Bad Cop (Entangled Covet)

by Angela McCallister

  Reaching around her thighs to lift her against the door, his eyes met her beautiful silver ones for the first time since she’d sexually mauled him, and his jaw clenched. She hated his way of life, but he didn’t care. She meant so much to him. With a single, slow, deep slide, he entered her. Yes, paradise. Her inner walls clamped onto him, dragging against his flesh as he withdrew.

  She gasped when he pushed back in, grinding against her. Knees wide apart, she dug her heels into his buttocks to pull him back into her. Speeding his thrusts built the pleasure to astronomical proportions. She kept pace with him, a sex goddess with gyrating moves to put an experienced vampire to shame. Goddammit, he was almost there, but he didn’t want to be. So fucking amazing.

  And then she really blew his mind. Watching him through her lashes, she pulled his mouth to her throat.

  “I need it,” she pleaded when he hesitated. That’s all it took. Fangs lowering instantly, he bit into her tender flesh. When the taste of her hit his tongue and energy blazed into him, he snarled against her throat. The world went red and wild. Her thighs framing his ribs, he pounded her so hard against the door, she’d have bruises. The bang of the wood shuddering under their force, the potent sound of her cries, and the slap of flesh against flesh drove a wickedly savage satisfaction through him.

  Her fingernails drew blood from his back, and then she bit into his shoulder. The sting of that erotic pain drove him over the edge. He came so hard, it radiated from head to toe. It was more than his seed she milked from him with her screaming orgasm. She wrung from him emotion he’d experienced only once before in his long life. It lingered far past the throbbing tail of his pleasure.

  He licked over the punctures from his fangs with the curative serum that would seal the love marks and the contact made her shiver. Lowering her gently, he caught her before her legs collapsed. With a husky laugh, she looped her arms around his shoulders and rested her head against his chest. He carried her to her bed, barely making it before his legs gave out. Sore in the best possible way, he didn’t have the energy to do more than pull up his jeans. She watched him, her lip between her teeth, as he stretched out beside her.

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  He scowled at her. “Don’t start that shit, Alice.”

  “I’m not sorry it happened. I just don’t want you to read anything into it. I kind of used you because you were convenient.”

  A sharp ache lanced the middle of his chest, but he kept the pain from his face and grinned instead. “And you’re welcome to use and abuse me like that at any time.”

  “Lecherous hick.”

  “That’s lecherous Irish hick.”

  She laughed and sagged against the bed as her tension let go. “My body’s going to ache for a while.”

  He frowned. “Did I injure you? I got a little rough—”

  “I wanted rough.” She eyed him a little dreamily. “You were perfect.”

  He tried not to show his smug gratification, but she rolled her eyes at him.

  “It’s going to your head now. I can tell.” She narrowed her lids. “You’re tiny pecker could be bigger.”

  He laughed outright. “Any bigger and I’d split you in half, turtle.”

  “No comment.” Her expression sobered. “What do we do about Revenant?”

  “You do nothing for now. Get some rest,” he said, reassuring her with a wink. “After that workout, I doubt you’ll be walking about for a while.”

  “You’re funny.” She ran a velvety caress along his cheek. “Thank you, Ian. You’ve been a great friend.”

  Another stab to his heart. She would be the death of him inside and out if she kept talking. He went for his usual flippancy, hoping he could pull it off after her offhanded blow.

  “Don’t you cuss at me with the F-word.”

  Must have worked because she laughed while he bled internally.

  “What are you going to do tonight?” she asked.

  He pushed her wayward midnight curls from her face. “I’ll meet up with Dec and Ezra. Revenant may be good, but he can’t evade three of us working together.”

  “Good. The sooner you catch him, the better.”

  “You know you can call me tomorrow. After.” He swept his thumb over her lips. “I don’t think I’ll sleep, knowing what’s happening. I could figure out some way to be there with—”

  “No. It’s fine, Ian. I don’t need you to do that.”

