Page 45 of Soul Sucker

Ella jumped as her cell phone beeped, then she took it out of her purse. A new text message flashed up.

“It’s from Laney.”

He moved toward her, his hand extended. “Don’t?—”

But she couldn’t help but read it. “Sorry, too busy to chat. I’m dancing with the Siren. X”

She looked up at Vadim. “What the fuck? Who the hell is the Siren?”

He took the phone and reread the text. “I assume he’s our killer. Nice of him to leave his name.”

Footsteps sounded outside the apartment, and someone knocked on the door. Vadim patted her shoulder. “I’ll go and see if that’s the police.”

She nodded and remained where she was. Nothing else in the apartment appeared to have been affected. She leaned in to touch her best friend’s outstretched hand, which was still warm. A frisson of Otherworld power zapped across to her like an electric shock. But there was nothing left of Laney. Ella didn’t mind the pain. She deserved it for not even thinking of warning her friend to be on the lookout for a killer.

“I’ll get him for you, Laney. I’ll get the bastard if it’s the last sane thing I ever do.”

Vadim returned accompanied by two police officers and a couple of medics. He came over, then helped her stand up.

“Is there anything else you need to do here, Ms. Walsh?”

She glared at him. “I’m not leaving, if that’s what you mean.”

“Yes, you are.” He lowered his voice until only she could hear him. “You are in shock, and far too personally involved in this to help anyone.”

“I am perfectly in control of myself. I won’t leave unless you knock me out and carry me.”

His gaze narrowed. “That could be arranged. If there is nothing else you can add professionally, will you at least wait on the sidelines until Feehan gets here?”

“So he can kick me out?”

“He’s the boss. He can do whatever he likes.”

“Not if I don’t work for the SBLE anymore.”

He went still. “You’re quitting?”

“I want to catch this sick bastard and when I do catch him, I want to kill him slowly and painfully. The SBLE won’t let me.”

“So you’ll quit on Laney?”

“Of course not. Didn’t you hear what I said?”

He gripped her shoulder. “Ella, the best way to get this man is to work within the SBLE.”

“You’re just saying that because you need to solve this case.”

He scowled. “That’s not the only reason. What if I promised you that if we catch this guy I’ll make sure his punishment is as slow and painful as you could want?”

“How could you do that?”

“I have…contacts in Otherworld who could make it happen.”

She stared into his eyes and for a second he allowed her to feel the complex power he hid so well behind his shields.

“I swear on my mother’s grave, Ella. You will get your vengeance.”

She sank down onto a chair by the wall. “Okay. But don’t fuck this up.”

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