Page 19 of Soul Sucker

He sat back. “And that’s why I don’t like working with empaths.”

Ella refused to look away. “I don’t follow.”

“Because you make everything about emotions.”

“It doesn’t bother you that someone had their mind stripped bare?”

“Empaths do it to other people all the time.” He shrugged. “Why is it so much worse when it happens to one of their own?”

Ella tore her gaze away from Vadim’s and stared at Feehan. “Are you okay with him talking to me like that?”

Feehan held his hands wide, and Ella got the impression that he was enjoying himself. “Mr. Morosov is only questioning your interpretation of the evidence.”

“Mr. Morosov can go fuck himself.” She stood up. “I guess you don’t need me then, boss. I’ll leave you in our guest’s capable hands.” She stalked toward the door.

“So you’re not interested in finding out who killed the empath?”

Ella slowly turned around to look at the irritating Russian. “I’m very interested, but I’m not going to allow a complete stranger to walk in here and start casting doubts on my ability to do my job just because he has some hang-up about empaths.”

“I’ll do my job, Ms. Walsh. Don’t you worry about that.”

“And I’ll do mine if you give me a chance.”

“Vadim,” the Fae spoke quietly. “I’ve run Ms. Walsh’s evidence through my Fae-Web. It appears her suppositions are correct, and match the patterns we have seen in our previous encounters with this serial killer.”

She leaned back against the door and smiled at the Fae. “Great. What do you think, Liz?”

“I agree with Alexei,” Liz said promptly. “I would also suggest that having two of us with Fae-Web abilities on this team allows for a great deal of balanceandimpartiality.” She glanced at Ella. “And I would also like to say that Ella is the most talented empath I have ever worked with. If you don’t wish to work with her, Mr. Morosov, I’ll step back from this investigation as well.”

Feehan stood up and walked toward Ella who suddenly wished looks really could kill. She’d like nothing better than to see his cold lifeless body laid out on the tan coffee-stained carpet, preferably just as a hungry shapeshifter came by…

“Ella, I don’t believe Mr. Morosov was suggesting you weren’t capable of doing your job.”

“Actually, he was.”

Vadim gave a cool nod. “I was, but it doesn’t mean that I’m not prepared to work with you.”

She brought her hand to her heart. “Oh, gosh, that makes me feel so special.”

Feehan reached behind Ella and slammed the door shut. “You are going to work with each other because neither of you wants another empath to have her brains sucked out. I don’t care if you hate each other. On this team and during this investigation you will behave like professionals. Do I make myself clear?”

Ella noticed that Alexei was glaring at Vadim and that her nemesis was glaring right back. Were they able to communicate telepathically? What would that make Vadim Morosov? Part Fae? That might explain his good looks. Fae were known to be beautifulandtreacherous.

Vadim rose slowly to his feet and looked at Feehan. “I’d like to apologize to Ms. Walsh. I’m sure we will be able to work together perfectly.”

“Okay, but I’m not apologizing to him.”

“Ella…” Feehan said.

“I get it. Play nice. Now can we get on with this, please?”

* * *

As he sat down,Vadim flicked a side-glance at Alexei. “Satisfied?”

“I’m saving your ass,here,Vadim.If you can’t get along with their precious empath,you’ll be on the next flight home trying to explain yourself to our boss.Suck it up.”

Unfortunately, Alexei was right on all counts, but it didn’t mean Vadim had to like it. The sweet-faced little empath had a temper and an attitude to match. If he wasn’t so terrified that she’d go nuts on him like Natasha, he might be looking forward to the battle of wills ahead.

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