Black Bird (Nevermore Duet #1)

CHAPTER 7

THE FIVE STAGES

The shop was busy today. Wren had already made a decent commission, and this was her fourth client. The last client, she’d decided, when she could barely feel her fingertips through her latex gloves as she wiped away ink with her towel. The guy in her chair was a chubby biker who talked too much and sweat like a pig that knew it was on the chopping block. The weekend was nearing and damn, she needed a break. So much has been going on since Sarah’s attack. It didn’t feel right to need some kind of vacation from all of it, when her best friend was the one that had been struggling through such a thing … but it also didn’t make it any less stressful.

Wren had offered to stay with Sarah through the weekend, but she’d refused. Since all this had happened, it had been harder and harder to read her friend. This had not only changed Sarah, but everyone around her. Boston was getting spooked, Sarah had decided for herself that it was time to give Brent the shoe, and Wren oftentimes didn’t know where she was left in the mix. She wanted to help, but there seemed to be little anyone could do when Sarah got into one of those weird moods. It could go either way; she either wanted to be left alone, wouldn’t say much, if anything at all … or she was downright violent. Aside from that, Wren was grateful for the Sarah she’d come to love so much when all the weird shit was at bay. It just seemed like that Sarah was showing herself less and less as the days went by.

“Vintorri …” Her shop manager called from her doorway. “Make it quick, we got shit to do.” Dominic’s pissy expression flashed warning as he turned and walked off, leaving Sarah’s hot detective standing in his place. Wren paused her work and leaned up from her client’s flabby arm.

“What’s up? Something wrong?” she asked, a panicked feeling roiling in her stomach.

“No, no … all good. Just came to ask you something, if that’s okay.” Kane leaned against the doorway and shoved his hands into his pockets. Wren almost prayed to God that something would flare up between Sarah and this guy. He couldn’t be more perfect for her if he tried. Especially now that Wren knew he was the one Sarah had studied so hard at the club that night.

“Do you mind, son? You want in this chair, you gotta wait your turn.” The biker whined, cocking his head toward her visitor. Kane just raised his badge, expressionless. “Oh … I’ll just—pretend I’m not here, then. Sorry. ”

“First bright thing you’ve said this whole session, pal.” Wren rolled her eyes and started back up on his arm. The biker said nothing. “What’s on your mind, detective?”

“I was wondering if you could tell me how she’s been since the incident. Her mood swings, her healing … any strange behavior. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but all the victims in this case aren’t … you know …”

“Alive?” Wren glanced up, wiping more ink with the towel, and digging back into the biker’s arm with her tattoo gun. “Yeah, I’m aware. I’m not sure how much I can tell you that you don’t already know, but I’ll try.” Kane shifted on his feet.

“How was she last night?” he asked.

“She didn’t sleep much. Bitch boy showed up. He was pissed that she wasn’t answering any of his calls, and I walked up to the store to give them some time to fight it out. When I got back, she said she’d ended it. I half expected her to be upset, but …” Wren shrugged and wiped again. “She polished off another pot of coffee after that. She didn’t talk much about what all was said, but she stayed up until 3:00 this morning.”

“Doing what?”

“I dozed off. I woke up and looked at the clock and she was on the couch with a book and her laptop. Didn’t seem really out of the ordinary, but I asked her to come get some rest and I swore the bitch growled at me.” Wren chuckled. “She did come to bed though. It wasn’t restful sleep, she tossed and turned a lot … but it was sleep, at least. I left this morning, and she was already up taking a shower.”

“What time was that?”

Wren twitched her mouth and narrowed her eyes. “Maybe about 9:00?”

“Has she seemed sick? Throwing up, loss of appetite … any more fainting spells or anything?”

She paused again, rolling the stool back and stared at the detective for a moment. “She doesn’t seem sick … just … different. She’s changed. I’m not sure how to explain it. I’m struggling with it, to be honest. I don’t know this side of her, detective.” Wren wasn’t sure how much else she should say, but decided it was worth letting someone know about. “If I’m being honest, I’ve never seen something as fucked up as that thing was on her neck. When I was little, my aunt’s little mutt got ahold of my leg. That was a small dog, but she made quick work of tearing a hole in it. I might have been like nine or ten … and it took months to heal up.” She watched Kane’s face change, just the slightest bit. “I can tell it still hurts her a little, but when’s the last time you saw something that bad heal up that fast?”

Kane slid off the doorway and stared down at the floor. “I haven’t.” Wren wasn’t born yesterday. She knew he was fishing for something. She decided she would too.

“Are you asking me about all this for the case?” She paused and he looked up. “Or for you?” Kane glanced over to the biker who was doing his best not to look interested. Wren didn’t take her eyes off him, and when he looked back at her she saw her answer. “Look, I’m not stupid. I know you’ve got a job to do, and this is a delicate thing, okay? But when all this is over … just promise me you won’t hurt her. Sarah’s been through the ringer, dude. In all the years I’ve known her, the only two things she’s ever wanted was to figure out what happened to her mom, and to be invisible. It at least makes me feel a little better knowing there’s somebody else watching out for her. But if you hurt her …” Wren pointed the tattoo gun at him. “I’ll chop your dick off, cop.”

