“Humans die every day,” Niol said. “Not really my problem.”
“This is your problem. The killer brought Cara into his game, and his damn accomplice was in your bar, right in your face and—”
The door to Niol’s office flew open.
Todd jerked his head toward the entrance, automatically reaching for his gun.
“What the hell—Cara?” She stood in the doorway, her chest rising and falling quickly, her long hair wet. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
Her eyes were on Niol. Only Niol, and she asked starkly, “What did you do?”
The demon stared back at her.
Todd realized that his lady was trembling. He was by her side in an instant, catching her arms and pulling her against him. Damn but her skin was cold. “Cara?”
She looked up at him, and her eyes were pitch black. Her lips tried to curve into a smile, but the sight was so weak that he felt a hard clench in his gut. “Baby, what’s going on?”
She blinked once, twice. “I-I need to talk to Niol. Please, Todd, let me talk to him for just a moment. Alone.”
The clenching in his gut turned in to a hard kick. “Where are the patrols I put on you?” Because, yeah, the lady was strong, but she wasn’t invincible.
And he didn’t want to take any chances with her life.
“They’re in the club. They brought me here.” Her skin was smooth. No makeup. No jewelry. She wore jeans, a pair of high, strappy sandals, and a light blue shirt. She looked so casual, so very perfect.
And a bit afraid.
No, a lot afraid.
What did you do? Her question rang in his ears. He wanted to stay there with her. His mouth opened as he began to demand that she tell him exactly what in the hell was happening.
“Todd, please, this isn’t about the Bondage Killer, okay? Just—just trust me a moment and let me talk to Niol.”
Trust. So simple to ask for, so hard to give.
He leaned forward. Kissed her chilled lips. He wanted to keep kissing her, until the heat and warmth flowed back into her.
Something had spooked her, and he wanted to find out exactly what had put the fear into his lover’s eyes.
He raised his head. Gazed into her turbulent gaze. “I’ll be on the other side of the door.”
A soft sigh slipped past her lips. “Thank you.”
He brought her hands to his lips. Kissed the palms. Too cold. His lady wasn’t cold. She was fire. Passion.
Not ice.
“You’re gonna tell me what’s going on. You’re gonna tell me everything.” He didn’t want any secrets between them, not ever again.
A slow nod.
“Cara…” A hard edge cut through Niol’s voice. “Some things the human doesn’t need to know.”
“And there are some things that he does.” Her voice was fierce. “Wait for me, Todd. I-I’ll be right out.”
Another kiss. One from her this time as she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her mouth against his. Her br**sts brushed against his chest, the soft weight of her body an intimate caress.
Desire reared its head— as it always did when she was near. The urge to pull her against him, tighter, harder, flared through him.
But now wasn’t the time.
Soon.
She pulled away, and though he wanted to hold her fast, he stepped back. Cast one last look at Niol, then stalked out the door.
Cara’s past wasn’t going to stop him from wanting her.
And it wasn’t going to stop him from trusting her.
Now, if she would just start trusting him a little more.
The door closed with a quiet squeak. Cara’s heart pounded so hard her body seemed to shake and the fierce drumming echoed in her ears.
“What’s got the fear in you, love?”
Love. He used that endearment with everyone, but with her sister, well, she’d thought he actually meant it then.
“I have to ask you a question, Niol, and I really, really need you to give me a straight answer.”
“You and your cop—always asking questions—”
“Niol, damn it, I’m serious! I need the truth!”
He stilled. “Have I ever given you anything else?”
She didn’t respond to that. Instead, she got to the question that was ripping her apart. “Did you kill Lance?”
No change of expression. He was far too good at deceit for that. “Why are you asking me this now, Cara? Haven’t you known the answer to this question for years?”
Had she? “I thought it was you,” she admitted as her hands balled into fists. “I didn’t say a word all this time because I thought it was you.”
There was a crack in his expression. The barest hint of worry that appeared in his eyes. He rose from his chair. Crossed slowly to her side. “Cara? Love, why are you so scared?”
Niol—he’d always been able to read her so well.
Because she was scared right then, f**king terrified.
Todd fought the urge to shove his ear against the wooden door and listen for all he was worth. His partner’s shifter senses sure would have come in handy right then and—
From the corner of his eyes, he caught sight of a familiar figure.
Todd spun around. His gaze raked the crowd There. Striding away from the bar. Black hair. Cocky-as-hell walk as he sauntered toward the back exit.
Cameron.
Oh, no, the guy wasn’t getting away from him that easily.
Now that he knew about the guy’s history, he had a few more questions for the incubus.
Jaw locked, Todd headed after him.
“I’ve got to know,” Cara said, shaking her head. “Tell me, did you kill Lance?”
Niol’s hand lifted and pressed against her cheek. “Who’ve you been talking to, love?”
“Cameron.” The name seemed torn from her. “He found the body. Said he caught my scent on him and—”
“Cameron? ”
She ignored his surprise, her words coming faster and faster as she told him, “It doesn’t make sense to me. I mean, why would Cameron have gone to Lance’s place? He barely knew the guy.” But Cameron had always been protective of her.
Too protective at times.
He’d said that he knew what she had planned—but, damn it, why go to Lance’s apartment? If he knew that she was seeking vengeance, then why hadn’t he just confronted her instead of going after Lance himself? Cara swallowed back the pain and demanded, “Did you kill my sister’s lover, or did Cameron?”
“When did you see Cameron?” Fierce, growling.