Eternal Flame

Chapter 9

A good guy? Oh, the woman had it wrong. Very, very wrong. When he’d listened to her story about her dick of a stepfather, the last thing he’d felt was good. If he’d known Jana back then … I would have gotten rid of the bastard for you.

Now he understood so much more about her, and Zane realized … he and Jana were a lot alike. Maybe too much.

So young when we first killed. So much power.

Jana shook her head and stared up at him a bit blankly, all that wild, dark hair loose around her face. “You are a good guy, Zane. You-you work for Night Watch. You’re a hunter.”

“You mean a licensed killer.” He shrugged and tried to keep his voice careless. Real hard when the woman was making him care more than any other had. “They pay me to hunt, but even if they didn’t, do you really think I’d be doing anything else? Some of us were born to hunt. To kill.” He paused deliberately. “But you know that better than anyone else, don’t you?”

That pink tongue swiped out again and his cock hardened. Down, boy. Not now. He hadn’t meant to give in to the lust before. Wrong place, wrong time. But he’d watched her while she’d been out, he’d-dammit, worried-and when she’d woken, he’d wanted.

He wasn’t used to not taking what he wanted. So he’d taken her.

And had one hell of a fine time. But I still want more. With her, I always want more.

What was he going to do about that problem?

A veil seemed to fall over her face. “How’d you get us away from the Feds?”

He shrugged. “It wasn’t that hard.”

“Bullshit. I-I remember being in front of Dusk.” Her forehead wrinkled. “I remember—”

“Why did you go there?” he interrupted, inching closer to her. He had the feeling the woman might break and run at any moment, and that wasn’t an option. She wasn’t going to leave him.

She blinked.

“Why’d you go back to Dusk?” That point had been bothering him. “Did you have a contact there?”

Her eyes-such a deep blue-widened. “Guess you could say that.” Her shoulders rolled. “The bastards from Perseus came after us too fast. I knew someone at Dusk must’ve tipped them off about us. Demons aren’t exactly trustworthy.”

He ignored the jibe.

“So I figured if I shook some cages—”

“You mean started some fires.”

“-that I’d get somebody to talk.” She frowned at him. “And I did. A demon named Morris. The bastard with the scar who turned tail and ran when the fight got hot.”

Excitement had his heart pounding faster. “He gave you a contact?”

“No, I got him to call his contact. I told ‘em if they wanted me, they could find me at the burning den.”

“Fuck. The fire was your beacon?” Not real subtle, but then, she wasn’t exactly a subtle kind of woman.

She smiled at him. And it was … a real smile. Warm. Her dimple winked, and he swallowed.

“No, Zane,” she said, “the fire was for you.”

“What?” She could always surprise him.

“I didn’t like the way the demons ganged up on you. I wanted to send a message, and I did.”

“I don’t need you fighting my battles.” He could handle any demon, any day of the week. But … she’d gone back to avenge him? That was … sweet, in a Jana way. Maybe some girlfriends would cook a guy dinner.

Jana cooked his enemies.

Wait-girlfriend? What the hell am I thinking?

Her hand lifted and slid over the stubble on his cheek. “You’re welcome.”

What?

Her hand dropped. “I was waiting for those bastards from Perseus to show up, but the FBI got there first.” Her lips tightened. “Actually, you got there first.” She waited a beat then said, “Bait, huh?” She didn’t seem angry. Just curious.

Bait. He didn’t like the sound of that.

“Guess you realized there were bigger fish than me out there, right? What, does Night Watch have a hard-on for Perseus now?”

“You could say that.” And a hell of a lot more. “We lost five agents in that fire. We don’t take kindly to losing our own.”

Her gaze searched his. “What are you going to do? Do you really think you can take Perseus down?”

“Yeah, baby, I do. And you’re gonna help me blow the bastards to hell.”

He ditched the truck. Jude would want to rip him apart when he found out, but Zane had to abandon the shifter’s ride. Someone would have seen it at Dusk, and there was no point in continuing to advertise their presence.

It wasn’t hard to find another vehicle. It wasn’t legal, either. But he’d learned long ago that you sometimes had to go outside the law in order to get a job done.

“The Feds and the cops are going to be looking for us,” Jana said, turning to glance at him. They were in an older model Ford. Nothing flashy, nothing fancy. The kind of car you forgot two minutes after you saw it. He’d switched tags twice, just as a precaution.

