is what stuck out to me too. From what I know, the police here haven’t ventured along this line. They have just pushed him to answer. I believe if we find out why he is doing this, figure out the meaning behind it all, it might be the way to break him. Get inside his head.”
I was about to voice just how much I wasn’t looking forward to getting into the messy mind of Chad McKinney when the door swung open. Heavy heels clicked against the floor.
I gasped as a shiver went straight through me. My entire body froze as my eyes stayed glued to the file in front of me.
No, this could not be happening. Not now. Not here.
“So, glad to see you could make it.” Mike’s chair scraped against the floor as he stood.
“The pleasure is all mine,” a man replied.
There was no need for me to look up. The man’s deep, smooth voice was enough to tell me who had just walked through the door. The energy that surrounded me was a dead giveaway.
I sucked in a deep breath, not wanting to look up, but compelled to do so. When I did, my maker—my vampire husband—Kellen Boyd stood before me.
Thirty years had passed since I’d seen him last. His look had changed slightly. Being an immortal, it wouldn’t be drastic, but there were subtle changes. Once long, his soft dark brown hair was now cut stylishly. I skipped his face for a moment, not wanting to meet his gaze. He was clad in a proper black suit and tie. As much as that all looked good, it was his marvellous body that I had enjoyed so many times that created this funny feeling in the pit of my stomach.
I shook my head to snap out of such thoughts. Then, that feeling that captured me washed away to annoyance. Before I could stop myself, I jumped to my feet and glared at him. “What are you doing here?” Part of me never wanted this day to come. The other part of me had anticipated this reunion. I was conflicted to say the least.
Kellen slowly looked away from Mike and glanced at me. His penetrating charcoal gaze was amused as well as delighted and his angular face quirked up at the side as a half grin spread across his lips.
Damn him for enjoying the situation he presently put me in. How was I going to explain this? To my team? To Chase? My mind reeled as I tried to figure out a way to put this. I kept coming up short of a good explanation that would leave me in a positive light.
A long silence filled the room until Mike finally cleared his throat. “You know each other?” His tone and expression was well beyond inquisitive.
Kellen’s grin spread to a full smile. The one that had, on every occasion and even now, stolen my breath. “We have been long acquainted.”
Chase immediately stood, glared at Kellen. His words came harsh through gritted teeth. “Is there a problem here, Hadley?”
Then, those accusing eyes left Kellen and closed in on me. I needed to ease the tension here.
Not just because I was being entirely obvious that Kellen and I had history together, but because Chase was ready to explode.
Chase…
My stomach gripped with sadness. Kellen had returned. My secret was about to explode out in the open and the pressure of guilt struck me like a sudden wave of motion sickness.
No!
Nothing would be the same. The life that I had grown to love for the last thirty years was about to be erased in a flash. And the very worst part, Chase was going to get hurt. I didn’t doubt for a single second that Kellen would be unable to hide his adoration for me.
As if to prove me right, he began to approach me. I was frozen in place and was sure my eyes were wide. But I couldn’t deny the excited energy that coursed through me. His gaze, his grin—it was all home to me. I might love Chase now, but Kellen, I would love forever. No amount of time would ever wash that away.
Kellen’s grin shifted to a sweet smile before he grabbed me by the arms and took me into a passionate kiss. As much as I wanted to fight against it, the moment his lips touched mine, I couldn’t deny myself. I sank into him as he parted my lips and let his tongue swipe across mine in