Yes, she had. Guilt was a weight pulling at her ankles as she crept toward him.
Aidan turned to her and the fury on his face nearly stopped her heart. “Someone gave him tainted blood, Jane. Deliberately. While Paris was helpless in an ambulance, some bastard forced him to take vampire blood.”
That wasn’t what she’d expected to hear.
“He told me. My blood gave Paris a few moments of sanity. He remembered.” Aidan’s hand rose and she saw that his claws had broken from the tips of his fingers. “I will find the bastard who did this to Paris. He will pay.”
Because there was always a price in this world, just as Annette had said. A price for good deeds. A price for darkness. As she stared at Aidan’s face, Jane could only see darkness. A rage that went soul deep and promised the harshest vengeance. She was staring into the eyes of the man she loved, and, Jane knew without any doubt in her mind, she was also staring straight into the eyes of a killer.
***
Jane had taken the phone with her. He’d rather suspected she would. After all, Jane was so desperate to protect her lover, she’d run straight to him.
And I was able to follow.
The old building wasn’t the hiding spot he’d anticipated for Aidan Locke. But then, Aidan wasn’t really the one who was hiding.
Paris Cole was hiding. Or, rather, being hidden.
He lifted his lens up so that he could focus on that building. He wasn’t getting too close, even with the special lotion he’d used to hide his scent. Jane had run into that building, and she’d nearly knocked over a redheaded man in her haste. The redhead was familiar—he’d seen the guy a few times before.
Another werewolf. One who should have burned in the explosion he’d set, but Jane had saved his mangy hide.
The redhead didn’t matter to him. He needed to see Paris. Needed to find out just what was happening to that werewolf. Had he changed? Was he a vampire now? Mindless, desperate? Or…something more?
Jane hadn’t come out. He’d wait for her. After all, that was his job. To wait and to watch. He’d been paid so well for that job. For so very long.
And Jane had never even had a fucking clue. She’d thought she left her demons far behind her when she first moved to New Orleans. She’d been wrong. All along, they’d been right with her. She’d trusted the wrong people. She was still trusting the wrong ones.
She never even saw the threats coming.
But that was the thing about family and friends. They could blind you to their faults so perfectly. Blind you, trick you.
And in the end…kill you.
***
He had to hunt. Aidan’s claws were out and his beast wanted to take over. The thinnest thread of control held him back from a full shift. What he’d learned from Paris…
Someone did this to him. Someone made Paris this way.
It fucking enraged him.
His gaze shifted to Annette. “He gorged on the blood so he should be sated for a few hours, but I…I can’t leave him alone.”
She immediately shook her head. “He won’t be alone.”
“It isn’t safe to have other werewolves around him, not yet, so I can’t send any of my pack here.” He forced his back teeth to unclench. “Are you sure you can handle him?”
She gave a light, mocking laugh. “I told you before, alpha, I know how to handle the dead.” Her own gaze gleamed with a barely leashed rage. “Go find the one who did this to him. Bring him back…to me.”
She thought to get her own vengeance? Ah, not happening. The voodoo queen would need to get in line. Once Aidan was done with the guy, if there was anything left of the bastard, Annette could have the scraps of his soul to torture.
When he turned to leave, Jane immediately stepped to his side. “I’m coming with you.”
Not a good idea. Not when his control was so close to shattering. Aidan shook his head—
“That wasn’t a question,” Jane said quickly, breathlessly. “I’m coming. That freak watcher called me a few minutes ago—he said that my brother was on your trail, Aidan. We’ve got enemies closing in, and I’m not about to let you face danger alone.”
His eyes narrowed as his gaze raked over her face. “You’re afraid I’m going to kill Drew.” Hadn’t she asked him—more than once before—to promise he wouldn’t take her brother’s life? He would do many things for Jane, but that bastard…
He’s a dead man.
Blood wasn’t always the strongest bond.
“No,” Jane snapped back at him. “I’m afraid he’ll get more silver bullets and come after you. We’re getting threats on all sides, Aidan. Know what that means?” She caught his clawed fingers with her own. Then she laced their fingers together. “It means we’re stronger together.”
That was what they’d always said. He looked down at her hand. So small and fragile and soft within his grasp.
Jane.