“Let’s go through potential suspects.” Shaz held up a hand, ready to tick each one off on a finger.
Zoey? Only a year ago she had gone on a murderous rampage, seeking revenge on her father. Raoul’s abandonment had left her crazed and broken. Murdering his lovers, she had put me on her list. The night it all went down, the night Raoul died, Zoey made herself my enemy. I spared her life only because of the twisted teenage love for her father that I still held buried deep inside. After calling an informal truce with her, she’d killed an innocent man, proving she couldn’t be trusted. Still, I was certain she wasn’t involved in this.
No, it had to be a vampire. I ran through a small list in my head, dismissing each one. What was I missing?
“Then perhaps we should start with your uh, friend, pup,” Arys chimed in with a smirk that added sting to his words. “I’d think if anyone has a good reason to want Alexa dead, it’s her.”
Shaz locked his fierce green gaze on the brazen vampire. “It’s not her. And if it was, I would kill her myself.”
“Are you sure about that? It’s not always easy to kill someone once you’ve gotten close to them. In fact, it can put you in an awfully bad position. Think you’re ready for that?” Arys leaned on the bar, just close enough to Shaz to taunt him.
Tension flavored the atmosphere with something bitter and hot. Shaz wouldn’t take his eyes from Arys. The two of them stared into each other, sharing a wordless exchange that I recognized from past conflicts. This wasn’t the right time for them to go at each other.
“I get it, Arys,” Shaz snarled. “We’ve already gone over this. I said I would deal with it. Now back off.”
I cut Arys off before he could open his mouth again. Holding up a hand between them, I glowered. “This isn’t helping. Can we stay on track? Or, should I just bash your skulls together and get it over with?”
“I think I’ll pass on the skull bashing.” Shaz turned a smile on me, and I melted just a little.
Before I could voice my own speculation, Jez appeared in the doorway separating the back hall from the club. Her golden curls were in disarray. With wide green leopard eyes and blood spatters from head to toe, she seemed to have stepped straight out of a horror movie.
The sight of her shocked me. I scanned her for injuries, unable to tell how much, if any, of the blood was hers. “What the hell happened to you?”
She glided towards us with feline grace. Her bright red lips twisted into a crazed smile. “So um, is it bad if I accidentally killed him?”
Arys laughed, a low, devious sound. I gaped at Jez, not sure what to make of the situation.
“Who?” That seemed like a good place to start.
“You know, I never thought to get his name.” She shrugged and examined her bloody nails. “I got a little out of him before he got grabby. Once his hand landed on my ass without an invite, it was all over.”
I was flustered but encouraged. “You got something out of him?”
Jez busied herself smoothing down her tousled locks. Now that playtime was over, the finicky cat came out to regain its composure. “Yep. It’s a woman. He let it slip. He said that she put the hit out a week ago. A lot of vamps aren’t biting. They don’t want to get involved.”
Now that was interesting and not at all what I’d expected. Whether it was fear, respect or indifference keeping the majority from getting involved I didn’t care. I was happy to hear it.
“A woman. So, it could be Bianca.” Arys tilted his head thoughtfully and gave me a pointed look.
“It’s not!” The heat of Shaz’s anger was sudden and scorching. It seemed to slap and tickle all at the same time. Potent with that heady werewolf energy, I couldn’t help but react to it.
I watched Arys’s gaze fall to the pulse beating steadily in Shaz’s throat and realized I was reacting to his bloodlust. It rolled through me but didn’t grab hold of my weak will. Arys may have been easing my burden, but I didn’t like what he was thinking.
“I don’t think it’s her,” I interjected. I succeeded in drawing Arys’s attention my way. I shot him a warning look. “Seduction seems to be her thing. Not murder.”
Shaz flinched at my words. His beer bottle suddenly dominated his interest. I knew he hated himself for getting involved with her. I wasn’t going to add to that.
“No way. Definitely not her,” Jez joined in with a laugh. “Not after the way you dropped her.”
“What about you, Arys?” I couldn’t help but speculate. “Are you sure one of your many ex-lovers isn’t on some kind of revenge kick? It’s happened before. And, trust me, that’s getting old.”
Arys tried to hide a smile but failed. “I can’t help the effect I have. I’m like a drug, you know. I can’t be held responsible for those who can’t handle the high.”