Page 35 of Shadow Hunter

When he finally reached the man’s kidneys, he used the scalpel to extract one. The organ was already cold. Carefully, he slid the scalpel through the spongy tissue.

A loud hiss filled the room. Something vile poured from the kidney, and heat like liquid fire washed over his hand. He ripped the glove off just in time for the greenish liquid to eat through the latex like acid as a putrid smell hit his nose. Bile burned at the back of his throat. Drawn by the noise and the stink, Tiffany came running over from the window.

The damn mess was like a sixth-grade science fair project gone wrong, one of those spewing volcanoes every kid built at least once. He hardly noticed Tiffany running off and rummaging in the fridge. A second later, white powder clouded the air as she dumped an entire box of baking soda on top of the acid.

“What the hell was that?” she demanded.

Coughing from the soda cloud, he tossed his gloves in the kitchen garbage can, chuckling. “Overkill on the baking soda much?”

She frowned. “For all you know that could have exploded and I saved your sorry ass. Now, what the hell happened?”

He dusted baking soda from his clothing, not that it did much good with all the blood already there. “There’s something wrong with his kidney fluids.”

“‘Ya think?” She stared at the rest of the green acid oozing from the dead man’s kidney.

A smile crossed his face. He had to give her credit. Even though he knew she was probably fighting not to hurl, she was standing there, helping him like a champ.

Though he’d always admired her bravery, hadn’t he?

She wrinkled her nose. “That’s just disgusting. Whatisthat? Maybe you should check the other organs, too.”

Putting on a new pair of gloves, he held the man’s heart carefully, preparing to jab it with the scalpel. But just as he got ready to slice, the corpse lurched.

Shit!

Damon jumped back as the now newly turned vampire sat upright, hissing, and reaching for Damon’s neck. How the hell had the thing changed so quickly? Before he could respond, Tiffany plunged her stake deep into the monster’s exposed heart, reacting instantly. One high-pitched screech pierced his ears before the vampire exploded like the blood sack it was.

Blood splashed onto his face and throughout his kitchen, leaving them both drenched once more.

He looked at Tiffany, who smiled despite all the blood she was covered in. “I told you I could hold my own. That’s two bloodsuckers I’ve staked tonight.”

He snorted. “Don’t get cocky, Shortcake.” Damon narrowed his stare, pointing to the stairs. “You can use the shower upstairs. Toss your clothes over the balcony and I’ll throw them in the washer.”

Pulling a particularly stringy piece of flesh from her shoulder, Tiffany grimaced. “You don’t need to ask me twice.”

Stake still in hand, she trudged up the stairs. A minute later a large pile of bloody clothes flew over the balcony rail and landed on his hardwood floor with a splat. He quickly threw them in the washer, trying not to think about how deliciously naked she was, about the hot shower water running over the curves of her body. He pushed the thoughts aside.

Down, boy. Focus.

With any luck, he’d at least be able to get most of the blood out of their clothes. He was an old pro at that. He glanced downat his own threads. He was covered in blood and dirt, but there was no point in changing before he finished cleaning up.

He reached under his kitchen sink and removed a mop and bucket, a sponge and a gallon of bleach. It was times like these when he wished he wasn’t too paranoid to employ a maid.

Not that your average housecleaner could handle a kitchen resembling a horror movie.

He sighed, grabbing the mop and getting to work.

All the while trying to convince himself that shehadn’tmeant to tempt him with how quickly she’d stripped out of her clothes.

What if I don’t want you to be gentlemanly?

Her questions echoed inside his skull.

Answered by the darkest part of his soul.

Believe me, Shortcake, I don’t want to be.

8

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