Bad Mouth

chapter Twenty-four


Val awoke disoriented. The ceiling looked like the one in her office. She focused on the tiny holes speckling the white squares. The bed under her was too flat, and when she struggled to lift her head, it felt like a lead weight. A chair creaked next to her and Kade’s gorgeous face hovered above her.

“Doc said you can sit up a little, but not too much. Want the bed lifted?”

She nodded, her throat too dry for talking. He pressed the button and the head of her bed rose, easing the pressure on her chest. Her belly was on fire. Sharp pain radiated from the center all the way to her toes. She moaned, and he stopped.

“Too much?”

“No,” she croaked. He poured her a cup of ice water and held the straw to her lips. She sucked greedily. She tried to lift her left arm, but it felt heavy, too. A stiff board was taped under her left elbow, and an IV attached dripped fluid into her veins. In a rush, the attack popped into her head.

“What happened?” she asked. “Who were those vampires?” She shifted gingerly toward her right side so she could see him. He had leaned back into his chair, his long legs stretched out in front of him. With his hair messy and an obviously borrowed hunter-green button-up shirt open to his navel, she could eat him up, licking him from head to toe. Then she noticed the bandage at his shoulder. “Were you shot?”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m nearly healed already.” His words were toneless, distant. They made her feel cold. “They were Dominorum Enforcers.”

She gasped. “Why would they attack us?”

“I believe the Ancients had something to do with that. They took Will.”

Her brows rose. “Do you think they made him?” He simply nodded but said nothing more. His demeanor reminded her of the first night they met, how she’d had to drag everything out of him. Her irritation flared. “Well?”

“I think Will’s being there was a trap. I don’t know how yet, but they knew we’d come. They weren’t expecting you, though.”

“They’ve attempted murder now,” she said.

“You’ll never be able to prove it.”

She knew that, but darned if it didn’t annoy her that he said it as if it didn’t matter. After how close they’d been over the past day, why would he behave so callously? And then she remembered. She’d refused transformation. That was why he’d pulled away from her.

Maybe this was for the best. He wouldn’t want to watch her age and die. But the thought of moving on with some other man and having a family struck her heart like the bolt hitting her again. She could never forget him, making it impossible to give her all to another man. When she looked at him, so handsome and endearing despite exhaustion heavy in his expression, it hit her that she would never get over him.

“What can we do about the Enforcers? Do you know where they took Will?”

“You will do nothing about this.” His face hardened, his tone firm. “You’ll stay here until you’re better, and you’ll get on with your life.”

“This case is part of my life, Kade.”

“The team’s working on finding Will and Graham to bring them in. We can do nothing until they’re found.” He leaned forward. “You’re job now is to get rest and heal.”

“What about the Ancients?”

He shrugged. “I’ll deal with the Ancients. That’s not for you or the team to do.”

“They’ll kill you, Kade.”

“Then I’ll take them to hell with me.” He didn’t sound like he cared. She was about to call him on it, but he kept talking. “Alice called about Ginger and Jenna. She said they’ve been arrested. She also said to tell you the Ancients did it. What was she talking about, Val?”

“I had Alice track down the VLO staff who signed off on your transformations. Sounds like they cooperated.” She shook her head in exasperation. “What kind of game are those vampires playing?”

Kade threw up his hands. “You got me. I’ve never understood them.” He stood, stretching his brawny body and then headed for the door.

“Kade, wait!”

He stopped, but didn’t look at her. “I stayed to make sure you’d pull through. You look…fine.”

“Kade—”

“Don’t worry. We’ll let you know when we find anything. You’re investigation’s safe.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you, Val.” And then he was gone.

Her heart sank to her toes. It didn’t sound like he intended to see her again. He’d been so close to her, his body near enough to touch, yet he’d been so far away. But she didn’t blame him. She’d rejected transformation, and in doing so, she’d rejected him.