“They’re not going to find us.” They had about thirty more minutes to go before they made it to New Orleans, and Zane damn sure wasn’t planning to stop for highway patrol.

“The FBI will have splashed our pictures all over the news. Every cop in the area probably has our descriptions.” Her voice was flat. Just stating the facts.

“Baby, every cop in the area got your description days ago. Hell, those in New Orleans had it years ago, and you’re still not inside of a jail.”

“I’m good at hiding.”

Yeah, he’d figured that.

“And when I was working for Project Perseus, they made sure the cops stayed off my back.”

The car almost swerved off the road. “You worked for them?” What the hell?

“It was either go after their kills or find my ass inside of the jail you just mentioned.”

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Her attention seemed to be on the blur of pine trees.

“I didn’t want to go back to jail,” she said quietly.

Then why did you kill?

Her head turned toward him. “Things aren’t black and white.”

He frowned.

“Maybe they are for you.” A mocking laugh. “Not for me. They’ve never been that way for me. So when Perseus told me that I’d be doing the world a favor, that I’d be taking out monsters who hurt women and children, hell, yeah, I was tempted.”

Her nails scored across the seat, and the grinding noise seemed too loud in the car. “They gave me dossiers. Told me when and where to strike, and they paid me well. I’d never had much, but suddenly, I had a chance for everything. And all I had to do was light a few fires.”

Zane realized he was hitting ninety, and he forced his foot to ease off the gas pedal. “The ones you went after … were they killers?” She’d taken out vamps in Baton Rouge. Vamps were known to be—

“Does it matter?” She paused. “Will you think better of me if I say that everyone I killed while working for Perseus was evil? That they were all murderers who needed to be put down?”

“Were they killers?” he asked again, refusing to let her rile the beast.

“Some were. At first, they all were.” She blew out a breath. “But then Perseus started thinking there wasn’t any such beast as a good supernatural. Hell, to them, the only good supernatural was a dead supernatural. Vamps, shifters-they needed to be put down. All of them.”

“You’re a supernatural.” Was that why they were trying to put her down, too? His gaze darted to the rearview mirror.

“I’m a human first. A human with a psychic skill… that means I’m a tool for them. Not good enough to ever invite over for dinner, but good enough to use. They like to use enhanced humans-Ignitors, charmers-my handler told me that sometimes monsters had to kill monsters.”

“Your handler?” Now they were getting someplace.

And that black SUV that had been following them for the last ten minutes was getting closer. He could see the other vehicle so well in the rearview mirror.

“My handler was a real sweetheart named Beth Parker. Human to the core, and a woman who got off on death more than anyone I’ve ever seen.” Disgust tinged her words. “She didn’t take so kindly to me wanting to leave the fold.”

“Oh?”

“So I made sure I gave her one hell of a kiss good-bye.”

“What?”

“She was with those asshole scientists who held me at the end in New Orleans. Since I didn’t want to play ball with them anymore, they decided to cage me. Then when they couldn’t change my mind … they decided I was expendable.”

The SUV was getting closer. He started edging back up to ninety.

“They strapped me to a table and got ready to cut into my head. They thought the secret to the fire was in my brain. That something was wired differently. And that bitch Beth just stood there, watching, while I screamed.”

His own fury rose.

“I hadn’t attacked a human since my stepfather. I’d said I never would again. …” Her words trailed off. “But I wasn’t dying on that table for them. Beth made it out of the flames, but she got the kiss of fire on her hand and face. She won’t ever forget me. I made sure of it.”

Well, damn. “You play hard, don’t you, baby?”

“I don’t play.”

The odometer trembled up to ninety-five, but that SUV was still gaining.

“They don’t play, either, Zane, and they sure as hell aren’t going to be opening the door and offering a welcome smile to us when we get there.”

But the men who’d slammed into them with the big rig had wanted her alive. And the cop had wanted her alive, too.

It was fine to kill me, but they want her breathing.

That didn’t really make sense if they were just planning to kill her later on.

“Don’t worry about opening the door,” he said, “I can manage that just fine—”

The SUV rammed into their bumper and the Ford lurched forward. The minivan in the right lane let out a long, desperate honk.

“Zane!”

He held tight to the wheel and floored the Ford. Unfortunately, flooring it meant that it only went about ten miles per hour faster.

