“Someone else has to be doing it.” Tanner was adamant. Because if there wasn’t someone else. Fuck, no . . . it’s not him.
Cody couldn’t be setting him up.
But...
But he could be after Marna’s blood, a sly voice whispered in his mind.
Now that Cody knew just how powerful it was, just how much people would be willing to pay for it, had he been tempted?
Money had driven plenty of people to murder.
Not him. Tanner wouldn’t believe it. Not yet.
“Find him,” Tanner said again, and he knew by the tense expression on Cody’s face that his brother understood what he was saying—and what he wasn’t.
“It’s not me,” Cody whispered.
Tanner nodded, but he saw the flash of fear on Marna’s face. He might be willing to trust his brother, but why would she? Why should she?
He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her palm. “Trust me.” She didn’t have to trust Cody.
She nodded, and for just a second, time seemed to slow for him. Did she realize what she was doing?
“But what’s gonna happen with you?” Cody wanted to know then as he rocked forward nervously on the balls of his feet. “Your captain is dead. You can’t just go waltzing back to the station now.”
No, he couldn’t. He wouldn’t be heading back, not until he was sure the other cops weren’t about to turn on him, too. “We’re staying low.” He hunted better in the dark anyway.
“I hope you make that damn low,” Cody told him. “Because as long as you keep staying with her . . .” An incline of his head toward Marna. “You’re at the top of the supernatural hit list.”
Bring it.
“I’m getting off that list,” Marna said as her fingers tightened around Tanner’s. “I’m going to see Sammael right now, and I’m getting off that list.”
Easier said than done.
And the truth was . . . he didn’t want her to get that deadly power back. If she killed when she touched, would she pull away from him? Be afraid to touch him?
But if she wanted to see Sammael, he’d take her to the Fallen. Hell, there probably wasn’t anything that he wouldn’t do for her.
“Twenty-four hours,” he told Cody with a hard stare. Because it was time to move. “We each do our hunting, then we meet back here.” Plenty of time to kill.
And killing was exactly what he had planned.
Cody nodded.
Twenty-four hours.
His brother turned away. Tanner kept his gaze on him, and knew that while they were apart, he’d be doing more of his own digging. And if he found out that Cody was stealing his face again . . .
Could he put his brother in the ground?
Tanner glanced back at Marna.
He just might have to.
He’d lost their scent. Dammit. The angel had disappeared, running too fast with her shifter.
After all of his plans, his careful schemes, they’d vanished into the swamp.
Why couldn’t he find them? He could always find anyone, at any time. That was part of his power.
But...
He couldn’t find her.
Was something happening? He stared down at his hands. He’d washed the blood away in the water. His new trinkets were stowed in the bag near his hip. New weapons, courtesy of his last victim, that would come in handy soon.
Over the years, he’d learned to be creative with his kills. Sometimes, simple bullets did the trick. Other times, more exotic methods were needed.
Especially when he wanted to make his prey scream and beg for mercy.
Not that he was the merciful sort. No, he was far more into retribution and pain.
He glanced up and his gaze swept the thick vegetation once more.
Where was she?
And why the hell wasn’t she appreciating all that he was doing for her? He’d taken care of the two shifters in that shit-forsaken alley. Gotten rid of the cop who could ID her. He knew the kid must have seen her in that SUV.
Well, he’d almost gotten rid of the young cop. A quick trip to the hospital would finish the job now. He’d be making that trip, after he disposed of Cody and Tanner.
He’d even taken out that ass**le tonight, for her. He hadn’t wanted the panther to decide to try for Marna again. So he’d eliminated Russell. Made the bastard suffer for his crimes.
He was doing everything for her, but she—
She just kept running from him.
Didn’t she realize what was happening? She was getting weaker, but he kept getting stronger. He could show her the way. He’d teach her everything she needed to know.