Page 13 of Marked
“So why the fuck would your boss risk the entire supe world to send you after her?” I ask.
“Fuck ... you ...”
“Wrong answer.” I stomp again. Ribs break with echoing snaps, and his shrieks only make the sound sweeter. “Talk, asshole.”
“Fuck! Okay!” I wait, trigger finger itching to put the next point of lead between his fucking eyes. “Boss ... needs her. Just ... supposed to ... bring her ... in ...”
I lean down. “In a fucking body bag?”
His head shakes as more sweat pops out on his skin. “Whatever ... was needed ...”
Gold light illuminates his body and all the blood pouring from him. “Where is he?” I ask.
“Jail.”
“His office?” Another moan is my only answer. I shoot him in the hand. His scream echoes around us. Along with the distant wail of sirens. “Office?” I prompt as the sound grows nearer.
His whole body trembles, and his teeth seem locked together. “Don’t know ...”
I level the gun back up at his head.
Too much white rims his eyes as he locks on the motion. Or maybe it’s the barrel of my 9. “No. Please. I don’t know. I swear,” he pleads.
My smile is all fang. “Oh, I know.” And I squeeze the trigger.
***
The streets are empty, and I’ve circled the fucking block four fucking times. I peer through the front windshield of the Mercedes. The city prior is bright in the distance. More with the rising sun than any signs of life. My skin tingles and burns. Dawn is close, but Lilah is still missing. “Come on, gods-dammit...”
A hunched figure huddles inside a bus station at the end of the street, head in hands. I slow down and pull up alongside it and let the window drop down as those chestnut fucking waves peek from beneath her ball cap. “Get in the car.”
Lilah jumps like someone stuck her with a cattle prod. Her icy eyes narrow on me. “Oh my fucking god. Itwasyou.” She swears in a long stream. “Just ... just go away.”
“Can’t do that. Get in the fucking car.”
“Why would I get in the car with you?” She stands and walks a pace closer before stopping. “You’re a vampire. And a murderer.” Her words are shockingly soft. Quiet.
No sense denying either. But I don’t point out that I saved her ass. Much. “Athank youis more than sufficient.”
“Thank you? You want me to say thank you?” I wait as her voice rises. “You know what? Thank you. Thank you for making me jobless, penniless ... and now lifeless.”
“I’m pretty sure you made that last part up.”
“The club was my home. It’s all I had.” She starts to pace, agitation lancing through her. “And now Vic will—” She cuts herself off and looks at me.
Her cold gaze fills with a world of malice. “Just go away.” She grabs her bag and starts walking up the street. The sun continues to rise, feeding the restless feeling coursing through my body.
Stubborn ass fucking—
I drive up beside her, keeping pace. “Damn it, Lilah. Get in,” I call.
She stiffens, but doesn’t slow. “I said go away.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
Her head turns and those vibrant eyes pierce me in the chest. My length hardens to a point of pain.
Son of a—
