the sultry voice that vampires used on their victims. From upstairs. Where the bedrooms were located.
“You might as well get your butt in here then,” Addie yelled in response. “You’re the one who blew our cover.”
A long sigh gusted down the stairs, and a striking woman with curves bound tight in leather entered the kitchen with an impressive pout aimed at Addie on her full lips.
“Boaz, this is Cass.” Addie handled the introduction. “Cass, this is Boaz.”
“I would like to get one thing straight upfront.” Cassandra—no, Cass—stopped in front of him. “Addie did not cheat on you. I took exception to how an annoyingly perky and yet condescending human was treating her and misbehaved. It was not consensual, and it was wrong.” She flicked her eyes toward Addie. “I’m sorry.”
“Cass,” she squeaked. “He wants to know about the murders, not that.”
“He’s a man, and he’s engaged to you. He wants to know.” She turned a knowing smile on him. “I bet it was eating you up inside the whole drive over, wondering if you would catch us in the act.” Her teeth were bright and sharp. “I bet you wondered, if you did, if we would ask you to join us.”
Despite her apology to Addie, it was clear Cass’s defense mechanism was seduction. He wasn’t sure she could help herself, if she was even aware she was doing it. He also wasn’t sure she cared either way, except that Addie was there to witness it. There was definitely some bond between the two women.
But then, Addie was the rare kind of person who made you want to do better, be better.
“Ignore her.” Addie snagged Cass by the wrist, hauled her to the table, and shoved her into a chair. She manhandled Cass more than most vampires allowed. “She lives to rile up people.”
“I’m dead,” Cass countered. “I don’t live to do anything.”
“You know what I mean.” She pointed a finger at the vampire. “You are not helping.” Turning her attention to him, she clasped her hands in front of her. “You have questions?”
“So many,” he breathed, gesturing between the women. “What is this?”
Eyes glinting, Cass wet her lips. “I’m her—”
“—friend,” Addie finished for her in a rush. “My best friend, actually.”
“Best friend,” he repeated, doubtful. “And she wants, what? To be best friends with benefits?”
“Yes,” Cass answered as Addie flushed scarlet and yelped, “No.”
Hands covering her face, Addie slumped into the chair beside Cass and braced her elbows on the table. “I hate you.”
Flicking her friend an unsure glance, Cass frowned, causing faint creases to bracket her mouth. “No, you don’t.”
“Oh, yes,” Addie mumbled. “Right about now, I do.”
The vampire appeared to wage some internal battle that resulted in her dropping the seductress act and measuring Boaz with predatory intent that lifted the fine hairs down his nape.
“I’m a bounty hunter.” Hand on Addie’s shoulder, Cass got serious. “Addie is my partner.”
A bolt of lightning striking him between the eyes would have shocked him less.
“I’m sorry.” He rubbed alongside his nose. “It sounded like you said Addie is a bounty hunter.”
“Oh good.” Cass smirked at him. “Then your hearing works.”
Addie slumped further, until her forehead rested on the table.
“I’m sure you’ve run my license. My employer will be happy to verify if you would like to give him a call.”
“I’ll do that.” Boaz lost his steam, and he sat at the table too. “Can Addie and I have a moment?”
“I’ll overhear your conversation,” she told him, an honest admission, “but I can go back upstairs.”
“I would appreciate the illusion,” Boaz gritted out. “I need to talk to her alone.”
The growl in his voice, yet another slip of his temper, set Cass on edge. “Addie?”
Without lifting her head, she flicked her hand and muttered, “I’ll be fine.”
“Addie…” Cass bit her bottom lip as she rose. “I am sorry.”
“I know.”
“I was only playing.”
“I know that too,” she repeated herself, but lifted her head a fraction. “Now go eavesdrop like a good little vampire while the necromancers talk.”
Once they were alone, Boaz massaged the base of his neck. “You two really are friends.”
“Yeah.”
Unable to bear her misery, he tapped her arm. “Talk to me.”
Peeking up at him, she slowly straightened in her chair. “What do you want to know?”
“All of it,” he said. “Everything.
Twelve
I could have strangled Cass for putting me in this position, but she was already dead, and she probably would have enjoyed it anyway. There was nothing left but for me to be honest with Boaz and hope he could