The biker cleared his throat and adjusted the seat of his jeans and Kane smiled at her. “I swore to protect, Miss Vintorri. That’s all I wanna do.” He laid a card on her counter by the doorway. “You can call or text that number if you need me, or if you can think of anything else. It doesn’t matter what time.” He smirked at her and put his hands back into his pockets as he slipped out the door. Wren watched him when he crossed the parlor, and something caught his attention at the glass counter. He stopped and asked Leigh, the pink-haired receptionist, how much it was. She couldn’t hear much else, but he pulled out his wallet and she wrapped up a small figurine, taking his card and checking him out. Wren half expected him to buy body jewelry. This was a surprise.

“I’ll be right back.” Wren muttered to her client, ignoring his grumbling as she sat down the gun and pulled her gloves off. Kane left before she could make it across the shop, and she watched him through the glass as he threw a leg over his motorcycle and pulled his helmet on. She stepped up to the counter and peered inside. “What’d he get?”

Leigh filed the receipt and glanced out the window as Kane pulled onto the street. “Just a raven figurine. The one that was sitting on the skull.”

Wren crossed her arms and leaned against the counter. “Interesting.”

He didn’t know why or how he ended up here at 6:00. He usually stayed as far away from this place as possible. Every fiber of him wanted to confront Dahlia and demand that she tell him the truth about what he’d learned from Nick Specter when he nearly had the prick pissing his pants at EverLife earlier today. Athan knew that walking into the tavern any earlier would raise suspicion as to how he was able to be out during the day, and he wasn’t here to have that conversation. As far as he knew, no one other than Rhaena was aware that he’d been the one that left Sarah out in the alley. Everything about what he’d done was so stupid. He was stupid. Especially when everything that was transpiring around this mistake was second to the fact that all he could think about was her. He’d never felt anything stronger in his immortal life. He supposed that was the real reason why he came.

A smooth, familiar voice rang out from behind the bar, and Athan smiled to himself as he lit a cigarette and slid a stool out. Tony emerged from the doorway just behind, a keg held out in front of him as he paused his singing. “Hey, man.” He couldn’t help but notice that his pale face turned another shade lighter beneath his cap.

“How’s life, Tony?” Athan asked, dragging on his cigarette. Tony set down the keg and nodded toward the empty room, his friendly smirk gracing his face.

“Quiet today.” He smiled, shaking Athan’s offered hand. “I don’t mean to come off rude, but what the hell are you doing here?” He snorted.

“I need a drink, friend. Having a day.”

“You sure this is the place you wanna be getting a drink?” Tony asked warily, pity flashing in his eyes. “I’d think you’d wanna be anywhere but here.”

“Anywhere but here doesn’t know what we are, Tony. As much as I hate this fucking place … it’s the only place I don’t have to hide it.”

Tony stilled and slowly nodded his head, grabbing a short glass and cleaning it with his towel. “I gotcha. That kinda day.” Athan took a long hit, smoke curling from his nose as he nodded back. “Let’s fix it.” Tony smiled, turning and pulling a bottle of whiskey from the top shelf and filling the glass up nearly to the brim. “You wanna talk about it?”

“Look, just know … I don’t like people,” Athan said, swallowing a mouthful of amber liquid.

“No shit, Kane.” Tony scoffed, pouring a shot for himself. “We all know that.”

“I don’t discuss personal business with anyone. So, if I confide in you … then I’m sure you understand there’s a slight chance you’re not one of those people I wanna decapitate. Right?” Tony laughed into his glass in response.

“It’s a dame.”

“It is …” Athan confirmed, pulling on his cigarette.

“The one from the club that night?” Something tugged in his middle, and he felt overwhelmed with the need to protect her. Tony must have sensed it and the bartender swallowed hard.

“What do you know? And how?” He could hear his own voice change. Lowered to a tone that promised a swift death.

“Whadd’ya mean? She came to the bar asking about you when you left that night. I assumed you were talking about her.”

“What?” Athan drew his brows and Tony nodded.

“She asked about you. Wanted to know if you were a regular. Is she the one that’s got you all worked up?” They both drank from their glass and Athan felt twice as shitty now. He softly nodded. “She was a sweet one. Not like the scavengers that come in here lookin’ for trouble.”

“Have you ever had somebody consume you like this? I mean, she’s off-limits. Truth be told, I want no part of a relationship. I’m enough to handle just on my own, but … fuck.”

“I sleep around.” Tony shrugged, chuckling. “I try not to get attached to anybody. There’s no point in it. Nobody in the coven really interests me, and being with a human is only gonna result in hurting them … you know … in more ways than one. ”

“What about other members? I never paid much attention. Are any of them married?” Just saying the word seemed strange. He never saw himself marrying anyone. Never even really thought about it, nor was it something he ever wanted. He generally loved the solitude.

“No, not married … I mean, I know a couple of them are mated.”

Mated …

That got his attention. Athan lowered his brows. “What do you mean mated? That’s a thing?” They drank again.

“Yeah. It’s not what you’re thinking, though. There’s a difference between siring somebody and mating somebody. Marking obviously leaves the traces, and if you turn them … well, you know. They’re like us. But if you’re lucky enough, you find a mate. That person would be just as drawn to you as you are to them. It’s like some unbreakable bond that links up that nobody can feel or detect except the two of you. From what I’ve come to understand, it’s rare. But as much as we’ve moved around the world, man … it doesn’t seem unlikely that members in the coven have found their mates.”

