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?”