The Hex Files Box Set: Books 1-3 (Mysteries from the Sixth Borough)

by Gina LaManna

  Heart thumping, I wondered if my nerves existed because this felt like my first date in ages, or if it was something more. A part of me couldn’t stop thinking about Matthew: where he was, what he was doing, what he was thinking.

  As my hand hit the knob, I swallowed hard as a realization hit me. I did want tonight to be a date. With one change. I wanted Matthew to be on the other side of my door.

  I glanced at my clock and found Hector’s face reading quarter to seven. Grey was early. Twisting the handle, I yanked the door open and plastered a smile on my face. None of this mattered because tonight was just business.

  “My God,” a low voice murmured. “You look gorgeous.”

  “Matthew?” I gaped at the tall, stunning figure, then stuck my head into the hallway and craned my neck around. “What are you doing here?”

  “Checking on you, Detective.” Matthew’s eyes flicked over me, landing on my face, skimming over my bare shoulders toward the deep V in my dress’s neckline, down to the curve of my waist. By the time he pulled his gaze back to mine, his eyes glowed in a deep, deadly black with flecks of starlight glittering throughout.

  “Checking on me?” I was torn in my reaction. “What do you mean checking on me?”

  A huge, miraculous wash of relief flooded my body at the sight of Matthew—my vampire. I felt startled at the thought, wondering where it’d come from. I’d never considered whether I was his or he was mine before. That was a vampire thought, a werewolf notion—not something a witch felt. Witches didn’t have fated mates—not like the other supernaturals.

  “I was worried about you,” Matthew said. “I suspected you were working a case not reported to the NYPD.”

  I threw the door the rest of the way open and stood there, arms crossed over the blood red fabric, my eyes leveled on my vampire. Then I turned, retreated into my apartment, and was vaguely aware of Matthew following me and closing the door quietly behind him.

  I stood still, feeling the race of my heart, the conflict in my chest. I could smell his unique, spicy scent and sensed his sturdy presence just inches away. When his fingers skimmed a delicate line down the side of my neck, I shuddered under his touch, shifted closer toward him. My eyes closed as I sunk into the moment, needing for it to stay magical for just one second longer.

  I heard the door open and shut again—Willa, I thought. I’d completely forgotten about her at the sight of Matthew. The sound of distinctly human footsteps retreated along the hall, down the creaking stairs to the first floor, leaving us alone.

  Matthew leaned forward, his breath hot on my neck. “I can’t stand to see you upset.”

  “Then why are we doing this?” I let him spin me around to face him. My head sunk forward, rested on his chest. “I hate it.”

  “You said you needed time.”

  I stepped closer to him. Grasped his hand, felt the cool, marble touch beneath mine. Our fingers twined through one another’s, and I closed my eyes, savoring the touch as I pressed his palm over my heart. My skin was warm, flushed; his was still, stone.

  “What do you want from me?” he asked, his breath skimming over my neck.

  I shivered, tilted my lips up, and leaned forward. What I wanted was too much to put into words. Too difficult to voice, too complex to truly understand. I just wanted him, period. And I wanted to know that he wanted—needed—me back.

  Matthew inhaled a deep breath, an unnecessary action. A stalling tactic. Another breath hitched as he brought a hand up, rested his palm against my cheek. My face was still perched, waiting for a touch from his, but I saw in that moment the kiss wasn’t coming.

  “You didn’t come over here tonight for me, did you?” I murmured, my eyes pooling with tears. “You came over here as a warning to Grey.”

  Matthew didn’t deny my accusations. His eyes darkened, hardened. We both knew that’s why he’d come. The vampire’s scent would be on me, in my apartment, all over the red dress purchased with Grey’s gold. It was a move for Grey—not for me.

  “I think you should go,” I said. “I’m sorry, but Matthew—I can’t keep doing this.”

  We stood nose to nose for a long moment, watching one another, holding in a tense, weighty silence. A part of me longed for Matthew to crash through my expectations, to confess that he’d come here exclusively for me—not as a warning to Grey, but I knew deep down that wasn’t happening. He wasn’t ready to break the rules, and I wasn’t going to budge. And the rules explicitly forbid us from being together.

