Bold Mercy by Laken Cane

Chapter Three

Detective Rick Moreno dropped a key into my palm.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“Key to my front door.”

I stared at him, unsure. “Why?”

He shrugged. “Beth is coming home soon. I want to know that if the supernatural world finds her, you’ll be able to get to her quickly.”

“Why would you think anything supernatural would come looking for Beth?”

“Because you’re in our lives,” he said simply.

“You think I put your family in danger.” Yeah, my feelings were a little hurt, even though it was because of me that Rick had been tortured and nearly killed. “You think I’d lead them to your door?”

“Not deliberately.”

I ran my stare over his face, which, though drawn, looked about a thousand times better than it had even the day before. “You look good.”

“I feel better. I’m going back to work.”

“Maybe you should take it easy for a few more days.”

He almost smiled. “I have a serial killer to catch.”

“Rick, I need to tell you something.” I’d known all along I’d tell him the truth—at least part of it. He was going to be pissed, but not nearly as pissed as he’d be when he discovered I wasn’t human—and I’d keep that little nugget from him as long as possible.

We sat across from each other in his living room, and I couldn’t hide from his eyes. I wished I’d brought Ash—then I would’ve had a legitimate excuse to look away from a slightly quizzical stare that would soon turn accusing. “Tell me,” he said.

“Your serial killer didn’t attack you. The vampires got you. The master shaded you so you wouldn’t remember. He’s dead.” I lowered my gaze, I couldn’t help it. But only for a second. “I killed him.”

“Vampires,” he said. “Kait.”

I stared at him until finally, I saw belief enter his eyes. And then he was the one to look away. “Like with Remy Simon’s sister,” he said.

“Yes. And you were right to worry about me bringing the supernatural to your door. It’s because of me that the vampires took you. Tortured you.”

I doubted he was even aware of it when he leaned slightly away from me. “Don’t make me drag it out of you. Tell me.”

“I don’t only hunt demons. I hunt vampires. Bad ones. The vampire master of Clinton County had a grudge, and to get to me, he took you. I got you away from him, but not before he fucked you up. And I hope,” I added fiercely, “that you never remember.”

“I’ve seen things,” he said slowly. “I’ve fought at your side. I watched a demon possess a human. But we grow up knowing there are demons and possessions and spirits. Ghosts.”

“But not vampires and shifters,” I murmured. “Not wolves. I know.”

He ran his hand over his face, and suddenly, he looked just a little more tired. “Wolves,” he muttered. “Shifters.”

I’m a wolf shifter. I wanted to say that to him, but I couldn’t. Fear lingered. He would reject my wolf. He would reject me. I didn’t want to see his regard turn to revulsion, and I couldn’t say the words. Not yet.

Eventually, he’d find out all on his own.

He’d need time to process what I’d told him, so I changed the subject to the reason I’d come. “Lucy’s dreams,” I said. “She keeps seeing your serial killer. She believes he’s going to take her.”

“Because of me,” he said. “I’ve gotten you and your friends on this guy’s radar.” And finally, his expression softened a little when he looked at me. “Maybe that makes us even.”

I got up to pace, unable to sit still with the nervous energy inside me. “I have to keep Lucy out of his hands, Detective. She seems to think it doesn’t matter what I do—her dreams have shown her with him, and there’s no way of changing that.”

“So we need a plan,” he said. “When the killer takes her, we’ll be waiting.”

“We’d better be.” I slid his key into my pocket. I didn’t ask him if he wanted it back now that I’d told him about my part in his trouble. “I can’t let anything happen to her.”

“What did they do to me, Kait?” he asked abruptly. He got to his feet, his hands at his sides, his face blank. But I saw what was in his eyes.

I lifted a hand to my stomach, pressing lightly, as though I could push the dread and pain and fear away. I hurt for him. He only watched me quietly, waiting, and maybe there was a little reluctance in his stare. Maybe he didn’t want to know the answer to his question. Not really.

“They chained you,” I said, finally, “and they hurt you. They beat you, cut you, terrorized you.” I swallowed hard. “They bit you.”

“They…” He shuddered. “They drank my blood?”

And so much more. But I didn’t say that. I only nodded. He still hadn’t really grasped the truth, not completely. He didn’t quite believe that real vampires had taken him. That they even existed. He hadn’t seen one yet.

But he would.

“So…” He shook his head and laughed, a harsh bark of sound that hurt my heart. “Does that mean I’ll start growing fangs and craving blood?”

“No,” I whispered, then cleared my throat and tried again. “No. He didn’t turn you. He would have, I think, had I not found you.”

“I should thank you, then.”

“No,” I said again. “God, no. You should not thank me.” My lips trembled and I pressed them together, forbidding myself to allow so much as a single tear to spill over. “I’m sorry you were hurt. And I’m sorry you were hurt because of me.”

We stared at each other silently until finally, I turned to leave. I’d give him time to process what I’d told him, and he would call me. When he did, we’d discuss a plan for catching the killer who was going to take Lucy.

We had time. I had a feeling that bastard was going to fuck with us as much as possible before he came after her.

We just needed to be ready when he did.