by Deanna Lee
It was after three in the morning, and every creature that hunted was out and about. Kyra barely acknowledged when Ana pressed four reflective orange triangles on her clothes, one for each arm, and one for the front and back. There would be plenty of two-legged hunters about as well.
"East.” Desi pointed at the watercraft's navigation unit and started inputting her data. “We're the blue dot; his van is the red."
"If he drove there, we could have, too.” Kyra pointed out dryly.
"This is a shorter route, and I doubt he'll be watching the waterway.” She chewed her gum rapidly. “Besides, this is a lot more interesting."
"Ana."
"Yeah.” Ana came over to them, shrugging on a shoulder holster for her gun. She'd abandoned the utility belt that came with her uniform.
Kyra pointed to the map. “I'm going to leave the boat here. The two of you will go the rest of the way in and signal for backup once we've confirmed that he's actually in the area. Neither one of you are to advance on the target until you get my signal."
Ana nodded and picked up the three short-range radios Desi had brought. She hesitated a fraction of a second before pressing one into Kyra's hand. “You realize that I need years and years of training."
Kyra smiled briefly. “Let's do this."
Ana was silent until Kyra jumped from the craft and hit the shore at a dead run. “We need to hurry."
"Why?” Desi demanded. “What's going on?"
"Two hours ago she was on the floor in a bathroom—the same bathroom her mother killed herself in—holding her best friend and rocking her like a baby.” Ana swallowed hard. “Blood was gushing out of Glory James, and Kyra just tightened her grip on her as if she could hold onto her life with her bare hands."
Desi shoved the craft into gear and shook her head. “We really need to hurry."
* * * *
Kyra pointed her weapon toward the ground as she moved. The dark blue van she'd spent the better part of a week looking for was parked in a narrow driveway a hundred yards from her. The house on stilts was ragged and barely looked livable. She imagined that it didn't meet any building codes. There were many shacks just like it on the bayou. Most were used by hunters, or by the park service.
She pulled the orange reflective stickers from her arms and chest and shoved them into her pocket. The lights in the shack were bright, and it was easy to make out the area around it. She'd have no cover once she was out of the trees that lined his driveway.
The distant hum of the watercraft shook her from her thoughts, and she plucked her radio off her waistband. “Cut the engine; I can hear it."
The hum ceased immediately. “We'll come the rest of the way on foot."
"Be careful. He's got the area surrounding the shack clear; you won't have any cover.” Kyra shoved the small radio into her pocket and walked quickly along the driveway.
Once even with the van, she pulled her utility tool out of her boot and darted across to the vehicle. Since the tires were probably puncture proof and there was no point in trying to slash them, she slid under the vehicle and knocked the power panel loose. The battery was almost fully charged. She grimaced at the coming discomfort, then grabbed the battery and jerked it free of its compartment. A mild charge nipped at the tips of her fingers before she tossed the battery aside. She flipped open the utility tool and used the screwdriver to remove the energy exchange mechanism. Without it, even with the battery back in place, he'd never be able to start the van.
Kyra pushed the exchanger into her back pocket as she slid from the van and rolled to her feet. With his van disabled, his only choice would be to go to ground if he escaped her, and then she could spend a few hours stalking his crazy ass through the bayou. That suited her just fine. Either way, he wouldn't get away. It wasn't an option.
Crouching low, she made her way toward the shack, avoiding as much of the light as she could. He wasn't worried. He thought he was safe. How would he be if he knew she was close? Would he be pacing the floor and trying to find a way out? Did he have a plan to get out already? With one foot on the first step of the flight of wooden stairs, Kyra looked toward the area she assumed her partner and Marcos would come from. They were moving toward her. She couldn't hear or see them, but she knew.
She tested each wooden step as she slowly moved up the stairs. They proved to be steady. The porch was about eight feet wide and barren. The tiny porch light flickered with the wind. Kyra leveled her gun and moved to the door. Would he have a back exit? Where the hell was Ana?
