Deadly Desire (Riley Jenson Guardian 7)

"Joe said the woman who contacted the teenager had a deep, almost manly voice. The woman in the warehouse didn't."

"Ever heard of voice modulators?"

"Of course I damn well have." Hell, I'd used the horrible things. "I still don't think they're the same woman."

"Why not? Because you don't want me investigating further?"

Well, yeah. "No. And it's nothing more than a hunch."

He studied me for a moment, and there was something in his look that made me uncomfortable. Like he was trying to get inside my mind and pick it apart. Only he wasn't actually doing that. I would have felt the intrusion. Eventually, he said, "Do you often get these hunches?"

"Sometimes."

"And do they often come true?"

"Sometimes."

He smiled again. "You're not very forthcoming with information, are you?"

"You're a bounty-hunting killer who has been warned off the case. Why is it surprising that I'm not forthcoming with information?"

"I wasn't talking about the case."

"And why would I want to provide personal information?" My voice was dry. "You and I have nothing in common."

"Other than the fact we're both paid to kill, you mean?"

I crossed my arms and resisted the urge to point out that I at least was a legal killer. Being on one side or the other wasn't really his point. "Other than that, yes."

"Well, we do seem to have this odd attraction flaring."

"Kye, the full moon is only days away and we're both werewolves. Lust is natural-but I, for one, am not going to act on it."

"I wouldn't bet on that."

Neither would I, actually. "Get in the car and leave, or I'll make you."

There was nothing pleasant or nice about his sudden smile. He considered me for a moment, then raised a hand, lightly brushing his fingertips down my cheek. It felt like I was being branded by fire and, deep inside, my wolf shivered. I wasn't entirely sure whether it was fear or anticipation.

"Don't ever threaten me, Riley," he said quietly, his voice so silky soft, carrying no hint of threat and yet full of it all the same. "Because I will kill you if I have to. Nothing personal, of course. I'm just here to do my job."

I stepped away from his touch, but I could still feel the heat of it on my skin. Part of me wanted to scrub it away, the other half wanted to exalt in it.

"You have no idea what I'm capable of, Kye. Don't ever think you'll come out on top in a fight with me."

"Ah, but I have the advantage of knowing what you are. You have no idea what I truly am, and therein lies my advantage."

And with that, he turned and walked around the front of car and climbed in. The big car roared to life and, within seconds, he was gone.

Leaving me standing there wondering who was the bigger fool-him or me.

After a second, I grabbed my cell phone and called the Directorate as I walked to the car. Sal answered.

"Of course it would be you," she said tartly. "It's nearly my quitting time."

"I'd hate for you to be bored in your final few minutes, Sal," I said cheerfully. "I need you to start a search for me."

"Of course you do." In the background I heard keys tapping. "Okay, who?"