  Without a word, Matthew turned on his heel and left.

  He closed the door smoothly. He had too much restraint to slam it, though the very apartment was rocked by his departure. Even my furniture seemed frightened into silence.

  “I’m sorry,” someone finally whispered from the bedroom. It was Marla. “So sorry, honey.”

  I returned to my room, grabbed the coatrack, and replaced her by the door. “It’s best this way.”

  “For what it’s worth,” Marla said, “I think you did a good thing. The man loves you, it’s clear. You love him. You had to let him know, and he’s got to know, too. He’s got to realize that being away from you is killing him, and that no rule will stand in the way of destined love.”

  “I just wish—”

  My wishes were washed away by a second knock. It was frustrating that a part of me wanted that to be Matthew, returning to kick the door down and demand we figure things out. To sweep my face in his stony palms and drag me to the bedroom with a toe-curling, gut-wrenching kiss. But I knew, even as my fingers closed around the knob, that it wasn’t him.

  “Grey,” I said softly. “Thanks for coming.”

  Grey studied me, his eyes wise and understanding. “I’m sorry.”

  “Please,” I said, feeling the warble in my voice. “It’s not your fault.”

  Grey stepped through the door, cautiously raising a hand to my shoulder. He didn’t touch me; he merely waited, the invitation open. It was just what I needed... a friend.

  I stepped underneath his arm, rested my head against his chest, and felt my eyes prick with tears. “I’m so sorry.”

  Grey’s arms closed gently around me, one of his hands running smoothly over my back. “You have nothing to apologize for.” His voice hitched, a tremor of anger behind his words. “I’m sorry, Detective.”

  Chapter 13

  Grey had hired a carriage to take us to the casino. As we rode across town, I could feel his frustration with Matthew. I knew he could smell the vampire. I knew he sensed my mood, my despair. It wasn’t Grey’s place to comfort me when Matthew’s absence made me ache, but he did anyway.

  “We can always reschedule,” Grey said as the carriage pulled to a stop in front of the casino. He leaned over and rested his chin against the top of my head. He was warm, his chest hard, his touch tender. “It’s probably not a good time to drag you into this mess.”

  I pulled back from him and shook my head. “No, it’s good. I want to be here with you.”

  “Well then, Detective.” Grey held out an arm. “You really do look beautiful, tears and all. Do you need a moment, or shall we head inside?”

  I looped my arm through his. “Thanks for everything. Let’s do this.”

  Grey gave me a thin smile. “I’m afraid I haven’t fixed anything. I only wish I could. Believe me, I wish I could.”

  I patted his arm and forced a brighter smile. “You’ve done plenty, trust me. Now, I don’t want to sulk all night—let’s go catch some scheming idiots.”

  Grey laughed. “I’ll bet you have a Stunner on you.”

  “You can bet your bottom dollar I do.”

  “Where’s it hidden?” Grey winked. “I’m officially stumped.”

  I crooked an eyebrow. “A lady’s got to leave something to the imagination.”

  “I hope you can have a little fun tonight,” Grey said after we climbed from the carriage. He slipped his arm around my waist. “I hope this will keep your mind off things. Let you relax.”

>   “Not that relaxed,” I said, reaching back and moving his hand a few inches higher. “Nice try.”

  Grey gave me an impish smile. “It got a smile out of you, didn’t it? Plus, we’re supposed to be pretending we’re madly in love. Or, at least, lust. And I take my work very seriously.”

  I laughed, and I had to admit it felt good. He might be playful in his affections, but I sensed nothing more than a true friendliness. It was hard not to enjoy Grey’s company for what it was—a good time with a handsome, intelligent, funny friend.

  “How do you know this person we’re helping?” I asked. “Is he a fellow...”

  I meant to say wolf, but that felt derogatory and, more importantly, false. I wasn’t sure exactly what species Grey was. Unlike the werewolves that ruled the borough with the Sixth Pack, Grey was different. Not only could he shift forms whenever he wanted, unlike werewolves who could only transform at a full moon, but he was fully controlled in his second form. He didn’t defer to animal instincts, but was a thinking, feeling person in a wolf’s body.