Tilting her head back briefly, she took a deep breath and moved along the wall to the only window on the porch of the one-room dwelling. A vid-panel was the first thing she saw. It flickered much like the porch light did. There was one chair in the room, one person. He was reclined in the chair, his face grizzled with several weeks of beard, and a bag of pork skins was propped up on his belly.
It was not Aaron Belton.
She pressed her lips together and moved back to the front door. Plucking the radio out of her pocket, she pressed the talk button. “Move in. The suspect does not appear to be in the dwelling."
Kyra knocked briskly on the front door. “NOPD. Open the door."
There was a bit of shuffling before the door was thrown wide open and a twelve-gauge shotgun was brought chest level between them. “Badge."
"You are pointing an illegal weapon at an officer of the law,” Kyra snapped. She held up her badge, and he slowly lowered the weapon.
"A man's got a right to defend his property."
"Not with a banned weapon.” Kyra took the shotgun from him and checked its safety. “Is that your van parked in the driveway?"
"Yeah, what of it?"
"The NOPD suspects that has been used in several homicides and an abduction.” She watched him dust off his shirt and rock on his feet. “I'm looking for a young man, about twenty-six, named Aaron Belton. Do you know him?"
He shrugged. “I knew a boy named that once, but he died."
"He's no more dead than you are.” She wrinkled her nose in disgust and glanced briefly toward the door when Ana entered. “Call for transport. I want this asshole in custody and this place turned upside down."
* * * *
You understand, right? He had to be sacrificed. I know that he was special to you when you were younger, but he is nothing now. Nothing but a bitter and nasty man. He is unworthy of you, unworthy of us.
I hoped she'd kill him, but she didn't. He won't talk. I know he won't because he loves you. He'll want nothing to interfere in my mission.
Chapter Seventeen
Kyra paused at the doorway of the hospital room and just stared. Marcus Waters was sitting on the end of Glory's bed with a handful of cards. Glory was sitting up with a handful of her own. The two pleasantly bickered about a bet, which she didn't want to know about.
"Hello."
They both turned to stare at her. Glory held out her hands. “Kyra!"
She walked to her friend and pulled her as close as she could. “It's so good to see you sitting up, with a full layer of cosmetics on.” She brushed back Glory's hair and looked at her face. She saw the pain there, but her friend seemed to shine through.
"Aunt Clara told us you borrowed her boat.” Marcus stopped collecting cards and looked at her. “You didn't catch him."
"No.” Kyra focused on Glory, saw the fear she was vainly trying to push away. “Listen, I have the best cops in this city outside this room. They're both ex-Armada Marines and spend their spare time tossing trees at each other. You couldn't be safer."
Glory smiled, but tears welled up. “Okay."
"Did my grandmother show up?"
"Yes, she's responsible for the two layers of chemicals on my face.” Glory bit down on her bottom lip. “The mayor came with her. Patted my head and hugged me like I was his kid or something."
"Though you don't choose to make the appearance, you are a powerful and wealthy woman. He'll kiss your ass for a while.” Kyra sat down
on the edge of the bed and threaded her fingers through Glory's. “My commander put me off the case for twelve hours."
"Good, you need the rest."
"Yeah. I'll get him."
"I know you will.” She reached forward and brushed some dirt off Kyra's cheek. “Alive."
"That appears to be important to you."
"It is. A man like him wouldn't suffer enough with just a death. He needs to be in a prison. At least until some big guy named Carlo fucks him dead.” She smiled. “I'm fine, you know."
"I know you think you are.” Kyra looked at Marcus, who had retreated to a chair. “Where's Alex?"
"I sent him home. We're going to do shifts."
"Thank you."
"Just part of the deal."
"You get one Waters brother, you get the other?"
"Something like that,” Marcus returned, amused. “At least lately; I've been away for a long time. We find we like each other now that we're older.” He stood. “I'm going to go get us some food. I'll be back soon."
