Veilers - Veiled Target Part 9

She glared at him, more for Hugh's sake than her own. Was he allowed to talk to Hugh that way? "We were attacked by a Banoth," she said. She wanted to add "you jacka.s.s," but held her tongue.

"A Banoth? Jesus." Dane's chest deflated some, his shoulders rounded. "Did it get its fangs in you?" he asked Hugh, concern in his voice.

"Yeah."

"Are you carrying?"

Carrying? What was he talking about?

"No. So talk." Hugh pushed himself up so his shoulders rose above the car's roofline. His face was hard to read under the dim streetlight, but beads of sweat dotted his forehead. Tess swept a gaze over him from top to bottom and noticed a dark bloodstain on the leg of his jeans.

Dane nodded in her direction. "Right now?"

"She's clued in," Hugh said, "and I trust her."

Why the h.e.l.l did he have to go and say that? She was not to be trusted. Not to be included in their pack activities. Not to know what he wasn't carrying, even though she was dying to get that bit of information. Then again, she couldn't have asked for a better cover, an easier way into Hugh's life. He knew she was a private investigator. She could use that to her advantage to help him find Trey. She'd pretend friends.h.i.+p to help him and get the information she needed to do her job. She'd just keep P.I.E. out of the picture.

Friends.h.i.+p. Yeah, right.

She smiled at Dane. A great big smile to let him know she was sticking around, and he'd better get used to it. Something about Dane unsettled her. He didn't like her involvement, she knew that from their confrontation in the alley, but there was more. Something she couldn't put her finger on.

"The tip on Trey was bogus. I got to the location and he wasn't there."

"I'm not surprised," Hugh said. "This whole thing was a setup to-"

"Get Hugh," Tess finished. "And probably you too, Dane. Did you meet with any trouble? See anything that might give you some clue as to who or what planned this little attack?"

Dane looked like he was about to fall over. Maybe he'd never heard someone finish Hugh's sentence before and then go on to ask the questions. A happy buzz wove through her body that she couldn't blame on the beers from two hours ago. She'd come to the rescue of the lone wolfen and the idea that possibly no other woman ever had gave her a great deal of satisfaction.

"You a cop?"

Her occupation no longer a secret, she answered, "Private investigator."

He looked back to Hugh for confirmation.

Hugh nodded. "I don't like what's going on. And I don't understand why things have escalated so"-he coughed, a retching noise that sounded painful-"quickly."

Dane took a step toward him. "You need to sit down. You need-"

"I need you to talk. Now," Hugh said in a huff. He pushed away from the car and paced back and forth, his posture still rounded but his feet moving swifter.

Tess gulped. She could tell his movement was forced. That it would cost him. But his pride was obviously worth more than his comfort. Panic wove through her and her heart raced with sickening speed. Was his ego more important than his life? Because he literally looked like death warmed over. He needed medical attention. He needed a hospital room with machines whirring and tubes pumping drugs into him.

"I came across a couple of Wolf Seekers not far from Trey's supposed location. I messed them up a bit and got them to talk. They had some very interesting information."

"And that was?"

"Wolf Seekers?" Tess questioned. How come she'd never heard of them either? "Who are they?"

Dane looked to Hugh before he answered. "They're humans who want to rid Los Angeles of wolves. At the moment, they've set their sights on the Night Runners."

"Who's in charge of them?" She knew there were groups of humans who were aware of Veilers and wanted to erase them from society. Heck, she'd gotten a.s.sistance from a couple of them. But why didn't P.I.E., the most elite organization for eliminating Veilers, know about this faction? It was P.I.E.'s business to know about competing groups.

"We don't know," Hugh replied, falling back against the car again. The bloodstains on his s.h.i.+rt and jeans had spread, hair matted to his forehead, the rise and fall of his chest was more p.r.o.nounced.

Tess fought the urge to move closer and take his arm in hers for support. "I can find out for you." This was her in. The way to keep tabs on Hugh and investigate him while also finding out more about the Wolf Seekers.

Dane got right in her face. "We don't need your help."

She pushed him in the chest. Hard. "Do not speak to me like that ever again or you'll find yourself singing soprano."

"I doubt that."

"Try me. You've got no idea what I'm capable of." Not all Night Runners are created equal, she decided. Dane, she wanted to kill. Could kill. Right now.

"Nor you I." He whispered the retort like he didn't want Hugh to hear.

Was he an idiot? Didn't Hugh hear everything? She glanced toward him. Okay, maybe right this minute his senses weren't too keen. But threaten her? Dane's warning rumbled though her, leaving a cold, resentful feeling she wanted to hang on to for as long as she was breathing.