“Can a human be a mate?”

“I think so. I mean if it’s a part of your being I don’t think it would matter if you were human or not, would it? I certainly see that being a possibility.” Tony finished his drink and started washing his glass. Athan slowly sipped on his, staring down into it and swirling the contents as he got lost in thought. This was insanity. There was no fucking way this was true … was it? “You alright, chap?”

Athan glanced up, meeting Tony’s eyes as he dried off the glass and nodded again. “Yeah, I’m good.” He finished off the whiskey and slid the cup across the bar. “Keep this between us, will ya?” He leaned over, patting Tony’s shoulder and the wise bartender tipped his cap. “Thanks, Tony.”

“You got it.” Athan slid down from the bar, puffing on the last of his cigarette and striding toward the door. “Kane …” Tony called. He looked back over his shoulder. “It’s good to see you. I needed the company too.” He winked, and Athan jerked his head in reply, throwing up a couple of fingers as he left.

He was so fucked. Of course, the universe would throw this on him. Right now, of all times. When the coven was plotting against him, and working with a crooked-ass politician to scope out the girl that fate paired him with. How could this get any worse? His freedom seemed farther and farther away, and if Dahlia found out about Sarah …what would she do to her? Christ, it was so screwed up. He decided the best thing to do for now would be to lay low and get as much figured out on the sly as he could. He’d try to protect her through all of this. When Rhaena found out, she’d lose it. He found himself wishing he’d asked Tony for one more before he mounted his bike and peeled out.

When he unlocked the door to his apartment, he was glad to find it empty, save for the screeching bird that was begging to be let out of his cage. He didn’t want to see Rhaena right now. He didn’t want to see anyone else. That was, unless some tattooed, hazel-eyed heartbreaker knocked on his door tonight. Even then, all that would accomplish was how far he could push his self-control. He’d never touch her that way. Not until she knew the truth about what he’d done to her. If she wanted him after that, which he knew was highly unlikely, then and only then would he allow himself the pleasure.

“Hey, bud.” Athan soothed, letting Poe step onto his finger as he reached past the door to his cage. “I’m sorry … you’re gonna have to get used to the new shift, too. I’m not giving it up … even for you.” Poe cocked his head and ruffled his feathers, hopping onto Athan’s shoulder when he raised him to it. He walked to his room, fishing out the figurine wrapped in brown paper and the bird watched intently as he unraveled it. “Look at that. Now you’re immortal, too.” Athan mused, holding the figure up in front of them. He placed it in an empty spot on his bookshelf across from his bed and turned it at an angle. Whispers from behind him started firing up and he turned his attention to his dresser. Poe squawked as if he could hear them too.

Athan stepped near it, pulling open the top drawer and staring at the small box. He knew what was in it. He’d been avoiding even thinking about what he’d stolen from her. Whose remains were sitting in an old dresser in a shitty apartment. They didn’t belong here. They belonged around her neck. He lifted the lid and reached in, dangling the pendant on his fingers from the thin silver chain that suspended it. Poe shifted uncomfortably and made sputtering noises as the whispers grew louder. Athan’s phone started buzzing in his pocket. He dropped the necklace back into the box and shoved the drawer closed, reaching into his pocket to answer. It was an unknown number.

He slid the call button over. “Kane,” he answered. No one responded, although he could clearly hear soft snickering and glasses clinking in the background. “Hello?”

“I didn’t think this through,” a woman’s voice sounded on the other end.

He lowered his brows. “I’m sorry?”

“I wanted to talk to you, but now that you’ve answered …” She laughed and paused. “I have no fucking idea what to say.”

Athan turned sharp on his heel toward his bedroom window. “Sarah?”

“Yeah, it’s me. I’m sorry … I honestly don’t even know if I expected you to answer.”

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Yeah! Yeah … I just—I don’t know what I’m doing here. I worked with Northwood all day today and now … I dunno. Now I found myself sitting at a bar by myself and I’m not really sure why I came.”

He had no idea what to say to this girl. They were both quiet for … shit, he didn’t even know how long, until he’d found himself in his living room perching Poe onto his stand. “Please tell me you’re not making my job harder and hanging out at a club full of naked goth kids.” Sarah busted out laughing .

“Dude, no. I wouldn’t go back there if somebody paid me. Honestly, I would be happy not to ever be on that side of town again. Wherever the fuck that is.”

“Where’s your friend?” he asked, shrugging off his jacket and pulling his cigarettes out of the pocket.

“Wren? I have no clue. Maybe still at work? I haven’t called her since she left this morning. She’s supposed to be going back home tonight, anyway. I’m flying solo tonight.”

Athan fired up a smoke. “You probably shouldn’t be. Not the safest thing you could do right now, you know.”

“I wonder if there’s someone who could come protect me?”

That fucking tug in his middle had him white knuckling the phone in his hand. “Northwood is probably off. Want her number?”

“You’re such a killjoy, detective.”

Athan chuckled through his nose. “I get that a lot.”

“So why don’t you do something about it? Come have a drink with me.”

