Savage Redemption - By Alexis Morgan Page 0,9
like someone I might even like.”
“Don’t let appearances fool you, Joss.” Like he had, but he kept that last part to himself. “Hell, even that hard-ass Ambrose O’Brien bought her act. Not many can fool the chief investigator for the Coalition.”
Joss turned worried eyes in his direction. “We can’t hide her presence from the Coalition for long, Conlan. Rafferty will have to report her to Ambrose so he can send one of his chancellors to collect her. The sooner the better, as far as I’m concerned.”
She wasn’t telling Conlan anything he didn’t already know. He laid it all out for her anyway. “The only reason I haven’t already contacted Ambrose myself is that we need to know what the story is on her nieces, not to mention those mercs who had them cornered. I want to make sure that none of this is going to blow up in our faces.”
He clenched his fists at his side. Kat might deserve anything that had happened to her, but that gang of mercs had known there were children involved and attacked anyway. It was a miracle the two girls were handling all of this as well as they were.
“I’ll report her, Conlan. There’s no use in you getting dragged back into her mess.”
Joss stepped back from the bed and reached toward him, probably in an attempt to offer him some comfort. He didn’t miss the flicker of hurt in Joss’s eyes when he flinched. By way of apology, he tangled his fingers with hers and gave them a quick squeeze. He wasn’t used to being touched. Not anymore. Not by anyone. “I’ll handle it, Joss. As head of security, it’s my job.”
The woman defined stubborn. “And you’re good at it. Even Rafferty says so, at least when you’re not around to hear him. But this is more than the job—it’s personal. You had feelings for this woman. The minute we make that call, we both know her life is forfeit.” She paused, her dark eyes flashing hot with anger. “She’s caused you enough pain. Don’t add that to the list.”
“I’ll deal with it, Joss. I won’t make the same mistakes with her again.”
He shot his friend a stern look. “And before you argue the point, do I have to remind you that not too long ago you were the one who insisted on investigating Rafferty’s case yourself? If you hadn’t been able to prove he’d been framed, you would’ve had to carry out his execution order. Don’t expect less of me than you expected of yourself.”
“Fine, but if you change your mind...”
Joss let that thought drift away. She knew him well enough to know there wasn’t much chance of that happening.
Then she shook her head a little, probably dragging her thoughts back from the nightmare when she’d thought she’d have to be the one to stake the vampire she loved. Conlan allowed himself one last look at Kat before turning away. At least he wouldn’t be the one to end her life. If there was comfort to be had in that thought, he couldn’t find it.
He gathered up the empty dishes and returned them to the basket. Holding it out to Joss, he asked, “Hadn’t you better get back to your guests?”
Joss rolled her eyes and sighed. “Yes, I suppose so. I’m guessing Rafferty will be over to check on you in a bit. Don’t feel ganged up on, though. He really just needs an excuse to get away from his aunts for a while.”
Conlan’s smile came more easily this time. “Don’t tell me that big, bad Rafferty is scared of some little old vampire ladies.”
Joss punched him on the arm, but she was laughing. “Don’t go there, my friend. They scare me, too. I feel like a giant around them, but I’m betting they could take all of us in a fair fight.”
“Okay, I promise to go easy on him.”
Joss pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. He let her, because there were damn few people in this world that he could call friend. The two of them had partnered for a while back when they’d both started working as investigators for the Coalition. Nothing like a few near-death experiences to cement a friendship. Eventually, Joss had changed jobs to negotiate settlement of the often volatile disputes between the human, chancellor and vampire populations of the Coalition, but the two of them had stayed in close contact. Conlan followed her to the door.
Before stepping outside, Joss paused. “After you and Rafferty talk,