"So what's your interesting information?" she asked, eyebrows raised and her hands itching to hit something.

Dane moved closer to Hugh, attempting to cut her off from the conversation. "They told me-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Hugh slid down the car. In. Slow. Motion. His legs slipped out from under him until he landed on his b.u.t.t. His head lolled forward as if he'd fallen asleep.

"Jesus Christ," Dane said, moving to Hugh's side.

Tess moved too, kneeling to the ground beside Hugh. Dane lifted Hugh's head and the blue eyes that had mesmerized her hours ago were almost completely drained of color. Thankfully, he blinked a few times, allowing her to catch the breath she'd held when he slumped to the ground.

"f.u.c.k," Hugh said, a groan following.

"Where is it?" Dane asked. "I'll run and get it. Be back as fast as I can."

"Where's what?" Tess hated being left out of the loop and worried that whatever it was wasn't going to get to Hugh in time.

"It's an antibiotic. An antidote. In case of emergencies like these, we usually carry a small vile of liquid to drink to counter the effects of certain poisons that affect our tissue replacement. Small amounts of poison don't affect us, but larger amounts... f.u.c.k, Hugh. How long were the Banoth's fangs in you?"

"Too long," he said, turning his head to peek at Tess. "But necessary."

"I'll go get it," she offered. "Tell me where it is and I'll go get it." The words flew out of her mouth without a second thought.

"I'm not sure there's enough time." Hugh's gaze remained on her.

Don't get emotional. Let him die. Your life will be so much easier. The job will be done. Finished. The boss will be happy.

Dane stood and pivoted. His brisk steps told Tess he was thinking about what to do. But there wasn't time to think. They needed to act. Do something now. And then a thought struck her.

"Where's your vial?" she asked, standing. "Can't Hugh use yours?"

"You don't think I would've offered already?" he said, his tone spiteful. "I gave mine to a friend last week and keep forgetting to replace it." He hung his head with a small shake.

A golf-ball-sized lump sat in her throat. Maybe she'd misjudged Dane.

Hugh let out a choke, startling Tess and bringing Dane closer. They squatted beside him. She put her hand on his shoulder.

"There is something you can do." This time Dane spoke to her as if they'd been friends for years.

Tess didn't want any more friends. The rapid pulses migrating back and forth between her chest and her gut were a clear indication that she did not-should not-get involved with these two wolfen.

Yet she said, "What?"

"I know this is going to sound strange, but your saliva-"

"No." Hugh shook his head in protest and let out probably the last deep breath he had.

"Your saliva," Dane continued, ignoring Hugh, "can save him. The enzymes in it act as a natural disinfectant and when they mix with the protein in the nerve growth factor of Night Runners, it breaks down the poison at the molecular level."

Biology was one of Tess's favorite subjects in school, but this was a little over her head. "Is human female saliva in your vials?"

"Not just female, but given the circ.u.mstance, I think you're in a better position to help," Dane said.

"So what, you want me to lick his wounds?" There was no way she'd lick her own, let alone the s.h.i.+fter she was supposed to eliminate in the next few days.

Hugh let out a small gurgled sound. "I said no."

Dane still wasn't listening. "No. I want you to kiss him. The mouth will absorb the saliva much quicker than anywhere else and we're running out of time."

"Kiss him? I don't think so. I just met him." She'd wanted to kiss Hugh five minutes after meeting him. Of course, she thought his name was Trey and he was human. And the beer sliding down her throat had lowered her inhibitions, and lessened her nervousness at being on a date with someone for the first time since Jason.

Jason.

He'd died in her arms and there hadn't been a thing she could do to save him. Her eyes met Hugh's. She could save him. Right here. Right now. With only a kiss. A little mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

"If you don't, Tess, he's going to die."

Chapter Seven.

An uneasy feeling settled in Tess's gut. She'd never saved anyone before. Hugh might think she'd saved him in the warehouse, but she hadn't. Not really. She'd only helped so she could eliminate him later. Under other circ.u.mstances. Because that was what she did. She manipulated situations and people-no, not people, Veilers-so that she could kill them.

Suddenly, the ground felt cold as ice under her hands. The murmur of traffic in the distance evaporated, the whisper of wind ceased, the buildings around her faded into nothing. Her eyes were locked with Hugh's, and what she saw there completely unnerved her.

He'd said no. Twice he'd said no. He didn't want her to do this, but in the faded blue eyes she couldn't tear her gaze from, she saw fear. And humanity. She looked away before compa.s.sion ripped every ounce of obligation from her. Before she not only saved him, but spared his life no matter what it cost her.

