Chapter One
“No.” Vince Milano shook his head.
“Sorry, Vince, but you don’t have a choice. This woman’s supposed to be some kind of expert on Armand. The order came down from the Commissioner.”
“Is she a cop?”
“No, a civilian.”
“What does the San Diego Commissioner know about the case? He watches the local news and assumes it will be safe for a woman to ride along while I hunt this monster? Does he have any idea what this guy does to females?” Vince crossed his arms over his chest and slung his heavy black boots onto his captain’s desk.
Dave Bently narrowed his eyes at the positioning of Vince’s footwear. With a sigh, Vince put his feet back on the floor.
“Look, Vince. When your kind became known, most of the cops in the city refused to work with their fellow vampire officers. Shit, some of them had been partners for years, but the second they found out who they were riding with, everything changed. The reason you and every other vamp still have jobs is because of Kade Black and the Bureau of Vampire Affairs. Kade is the one who went to the Commissioner and asked that Ms. Davis help with the case.”
Vince knew what Kade Black, the vamp in charge of the BVA’s military, had done for his kind. What he didn’t understand was how his captain could think it was a good thing to bring in an outsider. “I’m hot on Armand’s trail. How am I supposed to babysit and track that maniac at the same time?”
“I told them that, and they assured me they were sending someone who could keep up with you.”
“Right,” Vince spat.
“Sorry, but you don’t have a choice.”
“I always have a choice,” Vince replied and headed for the door.
His captain’s next words stopped him in his tracks. “They’ll yank you from the case and put you on leave until they either fire your ass or you agree to the ride-along. Who else do you think we have who can catch Armand?”
Gripping the cold brass doorknob, Vince felt the metal start to give way under his superior strength. Easing up, he looked over his shoulder at Bently. “I’m leaving in twenty. If the chick isn’t in the car, too bad.”
Walking toward his desk, Vince unlocked his top drawer and removed the well-worn folder that had become his constant companion. He thumbed through the file of pictures that had been his waking nightmare for the past eight months. It never got easier. He was so close to catching the psycho he could taste it. A quick glance at the clock on the yellowing precinct wall told him he’d been lost in the evidence once again. Shit, the woman would show up any minute. Being a vampire wasn’t the only reason he worked nights. He preferred the solitude the dark afforded him, and riding around with some damn woman in tow wasn’t his idea of a good time.
“Detective Milano? I’m Lauren.”
Vince turned to study the red-haired beauty in front of him. Nice rack . His mind recognized her outstretched hand and the reality of the situation came into focus. BVA , he thought with a sigh at what may have been.
“Call me Vince.” He gave the woman a short nod and turned to gather his file. “Ready?” He stood and gestured to the door.
“Ooh, you’re a charmer. Lovely,” she replied.
Vince shrugged and led the way to his unmarked car. She didn’t smell right, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was. He didn’t need this headache right now. At least, the woman had enough sense to wear jeans instead of a skirt. Speaking of jeans, his were fitting a little tighter in the crotch as he felt his companion’s presence behind him.
* * * *
The fact that Milano opened her car door told Lauren more than words could. Although it was a courteous thing to do, it put her in the weaker position, something she didn’t appreciate. Not one bit. She shoved passed him and took control of the door. “I’m perfectly capable of opening a door.”
Milano took a step back and held up his hand. “Just trying to be a
“No.” Vince Milano shook his head.
“Sorry, Vince, but you don’t have a choice. This woman’s supposed to be some kind of expert on Armand. The order came down from the Commissioner.”
“Is she a cop?”
“No, a civilian.”
“What does the San Diego Commissioner know about the case? He watches the local news and assumes it will be safe for a woman to ride along while I hunt this monster? Does he have any idea what this guy does to females?” Vince crossed his arms over his chest and slung his heavy black boots onto his captain’s desk.
Dave Bently narrowed his eyes at the positioning of Vince’s footwear. With a sigh, Vince put his feet back on the floor.
“Look, Vince. When your kind became known, most of the cops in the city refused to work with their fellow vampire officers. Shit, some of them had been partners for years, but the second they found out who they were riding with, everything changed. The reason you and every other vamp still have jobs is because of Kade Black and the Bureau of Vampire Affairs. Kade is the one who went to the Commissioner and asked that Ms. Davis help with the case.”
Vince knew what Kade Black, the vamp in charge of the BVA’s military, had done for his kind. What he didn’t understand was how his captain could think it was a good thing to bring in an outsider. “I’m hot on Armand’s trail. How am I supposed to babysit and track that maniac at the same time?”
“I told them that, and they assured me they were sending someone who could keep up with you.”
“Right,” Vince spat.
“Sorry, but you don’t have a choice.”
“I always have a choice,” Vince replied and headed for the door.
His captain’s next words stopped him in his tracks. “They’ll yank you from the case and put you on leave until they either fire your ass or you agree to the ride-along. Who else do you think we have who can catch Armand?”
Gripping the cold brass doorknob, Vince felt the metal start to give way under his superior strength. Easing up, he looked over his shoulder at Bently. “I’m leaving in twenty. If the chick isn’t in the car, too bad.”
Walking toward his desk, Vince unlocked his top drawer and removed the well-worn folder that had become his constant companion. He thumbed through the file of pictures that had been his waking nightmare for the past eight months. It never got easier. He was so close to catching the psycho he could taste it. A quick glance at the clock on the yellowing precinct wall told him he’d been lost in the evidence once again. Shit, the woman would show up any minute. Being a vampire wasn’t the only reason he worked nights. He preferred the solitude the dark afforded him, and riding around with some damn woman in tow wasn’t his idea of a good time.
“Detective Milano? I’m Lauren.”
Vince turned to study the red-haired beauty in front of him. Nice rack . His mind recognized her outstretched hand and the reality of the situation came into focus. BVA , he thought with a sigh at what may have been.
“Call me Vince.” He gave the woman a short nod and turned to gather his file. “Ready?” He stood and gestured to the door.
“Ooh, you’re a charmer. Lovely,” she replied.
Vince shrugged and led the way to his unmarked car. She didn’t smell right, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was. He didn’t need this headache right now. At least, the woman had enough sense to wear jeans instead of a skirt. Speaking of jeans, his were fitting a little tighter in the crotch as he felt his companion’s presence behind him.
* * * *
The fact that Milano opened her car door told Lauren more than words could. Although it was a courteous thing to do, it put her in the weaker position, something she didn’t appreciate. Not one bit. She shoved passed him and took control of the door. “I’m perfectly capable of opening a door.”
Milano took a step back and held up his hand. “Just trying to be a
Similar Books