  His mind tripped over the “I don’t need you” part. It sat like an elephant on his chest. He was acting like a fucking sentimental little girl. The offer of a casual relationship with her had been deliciously accepted. He should be happy with that. He was happy with it. It had been earth-shattering.

  With the weight clinging stubbornly to his shoulders, he dipped close and kissed her one more time. At least her lips would know how he felt. He rose and slipped into her bathroom to clean up. He was half-hard, ready to go another few rounds with her in her bed.

  “Down, boy,” he muttered. He should be proud to be a great friend. With those words echoing like a death knell, he left her apartment. Stupid thing was he really had wanted to be there for her tomorrow. For once, his vampiric nature was biting him in the ass, though she might’ve chosen to go alone regardless.

  Well, not alone. She’d have Benning there, and there was no way in hell he’d begrudge that. Despite the bad news the detective had imparted, it was important for her to know the truth. She’d never find closure without it. If there was one thing he couldn’t abide, it was her unhappiness. He’d seen enough of that to last a lifetime, and he’d love nothing more than to take that long to keep the smile on her face.

  As he pulled away from the curb, putting distance between them, it occurred to him he was as good as fucked. He liked Alice too much. For many reasons, humans and vampires didn’t mix well when it came to relationships, and it was rare to get a transformation approval based on a relationship alone. Even so, it didn’t much matter to him if Alice remained human. He’d devour every minute he could get with her.

  She apparently felt otherwise after he’d shown her how alike he was to the cops she despised. No wonder she kept her distance. It didn’t used to be this way. Logically, he understood Sean had lost his shit, but at the time, he’d just felt…abandoned. He hadn’t been enough. Afterward, he’d spiraled deeper into a pit until he just didn’t give a fuck what happened to him. Even Kade had to chew him a new one when he’d run into a flash where it could be witnessed. The last straw, he’d said, and Ian had earned that with his lawless cowboy tendencies. He was lucky Kade kept him on the team. That wouldn’t be the case if anyone found out about Hes. Especially Alice.

  Something had to change because for the first time in fifty years, he could see a future worth living.

  He flinched when his music cut to a screamo version of “Don’t Fear The Reaper.” Dec the Asshole had been playing with his cell phone again. With a groan, he hit the call button hard enough to make a cracking sound. Not good.

  “What?”

  Dec’s laughter came through the speakers. “Like my new ringtone?”

  “So much I’m going to marry it. I can barely hear anything. Where are you?”

  “At a rave.”

  “Didn’t know that was your thing.”

  “Apparently it’s Revenant’s thing. Sending the address. Get here yesterday.”

  “Ezra with you?”

  “Do I look like I need a babysitter?” Dec paused, and Ian heard him sigh. “Yes, he’s here. If Revenant moves out, we’re going whether you’re here or not.”

  “Wouldn’t expect anything less. Don’t lose him.”

  “I’d eat my own balls before I let that happen.”

  “You know I’ll hold you to it.”

  Dec hung up rather than reply. Sometimes getting him worked up was easier than spitting on a sidewalk. The younger vampire truly was the grumpiest bear in the woods.

  Revenant wouldn’t be simple to contain. It wasn’t l
ikely they’d get him alive. The Tracker was a violent, vicious killer, a great asset to the Legion when doing his job. Now he was a traitor and murderer, and he’d become a grave detriment. Killing Revenant would be difficult enough, but capturing him… With only three of them available, it may be entirely possible one of them could lose his life in the attempt.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Alice was grateful her car had been ready this morning because she needed a hiding place. She must’ve been in the parking lot of Zach’s care home for an hour, but she still couldn’t face heading back to her empty apartment with his things waiting for her to sift through.

  He was gone.

  Benning had been like a rock, though his pain was plain to see. How she’d condemned him all these years over a lie she’d clung to like a beacon of light and justice. Now it seemed more like a weight dragging her through six years of misery. Every time she thought her tears had run out, they rose again to blur her vision.