The SUV hit them again.

Jana jerked around and stared behind them. Her breath rasped out. “They’re already found us.” He wasn’t sure they’d ever lost them. The minivan plowed into Jana’s side and she screamed. What? The minivan? He hadn’t seen that one coming.

The minivan hit again. Metal groaned as the door caved in. “Jana!”

She didn’t answer. He risked a fast glance at her. Her hair was a dark shield around her head and—

And the front of the minivan burst into flames. The vehicle swerved and plowed into the trees.

That’s my girl.

But before he could speak, the SUV took aim at them once more. Another hard hit from behind made his teeth rattle. “Shit!”

“I can take care of them.”

Yeah, he knew she could. But they were about to head into more traffic and if the fire got out of control … Jana unsnapped her seat belt. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Aiming.”

She crawled into the backseat. Her ass brushed his shoulder. Aw, damn.

He glanced in the mirror.

Smoke rose from the hood of the other vehicle. The driver of that SUV must’ve gotten the message that she was sending because the brakes squealed as the SUV shuddered to a stop.

Zane got them the hell out of there. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” But she didn’t sound fine.

He adjusted the rearview mirror and saw her slump in the backseat. “But if it’s all the same to you,” she said, “I’m staying back here.” Her lips curved in a tired smile. “And that, lover, was our welcome wagon.”

“Your police captain is collaborating with the perpetrators,” Kelly Thomas charged, pointing her finger at Antonio. “Not only did the bastard let them escape his custody once, he did it twice!”

Harold Evans, the chief of police, lowered his bushy brows and stared at Antonio. “That true, son?” His hard Southern accent rolled on the words.

Antonio narrowed his eyes. “I wasn’t the only one at that club. She”-the agent who was seriously pissing him off- “was right there. They got away from both of us, from half the PD, from—”

“I had a shot,” Kelly said, her cheeks flaming. “I could have taken out that hunter!”

“Uh … hunter?” Harold asked, rubbing his grizzled jaw. Gray stubble coated his sagging chin.

“Zane Wynter, the hunter from Night Watch,” Antonio reminded him, though he knew the reminder wasn’t necessary. The slow-Southern-boy act was just that … an act. Men didn’t come any sharper than Harold.

“And he’s teamed up with the arsonist?” Harold shook his head. “Why?”

“There’s no proof he’s teamed up with her—” Antonio began.

“Bullshit.” Ah, the agent was eloquent. Normally, he rather liked that in a woman. In her, not so much. “Wynter had Jana Carter in his arms. All he had to do was surrender her to me, and this nightmare would have been over.”

Instead, Zane had unloaded on them all and taken the woman who the hell knew where. Antonio sure hadn’t seen that move coming. But then, Zane had surprised him a few times before, too.

“You took my weapon,” Kelly snapped. “If you’d just stood the fuck down, I would’ve had Jana Carter in custody.”

The small office seemed too hot. He could feel the heavy weight of Harold’s stare.

“You knew my gun didn’t have bullets in it, Captain. Just enough drugs to put them both down.” Her breath huffed out. “You knew that.”

Time to cut the bullshit. Everyone in that office understood the score. “And you know what drugs do to demons.” He shook his head. “It might not have knocked him out. It could have set him off-it could have made him rabid and the guy could have attacked us all!”

“He did attack us!” she threw out.

“Demon.” Harold grunted, holding up his hands. “The hunter’s a demon.” He raised one brow. “What’s the girl?”

“An Ignitor,” Kelly bit out. “An out-of-control Ignitor who needs to be put down.”

“But you weren’t putting her down,” the words slipped out instantly. Antonio leveled his stare on the agent. “You were just knocking her out.”

“Because I don’t get the pleasure of killing her.”

Okay, that was personal. The job and personal issues didn’t mix. The special agent should’ve recognized that fact long ago.

Papers rustled as Harold opened the files on his desk. “You used drugs on her because your boss, Anthony Miller, gave orders that Ms. Carter was to be brought in alive, and deadly force was to be avoided at all costs.”

“He’s not my boss.”

“Fine. He’s the senior agent.”

“And his ass is in Miami right now. He doesn’t even understand what’s happening here. He doesn’t—”

“I know Miller.” Harold folded his hands on top of the desk. “He understands everything.”

