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“I understand,” he said with a laugh. “Neither of us encounters many people with good intentions in our lines of work. So, tell me about this vamp you accidentally found.”
Remembering the vamp’s face was enough to calm my libido for the time being. “The moment I saw him I recognized him as one of the vampires who escaped the night my mother was killed. Obviously, I was supposed to find him and follow up on the lead he gave me.”
“What did he say exactly?”
“He said the one responsible for my mother’s death hung out at the club, Dark Web. He said I’d know them when I saw them. I assumed that’s because he was talking about the vamp with the cross burned into her face.” I paused and wished once more that I could drink alcohol. Well, I could, but it wouldn’t taste good and it wouldn’t have any effect. “While I was recovering from the attack and learning to control what I’d become, I fantasized about getting revenge. On nights that I considered staying up to meet the sunrise, those thoughts kept me going.”
“I can understand that,” he said softly.
“I was overeager and walked into another trap.” I sighed. “Let me get you some more wine.”
Before Hugh could object I stood up and took his empty glass. When I get frustrated, I sometimes find it difficult to be still. I had never been one to ask for help, but working alone these past seven years was not easy. Maybe Hugh could help me. It was obvious that I wasn’t getting anywhere on my own.
I took a deep breath and walked back into the living room. Breathing is no longer a necessity for me, but it helps me think. At first it was frightening to realize I wasn’t breathing. Now, I hardly notice unless I use breathing to calm my nerves.
“Here you go,” I said, offering him the glass.
“Thank you. Do you believe the woman who hired you was in on it too?”
I shrugged as I sat back across from him. “The vampire matched her exact description, right down to his tattoos, so yeah.”
“How did you get the information out of him?”
Without hesitation I answered, “I tied him up and burned him with silver. Once I was finished with him, I staked him and cut off his head. Not very original, but it’s effective.”
Hugh took another sip of wine and seemed to be deep in thought for a moment. “Maybe those responsible for your mother’s death didn’t disappear. Maybe they’re using spells and charms to stay hidden, just like you. One of them could be a witch, or they could have hired one.”
“The thought has occurred to me, but I have no idea how to counter whatever they’re doing. Mostly because I’m not sure what they’re doing.”
His smile was both charming and sexy. “This is why you need me. Whoever these people are, they probably aren’t hiding from me. No matter how powerful or smart they are, no one can plan for every possibility.”
“You seem confident.”
“I am good at what I do, and I do know a little something about magical loopholes. One of my specialties is finding ways out of magical contracts. Most practitioners have no idea how important wording is.”
Well, that was impressive. “That’s an unusual specialty for a P.I., isn’t it?”
“Private investigators who work with the paranormal community need many talents.”
“Go for it, knock yourself out.”
I think my laughter surprised us both.
“I am so tired of searching. It will be a relief to let someone else take the reins for a while.”
He put down his glass and gave me a slow, side-of-the-mouth grin. “I didn’t expect someone like you to give up control so easily.”
“Someone like me?” I said challengingly.
He leaned forward with his forearms against his knees. I couldn’t help but wonder how much of his sculpted thighs would be showing if I didn’t use beach towels. I know, it’s weird, but what was I supposed to do with them now that I couldn’t go to the beach? Plus, I liked the bright colors, like the blue one he was wearing.
“An independent badass woman.” His smirk was playful and the look in his eyes returned my challenge.
“Good answer. Besides, if you really are my guardian and I can’t trust you, who could I ever trust?”
“Good answer,” he teased. “We all need to take a step back sometimes.”
The more he talked the more I found myself watching his mouth.
“I haven’t depended on anyone but myself in a long time.” I leaned forward then too as I listened to his heart beating faster and faster. “To be honest, there are a lot of things I haven’t done in a long time.”
He rose slowly and as he dropped his towel said, “Anything I can help with?”
If anyone else had made such a blatant overture, I probably would have laughed. But I wanted him. It’s not as if I meet a hot gargoyle with more cock than a naval warship every day.
Lightning cracked like a whip outside my window and just like that the lights went out.