Page 15 of The Mech Who Loved Me
"Well,Iwant a look at that body. It's the fifth one in two weeks. Whether the duke thinks it a diversion or not, he's granted me leave to lookintoit."
And damned if she wasn't going to do the best job shecould.
Maybe it was just a disease that afflicted blue bloods, but Ava couldn't help feeling as though there was something more to itthanthat.
After all, blue bloods didn't succumb to disease. The craving virus was far too ambitious to allow something else to kill its host. They could heal from anything short of decapitation, burning, or a mortal blow to the heart,damnit.
What could bekillingthem?
Kincaid sighed. "You're not going to let it be,areyou?"
This was the first case Malloryn had allowed her to lead. Ava tipped her chin up stubbornly. "Wouldyou?"
"It's not as though we've got any other leads at the moment—only that sighting Gemma and Charlie arelookinginto."
"And don't you find that unusual too? After plaguing us for weeks, Lord Ulbricht and his SOG suddenly vanish into London's depths, never to be seen again? They're aristocrats. There's no possibility they'd be content in hiding, without their fancy manors. They have to be up tosomething."
"They will be." He looked unconcerned. "That's Gemma and Charlie's problemrightnow."
"They tried to kill Byrnes! Theynearlykilled Ingrid. And they were working with adhampirwoman who had vampires on a leash. I think that is cause for more than a littlealarm!"
Kincaid leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "And does your outrage at the matter have to do with Ingrid, the vampires... orByrnes?"
Ava drew back abruptly, feeling like he'd slapped her. "He's myfriend."
"Friend?"
"He is." She hid behind her teacup, the saucer rattling as she jerked the cup to her lips. "It's not.... It's never been morethanthat."
A cool, scrutinizing gaze locked on her. "Maybe notforhim."
And there was the crux of the matter. Ava squeezed her eyes shut. "Can we not speakofthis?"
"Just trying to figure out where you stand on thematter."
I don't know where I stand.I thought—Ihoped...."The last few years have been a little unkind to me. You don't know what it's like to have the rug pulled out from under your feet." She'd never told any of the other Rogues what she'd been through, and Byrnes was the only one who knew her story. "The one constant in all of that was Byrnes. He was my sense of safety when I felt adrift. He was kind when I very much needed kindness. And he... he never judged me. I never felt lacking when I waswithhim."
"Why would you feellacking?"
"You might have noticed the distinct lack of suitors at my door," she said dryly. "I spend my days surrounded by dead bodies, laboratory equipment, and my orchid samples. I can practically see men's eyes glaze over when I get excited about the things that fascinate me. Who wants to hear about the latest advances to my protein solution? Or a test I've been trialing for a more accurate way to test a blue blood's stage of genesis? We have means to assess the craving virus levels in their blood, but what stage of metamorphosis are they at? With thedhampir, Zero, revealing that...." The words trickled to a halt. Damn it. She was doing it again. "You see? I'm physically incapable of holding a socially acceptableconversation."
"Well, we could discuss the weather if you wanted," he pointed out, with a slightly amused smile. "But I'll let you in on a little secret. Most men don't really give a damn about thateither."
Ava groaned, slumping her head into her hands. "You're lying if you claim you'd rather listen to me rattle on about CVlevels."
"True."
She gestured to him in despair. "And thus I have few redeeming social attributes. I am going to die a virgin, and—" Kincaid suddenly looked like he wanted to spray his mouthful of tea across the table. "Oh my goodness. I cannot believe I said that. I think the stress of the riot has gone to my head. My brain's not workinganymore."
Kincaid succumbed to a coughing fit, shoving his teacup away from him. "Jaysus." His face went red, hiseyeswild.
"Forget I said it. I'm not— I'm not going to die a virgin, I mean... I probably will, but I don't want to, and— I'm so sorry!" Ava slammed a hand over her mouth.Stop talking,youfool.
Kincaid had buried his face in his hands and his shoulders wereshaking.
Ava stared at him, physically holding the words inside her. It was possible she'd been this mortified before, though she couldn't remember a specificoccasion.
Finally he erupted into a bark of laughter, lowering his hands. "Jaysus Christ, you're going to kill me one ofthesedays."
