Hotter After Midnight (Midnight 1)

“Your kind?” Colin shrugged, a faint ripple of muscle, of menace. Then he brushed back his jacket, subtly revealing the butt of his gun. “And just what kind would that be?”

Niol laughed softly, and the sound sent a chill skating down Emily’s spine. Oh damn, but this guy was trouble. Serious trouble. His power was so strong, she could practically see the black energy waves in the air around them. Even with her shields up.

“Ah, so you like to play games too? Just like our lovely doctor?”

“Our? ” Where the hell had that come from? Her back teeth locked.

“We’re not here to play games,” Colin told him softly.

Niol’s dark stare drifted down Emily’s body.

Then Colin’s.

“Pity.” Niol pursed his lips. “I have a feeling I could have enjoyed myself with you two for a time.” He centered his attention back on her. “But if your detective doesn’t want in on the fun, then perhaps you and I could—”

“Don’t even f**king think about it,” Colin snarled, stepping forward. He’d dropped her wrist, clenched his hands into fists.

He was as big as Niol. As tall, as muscled.

As a shifter, he’d be Niol’s match in physical strength. But as much as she’d love to see the demon lord get an ass kicking, now wasn’t the time.

“He’s just messing around, Colin.” She glanced at Niol. Met that dark stare. Unlike other demons, Niol didn’t bother disguising his black eyes. Didn’t bother pretending he was anything other than what he was. A very, very dangerous demon. One that it didn’t pay to cross. Keeping her eyes on Niol, she told Colin, “He doesn’t mean it.” He’d damn well better not mean it. She’d sooner live the rest of her life sexless than be with a guy like him.

Niol was watching Colin, calculation plain on his face. “So it’s like that, is it?”

Colin jerked his head in a nod.

Niol licked his lips. “Pity,” he said again.

It was a pity that she hadn’t let Colin kick the jerk’s ass. But they were at the bar on official business. She kinda thought McNeal would frown on a fight between his detective and the bar’s owner. “Niol, we need to ask you some questions.”

“We?”

What, had she stuttered? Emily glared at him. “Yeah, we. ”

“Working for the cops now, are you? How disappointing.” He sighed. “I’d hoped you’d come work for me one day. I could always use a woman with your talents.”

Emily plastered a bright, completely false smile on her face. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got a job.” Two, actually.

“You know, love, people still talk about the way you burned out that demon. Nearly died doing it, didn’t you? But you took his power away, every last drop.”

Her eyes narrowed and her head kept throbbing. Time to stop the painful walk down memory lane. “About those questions…”

Niol’s full lips stretched into a smile, a smile that showcased his perfect, white teeth. “Let me save you some time, love. Yes, I knew Preston. He was a fairly wealthy guy who wanted to invest in my place. No, he wasn’t my kind. And, no, I didn’t kill him.”

Emily blinked. Well, the guy wasn’t playing dumb about the case. That was good. But was he telling the truth?

For an instant, she was tempted to lower her shields. Just a few seconds, that would be all she’d need…

From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the long, gleaming bar.

She’d fallen against that bar, fallen, hit the floor, screaming, clutching her head—

Emily exhaled. Bad idea. Very bad idea. She couldn’t drop her shields in this place; there were too many unknowns. She couldn’t risk a burnout in the middle of a crowd teaming with Other.

Wouldn’t be good for business.

“You say you didn’t kill him,” Colin drawled. “You got an idea who did?”

Niol shook his head. “Someone who hated him.”

“You didn’t hate him?”

Emily watched his reactions carefully. Niol appeared calm, perfectly in control. As if he got questioned about a murder every day.

“I didn’t like him,” Niol replied. “But hate? No, too strong of a word. I just…didn’t really care one way or the other.”

Yes, the guy was calm, controlled, ice cold. “Do you care that he’s dead?” Emily asked.

His expression didn’t change as he shrugged. “Now I’ve got to get another investor. It’s an inconvenience.”

An inconvenience. A man’s death was an inconvenience to him.

Colin grunted. Slanting a quick look his way, Emily noticed that a muscle was flexing along the line of Colin’s jaw.

He looked seriously pissed as he demanded, “Where were you last Friday, between eight and nine?”

“Niol?” A tall, model-thin brunette slipped behind the demon and wrapped her hands around his waist. “You made me wait,” she whispered, stretching to kiss his neck.

“Sorry, love.” He never glanced her way. “I had to play nice with the PD.” His hand lifted, covered hers. “But I’m done now.”

An obvious dismissal.

Colin pulled out a card, thrust it toward Niol. “If you happen to learn anything about the case or if you”—a deliberate pause—

“remember anything you want to share, call me.”

Niol pocketed the card. “I’ll be sure to do that…if I learn anything else.” His head inclined slightly. “As always, it’s been a pleasure, Emily.”

Right. She snorted. Why did he even bother pretending with her? Niol knew she could see right through his fake manners to the real nature of the demon within.

And that demon, he wasn’t a gentleman. He was hard, evil. Deadly.

Pity the lady clinging to his arm so tightly and glaring at her didn’t realize those important facts.

And now wasn’t the time to warn her.

Niol and his companion stepped back, and in mere seconds, they had vanished, melting into the crowd.

“What a bastard.” Colin glared into the throng of dancers, then turned his bright blue stare on her. “Think he knows more than he’s saying?”

She didn’t have to use her psychic powers on this one. “Without a doubt.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

Emily turned her attention back to the darkened booths. Was Donnelley still waiting on them?

“Was the woman a demon too?”