Her hands fisted at her sides. Her right hand seemed a little too close to her holster. “Wynter might have been a good hunter once, but he’s obviously turned, because of her. She has that effect on men. The woman seduces, gets men to trust her, then she betrays them.” Her breath rushed out as she stalked toward Antonio. “Your friend is in over his head. Even a demon can’t control her fire.”

His brows rose. “Now that would depend on just how strong the demon is.”

Her eyes couldn’t narrow much more. “We requested Wynter because he’d handled Ignitors before. He killed the last rogue, I—we-thought he could handle her, too.”

The picture suddenly became clearer. “You contracted with Night Watch, and you were hoping the demon would kill your Ignitor, weren’t you? You didn’t want him to apprehend her, you wanted him to execute her.” He stalked closer to her. “Your hands would’ve been clean then, right? You would have done your job and gotten your wish. Jana Carter would be dead.”

Her smug smile was his answer.

Hell. “Zane Wynter doesn’t kill for sport.”

She laughed at that. “He’s a demon. Of course, he does.”

He was aware of old Harold stiffening and the temperature in the room dropped a good ten degrees. But the special agent didn’t seem to notice that change. “You think all demons are evil?” he asked her, just to be sure he understood.

“They’re demons, aren’t they?”

“Uh … you know it’s biological, right? It’s not like they’re the devil’s minions, they’re just—”

“Supposed to be descended from the Fallen. Right. Whatever. They’re not human. I’ve stared into their eyes. Their real eyes, and I know they’re evil. Just as evil as she is.”

Antonio could only shake his head. “You don’t have a lot of faith in people, do you?”

She didn’t answer.

Right.

“What did Jana do to piss you off so much?” “You mean, other than go on a burning and killing spree for her entire life?”

“Yeah, other than that.” He felt Harold’s eyes on him.

“She—”

“I’ve heard enough.” Harold’s bearlike growl filled the room as he shoved to his feet. “Special Agent, you need to go check in with your boss.”

“He’s not—”

“Check in with your senior officer.” His right hand held a fountain pen in its white-knuckled grip. “Maybe he’s got word on your would-be prisoners.”

“Fine.” She jerked her thumb toward Antonio. “What about him?”

“Don’t you worry about Antonio. I’ll handle my man.” “See that you do.” One hard nod, then she whirled on her heel, and stormed for the door. Of course, the woman didn’t open the door and softly shut it behind her. No, she slammed the damn thing hard enough to make the framed commendations on Harold’s wall shake.

“I don’t believe I much like Special Agent Thomas,” Harold said, and Antonio glanced at him just in time to see the chief of police drop the glamour from his eyes.

Demon black eyes stared back at him. Antonio had always carried his suspicions about the chief, but …

“We’re not all fucking monsters. The special agent and those dicks at the FBI with their extermination list-they need to realize that.”

Antonio exhaled. “Am I suspended?”

“Hell, no.” That pen stabbed toward him. “What you are is on your way to New Orleans. I got a report that Wynter was headed that way with the woman.”

“But I don’t have jurisdiction—”

“Screw jurisdiction. I’m not letting Agent Thomas get her hands on Wynter first. He’s a hunter, but he’s also one of mine.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Get your ass down there. Find Wynter and find that girl.”

“Carter? What do you—”

“It’s come to my attention that she may know certain … pertinent facts … about a group the FBI has been trying to infiltrate for years. A group that is quite dangerous.” He paused. “To folks like me.”

“Sir?”

“If Jana Carter has got the info I need, I do not, do not, want her winding up in Special Agent Thomas’s hands first. I want her, understand?”

“I think I do.”

“Good, then, son, because if you want that promotion that you been chomping at the bit for, bring ‘em both back. Alive.”

Unfortunately, that last part might not be so easy. Especially since he was a cop who happened to be one-hundred-percent human … stepping into a world that wasn’t.

Good thing he knew exactly where to go for some paranormal backup.

“Why are we going into a hospital?” Zane asked, shaking his head. “We need to get to Perseus before—”

“This is the way to get to Perseus.” Jana stared at the swirling ambulance lights. Our Sisters of Mercy Hospital was booming tonight. She and Zane had gotten into New Orleans earlier, then laid low until the sun dropped.

As soon as the night fell, they’d been ready to hunt, and the hunt, well, it began here.

