Demon Night

Matthew asked, “Are you sick, or are you just saying you are?”
    She gritted her teeth and leaned forward, her shoulders hunching, and Ethan pulled her onto his lap. Resisting the need to take the phone and finish this for her was about the hardest thing he’d ever done.
    “I’m just saying it.” She buried her face in the curve of his neck, the phone pressed tight to her ear. Her voice was thick. “I’m so sorry.”
    “So am I, Charlie. But I’ll tell you: I thought it was odd that the healthiest white girl I’ve ever seen, and who never missed a day of work in two years, suddenly came down with something so bad. But now I think what’s even stranger is that she lied to me for a couple of days, all the while sounding like she’s miserable—even though I’ve never known her to spin a lie that wasn’t a hell of a good time, and that didn’t have a laugh underneath of it. So I’m wondering, Charlie girl: Are you in some kind of trouble?”
    She curled in on herself. “Yes.”
    That had been more a sob than a word. A sharp pain cut through Ethan’s chest, and he tried to pull back to look at her face, but she followed the movement, kept her cheek against his throat. Her free hand lifted and made a swiping motion.
    “Where are you at, Charlie girl? Do you need me to come get you?”
    “California.” She drew in a shuddering breath; resolve suddenly strengthened her psychic scent. Her fingers wrapped around Ethan’s suspender strap, and she began rubbing at the leather. “But I’m okay. I’m with someone, and he’s helping me. I just don’t think I’ll be back anytime soon.”
    Doubt filled Old Matthew’s voice. “Charlie, if it’s keeping you away, what kind of trouble is it? Now, it’s been a while, but I know a few lawyers. And if it’s worse than that, there are a couple of guys from inside that owe me favors—”
    “It’s nothing like that.” She tipped her face back, and Ethan was finally able to meet her eyes. Her dark lashes were moist, but a smile tilted the corners of them. “I was turned into a vampire.”
    Despite the ache in his chest, Ethan grinned and shook his head. But there was no humor in Old Matthew’s reply.
    “Charlie girl, that’s what I expect from you. And if I hadn’t thrown some clown out of here yesterday after he came in looking for you, asking about your sister, saying that your apartment had been cleaned out and that you were in danger from bloodsuckers and demons, I might have been laughing now.”

CHAPTER 22
    “So it was Mark Brandt,” Lilith said.
    Though the woman’s voice was slightly muffled over the phone, this time Charlie was close enough to hear her responses. Ethan was standing now, and had set her up on the desk in front of him—but hadn’t quite relinquished his hold on her. His large hand rested on her hip, his body a mountain of heat in front of her.
    “By Cole’s description, I reckon it must have been,” Ethan said, and Charlie nodded her agreement when he met her eyes. “And Charlie had the same impression.”
    Lilith made a growling noise before she said, “I hate this unexpected shit. Rael didn’t know much about the son—just the father. And he had the same impression that you got from the bloodsucker up in Seattle: he was looking to expose all of us, but not wanting to venture further without proof.”
    “It may be why he’s trying to contact Jane, then—hoping she’ll provide scientific evidence that can be presented to the media. And as she’s already inside, has access to vampire blood, she’d be the right person to approach.”
    “Through the son? That’s a good possibility—that’s what I would do.” Lilith sighed. “All right, Drifter. Hugh and I are looking over those Scrolls tonight. You’ll be in Seattle tomorrow, and then back in the evening?”
    “Yes’m.”
    “We’ll meet up at ten. It’d be real fucking nice if the goddamn golden boy Michael would get his ass back here.”
    Ethan’s expression turned grave as his gaze roamed Charlie’s face. “I’ve got an awful pressing reason to speak with him, as well.”
    His phone vanished a moment later, but he was still looking down at her, his eyes the color of honey caught in the sunlight. Slowly, he flattened his palms on the desk beside her thighs and lowered his head until his mouth was even with hers.
    “You got anything else you need to do tonight, Miss Charlie?”
    Her heart pounded. “No.”
    “Then I’m about to hand you a