“And get my picture snapped again? Are you trying to get me fired?” He opened the fridge and rustled up a piece of raw chicken for Poe, slinging it through the breakfast nook and watching the bird dive for it.

“You make a valid point. But I bet I could get you out of it. Your captain likes me.”

“If you want him to continue to like you, then staying outta trouble should be high on your list of priorities.” He dragged on his cigarette and heard her light one on the other end.

“So, I guess that’s a no, then?”

He leaned back against the kitchen counter, glancing over to where he’d pounded Rhaena just yesterday and sighed deeply. “Look, Sarah … I—under different circumstances I would, but … we can’t do that.” She quieted for a second.

“So … you’re saying if I’d been single and came and spoken to you at the club … you would have danced with me?”

His stomach nearly hurt, and a nervous fluttering started ravaging it. “Maybe. It doesn’t matter now. But since we’re on the subject … I heard you asked about me that night after I left.” He was being stupid. He should never have said that shit and he knew it. The smart thing to do would be to find a way to end this conversation and go to bed. But that issue of his self-control where she was involved …

“I most certainly did. The cute bartender tell you that?”

“Cute?” He clenched his teeth and she giggled, some of it muffled by her glass as she drank. “Why ask about me if you were with Stratford?”

Another pause. “I don’t really know how to answer that.”

He did, if Tony was right about the possibility of them being— “You’re not driving, are you?”

“No. I took a cab. So, are the rules different for lady cops?”

“What do you mean? ”

“You said Northwood was off. Why can she come hang out, but not you? I could just as easily snuggle up with a chick, couldn’t I? Imagine the headlines on that.” She laughed.

“I—it was a joke.”

“I know what it was … I’ll stop torturing you. I at least got one thing I wanted, anyway.”

Athan shifted. “What’s that?”

They were both quiet for a moment and something in his chest tightened. “Goodnight, detective.”

He looked down at his screen. Call ended. In less than ten minutes she’d successfully shattered his whole perspective on his life. What he wanted from it. Where he thought he was heading with it.

“Fuck …” He mumbled under his breath.

She shouldn’t have called him. She knew that. Sarah stared down at the phone as she laid it flat on the bar, silently praying that maybe it would light up with a text … a call back. But she knew he wouldn’t. She was putting him in a really hard place. The way he looks at her, it was obvious there was something. What that something was, she had no idea. When she’d touched his mouth at her apartment, she could swear he wanted her to. If he were any other guy, he’d find ways around the paparazzi and the rules of the 12th precinct to score one in her bed. But Athan Kane wasn’t any other guy. It was hard to tell exactly what kind of guy he was, really. They use the term “tall, dark and mysterious” to describe men, but this time … that was about as accurate as you could get with this one.

She didn’t want to be alone here, but at the same time … she did. Sarah had been pushing everyone away, and she knew Wren had been right when she said it was out of character for her. The only one she really wanted to be here was someone that wasn’t coming. Even though she knew somehow that he wanted to. If the bartender really did tell him that she’d asked about him that night, then he must have been thinking about her enough to talk to him about it. Unless of course … he was there just doing his job. Yeah, that was it. She’s delusional. Although when she’d mentioned the bartender being cute, he seemed awfully jealous. Sarah smiled to herself.

“You look lonely. Can I buy you a drink?” Some half-obliterated, greaser offered from beside her. Sarah flinched at the intrusive invitation and leaned back at the strong smell of alcohol on his breath.

“Why don’t you save the money and go buy yourself some mouthwash.” Sarah shot back, holding up a palm and gesturing for him to back up a step.

“Why don’t you come with me, and we can get a box of trash bags while we’re at it?” He grinned drunkenly, bracing one hand on the bar top, and the other on the back of her stool .

“The big black ones for yard trash? I think I could fit your body into that.”

He laughed obnoxiously and leaned toward her. Sarah couldn’t move any farther back. “I like your style, but I was talking about protection.” He winked.

“Yeah … so was I.” Sarah smiled, winking back.

“There’s a bathroom back that way.” His eyes went straight to her tits.

“Why? Need to puke?”

“I need you to spread those legs and wrap ‘em around me.”

Now she wanted to puke. Sarah pressed her hand against his chest when he moved closer. “How about I wrap them around your neck? Would you like that?” Sarah soothed, inching closer.

“Yes, ma’am … I think you would too.” He grinned, swaying a little. Sarah’s fingers drifted to her phone, swiping across it and activating her recent calls.

“How ‘bout I squeeze these thighs around your face until it chokes off your air supply? That get your little dick hard, bud?” The drunk groaned and she leaned closer, blocking his view with her shoulder as she tapped on the phone to ring her last call.

“Why don’t you hop off that stool and come find out just how little it is, love? I’ll make you scream … one way or another.”

She could faintly hear Athan’s voice pick up the call. “You think so? And if I said I wouldn’t touch your greasy, drunk ass to save my own life?” He huffed a laugh and placed a hand on her thigh. Sarah looked down at it and then back up at him.

“I got two friends with me that say you’ll reconsider.”

Sarah wasn’t sure where the guttural growl came from that edged her voice. “Get. Your. Fucking. Hand. Off of me.” She glanced over at the phone. Call ended.

Dammit.

