

A tear quivered on the edge of her lashes before trailing down her cheek. “I just…I wish…I don’t know how to get back to
me
after what happened. I feel like I don’t even know who I am anymore. All these crazy powers and full moon madness and…that’s not
me
. That’s not who Tess Jones is. I’m like a stranger in my own fucking skin and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it because I was a pathetic, helpless little
victim
.”

And that was when she really lost it. She cried so hard she gagged for air, pulled her knees up to her chest, and assumed as close to a fetal position as she could in the chair. And still she sobbed, the sound heartbreaking. Years of pent up anger and hatred were in those tears, and he knew she needed to shed them. He curved his palm over the back of her head, stroking her hair.

“It’s not your fault, Tess. It’s not your fault.” He repeated the words so many times, he’d lost count.

It took a long time for the tears to subside, and his chest tightened with sympathy. She kept her forehead resting on the plateau of her knees, her breathing coming in hitching little hiccups. He squeezed her shoulder, rose and reached across his desk for a box of tissues.

She took the box with a nod, but neither of them said anything. He’d gotten her to face her inner demons, but he didn’t think he was the right person to help her fight them. Not anymore. Perhaps one day they could be friends, but she needed more than he could give her now.

After striding to the door, he opened it and poked his head out. Unsurprisingly, Peyton was nearby, pretending to be busy with work. He caught the wolf’s eye. “In my office.”

The wolf nodded, dropped the file he held and moved forward. He had Tess in his embrace in the blink of an eye, and her arms twined around his neck, holding tight.

“I’m headed home for the day.” Luca stepped out of his office, reaching back for the door handle. His computer would automatically log off, and he’d worry about getting his jacket tomorrow. They needed the privacy more than he needed a full suit. “You two stay here as long as you need to.”

“Wait.” Tess’s voice was waterlogged, but she struggled against Peyton’s hold to face Luca.

The werewolf held her tighter, refusing to let her down. “Tess.”

She ignored him, meeting Luca’s gaze. “There’s something you should know, about Cecily Hammond’s autopsy.”

He nodded to encourage her to continue. The sooner she was done, the sooner he could leave.

“She was pregnant. It was only a couple of days along, but she was pregnant.”

Meaning Robert had turned to her for sex after he’d killed their son. “As a vampire, he would have been able to sense it almost as soon as she conceived.”

“Walking pregnancy test, the new career of vampires.” Her smile was lopsided, no longer tinged with the bitterness Luca was used to seeing from her. “I wonder if he told her, as some kind of consolation prize for the death of her first kid.”

Luca shook his head. “We’ll never know what finally pushed her over the edge, but that’s a definite possibility. I know she didn’t want to go back to that house, but he insisted.”

“Who could blame her?” Peyton asked.

Tess shivered, holding on to the male wolf tighter. “Who’d want to be anywhere near the place your baby was murdered?”

Elinor Hammond would blame her, but Luca didn’t point that out. The case was as closed as it was going to get. Everyone involved was dead, either murdered or by their own hand. What a twisted family. The whole situation sickened him, made him feel like a layer of filth coated his skin. He was exhausted, but at least he was alive to feel anything at all.

As he climbed into his car, he scrubbed a hand down his face. It was late and he should just go home, but he didn’t want to.

He wanted to be with Erin. It didn’t surprise him anymore, this craving he had to be near her. She was Normal, which should have sent him running as fast as his vampiric speed would allow, but he was too damn tired to fight it. He just wanted the peace he found in her company.

Or at least the peace he found when she wasn’t aiming a knife at his chest. He snorted, turned on the car, and drove toward her condo.

“Meow.” The sound was quiet, and he glanced in his rearview mirror to see Balthasar materialize from thin air. Invisibility spell, something vampires sucked at but his familiar excelled at. The cat had even managed to make both himself and Luca disappear from sight once or twice. More impressive was the fact that Luca hadn’t been able to sense the cat in the car with him until he’d made his presence known. Familiars had abilities that most Magickals couldn’t explain, which made the animals both highly prized and highly annoying.