  She cradled her phone, her fingers itching to dial Ian’s number. He was probably asleep, no matter what he’d said. The sun was hard for a vampire to fight, but that wasn’t really why she hesitated to call. She’d begun to rely on him too much. He was in her life in a transient capacity. Eventually, the investigation would close, and she’d go back to her day shift and never see him again.

  Just because she’d learned the truth about Zach didn’t mean she’d changed her mind about the way Ian enforced justice. If anything, it’d made her convictions stronger. If Zach had been doing the right thing, he would be with her now, not lying cold on a gurney waiting to be cremated and buried.

  A lump formed in her throat. That could be Ian someday. He’d come so close to death once because of his impetuous decisions. If Ander’s men had wanted to kill him, it would have been so very easy for them. All he had to do was keep on the same track. She wouldn’t stick around to watch it. Couldn’t.

  So she’d put up her barriers. Nothing said off-limits like the friend card, though after her tryst with him, his friend card could go straight through the shredder and into the furnace. No man would ever measure up to what he’d done to her. Her body still ached with the most sensuous pain and in the most intimate places.

  Her passenger door swung open. She flinched and then recoiled against her door. Revenant settled into the seat beside her, peeling his cloak and hood away to partially reveal his skeletal appearance. He’d jerked her purse from her hands before she could reach any weapon from inside.

  “Now, don’t be frightened, agent.” His voice was extraordinarily deep. The red of his eyes stood out in the midst of his black-and-gray tattoo coloring, making him appear ghoulish rather than vampiric.

  Sure. Because you’re not scary at all. She’d never broken a sweat so fast in her life, and she couldn’t find her voice at first.

  “Wh-what are you doing here?” Her words were only moderately shaky. She glanced around the parking lot. It was empty of onlookers, not that anyone could get to her fast enough if Revenant intended to do harm.

  “I’m here to right a grave injustice.” Cradling her purse in his lap as if their conversation were normal, he sat calmly. “I’ve heard you’re working with Killian McCready on a case.”

  “That’s right. It’s no secret.”

  “He, among others, tried to kill me last night.”

  Her eyes flew wide. “You’re wanted for questioning on this case. Are you turning yourself in?”

  “He wasn’t trying to question me, human.” Revenant’s bitter sarcasm implied her ignorance and made her bristle in spite of her warp-speed pulse. “He was trying to kill me. He’s not well known for questioning suspects.”

  Not liking his tone one bit, she frowned. “What does that mean?”

  “Why don’t you ask Killian how Hesperos died? How did the Ancient Dominus end up chained to a chair while he burned?” His grinning-skull smile unnerved her, making her stomach tightened. “No, agent, I don’t believe I’ll be turning myself in as long as Killian is involved with this investigation. I prefer living to see another twilight.”

  “Aren’t you taking a risk being here in the light?” The words came out fast, but she could care less. He wouldn’t murder her if he was talking. Hopefully. But it didn’t sound as if murder was his intent, though her frayed nerves didn’t know the difference.

  “Daylight would never stand in a Tracker’s way.” He grinned again, his fangs flashing before he secured the edges of his cloak and brought the hood up to obscure his face. “You get rid of Killian, and I might consider answering your questions.”

  Swinging out of her rust bucket, he melted into the shrubbery bordering the parking lot. She locked her doors and rolled up her window. Hands shaking, she buckled up and then started the car. That’d teach her to park in the shade again. Even in the shade, the stray sunlight had to have hurt Revenant. What he’d done was bold, maybe even an act of desperation.

  She didn’t want to jump to conclusions, didn’t want to believe Revenant’s accusations about Ian. Would rather believe the circus freak was crazy, but she’d noticed Ian holding something back from her about that old case, something important. Was this what he’d been hiding? The worst part was knowing without a doubt Ian could be capable of such a horrific act of violent lawlessness. If Revenant was right, she would have to do something about it, but even the thought made her nauseous.

  After the encounter with the fugitive Tracker, going home to sleep wasn’t a possibility, not unless she drugged herself. She headed to VLO headquarters where she’d be most likely to find answers. Few people lingered in the office this late in the afternoon, and for once, she welcomed the semisolitude.

