Chapter Six

Something flickered in Asher’s awareness as he strolled down the sidewalk with Jo beside him. It was gone before he could pinpoint it. He stopped and slowly surveyed the area. There was nothing threatening. Not now. But for the briefest second, he’d caught a blast of malevolence that had been directed their way. Even more unsettling? It had felt familiar in some way.

“What is it?” She scanned the busy street.

“Did you sense anything?” Maybe it had been nothing, but he’d lived too long to discount his instincts.

“No.”

His awareness was heightened, but he tried not to let his concern overpower the sheer pleasure of the moment.

“Tell me about yourself?” She was wound tighter than a spring, cataloging her surroundings, her body primed to leap into action if necessary. He hoped conversation would help her relax. Plus, he wanted to know everything about her.

“What do you want to know?” Her tone was clipped, and suspicion clouded her beautiful eyes.

“Not your deepest darkest secrets,” he assured her. He did, but it was best to start slowly and work up to them. “How about we start with something simple? What do you do to unwind?” he asked as they started walking again. “In the interest of fairness, I’ll go first. I watch all the Real Housewives shows, the Bachelor, and any other reality show.” They were vastly entertaining. Like live theater.

“You do know that none of them have anything to do with reality.” She might be frowning but there was a slight twinkle of humor in her amazing eyes.

“Most would say the same about your reality,” he pointed out. “That’s even if they believed it, which most wouldn’t.” The bulk of the population didn’t believe in vampires and werewolves and things-that-go-bump-in-the-night outside the movies or books.

“True, but still.” She turned left and kept walking. He had no idea where they were going and didn’t care. Whatever they did was fine by him, as long as they were together.

“What about you?” he asked again. Did she have some secret vice or hobby she indulged?

“It’s just up here.” Avoiding the question, she pointed out a small diner. “It doesn’t look like much, but you can get a great all-day breakfast anytime, day or night.”

“Jo, what do you do to unwind?”

Pausing by the door, she scowled. “I don’t, all right? I can’t afford to let down my guard for even a second.”

That made him unaccountably sad. He ran his hand over her hair, unsure who he was trying to comfort, her or himself. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She jerked her head so he was no longer touching her before she gripped the handle and yanked the door open.

What had her life been like that she couldn’t relax enough to enjoy a single hobby? She was already sliding into a booth at the far end, taking the seat that put her back against the wall. It was an ingrained a habit as breathing.

Several people stared, but they were of no consequence, only nosy. He took the one opposite her, unconcerned that anyone would be able to sneak up on him. Not with her on watch.

“You enjoy music, don’t you?” He’d seen the audio system back at her place.

“Who doesn’t?”

Her reluctance to give up even the slightest detail about her life made him even more curious. Letting it go for now, he plucked the laminated menu from between the napkin holder and condiments. “What’s good?”

He didn’t miss her sigh of relief before she answered, “Everything.”

“Coffee?” The waitress was beside their table, a half-full pot in hand.

“Yes, please.” Jo flipped over her cup. He did the same. “I’ll have the pancakes with bacon.”

“Do you know what you want?” the waitress asked him as she poured. “Or do you need more time?”

“I’ll have the same.” It didn’t really matter to him. And if it was a favorite of Jo’s, he wanted to try it.

After adding sugar to her coffee, she took a sip. Elbows on the table, she studied him over her cup. “How did you become a hunter?”

He tried to figure out the best way to put it and still be honest. “I was born into it, I guess you could say.”

“That’s tough.” She set her cup down and wrapped her fingers around it.

“How about you?” Most fell into it after something very bad usually happened to them or someone they loved.

“When I was a teenager, I discovered there were monsters in the world.”

He wanted to know every detail but pushing would only make her shut down. “Why didn’t you walk away? You could have had a normal life.” It’s what most did. They buried their horror-filled memories and tried to forget.

The other path, the one less taken, was dark. And once you started down it, there was no way back.

“Someone has to kill them.” Such a simple answer, yet it said everything he needed to know about her.

“Yes, someone does,” he agreed.

The waitress returned with two plates loaded with a pile of pancakes and a side of bacon. They chatted about inconsequential things as they polished off the food and indulged in another cup of coffee.