Kyra watched him leave and turned to Glory. “Just what did you bet that man?"
Glory waved it off and focused on Kyra. “It was sweet of him to leave so we could talk."
"He's a hard-ass, Glory."
"You should know."
Kyra laughed. “Yeah, I guess so. Can I get you anything?"
"No, Nana is going to come back tomorrow with some clothes and stuff for me. She told me I could call her that. Can you imagine?"
"Somehow, yes.” Kyra cleared her throat. “I haven't gotten a look at the evidence kit that they gathered on you ... did he tattoo you?"
"Yes.” Glory closed her eyes briefly as if she were trying to block that thought out. “It's on the small of my back. A beautiful butterfly, I'm told. I've already arranged to have it removed. As beautiful as they say it is, it feels ugly and horrible."
"I'll never be able to make this up to you."
"It wasn't your fault. Being your friend is the best thing in my life, and I won't have you back away from me because your job touched me. It happens. Hell, let's not forget you sported purple hair for six days three years ago because of me."
"There is a big fucking difference between purple hair and rape."
"Yes.” Glory looked down to their hands. “But you saved me, and that's what counts."
"Does it?"
"It's what counts with me.” She looked around the room. “He took me to the carriage house because of your mother, right?"
"Yes.” Kyra pulled her fingers free and stood from the bed. “He took a personal hit at me because he thought I wasn't paying attention."
"He killed a cop. That should have been more than enough to get your attention."
"That was incidental. She got in his way."
Glory was silent for a moment, her gaze focused on her hands. “I don't think so."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm a good people person, you know. I can read them pretty well. He doesn't do things unplanned. He killed her because he wanted to. He took me and tried to kill me because he wanted to.” She sat up as Marcus entered. “You'd better have some food for me."
"I wouldn't have dared come back otherwise.” He put the bag on the end of the bed and looked at Kyra. “Hungry?"
"No.” She shook her head.
"Go get some sleep.” He motioned to Glory. “He won't get past me or the barbarians you have at the door."
Kyra looked at Glory; she doubted sleep was going to happen any time soon. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw her friend on that bathroom floor, naked and bleeding to death. There was no doubt in her mind that it would linger in her mind for the rest of her life.
"Well, go get some dick, then.” Glory raised an eyebrow and grinned when Kyra blushed. “I won't have you hanging around in here. I'll be fine. I have two big cops and this fellow here, who promised to write me a song.” She motioned toward Marcus. “I'm cool."
Kyra walked to her and kissed her cheek softly. “You're the best thing in my life, too."
Glory sucked in a breath and didn't respond until Kyra had stalked from the room, shutting the door behind her. “You know, if I were a man, she'd be in so much trouble."
Marcus laughed aloud and dug into the bag. “French fries first?"
* * * *
Kyra slipped past Alex and into his apartment. She unbuckled her weapons harness and pulled it off. Allowing it to dangle from her fingers, she turned to look at him. “I need a shower."
"It so happens that I have one.” He walked to her and took the harness. Tossing it onto his couch, he pulled her T-shirt free from her jeans and up over her head. “You went to see her?"
"Yeah.” She glanced briefly in the direction that he tossed her T-shirt, then turned to walk down the hall to his bedroom. “Did I wake you?"
"No, I can't seem to sleep."
"I'd apologize for involving you, but it wouldn't be sincere.” She sat down in a chair next to the entrance of his bedroom and quickly took off her boots. She dropped her utility tool, p-pc, and comm-u in the chair as she stood. Hesitantly, she pulled out the earpiece and dropped it on the wrist unit.
"She'll be fine. Glory is a strong and determined woman."
"Yeah, her strength continually surprises me. When I first met her, I couldn't help but think she was fragile and breakable. I kept waiting for her to bail on me. I've never been very good at female relationships. That's why up until recently all of my partners have been male."
He watched her struggle with her jeans briefly and then he went to her. Carefully, he brushed her shaking hands aside and undid the buttons. “Kyra, you're shaking."