“There’s a nurse inside. Her name’s Nancy Gilbert.” Low on the Perseus totem pole, but she was still a way to make contact. “She reports to the group on any … unusual patients that check in.” Like a twenty-year-old girl who’d escaped a four-alarm fire without any burns.

Stupid. I’d just stared up at the nurse and said, “I did it.” After so many folks not believing her, she’d sure never expected the nurse with the cold gray eyes to believe her.

Or to pump her full of drugs and have her taken from the hospital.

“We need to get you in there, and we need you to fake an injury.” Her gaze darted over him. “Or maybe we should give you a real one.”

He held up his hands. “Thanks, baby, but I’m fine with a fake injury.” His eyes narrowed. “Will this woman recognize you?”

“No.” The last time she’d seen Nurse Nancy, Jana had been sporting short, streaked blond hair, darkly tanned flesh, and she’d been five years younger.

Now that she’d gone back to her dark hair and her skin hadn’t seen the sunlight in months, she doubted Nancy would recognize her. Nancy had only been with her a few hours that fateful night, anyway.

Not that Jana had ever forgotten her. You didn’t forget the woman who changed your life. Payback.

“So how do we get from point A to point fucking Perseus?” Zane demanded.

She grabbed his hand. Now or never. “Leave that to me.” If he wanted to walk into hell, she’d take him and maybe, just maybe they could bring down the devil together.

Then I’ll be free.

If only.

Running hadn’t worked-they’d just come after her. They’d keep coming, until the Perseus group was stopped. Zane was strong; she knew he was high on the demon scale. Would he be strong enough to stop the bastards? I hope so.

She and Zane hurried forward, and as soon as Jana caught sight of two EMTs returning to their ambulance, she let out a high, desperate scream. “Help me!” She shoved against Zane, sending him stumbling. “My brother-he’s—” She whispered to him, “Hit the ground.”

Zane collapsed.

“He’s having a seizure again! Oh, God, he’s been having them almost constantly, and I don’t have his meds, I don’t—”

The EMTs-a man and a woman-rushed over to them. Jana held onto Zane’s hand, clinging tightly and, because she was one fine actress, she let the tears track down her cheeks as the EMTs loaded Zane onto a stretcher and rushed him inside the hospital.

“What kind of medication is your brother taking?” one of the EMTs demanded.

“Uh … uh … rufinaide.”

The EMT blinked and squinted at her.

What? That was a seizure medication, wasn’t it? Just then, Zane moaned and his head sagged against the stretcher.

“It’s over,” she whispered, letting her own head drop forward. From the corner of her eye, she saw a familiar figure bustling over to them. Nurse Nancy always liked to take a look at every new arrival. After all, that was her job.

Jana had been back a few times over the years, back to take a look at the nurse. You screwed me over, Nancy.

When paranormals were sick or injured, usually it was harder for them to mask exactly who-what-they were. Nancy counted on that. She preyed on their weakness. Everyone at Perseus did.

The EMT said, “We need to get him stable and—”

“What’s going on here?” the nurse asked.

Jana squeezed Zane’s hand. Hard.

His eyes fluttered open, and in that instant, she caught his demon-black stare.

Nurse Nancy sucked in a sharp breath.

A blink from Zane and his eyes were back to green. “Wh-what happened?” His head turned slowly, and he focused on Jana. “Did I … Shit, the hospital.”

He shoved up, but the EMTs grabbed his arms and tried to hold him down.

“Easy, sir, you’ve had a seizure. You need—”

“Fuck what I need.” He broke their hold in an instant and surged to his feet. He wavered for a moment, and his body shuddered.

Okay, so the guy was a pretty good actor, too. She’d need to remember that.

He caught her arm and hauled her close. “You know better than to bring me here,” he muttered. “You know …”

Nurse Nancy stepped in front of them. “I’d like to talk with you a moment, sir.”

He shook his head and, keeping his hold on Jana, skirted around the nurse.

“We can’t let him leave!” the male EMT called out. “He might have another—”

“I know why your medicine isn’t working,” Nurse Nancy said calmly.

Of course, she knew. Meds never worked the way they were supposed to work on demons.

Zane froze. Then he tossed a hard glare back over his shoulder. “Oh, you do?”

“Umm …” The nurse didn’t wear one of those annoying white uniforms. She wore dark blue scrubs, and a stethoscope dangled around her scrawny neck. “Come with me into the back. Let me check you out thoroughly, and I can explain everything.”