“Where do we go from here?” she asked as she absently shoved her empty plate aside. “You’re not staying with me again.”

“You going to hold that against me?” What he really wanted was to hold her against him. His pants grew uncomfortably tight.

“Yes. You shouldn’t have been able to get inside.” Her lips turned down and furrows formed between her brows.

To keep her from delving any deeper into that line of thinking, he distracted her. “Why don’t you stay with me for a couple of days? I have the space.”

“I’m not moving in with you.”

“You’d be there when Maccus finally does make contact.”

“If he does. You said he might not.” She was quick with a reply. Bantering with her was fun.

“True, but in the meantime, you can watch me display my hacking prowess while I try to figure out where the original email came from.” That might lure her to accept his offer.

Their phones vibrated at the same time. As hunters, they mostly kept their ringtones turned off, so they didn’t go off at a most inopportune time. He pulled his out and studied the screen. “Another email. Unknown sender.”

“The same. Someone is playing games with us.”

Dread snaked down his spine, an icy shiver that turned his blood cold. The malevolence from earlier echoed, almost like a laugh in his mind. Someone was indeed playing a very deadly game.

…

She’d been relaxed—or as relaxed as she ever got—and enjoying herself. Yes, he’d let himself into her home and slept with her. She was still annoyed at his heavy-handedness, and if he pulled a stunt like that again, she would make him pay dearly. But his intentions had been good. And they’d only slept. Nothing more had happened. The kiss was just that. Nothing to get worked up about.

Her body disagreed, her lips tingling and her skin heating. Down, girl. This isn’t a date, just two colleagues sharing a meal. But he was interesting and fun and knew more about pop culture than anyone she’d ever met.

Getting another anonymous email had spoiled her good mood, but at least she was now certain that it wasn’t Asher sending them. Impossible with him sitting right in front of her.

The more cynical voice inside her whispered that, as a hacker, he could have set it up earlier so it would send now. Not much of a challenge for someone with his reported skills.

Was she looking for trouble where there was none? Was she suspicious because he’d gotten close to her?

Didn’t matter. She was on her guard, regardless. Playtime was over. Time to get back to work. That was what she understood. That was what made sense.

Ignoring the relief that washed over her at focusing on what was familiar and safe, at least emotionally, she read the email. “The address is in a commercial district not too far from here,” she told him, unsure how familiar he was with Brooklyn. “Do you think they know we’re together? Or are they banking on both of us showing up like we did at the church?”

It creeped her out to think of someone spying on her without her knowledge. Her awareness of her surroundings was vital to her safety. Had she missed something?

His frown deepened as he studied the text. “I’d wager the latter.”

“They expect both of us to show up independently?”

“Yes.”

“What’s the plan?” It was odd to ask someone else’s opinion. She was used to handling the details on her own.

“That’s up to you,” he told her, his dark eyes steady. “I have no trouble meeting them on my own.”

And putting himself in danger. “No way. They want both of us, they get both. Or they don’t get either.” On that she wouldn’t budge.

The corners of his mouth tilted up. “I thought you’d say that.” He nodded at her empty plate. “You done, or do you want more?”

“I’ve had enough. No sense in loading up before a fight.” She checked her watch. “We’ve got a couple hours before the targets are supposed to show. What do you want to do?”

“Same as you, I imagine. Check out the place.”

Her heart thumped faster as adrenaline pumped through her veins. As dangerous as the situation was, there was nothing quite as exhilarating as a hunt.

Maybe sex with Asher is more thrilling.

She wouldn’t know and planned on keeping it that way. Sure, he kissed like a god, and was built like one, too, but there were more pressing matters to deal with. Jo shoved all thoughts of sex aside and put her attention on what was important—the task at hand. This time she wasn’t alone. She had backup, very capable backup.

“Let’s go.” Before she could dig money out of her pocket, Asher dropped a fifty-dollar bill on the table.

“You carry a stack of those tucked in your pocket?”

He’d left a fifty with the gas station attendant as well.

“Money always helps smooth the way.”

