Eternal Flame (Night Watch 3)

“Miss! Miss, are you okay?”

What the hell? Did it look like she was okay? “Get me … to a hospital.” Okay, so she was a selfish bitch. She needed treatment, but she did manage to say, “And by the way …”

Surprisingly strong arms closed around her.

Jana licked her lips. “I … killed a man tonight.”

The cop’s eyes flashed demon black. “No, honey, what you did was put down a rabid dog.” Those black eyes burned down at her.

They were the last sight Jana saw.

He’d answered a million damn questions, and he was done. “Handle it,” Zane ordered Jude and turned away. The scent of Jana’s blood was driving him crazy. She shouldn’t have left when she was hurt. She should have let him take care of her.

He rushed down the alley, following that scent. The farther he went, the more blood he smelled. A fist squeezed his gut. How badly had she been hurt? Jana?

No answer. He couldn’t feel her at all anymore.

Fear whispered through him.

“She’s gone.”

His head turned to the right when he heard the soft voice. A cop stepped forward, her hair tumbling over her shoulders.

“Where is she?” Obviously, they were talking about the same she.

“Hospital. She passed out, and I loaded her into an ambulance.” The cop’s brows rose. “'Course, that was after she confessed to killing a man.”

Hell. He didn’t blink. He knew the cop. Had known Paula Channing for years. After all, he’d made a point of knowing all the demons on the force. But was Paula a demon first and a cop second? Or was she …?

He cleared his throat. “Obviously, she was confused. I just told Officer Hill that the suspect poured gasoline on himself and ignited—”

“I’m guessing a container with trace amounts of gasoline will magically appear in the evidence room later, huh?”

He shrugged.

“Good. That will make things easier.” She gave him a smile. A smile that died too fast. “I saw what happened to Tony. That bastard needed to be put down.” He had been.

“Your girl’s at Mercy General, with Tony.” Paula turned away and headed back into the shadows. “And don’t worry,” she tossed over her shoulder, “I’ve already forgotten what Jana said to me.”

When Jana opened her eyes, her throat hurt. Her jaw ached. And a man with midnight-black hair, a too fancy suit, and dark eyes stared down at her.

“Hello, Ms. Carter.” His voice was Southern, rolling slightly and soft. “My name is Jason Pak. I’m one of the … managers … of Night Watch.”

She lifted her hand and touched her neck. No, not her neck, bandages.

“You needed some stitches. Nothing too major,” he murmured, easing a bit away from the bed. A hospital bed. “But the doctors didn’t want to take any chances.”

Great. She looked down and found herself in one of those really annoying paper hospital gowns. Jana tugged the IV out of her arm and shoved up to a sitting position. Then she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Lucky for her, when her feet touched the floor, her knees didn’t buckle.

But, she was pretty sure Pak got a glimpse of her ass.

“You don’t need to run,” he told her. “The cops aren’t looking for you.”

Oh, right. She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Since I confessed to killing Davey, they probably are.”

He smiled. “Self-defense.”

True. She had the claw marks to prove it.

“But they aren’t after you for Davey’s death … or for any of the other arsons that were linked to you. Ah, or to your aliases.”

She blinked at him. “Want to run that by me again?” “Actually, I have a job I’d like to offer you, Ms. Carter.” He crossed his arms over his chest and gave her what really looked like an alligator’s grin. “So why don’t you get back in bed? I think you might like what I have to say.”

She didn’t move. “I’m not going to be your assassin.” Been there, done that.

“Is that what you think Zane is? My assassin?”

Jana swallowed. She wasn’t touching that, and right then, thinking about Zane hurt. I love you. She blinked, real fast. “Look, I’ve heard this sales pitch before.”

“Night Watch isn’t like Perseus.”

No.

“We won’t destroy your life.” He paused. “But with us, you can finally have a life.” Tempting bastard.

“And wouldn’t you like that? Wouldn’t you like a chance to put down some roots? To stop looking over your shoulder and just settle down?”

The hospital door flew open. Zane stood in the doorway. His face was stained with soot, and his chest heaved.

Zane.

“I thought so,” Pak murmured and eased toward the door. “We’ll talk again soon, my dear. Very, very soon. Your talents would be such an asset to our organization.”

“Beat it, Pak.” Zane stalked toward her.

Pak smiled that gator grin and exited the room, closing the door softly behind himself.

“You ran from me.” Zane seemed to bite off the words.

She nodded. Scared. She was still scared right then. Nothing, no one, had ever mattered to her as much as he did. I love you.

He couldn’t love her. Not really. “You shouldn’t,” she whispered, the words slipping out.

Zane frowned at her. “Shouldn’t what?” Then his eyes fell to her throat. “Oh, f**k, baby…” His fingers reached for her.

She stepped back, ramming into the bed. “When you touch me,” she told him starkly, truthfully, “I can’t think of anything but you.”

His face softened. “That’s okay. No, that’s real good.”

But it wasn’t. “I’m not …” She cleared her throat and tried again. Talking was so hard when his lips were close and she could all but taste him. “I’m not the kind of woman you should love.”

He touched her. His fingers slid down her cheek. Feathered over the bandages on her throat. “You’re the only woman I should love.”

He didn’t understand. “Zane, I like the fire.” That should be wrong. Liking the flames. The fury. The power. She’d used that fire, so many times. Would use it again. “I’m not some sweet, confused girl. I’ve attacked people. I’ve hurt them,

I’ve—”

“You ever hurt an innocent man or woman?” Jana shook her head.