  “‘Sup, stranger?” Piper asked when she caught sight of Alice.

  “I’m surprised you’re still here.”

  “I told you I don’t know how you kept up. It’s like you have elves or something.”

  “There’s not that much work.”

  Piper snorted. “What brings you in early?”

  “Research.”

  Spinning in her chair, she faced Alice. “Spill it. Something’s wrong.”

  She sank into the seat in front of the desk. “Piper…” She couldn’t continue. Tears threatened to fall again, and her lower lip trembled.

  Piper rose from her seat in an instant and came around the desk to hug her. “What did that sexy Irish leech do to you?”

  “Nothing,” Alice mumbled against her friend’s blazer. “Zach died today.”

  Loving arms tightened around her. “I’m so sorry. Honey, you shouldn’t be here working.”

  “I know.” Alice sniffled and collected herself, swiping a finger under each eye to fix the smudges she knew were there. “I have some research to do, though. It can’t wait.”

  Piper perched on the desk. “I’ll help.”

  “No.” At her friend’s skeptical expression, she sighed. “I need some me time. You don’t need to stay. It’s not like I didn’t know this was a possibility someday.”

  “Doesn’t make it hurt less.”

  She sent Piper a tight smile. “No, it doesn’t.”

  “I’m a phone call away if you need me. Have you called Val yet?” She answered herself with a shake of her head. “Of course not. You’re not alone, you know. I’ll talk to her if you want, but expect her to call.”

  “I might answer just so I can hang up on her.”

  “Still mad, huh?” Her friend’s shoulders shook with muffled laughter. “By the way, ignore my e-mail about Glenn. You don’t need to deal with his crap about Graham tonight.”

  “I might have a solution for that anyway. I’m trying to get him into the Trackers.”

  Piper gaped at her. “That’s not possible.”

  “Why not?”

  “Sweetie, there’s only one way into the Trackers, and it’s not exactly ethical by our standards.”

  Alice sat back in her seat and crossed her arms. “First, how do you know about this and second, how does someone get i
n?”

  “My mom told me. She dated a Tracker once, if you could call it dating. Talk about creepy.” She shuddered dramatically. Alice snapped in front of her. “Oh, yeah. It takes a fight to the death with a Tracker. There are a set number of them. To get in, someone would have to kill one of them off.”

  Horror struck Alice silent. That couldn’t be. There had to be another way. If that was the only way, Ian wouldn’t have told her he could try to get Graham in. But then, he’d also mentioned he’d have to do some shady dealings. Did that include killing off one of his own? She couldn’t imagine him doing anything like that.

  Revenant’s allegations echoed in her thoughts. If Ian could commit the murder of a man without proof of guilt, perhaps he could kill one of his fellow Trackers. He’d had to kill a Tracker to become one if Piper’s mom had the story straight. He had tried to kill Revenant according to the walking skeleton’s version of events. Revenant’s death would have been incredibly convenient, given Ian’s intent to get Graham into the Tracker ranks. Oh, God.

  “I don’t know him at all.” Alice hid her face in her hands. “Ian’s a bad cop, Piper, and I don’t know what to do about it.”

  Piper rubbed Alice’s stooped shoulders. “You don’t know that. Mom could be wrong. You should talk to him first before making assumptions.”

  She sat up to meet Piper’s eyes. “I think he may have murdered a suspect.”

  Piper’s mouth opened, closed, and then opened. “Well, then. That would change things.”

  “You think?”

  “Talk to him first anyway.” Piper cocked her head. “Will it be safe? Do you need me to call in security?”

  “No.” She sagged in her chair. “And I don’t think they’d be very effective against a Tracker.”

  “They would if you had enough of them, but if you think it’ll be okay—”

  “It will.”

  With Piper adequately assured, Alice stood and hugged her friend again before pushing her pointedly toward the elevators. She breathed a sigh of relief once Piper disappeared behind the sliding doors. She loved her friend, but she needed to be alone. As luck would have it, the rest of the staff on her floor had already made their escape from the office while she’d talked to Piper.