Shadows of Fire by Nina Pierce

has no
conscience. She’s left a wake of murder and destruction through two counties.”
He waved at the map. “How many more have to die before we stop her? Are you two
seriously going soft because it’s a female?”
    “Enough.” Reese knew
instinctively he didn’t want to hear the last bombshell Josh was going to drop,
but he had no desire to listen to Ronan’s criticism of the vampire tribunal.
Nothing was worse than taking down one of your own—even if they had been doing
the same. “What don’t we know, Josh.?”
    “Those red circles?” He paused, his
gaze locking on Reese’s. “Are all associated with Alex.”
    Silence fell over the room like a
thick blanket smothering him. No one moved. Time hung suspended.
    It was Ronan’s condescending laugh
that finally broke the spell of disbelief. “Oh, now that’s rich. The irony of
the savior being the slayer …” He stopped to catch his breath. “Seriously, who
would’ve predicted our villain was sweet innocent—”
    “Shut up, Ronan. Shut. The. Fuck.
Up.” Josh’s words came out through clenched teeth.
    Reese fought through the fog of
confusion. “Alex Flanagan? My Alex Flanagan?” He’d known his undercover
work would eventually tear them apart, he just never could not have imagined it
would take her life. His timing definitely sucked.
    “Yes, Alexandra Flanagan, you
idiot.” Ronan stormed back to the table. “Stop thinking with your dick and look
at the facts.” He pounded a finger on one of the highlighted circles. “How’s
this person related to Alex?”
    Josh slapped his hand away. “Back
off, Nason.”
    “No, he’s right.” Reese knew
there had to be another explanation, but without understanding everything, he
wouldn’t be able to get to the bottom of it. “Tell us, who they are.”
    “The university fire was a
student of hers.” Josh moved his finger around the map. “This fire killed her
hairdresser. This one was a cashier at Ricker’s Market in town.”
    “That’s a stretch. All three of
us could be suspect there,” Reese said.
    “That’s true. But the cashier was
a vampire and a regular at the tavern.”
    “Go on.” A cold knot of dread
coiled tight in Reese’s gut as he listened to Josh explain Alex’s connection to
all but a handful of the fires.
    “So that’s it? Case closed.”
Ronan straightened the cuffs of his shirt. “Once it’s reported and the tribunal
takes Alex in, do they transfer us right away to the next case or—”
    Josh’s left hook took Ronan down
before the arrogant asshole had seen the flash of movement. If the impact
hadn’t kept him on the floor, Josh’s knee in his chest and grip on his throat
was certainly doing the trick. “This is a fellow vampire and a friend . Our job is to gather solid evidence before taking it to the tribunal. You
aren’t going to breathe a fucking word of this to anyone. Got it?” His grip
tightened imperceptibly. “Nod if you understand.”
    Ronan’s features contorted into
rage as he reluctantly dipped his chin.
    “Good.” Josh ground his knee into
Ronan’s gut as he pushed himself up. “Your only job right now is to keep your
head down and stay the fuck out of our way.”
    “Whatever, asshole.” Ronan got up
from the floor and straightened his coat. “I didn’t join RISEN to take shit
from you two.”
    Reese stepped in front of him.
“Why did you join RISEN?”
    “To protect the vampire
population.” His lips pursed in a tight line. “Isn’t that why we’re all
undercover?” He elbowed his way past Reese. “I won’t report her to RISEN … yet.
But trust me, when I find the proverbial smoking gun, Alex is going to
wish like hell she hadn’t crossed paths with Ronan Nason.”
    Reese stared at Ronan’s back as
he stormed out of the cabin. “Think he’ll steer clear of her?” He turned back
to Josh’s tired expression.
    “Yeah. He’s too green to go
forward on his own.”
    “And this?” Reese swept his hand
over the map,