Avenging Angel (The Fallen #4)(21)
Author: Cynthia Eden

So Tanner hadn’t waited for help. He’d gone behind the house. Shifted, and jumped right over those flames. He’d thought no one had seen him. He’d been so careful.

Not careful enough.

“You did a pretty good job of setting the scene. The wife and kids were hysterical, and with all the smoke, they didn’t really even know what they saw,” Jonathan said as his fingers drummed on the steering wheel. “And you sliced the perp’s throat wide open.”

Claws were good for that task.

“Then you put the guy’s knife in his hand, to make sure it looked like he’d offed himself.”

Tanner just shook his head. “That’s a real good imagination you’ve got there—”

“I saw you. I saw it all.” Jonathan’s fingers stopped tapping. “And I’ve kept your secret all this time. So cut the crap, man, and start dealing straight with me.” The engine revved. “We both know the hell that’s hiding in this town. I can help you, but you gotta start trusting me.”

Then Jonathan was gone. Racing away with a flash of his taillights and a roar of his engine.

Tanner waited until he was sure that the guy was good and gone; then he headed back for the house. He’d have to deal with his partner later, no getting around that, but for now, he had something more important waiting.

Someone.

Once inside, he strode up the stairs. “Marna!” The house was tomb quiet. Her scent hung lightly in the air.

Too lightly.

Inhaling, Tanner swore and raced up the rest of the stairs. He shouted, “Marna!” once more, but he already knew the truth.

He shouldn’t have worried so much about Jonathan getting in the house and finding Marna. Shouldn’t have worried about that at all.

His angel was gone.

CHAPTER SIX

Monsters and men liked to walk the streets of New Orleans at night. Both would look for prey—sex, blood, willing victims—and both would find it under the cover of darkness.

Marna hunched her shoulders as she stared up at the entrance to Hell. Extra bouncers were on duty tonight. Probably in response to her and Tanner’s little visit last night. She guessed the management didn’t want any more dead demons being ditched in the alley.

Slowly, Marna inched her way toward that alley. She ignored the rancid scents and the piles of garbage. The body had been removed and only a dark stain remained to mark the woman’s passing.

“Out alone tonight?”

The vampire’s voice drifted to her.

Marna didn’t stiffen, but she did hold tighter to the weapon she’d brought with her. “No. I’m not alone.” She’d planned this. Tanner would never have agreed to any blood exchange from her. She glanced over her shoulder as she carefully kept her hands hidden. “You’re here.”

Riley leaned against the alley wall, his arms crossed over his chest. “So I am.” He inhaled and frowned. “I can smell that shifter all over you.” A pause as he shook his head in what looked like confusion. “You mean to tell me that after he had you, the guy just let you walk away?”

After he had you.

Well, Tanner hadn’t exactly let her walk away. He’d been too busy running from her to pay much attention to anything.

Humans would have said he was a jerk. Marna would have agreed.

“This isn’t about him.” It never had been. Tanner wasn’t being set up for murder. She was.

Time for her to handle her own problems. No more relying on the big, bad shifter.

“Tell me what you know,” Marna told him, “then we’ll see about getting what you want.”

He laughed. “Do I look like I was turned yesterday?”

Since vamps didn’t age, she had no idea how old the guy was—or when he’d been turned.

“It’s been two hundred years.” He sauntered forward. “Long enough for me to know better than to listen to an angel twist the truth in order to get what she wants.”

Marna turned toward him but kept her hands behind her back. The pose probably made her look nervous. That was good. He’d never expect her attack if he thought she was weak.

He held up his hand. “Come with me.”

She lifted a brow. “Where?”

“You don’t expect me to dine in the garbage, now do you?” His gaze was on her throat. “Not when I’m going to be sampling some fine wine.” He shook his head. “Those two just don’t go well together.”

Her right hand slid down so that her weapon was concealed by the jeans she wore. She’d snuck into her apartment earlier. Gotten clothes. Planned her attack.

Her left hand took his. “Lead the way. You tell me what you know, and I’ll give you what you’ve got coming.” A stake to the heart. Because the weapon she concealed so carefully was a stake designed to end this vampire.

More laughter. His hand closed over hers. Warmer than she’d expected. Vamps were usually cool to the touch. The few she’d taken over the centuries had been. “What’s the rush, love? We’ve got all night.”

“No, you f**king don’t.” Tanner appeared at the mouth of the alley. His hands were loose at his sides, his legs braced apart. “Let her go.”

Her heart slammed into her ribs. She’d known he’d come after her. That was just the way he was. The cop in him, trying to save the day.

Only she didn’t need saving. From now on, Marna was determined to save herself. “Leave us alone, Tanner.”

She didn’t know who was more surprised—the shifter or the vampire.

“Well, well . . .” Riley murmured. “Guess that’s how it’s going. ”

“No, it’s not.” Tanner stalked toward them, but his eyes were just on her. “You’ve got a death wish, is that it?”

Death wouldn’t come so easily to her, but when he did, she knew she’d recognize her friend.

“I’m just making a bargain.” Her voice sounded careless. Mostly. Maybe he didn’t notice the slight tremble at the end of her words. “Now you need to get out of our way.”

The vamp’s fangs flashed. “Yes, shifter, get out of the way. The lady’s made her choice.”

And it isn’t you.

The words hung in the air.

Tanner glanced down. Marna’s palm was growing slick with sweat and the slickness made it hard for her to hold on to her weapon. If Tanner would just move . . .

Tanner cocked his head and met her gaze once more. “So you are gonna be a killer now?”