It could only mean two things. He either heard none of it, or … he heard all of it. Sarah hoped it was the latter. She looked around seeking help, growing increasingly angry when his hand slid further up her thigh. The bartender was busy at the far end, and the only ones who seemed to be watching them were the two sweaty bastards that she was sure had come with him, both of them smirking when she caught their eye.

“Be a good girl, and we’ll pay you well. We’re not gonna hurt you too bad. You might like it.” He gripped her thigh in his hand and squeezed the side … way too close to her ass.

“I’m not a hooker. Last warning, pencil cock.” She grabbed his hand, and he slapped his clammy fingers around her wrist, turning it, and leaning so close to her face that his hot, nasty breath fanned across her chin and up her nose. She wanted to vomit.

“Play nice, bitch. Or I can add a few bruises to that neck before they find you in a dumpster somewhere uptown.”

“You’ve got two seconds to stand down before I roundhouse the shit out of you. Although, that’s not gonna save you from the charges I’m about to pile on for communicating a threat like that during an ongoing investigation.”

Sarah’s head darted to the right to find Rhaena Northwood with her fists curled, ready to strike. He smiled at her and the two henchmen he had in the corner raised from their chairs.

“Aren’t you pretty. I wonder if that mouth will be just as sassy when it’s wrapped around my—” His insult gurgled in his throat when Rhaena’s fist plunged into his Adam’s apple and he grasped at it, staggering back, and gaining the attention of the entire bar. Sarah lunged forward, grabbing him by his collar and turning him toward the detective just as she started driving her fists into his midsection and jaw. Patrons from the bar started forming a circle around them, and the two assholes started to try and shove their way past the throng of people watching as Sarah grabbed the prick by his greasy brown hair and thrust his head into the bar. He dropped like a stone, Rhaena flipping him onto his front and forcing his arms behind his back while she slapped cuffs on him.

It was almost a blur. A black smudge across her vision. The kind that haunted her nightmares from that night in the alley as it crossed the bar, and she realized Kane was storming towards the two other men. The look in his eyes ignited a heat between her legs as he glanced at her on his way to possibly end their lives. They made to run towards the back of the bar, and he chased after them, jerking one by the back of his jacket, and slamming the other into the wall. She’d never seen someone handle two men like that at once. Neither of them were able to get one hit in before he had them both bleeding from every place on their faces. Sarah could swear she heard bones break over the sounds of gaping onlookers as Athan cuffed them both and started dragging them toward the bar. He jerked one of their heads up by his hair and forced him to look at Sarah.

“Lying to me will be the last fucking thing you do. Tell me what you planned to do with her.” He growled, holding tight to the other one when he tried to break away. “Move again, and I’ll snap your fucking neck.” The man stilled, and the one Athan had by the head spit at her feet. Athan bashed his face into the bar top and pressed his cheek against the counter. “Talk!”

“Aaaagggghhhh! Fuck!” The man groaned, heaving ragged breaths. “We were gonna tag team her! Make her squeal and then leave her somewhere! We weren’t gonna kill her!”

The asshole that Rhaena had picked up off the floor whirled at his companion. “You fucking idiot … you stupid fucking idiot!” He looked back at Sarah and clenched his bloody teeth, baring them at her. “I would have … I woulda burned the little witch. Right after I tore through that tight little ass!”

Sarah moved before Kane could react, flipping open her butterfly knife and holding it to his throat. “Sarah!” Rhaena yelped, pulling the man back. “Stop, before you catch a charge! Put it up! Put it up, now!”

She could feel it. Something dark and powerful. Something foreign that she couldn’t control. That rage from the hospital had turned into something bigger. She wanted to gut this piece of shit. The blade shook in her hand and the man smirked at her, silently begging her to make a move. Rhaena’s continued warnings drowned out, and everything around her began to spin and blur. Something cunning and sinister whispered for her to kill.

Kill … slit his throat. He was going to do so much worse to you.

Firm hands slid around her, causing her to flinch before an overwhelming calm took over and her knife dropped from her hand, clattering to the floor. Rhaena kicked it away with her boot and Sarah was spun around to find Kane peering down at her. Several uniforms surrounded them, towing the bastards away and he just stared at her.

“It’s alright. You’re safe, it’s alright.”

She nodded deliriously, slowly blinking as if she was in some trance and he held her steady. The rage turned to the deepest ache in her chest, and it started to sputter up and down with uncontrollable sobs. Sarah hid her face in her hands, and he pulled her into him, wrapping his arms tight around her. She gripped his white t-shirt that was spotted with someone else’s blood and cried into it, unable to find the strength to control herself.

“I’ve got her stuff. Take her to my car.” She heard Rhaena mutter as he guided her out of the bar. Rhaena’s SUV was parked by the curb, several patrol cars surrounding it and blocking off some of the street. The flashing lights nearly blinded her as Athan walked her toward them. She chose not to look at the man she almost killed as his muffled insults sounded from the rolled-up window in the back of one of them. Sarah wiped her nose on her sleeve, tucking her arms around herself as Rhaena opened the passenger side door for her and he helped her inside. All of them noticed other flashes that didn’t belong, then. Rhaena’s head snapped over and Sarah spotted several photographers shamelessly taking pictures of her and everything else. “Kane … block her.”

