Vixen (Dark Protectors #11.5) - Rebecca Zanetti Page 0,4

why couldn’t there be enhanced males, since witches were both male and female? Oh, vampires and their natural enemy, the Kurjans, were male only, and Tabi only knew of the enhanced females they’d mated. “Have you ever heard of a vampire mating an enhanced human male?”

“A long time ago, but I’m pretty sure the Kurjans took out all enhanced human males before this new campaign they’re now waging to end all enhanced females. Why do you ask?” The sound of pouring water came over the line. “Where’s my bourbon, damn it?”

Tabi swirled her wine in the glass, watching the liquid catch the light. “I just didn’t learn any of this from my guardian.”

“Uh-uh,” Raine said.

So he didn’t believe her. It wasn’t like he was focused on her, so that was all right. “Why are you still here, Raine?” He’d shown up at the anger management class, obviously to keep an eye on a former member, who had left quickly. A member who’d been a vampire-demon hybrid, much like Raine, although Raine was much more vampire than demon. “You should’ve left after Ivar did.”

“My job isn’t done,” Raine said, his voice losing the congenial tone.

“What’s your job?” She had to ask, even though it was obvious he wouldn’t tell her.

He took a big drink, apparently having found his bourbon. “None of your business, demonness. Don’t think of getting in my way.”

She wouldn’t. “Don’t get all assholish with me. It’s not necessary.”

“My apologies.” He didn’t sound sorry.

“Who’s in your bed, anyway?” she snapped, not really caring.

He took another drink. “Nobody. Just a nice lady I picked up at the grocery store in the fruit aisle.”

An unwilling smile tilted Tabi’s lips. “Fruit aisle? I’ll have to try that.” It had been way too long since she’d had a date. Her mind wandered instantly to the tall and sexy cop who wanted, for some reason, to save her. She sighed.

Raine cleared his throat. “I’m heading back to my nice fruit lady, considering she’s had an hour of sleep to rest up for round number four. If you’ve found a human male who can stop a demon mind attack, I’d keep that information to yourself. Otherwise, he’ll have a bullseye on his back. It wouldn’t be nice to do that to the kind cop who’s trying to help you.”

She gasped. “How did you know?”

“I’m not a moron.” Raine clicked off the phone.

She swallowed. Her questions had led to an obvious answer. She took her wine glass and went to her living room, peering out at the cop car parked by her curb with Evan O’Connell keeping watch over her.

What was she going to do with him?

* * * *

The engine quiet after an hour of being parked, Evan settled back in his Jeep, a cup of coffee next to him and an empty bag of chips on the passenger seat. He’d lost his appetite about a year ago and figured that eating junk food wasn’t going to kill him, considering he was already dying.

His cellphone buzzed, and he answered the call with a swipe of his finger.

“O’Connell?” came through, a little scratchy.

“Hey, Mabel,” he said, turning up the sound. “Did you get a hit?”

The eighty-year-old sighed loudly over the line. “Nope. Nothing on a Tabitha Rusko, Richard Goncharov, or anybody named Popov. Sorry, buddy.”

“No worries. I didn’t figure to get anything. Why are you working so late? This could’ve waited until morning,” he said.

“Oh, I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” she cackled. “Besides, I’d rather get my hours in when the dumbass sheriff isn’t here.”

Evan snorted. “That kind of talk will get you fired, my friend.”

“I notice you didn’t disagree,” she chortled.

No. There was no disagreement. The sheriff was buddies with the mayor and was also related by marriage. It was one of the things Evan had hoped to change before he moved on, but time was getting too short. He looked down at his shaking left hand. The attacks were getting worse. “Regardless, make sure somebody walks you out to your car tonight,” Evan said.

“I will, if you promise to run for sheriff next fall,” she returned, ending the call before he could answer.

Yeah, he wasn’t going to be around in the fall. It was probably time to turn in his notice, but he wanted to wait until Tabi and his other friend, Abby, finished their anger management course and then got out of town. He might not be able to do much these days, but he could at least make sure both women were