The cat hopped into the passenger seat, his ears flicking as he watched the scenery pass by. Luca stroked a hand down his familiar’s back, feeling the rumble of a purr under his palm. “My case wrapped up today, Balthasar. Not in a way I would have hoped for, but there’s nothing left now except paperwork.” He pulled to a stop at a red light, glancing over at the cat. “What do you say we figure out how to help our human friend? I have a feeling she’s going to need it.”

Balthasar made a chirruping noise Luca took as approval. A tiny spark of anticipation lit inside him. After the shittiness of the Hammond case, he had to admit he liked the idea of hunting down a villain he could
do
something about. If it meant spending more time around Erin, so be it.

The first real smile of the day crossed his lips. He had some rather creative ideas for her close, personal protection.

The first thing Luca saw when he stepped out of the elevator into Erin’s foyer was Gregor Night. His heart seized and icy terror clawed through him. Gregor was a ruthless assassin—one who’d slipped through every law enforcement agency’s fingers for decades. Was he involved in her being stalked? A million possibilities for why he might be at Erin’s door ran through Luca’s mind, and each option spelled trouble.

He had Gregor by the throat in under a second, lifting the other vampire off his feet to slam him against the brick wall. Fangs bared, he hissed. “What are you doing here? Who’s paying you?”

“I am.” The door had swung open and Erin’s hand clamped over his biceps.

“What?” Luca’s gaze went from the bulging eyes of Gregor to Erin. Her expression was dead serious.

“I said I’m paying him. Now put my new bodyguard down.”

Utter disbelief slammed into him like a freight train. Erin. Had hired
Gregor Night
. It also registered that the other vampire wasn’t fighting back. His heels were jammed into the brick mortar and he was lifting himself away from Luca’s hold, but wasn’t fighting to get free. That said a lot right there, considering Luca had seen this man kill with little more than the tips of his fingers. He’d fight like a wounded, cornered animal if he needed to. Fuck. Luca dropped him, and he hit the floor without a whisper of sound.

“Cavalli,” he intoned, stepping around Erin into the apartment. He quirked an eyebrow at her and grinned as he passed.

Erin slanted a glare at Gregor, but didn’t say anything.

And Luca didn’t like their silent communication that didn’t include him one bit. The world had gone fucking sideways. He rounded on her. After the insanity of the day, this was the thing that finally made him lose his cool. He shouted right in her face,
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Would you keep your voice down?” she hissed. “Get in here before both my neighbors come knocking.”

She balled her fist in his shirt and pulled. He stalked inside and snarled, “What.
The hell.
Do you think you’re
doing?”

Kicking the door shut, she propped her hands on her hips. “Protecting myself from a possible stalker. Isn’t that what I should do?”

He jabbed a finger in Gregor’s direction. “And you hired a known assassin? Erin!”

“He also provides personal protection services, Luca.” Her lips compressed into a stubborn line. “I’m not paying him to kill anyone, just to keep anyone from trying to harm me.”

“This is insane.” Hell,
someone
had to point out the obvious, so it might as well be him.

“I’ve been stalked before, and I’m scared. The other night with the knife—” She shook her head, cutting herself off. “It’s obvious I need help, and I do
not
want you involved in this. I’ve made that very clear already. Gregor came highly recommended by Millie Standish. She’s a trustworthy source of information.”

Luca didn’t even acknowledge her comment about his involvement. “I know Millie is trustworthy, but do
you
know what this man has done? What he’s capable of? Because I’ve cleaned up the aftermath at a couple of crime scenes. I’ve got some truly gruesome photos I can show you, if you want to see them.” He watched her pale, but it didn’t stop the anger coursing through him. “I don’t want him anywhere near you.”

