Page 67 of Infernal Hearts

That sweet smell of licorice and alcohol pollutes my senses again. I know he’s not bleeding anymore, rather this is his signature scent. It’s intoxicating. I close my eyes and savor it, those same intrusive thoughts coming back to haunt me.

The sound of a throat clearing behind me startles me back into reality. I spin around quickly and find him grinning at me.

“You okay?”

Heat rushes up my neck and across my cheeks. “Yeah, sorry. Just thinking.”

He raises an eyebrow and gives me his trademark sly grin. “Oh? Care to share?”

I have to fight the urge to kiss him again right here and now. “Not particularly. You ready?”

He stifles a chuckle, probably knowing full well what I was thinking about. The only time I ever blush in front of him is when he gets sexual and I’m embarrassed—but this time it was my own doing.

Motioning to the door, he coaxes me to lead the way. “After you.”

We make our way to the truck, climb in, and I drive down the dirt road away from my clinic. I shift uncomfortably as he yawns again, unsure of what to say. I know he’s tired, but I want to talk to him. About anything. But suddenly I’m nervous for some reason.

I bite my lip for a split second, spitting out the first thing that comes to mind. “So how did you sleep?”

“Like the dead. How about you?”

My insides quiver at the thought of him actually dead, but I suppress it. I’ve been doing that a lot in the last hour. “Fine. Sorry for waking you up so early.”

“It’s okay. It was for a good reason. But honestly, I give you permission to wake me up for whatever you might need, day or night.” He winks in my direction.

I keep it cool. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He gives me a knowing look but changes the subject anyway. “So, what do you think Mr. Aranda can help us with?”

I tilt my head from side to side, weighing the options. “I don’t know. Anything. Incubus history, history of this town before my dad got here, maybe he can even point us in the direction of a few more of my dad’s clients. It’s a long shot, but I think it’s worth taking.”

He nods as he takes in all of the possibilities. “Agreed. Good thinking. This is actually a really good idea.”

My muscles all relax—it’s a feeling I wish would last. “Thank you. I have those from time to time.”

“Give yourself more credit.” He pats my thigh, the touch running through my body. “You’re smarter than you think.”

I bask in his words for the rest of the drive to the ex-vampire’s house. It’s amazing how he can make me feel so good with such a simple statement. I feel appreciated, validated. I’m just glad I can keep contributing to the deal.

Despite my yearning to keep talking to him, I’m stumped at what to say. Luckily, he’s too tired to notice—he must have been up pretty late but was a good sport to sacrifice his rest to come out with me this early. I just turn on the radio, and we listen to a pop station the rest of the way—I figured he’d like that.

Levi eventually nods off. But as we pull up to the dilapidated house, something doesn’t seem right. The front door is cracked open, but Mr. Aranda is nowhere in sight. For someone who was terrified the other day that we were followed, leaving his house for anyone to enter doesn’t seem like something he would do.

I reach over and shake Levi. “Wake up. Something’s wrong.”

His eyes fly open, and he jumps, rapidly looking around. “What is it? Are you okay?”

“I am, but I’m not so sure about Mr. Aranda.”

…

Levi

A shiver runs through me as I see the open door. I immediately pull the handle next to me and climb out of the truck before turning to Jay. “Let’s go. Be careful and stay behind me.”

His tentative footsteps come up behind me, and we slowly advance forward. What’s going on here?

Hand on the door, I gently push it open. “Mr. Aranda? Are you here?”

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