She didn’t disagree, but you had to have it to throw around. As soon as they were outside, she turned to him. “Just exactly how do you make your money?”

“How do you make yours?” he countered.

Okay, she got it. Don’t ask questions unless she was willing to answer some in return. She’d never cared before, but she’d also never been this close with a man for it to matter. It was important. And right now, all sorts of illegal and nefarious schemes were running through her head.

“I do some jobs for a local bail bondsman,” she admitted. Not work she particularly enjoyed, but it gave her a flexible schedule and a decent paycheck. Her real job was expensive and rarely paid. “I also buy and sell the occasional artifact I come across when I’m tracking a target. How about you?”

“Real estate.”

That took her aback. “Real estate? Like houses?”

“I own buildings all over the city, but mostly in Manhattan.”

Her mouth was hanging open, but she couldn’t help it. She was having a hard time wrapping her head around this bombshell. To actually own buildings in Manhattan… He wasn’t just well off. He was filthy rich. “How is that possible?”

He hesitated for the briefest second. “It’s a family thing. The land and buildings were bought when they were still relatively cheap.”

While it was totally plausible, her gut was telling her it wasn’t the whole truth. He was entitled to his secrets since she had every intention of keeping her own.

Colleagues, nothing more. With that reminder firmly in place, she squared her shoulders. “Let’s get going. We don’t have time to waste.” Leading the way, she strode down the busy sidewalk.

…

Jo was quiet as they walked away from the more populated areas toward the commercial buildings, which were all but abandoned at this time of the evening except for the occasional security guard or homeless person. They still had a couple of hours until the vampires were expected at the location they’d been given.

The fact he was rich bothered her, and she didn’t know the half of it. Given how long he’d lived, he had real estate interests all over the world, controlled by a single company with various hubs in major centers. He employed hundreds of people to handle all his concerns, which freed him to pursue other interests.

Not to mention what he earned through contracts with the Forgotten Brotherhood. Assassination was always lucrative.

But the money was another brick in the emotional wall she was building between them. Did she think he’d look down on her because her income was less? She’d have to suck it up. He wasn’t about to allow her to shut him out. Fortunately, he was much too determined, not to mention stubborn, to be deterred.

“How does the sender of the email know where the vampires are going to be?” she asked. “How could anyone know for sure? Once, maybe. Twice? I’m not buying it.”

“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?” And one he’d been considering. “You want my take?”

“Yes.” They turned down an alleyway, leaving the traffic farther behind. A cat yowled in the distance, someone yelled, and a bottle smashed. None of which seemed to bothered Jo in the least.

“A very old vampire may be sacrificing his children.”

“Those he turned? Why?”

He skirted a discarded sneaker and kept walking. “Another excellent question.”

“I have my moments.” The sarcasm was ripe in her voice.

He stifled a smile. “If we knew the answer, we’d know why we were being sent these emails.”

“You don’t think it’s another hunter?” Looking badass with her open coat flowing behind her, she strode competently forward, totally unafraid to face whatever was before them.

“I don’t see how.”

“I thought it might be one looking for backup at the church. You know, maybe he or she had overheard something and was sending out word to ask for help.”

“Then why make it anonymous?”

She stopped and surveyed her surroundings, hands on hips. “That was the only thing that didn’t add up. Why us? Why you? Why me?”

“I have no idea.” Taking advantage of her slight distraction, he hooked his arm around her waist and dropped a kiss on her sweet lips.

Shock kept her immobile for no more than a second. Then she responded, kissing him hard in return before shoving him away with both hands.

“Not the time for this.” Her breathing was fast, and he could hear her heart rate was elevated.

“Sorry.” He gave her his best innocent look.

“I’m on to you.” She pointed a finger at him. “This is why I don’t work with men who are attracted to me. It muddies the water. A distraction could get one or both of us killed.”

A hurricane of fury rose inside him. The thought of her with another man fired his anger and bloodlust.

“Hey, you okay?” Her voice penetrated his dark and dangerous rage.

“Don’t talk about other men.” His voice was low and gritty, almost a growl.

She took a step back, hands raised. “Sure. No problem. But you’re not going to stand there and tell me you haven’t slept with a whole bunch of women because I sure as hell won’t believe you. And don’t say it’s different just because you have a dick and I don’t.”

