Asher lunged at Kevin the asshole, who wisely went back into his apartment without another word.
“The killer was here?” Asher’s soft hands stroked my fur, feeling my lungs lift my torso up and back down with every exhale.
I wanted to say something to him, anything, to let him know that the killer was probably still close by, and that I was okay, just paralyzed. But I couldn’t.
“I’m going to get the meds out of you, all right? It’s probably going to hurt, since I’m going to use your body’s own metabolism to do it.” His voice was laced with concern.
His hands moved over my fur, and then I felt the current in the air shift. My animal senses were sensitive to everything around me.
My blood felt like it was burning, but I was stuck, unmoving, as what felt like lava moved through my veins.
What seemed like hours later, I began to feel like myself again. I started moving my paws, and then I knew I was able to change back into my human self again. The shift happened a bit slower than usual, but none of the complications I had before of being stuck in one form.
“Nice rack, Echo,” Kevin exclaimed from his cracked door, and I felt my cheeks flame.
Suddenly I heard a yelp and then “Fuck!” as his door slammed into his nose that was peeking out, hopefully breaking it. Asher was staring at the door, a vicious gleam in his eye.
Fuck Kevin. He deserved it.
Asher’s strong arms scooped me up and carried me back into my apartment. He laid my body down on my couch and covered me up with one of my throw blankets. I watched as he looked around my small kitchen for a glass. I tried telling him where they were, but my voice was so hoarse that it barely came out louder than a whisper.
“What happened?” He handed me some water, and I guzzled the cold liquid, hoping it would help with my voice.
“I heard a knock. Thought it was you, but then had the wind knocked out of me by someone concealed in head-to-toe gear. I couldn’t see if it was a man or a woman, but if it was a woman, she is strong as shit for knocking me down. I felt a pinch in my neck then the drugs started spreading. I changed into a lion to fight back. The bigger body gave me a little longer, because it took longer for the drugs to take effect, but whoever it was ran off, and I got stuck in the hall until you got here.”
The killer had been here and had tried to take me out. Probably because I was close to finding them.
“Did you break Kevin’s nose?” I looked up at his face and saw a man in a rage. Asher had been so happy and carefree since I’d met him, but now that man was missing. His jaw was locked tight, and his body tense.
“I should have kicked his ass the good old-fashioned way.” His voice was harsh, and I had no doubt that he was still very much debating on storming over to Kevin’s door and doing as he wished.
My hand reached out and touched the hardness in his face. His eyes had been looking everywhere else but at me, maybe not wanting to see that I’d been hurt, or maybe it was something else. But once my hand touched his, that soothing current between us melted in him, calming him.
“Thank you again for being there for me. For always rescuing me.” I tried to make his smile appear, but he was still fighting his swirling emotions. His head tilted, leaning into my touch more, as if it was a lifeline.
“You’re mine. Someone tried to hurt what’s mine.” He leaned in and pressed a soft but passionate kiss against my lips.
I wanted to stay there, kissing him on the couch, but we had a job to do.
“Then help me get dressed, and let’s go to the church. The killer attacked because I’m on to him.” I pulled back and saw Asher’s hardness had eased slightly.
He went into my room and picked out my normal clothes, even my spare leather jacket, since the other one was now shredded.
I knew he wanted to protest, and thought I should wait until I was one hundred percent healed before going to the church, but there just wasn’t any time to waste. The killer might get crazy if he knew his time was limited.
Of course, the night just got worse. The landlord stopped me on my way out. Thanks to Kevin’s fat mouth and the cameras in the halls, I was being evicted. The apartment I lived in didn’t allow animals, and I apparently fell into that category now. An animal.
Animals were better than people, so I guess I should have taken it as a compliment.
“You can live with me, or you know the Hero Society has plenty of room.” Asher was trying to give me a run-through of my options as we drove to the church.
I looked out the window and continued to see madness brewing.
Sarah greeted us as soon as we walked through the door. Her energy was a little shaken, and it made me on edge. Something was up here, and I was in no mood to deal with any more charades.
“Where’s your husband?” I asked, no hint of niceness in my voice.
“He just got in about an hour ago. He’s been in his office.” She smiled at me, and it was certifiably fake.
“Ms. Cross, Mr. Asher! Robert Burke. Sarah told me about Amanda while I was away. How can I help?” A tall man in his forties walked toward us. He had on a dress shirt and pants, with polished shoes that emitted that odd, waxy odor. He was in decent shape but had some wrinkles around his blue eyes. His brown hair was a bit messy, but he just looked tired from traveling. We exchanged handshakes.
“Shall we go to my office?” The pastor gestured for us to follow him and we did. Once in the room, the scent of shoe polish hit me stronger this time.
“Mr. Burke, where were you three days ago?” I was getting straight to the point. His face didn’t change one bit from the kind pastor facade he had going on.
“My mother was ill; I flew right away to see her in California.”
Asher coughed, and my attention went to him. Something was up. He knew it, and I did too.
“Were you aware that Amanda had special powers?” I tried a different route. If he had issues with people with gifts, then he would give me some sign.
“I was aware. God welcomes all into his house.”
He joined his wife in the fake smiling act, but I saw her stance straighten slightly. My extra instincts were kicking in.
“But she could have been dangerous; she could have hurt everyone you loved here if she felt like it.”
In truth, I still didn’t know what her powers were, but I had a feeling it had something to do with the calming feelings she gave the patients. Amanda was a good woman. I don’t think she could have hurt anyone, even if she’d been emotional.
Relief flashed across the pastor’s face but only for a moment. He indeed was not a fan of people with gifts and was glad I felt the same way.
If only he knew.
“I have faith in the Lord, and that is all the protection I need.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Asher
Lie. One big, fat lie.
I felt energy swirl around his desk. He was putting a lot of energy into protecting a certain area that I picked up on it.
“Sounds great. If you’ll just back it up a bit, I need to get in here for a moment.” I walked over and started opening drawers. He tried to push me back, but I wasn’t budging. I was done fucking around with these two people. Echo didn’t say a word. I knew she was bound and couldn’t do anything. But I could. Just a Good Samaritan. They’d let me in, so I wasn’t breaking and entering.
Bingo.
“Not worried about anything? So why do you have some syringes with a bottle of ketamine, otherwise known as the ‘date rape’ drug?”
Sarah gasped and Robert’s face paled.
“It’s not what you think. I didn’t kill her.” Echo started reciting his rights as she walked around the table, cuffs in hand.
“Where are you taking him?” Sarah asked, tears streaming down her face as she watched her husband being handcuffed.