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a smell.
This woman had almost no scent at all, only a faintly chemical odor, as if she used all unscented
products. The better to confuse guard dogs.
Zoe Takano? I said.
Her gaze slid up me, taking my measure. When she reached my eyes, I expected to see a predatory
gleam. Here was a healthy woman, alone and weighted down with child. Mother Nature s version of
convenience food dinner too dumb to keep out of danger s path. Yet her expression was only one of
curiosity.
Across the room, the bartender stopped wiping the counter and looked over at us, eyes narrowing. She
must have given him some signal because he nodded and returned to his wiping.
Zoe Takano? I repeated, almost certain now that she wasn t who I thought she was.
At your service, ma am. Her eyes glittered then, in anticipation, but there was no hunger behind it, still
only curiosity. And I presume it is service that you re looking for, a service I can provide?
I have a proposition
She chuckled. Exactly what I was hoping.
It s a job
Ah, business. Too bad.
I hesitated. You aren t taking clients
A tinkling laugh, like wind chimes. Oh, I m always taking clients. Don t mind me. It s been a slow
week, and when there s little to amuse me, I start to amuse myself. Sit, sit. Get off your feet. That a
nod at my stomach, can t be terribly comfortable. Not in this heat.
Er, yes. I mean, no, it isn t. I pulled out a chair and sat down. Thank you.
A cold drink? she said. Something nonalcoholic, I presume?
Um, no. I m fine. I was told
First things first, she said, leaning back in her chair. Credentials. I presume you come on a
recommendation. May I ask from whom?
I cast an anxious glance around. I, uh, was hoping we could do this someplace less& public.
Another tinkling laugh and she leaned forward. Does anyone in here look like they could summon the
energy to eavesdrop, much less the inclination?
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Er, no, but I tried to look nervous. I m really new at this and
And you want me to follow you outside, where anyone could be waiting for me. Her smile was brittle
now. I don t know who you are or who sent you
His name s Xavier Reese. He said you don t know him personally but& I could tell by her expression
that Xavier s name, if it meant anything to her, wasn t enough to get her outside. I also spoke to Aaron
Darnell, for his recommendation.
A spark of interest behind the caution, but still cool. Did you? And what did he say?
That you were reasonably trustworthy& for a thief.
Her dark eyes danced as she grinned. Ah, Aaron. He tries to be understanding, but he can t shake his
disapproval.
She sipped her beer and looked thoughtful, as if even that recommendation wasn t enough. Oh, come
on. She was a vampire, impervious to harm. What was she worried about? A very pregnant blond?
She tapped her fingernails against her beer bottle then, gaze still down, gave a tiny What the hell smile,
and pushed back her chair.
All right, she said. Let s go outside and you can tell me what all this is about. I stepped out of the bar
first. Zoe paused in the doorway, looking, listening, sensing, then followed me out.
I got two steps into the adjacent alley, turned to ask, Is this good enough? and Zoe was already
lunging toward me. Her fangs met my fist and she flew into the brick wall with a yelp. She dove for me
again. An uppercut to the jaw sent her sailing down the alley.
Not normally the way I d treat a potential source, but short of lopping off a body part, I couldn t do any
lasting damage to a vampire. And, as with any predator, if you plan to establish dominance, you have to
do it fast. So before she recovered from the uppercut, I pounced and knocked her to the ground, then
pinned her.
Hope you weren t too hungry, I said.
Hungry? She only laughed and stretched out on the ground under me, as if relaxing. Not at all, but it
seemed like the quickest way to get past all that I want to talk someplace private nonsense, and find out
what you really want& and what you are. She slid her tongue over her split lip, and the skin mended.
Half-demon, I presume?
Good guess, I said.
I don t believe I ve ever met one who was quite so& physical. Interesting.
I glanced over my shoulder for Clay, and saw him waiting at the end of the alley. As I twisted, Zoe
moved. When I swung around, I felt a sharp tug on my hair. I grabbed for her hand, only to find my
broken hair band in it. My hair slid over my shoulders, and I gave a small snarl as I tried to flip it back
out of the way.
Sorry, but I just had to do that, Zoe said. Silver blond. Gorgeous. It s natural, isn t it? Somehow, I
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doubt that a woman who ties her hair with an elastic band has any use for hair coloring.
Unbelievable. Pinned to the ground by an unknown assailant& and she wants to share beauty tips. I
guess for a vampire, the phrase mortal danger just doesn t pack the same punch.
I need to talk to you about something you stole a long time ago.
Business already?
It s that or toss you around a bit more.
She paused, as if considering this.
Business, I said.
A soft sigh. Oh, all right. Something I stole a long time ago, hmmm? I ve stolen a lot of things, and most
of them a long time ago.
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