“I would never say that.” Think it? Absolutely. Say it? Never. He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck, unsure how to deal with the unfamiliar emotion. Jealousy wasn’t something he’d ever experienced. Anything that threw him off-balance was dangerous to him and to those around him.

He owed her an apology. “Look, I’m sor—” He broke off when something skittered on the ground in the distance. Raising his head, he sniffed the air.

She immediately melted back toward the shadows, alert and scanning the area. “What is it?” she whispered.

“They’re early.” And he and Jo weren’t in position. That was on him. Thinking about her with other men had consumed him, and he had stopped paying attention. He’d have to do better. If something happened to her because of his lapse, he’d never forgive himself.

“Ambush?” She drew the short sword from the sheath at her back. He was grateful they’d stopped at her apartment long enough for her to grab her blade and the crossbow, which was hidden beneath her coat.

Concentrating, he peered around, searching for heat sources, finding them easily. “Yes, four of them.”

“Four? You sure?”

They weren’t nearly as warm as humans. “Yes.”

“How can you tell?”

“I just can.” There was no time to explain. He only hoped she’d trust him. He moved stealthily forward with her right behind him, keeping watch at his back.

“We are so going to talk more about this later.”

“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” a singsong voice called. Hard to tell if it was male or female. Likely male. Females tended to be smarter and rarely involved themselves in petty wars. They’d rather keep their heads down and enjoy life, far away from the attention of hunters.

Of course, some of the most diabolical and brutal vampires he’d ever put down had been women.

Asher raised two fingers and pointed to the right, then two to the left. Jo nodded and faced left.

It was the age-old technique of divide and conquer. And it worked as well today as it had a thousand years ago.

“What do you want?” he demanded, his voice carrying through the darkness. He and the other vampires would be able to see just fine. Only Jo was at a distinct disadvantage. There was some light from nearby streetlamps, which helped break through the growing gloom.

“World peace,” the disembodied voice shot back. “Okay, not really. I’m hungry.” The creature dropped from the top of a three-story building, landing in a crouch, teeth bared. Dressed in black leather pants and an open leather jacket, which displayed a bare chest, he could be a poster boy for bad-boy vampires, especially with the black hair and reddish eyes. Not to mention a line of silver hoops in both ears and single piercings in both nipples.

Personally, he didn’t get the appeal. Too many things to get ripped off in a fight. “To quote the legendary country singer Shania Twain, ‘that don’t impress me much.’”

Beside him, Jo gave a snort of laughter. The male scowled and slowly stood to his full height.

“You won’t be laughing for long.” He raised his hand and signaled. Three more jumped down to join him.

“Look, darling,” Asher told her. “He brought some little friends with him.” Taunting them served a purpose, one Jo would understand. Vampires were volatile creatures, many thinking themselves superior to a mere human. They wouldn’t easily read him as one of them unless they were very old or he allowed it. Right now, they thought him easy prey.

“Walk away,” the one who seemed to be in charge said as he pointed at Asher. “You’ll make a nice snack, but it’s her we want.”

“Why me?” She stood beside him, sword by her side, ready to swing at a moment’s notice.

That’s what he wanted to know. If she was the target, why draw both of them here? It didn’t make any sense.

The one in charge laughed. “Contract on Jo Radcliffe is worth a cool two million. But I’d do it for free.” He licked his lips. “You look tasty.”

“Give me a break.” There was just enough derision in her tone to make the guy frown. “I recently ashed Vlad the Impaler. You guys are nothing more than rejects from a punk rock band from the eighties.”

Asher couldn’t help but smile. His hunter was ballsy.

“Now, darling,” he reminded her. “I was there that night, too.”

“Yes, you were. And you did a wonderful job.” She said it in a cutesy voice as though placating a child, making him chuckle.

“You think this is some kind of joke?” The vampire hissed, fangs flashing. He curled his fingers to show off the long claws extending from them. “I’m going to drain her dry while you watch. Then I’m going to do the same to you.” Raising his arms in a dramatic fashion, he yelled, “Kill them!”