  Grey also had a coat of snowy white and tattoos along his arm that signaled some sort of rank—though lately, I’d grown to suspect that he wasn’t part of the Sixth Pack at all. Yet somehow, he commanded respect from the wolves of the borough, and I couldn’t figure out why. Curious, I thought. Very, very curious.

  And now there was someone in trouble—someone he cared enough about to interfere on their behalf, to ask for help from the cops. Very strange indeed.

  “Things between us are complicated,” Grey said. “I’m sure you understand.”

  I sensed he was closing off the questions for good on the subject. I owed him privacy on the subject after all he’d done for me. He’d saved my life and bolstered my confidence, protected my heart when I’d been at my worst.

  “What exactly are we looking for?” I asked in the same light, fluffy tone. “Besides your hand creeping down my back?”

  I reached behind me and shifted his hand a few inches higher again. It had slid once more down the corset-style back, and I could feel the heat of his hand through the silky fabric.

  “Like I said, I’m convincing.” Grey pulled me more snugly against his side. “Just keeping up appearances.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” I grumbled. “You keep up appearances that well, and you’ll have discovered my gun. And nobody’s going there tonight if they want to live.”

  He laughed softly against my cheek as he curled me in for a hug, a display of affection for the benefit of the bodyguards at the private entrance. “You know, you smell nice. Despite the vampire scent all over you.”

  “You pulled out all the stops for tonight,” I remarked, changing the subject before things got too personal, too uncomfortable. “A carriage from the Golden District. A private back entrance to the casino. The dress.”

  Grey gave a low chuckle, pulled me against his side. “I do what I can. Stay close, since you didn’t follow directions and leave your accessories at home.”

  I felt my face heat as I thought of the exact location of my accessories and moved closer to Grey.

  “Gentlemen,” he said to the two large orcs approaching us. They were ugly with scarred, mottled skin, most of it hidden behind fine suits. They wore large sunglasses despite the evening hour and low-brimmed hats. “Surely, you recognize me.”

  The orcs stopped and, to my surprise, inclined their heads in a bow toward the wolf.

  “Of course, Mr. Grey,” the larger orc said stiffly. “But your companion is new to us.”

  “My girlfriend,” Grey corrected, “is trustworthy.”

  The second orc had stepped dangerously close to me, his arms crossed over a thick chest. “Sir, we have a standard procedure for a reason.”

  “Does standard procedure apply to me?” Grey asked as he stepped closer, a hint of affability as he withdrew a bag of coins from his pocket. “The lady is clear, I promise. It’d be a great disservice for you to assume otherwise.”

  I lifted my chin, trying my best to appear haughty and offended by the mere prospect of a pat-down. I was fairly certain they couldn’t find the gun even if they tried, but I wasn’t willing to take the risk. Our cover would be entirely compromised, and Grey would be in trouble—or worse—if they realized he was in on it.

  “Have your partner take a good long look at her,” Grey said, dropping the coins into the suit pocket of the first orc. “I think you’ll find the dress doesn’t leave much to the imagination. In fact, I selected it myself for that very reason.”

  I felt my cheeks blush hot, but I couldn’t afford a retort, and I didn’t trust myself to speak. Instead, I jutted a hip out, feigning the confidence Grey projected.

  “Harve, have a look,” the first orc said. “A good long look.”

  I stood still as the second orc did a full circle around me, his eyes clinical as they studied every inch of the fabric, every curve of my body.

  “That’ll be enough,” Grey murmured when the orc lingered.

  “Excuse us,” the first orc said. “You’ll understand we must follow procedure.”

  “Procedure’s over.”

  “Very well, sir.” The first orc stepped to the side. “Have a wonderful evening, Mr. Grey.”

  We swept past the two bodyguards and made our way through a dim hallway lit only by the flicker of torches. The carpet was thick, royal red, the walls papered in a regal, old-fashioned pattern. The air held remnants of expensive cigar smoke and bourbon. I could practically hear the ice cubes clinking in crystal glasses as men basked in the scents of wealth and privacy.

