Urban Fantasy Collection - Vampires by Adrian Phoenix Page A

nails dug into her palms.
    â€œI’m waiting for DNA confirmation,” she said, keeping her voice level.
    â€œEven if he is here and you’re put in charge, I wouldn’t give a flying fuck,” LaRousse said. “That prick ”—he stabbed a finger in Dante’s direction—“assaulted one of my officers.”
    Still holding Heather’s gaze, LaRousse called, “Davis, cuff that piece of street trash and hand him over to the uniforms downstairs.”
    â€œWe’re not finished,” Heather said, voice low, and turned around.
    Davis approached Dante cautiously, handcuffs held loose in one hand. “Take it easy,” he murmured, a man gentling a growling dog. “Don’t have to be hard. We can do this easy.”
    Dante’s wary face and coiled body spelled hard in a big way.
    Look, we don’t have to do this the hard way.
    It’s the only way I know.
    â€œWait. Back off,” Heather said. “ I’ll cuff him.”
    Hands lifted in a gesture of surrender, his gaze still locked on Dante, Davis said, “Fine. He’s all yours.”
    Well aware that LaRousse watched her every move, Heather took the handcuffs from Davis’s outstretched hand and crossed the carpeted floor. Dante watched her, expression guarded, hands clenched at his sides.
    â€œWhat’d you do?” Heather murmured as she stopped in front of him. “Stand LaRousse up at the prom? What a hard-ass.”
    A smile quirked up the corners of Dante’s mouth. His hands unclenched, relaxed. But his gloved fingers curled in slightly, on the verge of closing into fists again.
    Heather realized in that moment that it had been need she’d seen on Dante’s face as he’d looked at Gina’s body, need mingled with the shock and disbelief.
    The room reeked of blood, the bed drenched in it. He believed he was a vampire…. Had it been a vampire’s need she’d seen? Or something darker yet?
    â€œJust relax, okay?” Heather said. “Trust me. I’ll get this all straightened out.”
    Sweat trickled along Dante’s temple and his jaw was clenched. Migraine? Annie had often looked the same just before a headache.
    â€œI’ve never trusted a cop,” Dante said, voice husky.
    â€œI’m not asking you to trust a cop,” Heather said. “I’m asking you to trust me .”
    Dante looked at her for a long moment. Sudden dizziness swirled through Heather, spinning from her head to the base of her spine. Just as panic touched her, the sensation vanished.
    Without another word, Dante tugged off his gloves, tossing them into the easy chair. Then he turned around, hands behind his back.

8
The Unmaker
    W ITH SHARP METALLIC CLICKS , the cuffs ratcheted shut around Dante’s wrists. Old demons he couldn’t even name awakened. Hot, arid whispers seared his thoughts. Break the cuffs. Snuff them. All of them. You’ll be out the window long before their blood finishes splashing the floor. Wantitneeditdoitwantitneed—
    Muscles knotted, Dante bowed his head, struggling not to listen.
    Beneath the thick smell of Gina’s blood, he caught a whiff of gasoline and charred flesh. Heard the crackle of flames. But not here. Another time. Another place. He shuddered. Pain unfurled. His vision blurred.
    â€œHey,” Wallace said. “Breathe. Just breathe. C’mon, in. Out. In.”
    Listening to the smooth, calming tone of Wallace’s lowered voice, Dante reached for Lucien, and touched his waiting mind through their link.
    < Gina’s dead. Bail me out after the others wake. >
    â€œBreathe, Dante. Do you have any medication?”
    < Bail you out…? Child, why allow yourself to be arrested? >
    < Wantitneeditdoitwantitneeditwantitburnit— > escaped before he could stop it.
    < Shhhhh… >
    Cool light suddenly bathed Dante’s mind, icing his pain and silencing the voices. He jumped when Wallace