Athan stepped between her and the angle of their cameras. “Get down.” He soothed, taking his leather jacket off and covering her with it as she leaned over her lap. He slammed the car door shut and she could hear a bunch of commotion and arguing outside it as she breathed in his scent and tugged the material closer around her.

The driver’s side door opened and Rhaena’s voice got louder. “Yeah, well consider that your fine for the next time you try to take photos of somebody who doesn’t want you to, or when you try to throw mud at the Boston Police Department. Get the hell out!” She slid into her seat and shut the door, cranking the truck and placing a gentle hand on Sarah’s back. “Sit tight, Sarah. I’ll let you know when, okay?”

“Okay,” Sarah answered hoarsely. The truck started moving and she heard a motorcycle start up. She wasn’t sure how far down the road they’d gotten, but he kept close to Rhaena’s vehicle until they finally slowed to a stop.

“It’s safe now,” Rhaena said, patting her back gently. Sarah lifted the jacket off her head and sat up, not recognizing the nice neighborhood they’d stopped at. Kane was parking his bike across the well-lit street.

“Where are we?” she asked, meeting Rhaena’s eyes .

“We’re about five blocks away from your place. I wasn’t sure where to take you. You wanna call someone?” She rolled Sarah’s window down as Athan approached.

“I could call Wren.”

“Go ahead. We’ll head over if she’s home.” Rhaena nodded, glancing past her. She turned around and Kane stood a respectful distance from her window.

“Are you coming, too?” she asked. He lowered his eyes to her neck.

“It’s probably better that I don’t. One of us has to go back to the precinct now, anyway.”

“I’m so sorry.” She could hear her voice cracking, and the ache in her chest threatened to dump her eyes of whatever remaining tears she had. Rhaena reached for her hand and Sarah looked over at her.

“You don’t have a damn thing to be sorry for. This is what we do, girl. I just hate that it had to be you tonight.” Her comforting smile gave her some warmth, at least.

“I was gonna kill that man, you guys. I wanted to … needed to.” Sarah looked between them and the detectives exchanged glances. “If you hadn’t stopped me …”

“Don’t think about it. That’s what anybody in a self-defense position would have felt.” Kane offered.

“Killing a guy restrained in handcuffs isn’t self-defense, Athan,” Sarah breathed, wiping at her nose again. She could feel Rhaena bristle beside her when she’d said his name. “I’m gonna call Wren.” She took her phone when Rhaena passed it to her and held her finger down on Wren’s contact photo. She picked up on the first ring. “Hey, are you home?” Sarah sniffled. “Yeah, I’m okay. I was wondering if I could crash at your place tonight … nah, I’ve got a ride. I’ll be there in a few … love you too, bye.”

“Check in if you need anything. You’re in good hands.” Kane smirked.

“You know … if you’d just said yes.” Sarah snorted, passing his jacket through the window. She saw him glance briefly over her at Rhaena who didn’t say a word. “Thanks, though. Really.” He pulled the jacket on and nodded once, backing up a few steps.

“Get home safe.”

Rhaena put the truck in drive and Sarah watched him as he turned around and crossed the street, shoving his hands into his pockets. He didn’t look back at them as they pulled off. She was digging herself deeper into something she knew she had no hope of getting out of now.

And for some reason, Sarah found herself perfectly fine with that.

“It was smart, you know … calling him and leaving the phone on the bar?” Rhaena broke the silence as she glanced at her GPS. Sarah’s friend lived a good ten minutes away. “When he called me to tell me to he ad to that bar to help you, I had just left a drug store just up the street from where you were.”

“It was my fault. I should have just got up and walked out,” Sarah said. Rhaena looked over at the girl she knew was stealing her partner’s heart and felt sorry for her in more ways than one.

“No, it wasn’t. If you had, then you likely would have wound up in another dark alley, Sarah. Worse this time.” Rhaena found herself smiling as she looked forward at the street. “You were a force to be reckoned with, though. You should consider joining the force.”

Sarah snorted. “No.” She shifted in her seat. “I’m usually not that aggressive. All this rage … it’s been a part of me ever since this attack. I’m losing control of it.”

Rhaena glanced back over at her. “So … you’re saying it’s getting worse?”

“Without question. I swear if he hadn’t touched me, I would have just …” She gestured a slice across her throat with her finger and made a squishing sound.

“I would argue that Kane was right, though. All bullshit aside … I can’t say I wouldn’t have wanted to do the same thing.” Rhaena slowed behind a line of traffic at the stoplight.

“But I wouldn’t have … not the me before all this. It’s like something inside me has a voice. Like it goads me. I could actually hear it telling me to kill.” Sarah paused and they looked at each other. “Maybe I shouldn’t be saying this shit to a cop.” Sarah laughed.

“Then don’t consider me one, for now. Consider me as someone who just wants to help. What else can you tell me about it? Maybe we can sleuth this part of it too. I’ll deny it if you say anything, but … I liked working together today.” Rhaena shrugged.

“Nice vacation from Detective Brood?” Sarah chuckled.

“God … yes. I love Kane to death, but … he pisses me off more often than not. I also don’t have many friends to speak of, anyway. None that are women.” The light turned and Rhaena moved forward, flashing her signal, and turning left.