  I cringed at my role in it all, but the cool touch of the gun against my thigh gave me a boost of confidence. I wasn’t helpless. I wasn’t here as a date. I was here to bring justice to the borough—whatever that meant. And if that meant I had to spend the evening on the arm of a handsome, mysterious wolf who smelled like expensive cologne and looked like money, so be it.

  “What do you think?” Grey asked quietly as we moved through the hallway. “Seen this side of the casino before?”

  “No, but I’m wondering why you have,” I said sharply. “It doesn’t exactly seem open to the public.”

  “It’s not.”

  I turned toward Grey, wondering not for the first time about his history, his likes and dislikes, his story. He clearly had money—an excess of it—though he didn’t flaunt it. His suit was casually expensive, his scent subtle, yet strong. He looked like walking sex, if a girl was into that sort of thing, and he oozed gentlemanly charm with an underlying current of commanding masculinity. There was a visceral appeal to the wolf, without a doubt.

  “Here we are,” Grey said. “The next door on the right. You’ll have noticed this isn’t an average high stakes room.”

  “How is one invited inside?”

  “One is not merely invited,” Grey corrected. “It’s more than that. This is a way of life.”

  “How did you get into this way of life?”

  “Ah, ah, ah...” Grey cautioned. “I leave your personal life untouched. I think I deserve the same respect.”

  “You do not stay out of my personal business.”

  He grinned. “It was worth a shot.”

  “I am curious about you.”

  “I take that as the highest of compliments.” Grey’s smile flashed over me. “You don’t tend to bother yourself with uninteresting company.”

  “Who are you, Grey? What are you?”

  “I’m rich,” he said simply. “I’ve been around a long time.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” I mumbled, but I was cut off mid-sentence because Grey swept me past another guard dressed similarly to the orcs, though this one gave off serious sorcerer vibes. And not the good kind.

  “Ah, here we are,” Grey said as he swept me into a room more opulent than any I’d seen outside of Gilded Row. “Welcome to The Cavern.”

  I blinked and stared. I’d never heard the term before, and I assumed it was understood that The Cavern wasn’t
mentioned outside of these walls. Chandeliers likely centuries old lit the room with a sparkling glint. Glasses of champagne glittered with golden contents and tiny, exquisite trays were stacked with lush appetizers that appeared untouched.

  The guests in the room were unrecognizable by face alone, though the wealth that permeated the air was nearly a scent. Expensive perfumes, rare furs, gems the size of my fist glinted from throats, wrists, and intricate hairstyles. Most men were flanked by women dressed in beautiful gowns, though a few gentlemen stood in a corner to one side without female partners, sucking on cigars that likely cost more than my yearly salary.

  “You appear to be the center of attention,” Grey said softly. “It isn’t everyday a woman as beautiful as you graces The Cavern with her presence.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. They’re looking at you. I’m not flashy; I live in an apartment on top of a pizzeria.”

  Grey’s mouth swooped down next to my ear, and it probably appeared to everyone else that he was whispering sweet, naughty nothings into my ear. “That’s exactly it,” he murmured. “Your beauty is raw, Detective. That’s...enticing.”

  I swallowed, uncomfortable both by his close proximity and the meaning behind his words. “Grey—”

  “Let’s take our seats,” he said briskly. “The game will start in minutes.”

  As I glanced around the room, I caught glimmers of Residuals that were concerning. I nudged Grey and nodded discreetly toward the table. “I have a few concerns.”

  I felt him straighten against me. “Like what?”

  “I’ve never seen some of these... accessories,” I said, glancing at one peculiar man in the corner of the room. A swarm of gray and black Residuals clung to him like a toxic cloud. Evil hid behind them, though what exactly they meant, I could only imagine.

  “That is concerning,” Grey finished lightly. He smartly didn’t go into detail while others were close enough to overhear. He shifted, then flicked his sleeve up, frowned at his watch. “Something’s wrong.”