Page 109 of Sinner's Secret

“That I need to stay away from assholes for a while. I told her that was hard to do when you’re surrounded by them.” She yawned. “She gave me some over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain medication.” She pointed at a piece of paper on the coffee table. “There are the instructions she left for you. I’m going to crash.”

Baz picked up the instructions. “Nika, what do we say when your partner and co-workers see the bruises?”

“I tell them the truth. A couple of Brazilian crime lords took me to make an example of me. If we can do this to a cop, think of what we can do to anyone sort of thing. Yvgeny had turned down all their offers to work together, so they chose one of his hotels in order to implicate him. Which is also how you got involved.”

“When you say it like that, it sounds plausible.”

“That’s because that is what happened. I’m just not adding the bit about them and you being not quite like the rest of us.” She rubbed her temples and went over to the bed. “I’m going to sleep now. I mean it this time. If anyone knocks on the door, ignore them.”

“What if they break in?”

“Eat their liver.” She sounded serious.

He wrinkled his nose. “No, thanks. I’m on a no-liver diet.”

She got under the covers and pulled them up until he could barely see the top of her head.

Baz couldn’t lay down next to her. He was too keyed up and there was too much to think about. A lot of crazy shit had happened in the last few days, and while each event had an immediate impact, the long-term repercussions might be even worse.

His mother wanted him to work with the police.

Nika knew what he was, what Yvgeny was, and knew there were more like them around the world.

The Ruiz vampires had started on a plan they thought would result in them ruling the world. It would have never worked, but had they been too aggressive? Had too many normal humans noticed them?

Would Nika still trust him after she was rested, and she’d had time to think about everything that had happened?

Had there been only one leak in the NYPD?

Even if Nika trusted him, some of the members of her team might not. Yeah, he’d saved Smith’s life, but the man wasn’t an idiot. Nothing had been normal since those two trucks tried to turn him into road pizza.

There were too many loose ends and not enough information to tie them all up.

He did know one thing. He’d do whatever was required to keep Nika safe. He pulled out his cellphone and texted Nika’s partner, Smith. No matter how dangerous it was for him to bring in the other man, he wasn’t going to take any chances with Nika’s safety.

It was time to call in the cavalry.

Chapter Nineteen

Nika woke to the sound of Baz talking quietly to someone a little way away. Another man from the sound of it. As her tired brain became more awake, she was able to put a name to the voice, Smith.

Oh, that’s good. She let herself drift back toward unconsciousness.

“No, I want to see her now.” Smith said, his voice loud enough for individual words to be clear.

Baz replied in his deeper rumble.

“I appreciate what you’ve done, but I’m her partner.” Uh oh. Smith was starting to sound irritated. Baz had never been subject to her partner in that mood before.

The probability of things deteriorating fast was high.

She sighed, pushed the blankets away from her face and slid out of bed. She padded over to where Baz stood, his big body blocking the doorway.

“It’s okay, Baz,” she said in a hoarse whisper. “Let him in.”

Baz glanced at her, an apologetic smile on his face. “I didn’t want to wake you.”

“It’s fine,” she said. “I know that tone in his voice. When he sounds like that, he won’t stop until he’s gotten what he came for.”

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