“Can we exchange personal questions?” Sarah glanced over.

“Sure … but I’m going first.”

“That’s fair.”

Rhaena weighed her list and decided to start with the obvious. “Earlier, when you said … if he’d just said yes. Did you invite him out?” Sarah quieted for a moment and Rhaena kept her eyes on the road.

“… Yeah. He said no. He actually told me to ring you up.” She laughed.

“Did he?!”

“Yes. He said you were off, and asked if I wanted your number.”

She wanted to be offended, but found herself flattered by the notion, somehow. “I would have come. And for the record … he’ll never come out of his little hole. Don’t take it personal. All he ever does is coop himself up, read, and talk to his damn pigeon.”

Sarah’s face darted toward her. “Pigeon? ”

“Well … it’s a raven. The only other thing he cares about aside from his job.”

“No shit … that’s why he asked me about it.”

Rhaena looked over. “About what?”

“I’ve got a poster in my apartment with The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe in a frame on the wall.”

It was like a slam to her gut. She didn’t want to make it obvious, and chose not to look back over, but how much these two had in common couldn’t be a coincidence. “That’s his favorite,” Rhaena breathed.

“Really?”

“Yeah … his bird is named after him. Poe, I mean.”

There was an awkward pause, and Rhaena glanced at the GPS and made a right at the next light.

“My turn?” Sarah asked.

“Shoot.”

“Are you two … sleeping together?” It was hard not to bite down on her lip. It wasn’t like she didn’t know Sarah was going to ask that question at some point, but she felt completely unprepared to answer. Rhaena supposed that was answer enough when Sarah started smiling and nodding to herself. “It’s kind of obvious, Northwood. Just … you know. So you’re aware.” Sarah chuckled. Rhaena shot her a look.

“I really hope that’s not true.”

Sarah’s mouth dropped open in a grin. “Are you kidding? I hate to be the one to tell you this, pal … but your whole precinct knows. That was pretty evident today when I was there.”

“What?” Rhaena’s eyes bulged, and she stared forward at the street, slowing behind a car that was turning.

“I’m just sayin’ … it’s obvious.”

“Fuck … well, it’s not happening anymore. So, they’ll have to chew on some other gossip. Besides, I think you’re the shiny new toy now at the 12th.”

“God, I hope not. I’ve fought my whole life to be invisible, and just dating Brent alone has made that shit impossible. Now I’ve got this whole thing to worry about, and probably much more of it if crap like tonight keeps happening.”

The GPS pinged and Rhaena pulled into a parking space at a coffee shop next to an old model Beetle that was painted yellow. “Tell me that isn’t your friend’s car.”

“Yeah … why?” Sarah asked, shifting to face her.

Rhaena’s eye twitched and she knew it was partly because of the oncoming full moon that she was having more trouble keeping her temper in check, but she gripped the steering wheel and blew out a long breath. “I’ve seen this car a dozen times. When I was working Conrad’s case. I’m pretty sure he’s been following her, too. I didn’t even think about that.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah … you need to tell her. Both of you need to be on the lookout for strange shit. You said when you lived in Seattle you started noticing pe ople reappearing in places you frequented? And then that’s when you were taken?”

Sarah scoffed. “Or … not taken? Yes.”

“Pay a little more attention. Whatever this snake is up to … we’re gonna cut the head off this … quickly.”

Sarah looked at her and then down at her fingers that were wringing together in her lap. “Thank you, Rhaena. For everything.”

“I’m just doing my job.”

“No, no … I know all that I just … I really do appreciate it. And I don’t want to cause a rift between you and Kane, either.”

Rhaena bristled but slid into that calm place. She reached over and took Sarah’s hand. “Listen … full disclosure? This is the first time I’ve ever seen him like this. Earlier, when you got upset? I nearly choked when he put his arms around you. Kane doesn’t do that. He hates being touched. It’s a rule.” Every time she put another piece of this together it stung, but Rhaena almost felt relieved. She wasn’t sure why. “A rule he’s broken several times since he’s met you, Sarah. You’re not coming between anything. He’s a close friend that’s understood me when no one else did. What we have? It’s just sex. You’re a big girl, I feel like you understand what I mean when I say it. After what I saw today at the precinct, and again at the bar … I don’t feel like it’s my place to be the one he goes to for anything physical anymore. When this is over … I’m rootin’ for ya.”

Sarah smirked and squeezed her hand. “I understand you, Rhaena. You take that however you need to.” She winked and released her hand, opening the truck door and sliding out. Rhaena rolled down the window when she paused and turned back. Sarah dipped her head into it. “It was a pleasure … kicking ass with you tonight.”

“Ha!” Rhaena laughed. “Anytime you wanna come hit some bags … you let me know.” She grinned as Sarah backed away, nodding. Rhaena found herself much lighter as Sarah disappeared into a side door by the coffee shop. She smiled to herself as she backed out of the parking space and glanced up at the window over the shop. Sarah peeked out, letting her know she was safe and waved.