"I need a second," she said, turning her head so she could think clearly. She hated, hated herself for even having to think. What kind of cruel, insensitive person was she? What kind of person didn't save the life of another?

A person owned by P.I.E., that's who.

What if...what if Hugh could help her find out who killed Jason? What if they could work out some sort of deal? A trade. She'd help him find Trey if he helped her find the wolfen responsible for Jason's death. And at the same time, she could look into his life and find enough evidence to eliminate him.

The arrangement would help solve all her current problems.

She looked back to Hugh. "Okay. I'll do it."

Like a falling star, something twinkled in his eyes for the briefest moment. She straddled his legs, her dress inching up her thighs as she got comfortable. She placed her hands on the car on either side of his head, and moistened her lips with her tongue.

"It might take some time," Dane said, "so don't let up until he breaks the connection. He'll know when to stop."

Tess wondered exactly what kind of kiss this was supposed to be, but didn't ask. If she was going to do this, she was going to do it right. She'd never get another chance to kiss him.

She hadn't kissed anyone since Jason, and now the thought of surrendering her mouth to Hugh's made her hungrier for physical contact than she'd ever been.

G.o.d, she was pathetic. Even in his weakened state, Hugh got her juices flowing.

"This sure as h.e.l.l better be on the up and up," she said, "or there will be h.e.l.l to-"

Hugh cupped the back of her head and brought her mouth to his. His lips were dry, frigid and stuck together. They tasted a little salty, like beef jerky.

After a couple of seconds, his lips softened and relaxed. His eyes closed as they made deeper contact. And d.a.m.n if that didn't send a rush of warmth to everywhere she was cold. She'd forgotten how the gentle glide of lips could make her entire body feel wanted. Needed. Cherished. She'd wanted a kiss so badly tonight and now it meant more than she ever could have imagined.

He moved his hands down her back to settle them on her hips, and pulled her tighter. She s.h.i.+mmied closer, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s meeting his chest while her hands slid down the car and curved around his shoulders.

Her eyes fluttered shut. They settled into a tender kiss, their mouths grazing one another with the lightest, yet most significant touch. The stubble lining his jaw and upper lip was softer than she'd imagined. She liked it, enjoyed the texture that was all Hugh. The feel of him would forever be etched in her memory. And cause an eternity of torment.

Reminding herself this was a cure and not a real kiss, she started making a mental list of all the things she hated. Liver and onions. I hate liver and onions. People who don't say bless you when you sneeze. I hate those people. Filling my car up with gas. I hate that. Missing the perfect wave. That sucks. Blisters. I hate those b.l.o.o.d.y things, and I'm feeling one on the bottom of my foot right now. Stupid borrowed shoes. Stupidity. I hate stupidity. And what I'm doing right now is so stupid.

Oh h.e.l.l...

Hugh parted his lips and hers immediately followed. His tongue swept into her mouth and swirled around in such a delicious way that she forgot about everything she hated. Forgot about what day it was, what year, what name she'd been given. Everything inside her turned pliant, soft, agreeable.

One other man. Tess had only kissed one other man like this. And it was nothing like this. Bliss braided its way through her, explosive and terrifying. Every pain she'd endured over the years disappeared from memory. Their mouths made a seamless, perfect fit. Every tilt, every breath, every tangle of their tongues was as if she'd found where she belonged.

She pressed her mouth firmer to his, the tenderness they'd started with giving way to a more heated connection. She felt him gaining strength, could sense it in the pressure he kissed her with, but also in the way his body perked up. His slouch vanished, his chest puffed out, his grip on her tightened. And his very hard length pressed against her.

Tess almost jerked away, his arousal bringing her too close to losing the thread of control she had left. But the satisfaction, the knowledge that she had turned him on when he'd been so close to death, rendered her unable to stop. She opened her eyes and saw color had returned to his cheeks, sweat no longer dotted his forehead.

The kiss was working.

A smile spread across her lips, and his eyes flew open. The cloudless sky blue hue was back. Pa.s.sion and recklessness too. They gazed at one another for a few more seconds before her eyelids closed, catapulting her back to the euphoric state of saving his life.

She moved one hand to the back of his head where her fingers ran through the soft hair curling just above his jacket collar. Her other hand moved down to his chest, where she spread her palm to feel the strong beat of his heart.

He kissed her harder, faster, deeper. His mouth opened wider and his tongue grew more playful, the tip of it moving back and forth around the inside of her lips, then slipping in deeper. Tess imagined his mouth attached to other parts of her body and tingles like fireworks on the Fourth of July settled deep in her belly. Lower.