"I can't help it."
She held onto his shoulders when he slid her jeans down, snagging her panties as he went. Numbly she lifted her feet away from the jeans. He undid her bra and pushed it off her shoulders. “Let's get you in the shower."
"Okay."
Alex followed along behind her, shedding his clothes. She was sitting on a bench in the shower bay, water streaming from all four heads. He'd never seen anyone look so defeated and lost in his entire life. He sat down beside her and drew her carefully into his arms. Kyra buried her face in the side of his neck, and tears flowed.
"It's all right.” He kissed the top of her head and lifted her into his lap. There was nothing so moving or gut wrenching as a strong woman in tears.
"I've never wanted to kill anyone in my life until tonight. All of those bodies I stood over, and never once did I think I should kill the person responsible."
"Killing in the line of duty is no easy thing."
"Yeah."
"You're worried that you might go beyond the law on this one?"
"I could. I so easily could.” She lifted her head, brushed away tears that still lingered on her face. “There were a few moments tonight when I could have gleefully tortured that son of a bitch to death."
"You're a better cop than that."
"I hope so.” She bit down on her lip. “Glory told me to come over here and get some dick."
Alex chuckled. “She is startling at times."
Leaning in, she kissed his mouth and sighed. “I need to wash the swamp off."
He grinned. “I wasn't going to say anything."
"Asshole.” She slid off his lap and went to a soap dispenser built into the wall.
Alex leaned back against the shower wall and watched her. She was in some ways an economic sort of woman. No wasted time on the shower or pausing to enjoy the texture of the sponge on her skin or the glide of soap down her body. For a woman he knew to be very sensual, he found this both surprising and fascinating.
He caught the sponge when she tossed it in his direction. Standing up from the bench, he moved to the soap dispenser and added more soap to the sponge. By the time he'd soaped down, she'd washed her hair and left the shower bay. He found her several minutes later, wrapped in a towel and sitting on the edge of the bed. Her workbag was sitting on the bed beside her, and she was run
ning a brush through her hair.
"Feel better?"
"Yeah.” She tossed the brush back into the bag and picked it up. “I think I could probably sleep."
"Good.” He walked to her and took the bag. He set it in the chair next to the door and dimmed the lights. “Let's sleep."
She eyed his erection with some interest as she dropped the towel. “That's not what's on your mind."
He laughed. “Can't really control it, but we both need sleep more."
Kyra nodded and slid under the covers as he did. She didn't object when he pulled her into his arms.
* * * *
Alex propped his head on his hand and watched Kyra turn in her sleep. She looked soft, even approachable. The contrast was amusing, as he knew her to be neither. Turning her head gently with the tips of his fingers, he placed a soft, barely there kiss on her lips. Her eyelids fluttered briefly before she opened them fully.
"Playing some twisted fairytale sort of game?"
He laughed. “Fairytales aren't twisted."
"The real ones were. They just cleaned them up to make money.” Kyra pushed him onto his back and slid astride him. Sitting up, she pressed her ass against his growing erection and shoved her hair out of her face. “Every time I look at you, I get soaking wet."
"Was that a complaint?"
"Well, if you weren't man enough to live up to the anticipation, it would be.” She looked at the clock on his nightstand. “I should go."
"You have two more hours on your mandatory break."
"Who told?"
"My brother.” He sat up and wrapped his arms around her. “There is a price to be paid for sleeping in my bed."
"Oh, really?” She inclined her head and raised one sleek black eyebrow.
"Really.” He slid his hands down her back and cupped her ass. Pulling her to him, then upward and onto his cock, he held her tight to his chest. “I love how you take me."
"Yes.” Kyra shuddered in his arms and let her head fall back. “Alex."
"That's it, baby, ride me."
Rocking leisurely on the length of him, she gripped his shoulders as he lowered his head to take a nipple into his mouth. The tug of his lips on her sensitive flesh whipped through her body and made her womb throb. Had she ever known a man who turned her on more?