Right. Step into my web. Nancy was a pretty woman, with gray-streaked black hair and the faintest of lines around her eyes. She didn’t look like the devil. Really, she didn’t.

Zane glanced back at Jana. “What should I do?” he asked softly.

She stared into his eyes. “We need help. Let’s see what she has to say.”

He gave a curt nod. Together, they turned to follow Nancy. But the nurse held up one hand, stopping her. “I’d like to speak to him privately.”

Not going to happen. “I’m his sister. I go where he goes.”

Nancy’s lips tightened.

“She goes,” Zane snapped.

“Fine. Follow me.”

And they marched right past the EMTs. Poor EMTS, they were still blinking and trying to figure out what was going on.

“In here.” Nancy pointed to a small examining room. “Just sit down. I’ll be … right back.”

They went inside. Nancy closed the door behind them and sealed them inside.

Zane frowned.

“She’s gone to make the call.” Ah, but she’d watched this routine a few times. Not that Nancy knew that. “She’s letting her contact know that she has a potential in the area.”

“A potential? Is that what I am?” He yanked his phone out of his front pocket and tapped fast on the screen. He put the phone to his ear and a few seconds later said, “Pak. Yeah, I’m in New Orleans.” A brief hesitation, then he said, “I need you to run a check on a nurse Nancy Gilbert at Our Sisters of Mercy Hospital. She’s about five-foot-four, forty-five to fifty years old and—”

His gaze flew toward the door. He shoved the phone back into his pocket.

Nancy opened the door about three seconds later. She had a bright, friendly smile on her face. “Sorry, I just needed to assure the EMTs that you were in capable hands.” She laughed, a light tinkle of sound. “You’d think I’d never treated a patient before!”

Jana inched closer to Zane’s side. “Why aren’t the meds working?” She really didn’t want to bullshit through the chitchat. Might as well get to the main show.

The door clicked closed. Nancy’s smile dimmed. “First… I’m going to need some background information on my patient.”

Zane narrowed his eyes.

“Your parents … what are their names?”

“Why does that matter?”

“Because I need to see if you have a family history of—” “Fuck, she doesn’t know.” Zane charged forward. “Let’s get out of here.”

Nancy put a hand on his chest. “You’re a demon.” Zane stiffened.

Nancy’s gaze darted to Jana. “The question I have … are you a full-blood or a hybrid?” She blinked and seemed to realize they might not know what she meant. “Ah … a hybrid would be a mix, a—”

Zane backed away from her touch, and Jana saw the muscle flex in his jaw. “I know the damn term. Yeah, my mother was human but that bastard who fathered me wasn’t.”

Oh, nice touch. Perseus would be all over a hybrid. They’d want to recruit him, not kill him. They did love that human blood. And the powers that be over there would really get off on a demon killing other demons.

“Demons don’t always respond the way they’re supposed to when they are given human medications,” Nancy said, her voice quiet and calm.

“I’m not a demon.”

“Hybrid,” she murmured and her gaze darted to Jana. “And you…?”

“I’m human. I’m his half-sister.” Said fast because she knew Nancy would be able to rustle up a demon who could check her out. A demon could look right through the veil of glamour and see another of his kind. If one took a good look at her … no sense pushing that. “I see.”

Jana knew exactly what the nurse meant. Nancy wasn’t interested in her.

“I have some friends.” Nancy turned her attention back to Zane. “They work with people like you. They can help you.”

“Bullshit. No one can help me. I’ve been trying for years, fighting this thing inside—”

Nancy’s eyes narrowed. “Does it tempt you, this beast inside?”

He didn’t speak.

“Does it call to you … taunt you with the power that it has?”

Jana didn’t roll her eyes, but it was a near thing.

“I know I can do any damn thing I want,” Zane’s voice rumbled, so dark, and Jana’s gaze darted to him. “If I let my control go, there’s no stopping me.”

Now that sounded so real. Maybe too real. Her tongue snaked over her bottom lip.

“Have you ever let go?” Nancy’s eyes were fixed on him.

A grim nod. “Once.”

Nancy leaned forward. “What happened?” Eagerness glittered in her gaze. Hungry vulture.

Zane straightened his shoulders. “I killed the bastard who claimed to be my father. I sent the demon back to hell.”