She pulled in a breath that lifted her breasts and it annoyed him that he noticed. “I realize that he doesn’t have a warm, fuzzy reputation. If I wanted a kitten, I would have bought one. Name one person you could recommend who wouldn’t have a deadly history. You can’t, can you? Even Jack and Merek and you all have a ruthless, vicious, scary streak that you’ve used in your work.”

“We’re not criminals.” Luca had to concentrate to keep his fangs and talons retracted.

“You’re also not saints.” She spread her hands. “Gregor has never been convicted of anything, according to Millie. He’s the best at what he does, and I’m no match for the vampire I think is stalking me. It’s not like I can call the FBI in for protection from a stalker. I’ve been through this before—the police aren’t much help except for a restraining order.” She licked her lips. “This is my choice to make, not yours. I’m hiring Gregor.”

“I told you he’d be upset.” Gregor sat on the kitchen island, his feet swinging like a little kid’s as he avidly watched the byplay.

Balling his fists at his sides, Luca fought the need to put his fist down the bastard’s throat. “I’d advise you to keep your mouth shut, Mr. Night, before I decide to see what outstanding arrest warrants there might be with your name on them.”

Gregor sighed, rolling his eyes. “I’m raiding the refrigerator. Let me know when the two of you have worked out your little lovers’ spat.”

“Is he
staying
here?” Luca’s blood pressure hit the roof, and red mist swam before his eyes.

“He’s my 24/7 bodyguard, Luca. So yeah. He’s staying here.” She crossed her arms. “In his own bedroom, of course.”

Luca folded his arms, assuming the same obstinate body language. “Good, because I’ll be sharing your bedroom with you.”

Her mouth formed a perfect O of shock, her arms wilting at her sides. “Ex-excuse me?”

“You heard me.” He smiled. “I’m moving in here.”

Gesturing in Gregor’s general direction, she said faintly, “I already hired a bodyguard.”

Luca snorted. “Someone needs to protect you from him.”

Her mouth worked but nothing came out, as if she truly couldn’t believe he’d said what he’d said. She shook her head. “You really have gone insane. You can’t move in here without my permission.”

Arching an eyebrow, Luca waved a flippant hand. “Then you won’t mind if I have a little chat with your uncle to see how he feels about
Gregor fucking Night
living in your house.”

“My middle name is Albert, actually.” Gregor’s voice echoed from inside the fridge. “Though
Fucking
is probably better. Maybe I should consider changing it.”

They both ignored him, and Erin’s nostrils flared in anger. “You wouldn’t dare, Cavalli.”

His smiled because he absolutely would dare. “I’ll move my things in tonight.”

The look she gave him was sulfuric. “You can sleep on the couch.”

“Fine.”

“Fine!” She spun on her heel, stomped into her office and slammed the door behind her.

“Everything settled? Excellent.” Gregor emerged from the fridge with a pickle in his hand and gave Luca a bland smile. “I’ve always wondered what it would be like to sleep with a federal agent.”

“I can kill you in your sleep.”

“That’s more my forte than yours.” Gregor crunched on his pickle.

Instead of ripping the other man’s throat out the way he wanted to, Luca turned for the door. “I’ll be back with my things in under an hour. I trust you’ll both still be here and I won’t have any difficulty getting in.”

Gregor shrugged. “If that’s what the lady wants, of course.”

With his hand on the doorknob, Luca glanced back. “If she decides that’s not what she wants, you can remind her that I have Cousin Jack and Uncle Darren on speed dial.”

The other vampire cocked his head. “Why is Darren Kerr in your contact list?”

“Because there was this one incident where your brother tried to murder him. Remember that? I do. I’m sure he does too. And Jack. And Selina.” Luca smiled evilly. “And Delta.”

Gregor’s pleasant expression tightened. The change was barely perceptible, but Luca noticed. He let his grin widen. “I’m sure they would all love to know you’re back in town.”

“I get your point.” The redhead dipped his chin in a sharp nod.

“Then I’ll see you in an hour.”