How in the hell did this happen? Befriending the girl that was going to likely take her place. What kind of love triangle bullshit was this? And why the hell was she okay with it? She couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for Athan. Now he was going to be dealing with a team of females to drive him up the wall. Maybe it was just the fact that for years, all she’d had was Athan … the loneliness she’d been feeling may not have been just in male companionship at all, but just general social interaction. Someone to get her. Someone that made the days a little brighter, instead of just a quick release of sexual tension. Maybe this was what had been missing. That’s what life was like for a lone wolf. With no pack to keep her grounded, who even was she these days?

Rhaena tapped the screen on her dashboard, dismissing the GPS and pulling up a number. It started ringing.

“Jenkins.”

“Hey, Brandon. ”

“Give me a reason not to whoop you, Northwood. These three assholes you two arrested are gonna have us here all night.”

“Us? So, you got people helping?”

“Uniforms that brought ‘em in, yeah.”

“Then how about I give you a reason to go take a break?”

“I’m listening.”

“Let’s go out.”

“Bullshit.”

“No, I’m serious. Let’s go out to Ray’s. Nachos and beer on me.”

“Ha … say less, I’ll meet you there in fifteen.”

“10-4.”

She ended the call and turned left, smiling as she raised her straw to her mouth and sipped on her water.

He would have killed them. All of them. Athan hoped Rhaena had the good sense to take Sarah’s statement in the car, as well as keeping him from reading over it. He’d heard enough over the phone to make him want to blow a gasket. Just the thought of someone doing that to a woman was bad enough, but to put his filthy fucking hands on her? The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to walk back to holding and rip the bastard apart. The things he’d said to her … the way she fell apart when Athan had held her. He couldn’t help but cringe at the notion that he was the reason she was in this position. Sarah was slowly falling apart, and no matter what he was starting to feel for her … this was still his fault. He couldn’t decide if what Tony had said held any water, or if it was the fact that he’d fed on her that made him feel so protective, but he couldn’t explain away his need to have her against him or how his heart nearly stopped at how good she felt in his arms.

His pen hovered over the mountain of paperwork left behind from the incident at the bar, and he dropped it to rub his face with both his inked hands. Captain Foley approached Rhaena’s empty desk and Athan glanced up at him as he thoroughly looked him over. He hadn’t changed his blood-spattered shirt yet.

“What the hell happened out there tonight, Kane?”

“Well, sir … our vic put three murderous rapists behind bars. That about sums it up.” Athan ran a hand through his hair.

“Is she alright?” Foley asked, crossing his arms.

Athan nodded and blinked. “For the most part, sir. She called my phone while one of them were putting hands on her … left it sitting on the bar and I called Northwood. She got there before I did. The rest is history.”

“And the press?”

Athan tried not to smile. “Rhaena took care of the press. I don’t think you’ll be getting any calls of complaint. Lot of expensive cameras broken. If they’re smart that’ll be message enough. ”

“Damn, detective. None of y’all are gonna make it easy on me, are you? But she’s okay? Unharmed?”

“Yes, sir. Just a little shook up.” Athan rested his chin on his hand, and a finger across his bottom lip.

“Yeah, well … you just make sure if you do any comforting … you do it away from prying eyes. Got it?” Foley narrowed his eyes and gave him a slight smirk.

“Understood, sir.”

Foley nodded once and turned away, folding his jacket over his arm, and not looking back at him when his voice echoed through the precinct. “That paperwork ain’t gonna do itself, detective!”

He supposed it was a small price to pay for Rhaena’s help tonight. When he realized he hadn’t heard from her, he snatched his phone up from his desk drawer. No texts, no calls. He rang her.

“Hey!” He could hear her smile over the phone.

“Hey, where are you? Everything good?”

“Yeah, she’s safe. I dropped her off at her friend’s place.”

There was hollering in the background, and it sounded a lot like it had to do with sports. Athan glanced at the clock on his computer and smirked to himself. “Where are you?”

“Ahhh … I’m out.”

“Mmhmm … taking my advice about getting laid?” Athan mused.

“Perhaps.” She laughed. “We’ll see, I suppose.”

“Good for you, pup.”

“Yeah … bugger off, bat boy.”

Athan huffed a laugh. “Knock three times on the wall if I need to go kill somebody later.”

“You got it, partner. Hey … before you go, there was something that crossed my mind.”

“What’s that?”

“You ever heard of the five stages of grief?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I was thinking about the shit Sarah’s going through. You swear she um … well, I can’t really say.”

“Died … yes. I follow.”

“Right. So … do you think this spiraling that’s happening with her might be something kinda similar? I could be wrong, but like … it seems logical to me.”

He pondered that for a moment, toying with his lip. “That actually—that makes sense. I’ll read up on that. You know, after I finish this textbook of paperwork … by myself. ”

“Yeah, happy to help, brother. Take a pill for the ache in your wrist, okay? They’re in my drawer. Oh, and I use them for shark week. I’m sure that’ll make it go down easier for ya.” She snickered.

“Fuck you, Rhaena.”

“I love you too, prick.”

He smiled and hung up, tossing the phone on his desk. He didn’t have to wonder who she was out with. He had known for a while that Jenkins had a thing for her. She had always said she couldn’t stand him, but it was obvious she thought the opposite. Whatever feelings she thought she had for him were stopping her from venturing out. He hated being responsible for that. Athan picked up his pen and leaned over the paperwork. Poe would be as ruffled as a peacock when he finally made it out of this place.

But at least she was safe.