Well, damn. The man really was one class-A actor, and a pretty good writer, too, because that was just the kind of story Perseus would eat up.

Demon killer… destroying even your father because of what he was.

Nancy smiled. “Good for you,” she said. “Sometimes, there are some folks that just need to be put down.”

Sometimes. But those folks weren’t always demons. Humans could be just as evil.

Nancy’s gaze darted to Jana.

Jana swiped her hand over her cheeks, wiping away the tear drops that she still let fall. “It’s been so hard,” she whispered.

Nancy gave her an understanding smile, one oozing fake sympathy. “I’m sure it has. But everything will be changing for you now.” She turned toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Zane asked, taking a step forward.

“I need to call a friend. He can come and get you. He’ll make sure you’re safe for the night.”

Safe and snug inside Perseus. Just what Zane wanted. Hmmm … maybe they would be opening those doors wide open … making them welcoming for him. The guy had just played Nancy perfectly.

“I’m afraid you won’t be coming with him,” Nancy said, that stare once more landing on Jana’s face. “You understand, don’t you? Your brother needs to be around others who understand him.”

Yeah, this wasn’t part of the plan. Jana blinked and lifted her chin. “I understand him just fine.”

What? Was that pity filling Nancy’s eyes? The last thing she wanted was for that witch to pity her. “Your brother is special,” Nancy said. “My friends can help him, but if you come-you’ll just be in the way. They don’t have a place for someone like you.”

Because Nancy thought she was simply another human, one without special skills. If she’d been a paranormal, Nancy would be getting ready to send her off-either to use her or to kill her. But a straight human got a pass out of there.

Only she didn’t want that pass this time. She wanted to stay by Zane’s side. The guy might need her. No, he would need her.

“I’m going—”

“Home,” Zane said, interrupting her. He turned his head and his eyes met hers. “Go home and wait for me. I want- I want to see what these people have to say. If they can help me …”

Now he was kicking her to the curb, too.

But, wait, wasn’t that supposed to be what she’d wanted? She’d been trying to get away from him since the beginning, but now … Now she didn’t want to let him out of her sight. She didn’t trust Nancy. Didn’t trust anyone in Perseus. What if Zane wasn’t strong enough to bring them down?

“I’m coming with you.” Her fingers caught his and held tight. “We’re a team, remember?” He’d been watching her back. She’d watch his.

He glanced down at their fingers. Then slowly, carefully, he pulled away from her. “Not this time.”

Shit. The demon was cutting her loose.

This had not been part of the plan. They really should have talked more before storming into the hospital. Maybe agreed to, oh, she didn’t know—not desert each other.

Nancy opened the door, and the woman had a near-smirk on her face. “Your brother will be fine. Trust me, he’s in good hands.”

The hell he was. But the demon was the one calling the shots and if he wanted to go solo, if he wanted to risk his sexy neck, then who was she to make the idiot see reason?

She rose onto her toes and brushed her lips against his cheek. “Watch yourself,” she whispered. Then she pulled away. Her steps were slow as she made her way to the door. “You’ll… take care of him?” she asked Nancy, casting one last look back at Zane.

“You have my word,” the nurse assured her. Right. The woman’s word? That wasn’t worth the breath it took to speak.

Jana slipped into the white-tiled hallway. Her shoes squeaked on the floor. She could see her image staring back up at her from that gleaming tile.

Run… make a break for it. The demon had told her to go. She could wash her hands of him and break free now. Maybe he’d succeed and take down Perseus. Then she’d just have the FBI jerks on her trail, but she could shake them, no problem. Especially now that she knew they had such a hard-on for her. She’d be hyper-aware of them, and they would not catch her again.

Yeah, she could run now. Run, and never look back. Maybe she’d even head to Mexico. Get some sun.

It was the smart thing to do.

He told me to leave.

The exit doors waited for her. A few more steps, and they swished open silently, giving her easy access to the night. Run.

She wasn’t perfect. Far from it and, in that instant, she was tempted. After all, she’d run plenty of times in her life. An EMT bumped into her, his shoulder clipping her arm. Running was easy.

She took three steps back. The doors slid closed before her. The demon had saved her twice now. She’d always thought it was important to pay your debts.

Besides … she really owed the folks at Perseus an ass-kicking.

Don’t worry, Zane. I’ve got your back.