Page 45 of The Huntress

Throwing one last glance behind her, she trailed him to the police vehicle.

As soon as she slid into the passenger seat and buckled in, he handed her a coffee. “Ready for today?”

She shrugged. “I feel under armed.”

His grin was wicked. “You can spend the day finishing your reports.”

She groaned into the coffee cup. As much as she hated paperwork, she agreed he was wise to suggest it. She didn’t want to leave the precinct today.

The elephant in the vehicle expanded until she couldn’t breathe by the time Mike pulled into the parking lot.

She leaped out of the car, tossed the empty coffee cup, and trailed him up the steps.

“Mike, wait.” She stopped, gripping the railing, the cold metal pressing into her palm. “You have nothing to say? Nothing more about Val and…Gabe?” Flipping her braid off her shoulder, she drew in a deep breath. “You’ve had time to think over my circumstances and you bombard me with your opinion on everything else. Why are you silent now?”

He laughed, skipping down the steps to loom over her. “He wants you, and since he’s a suckblood, my girl, I don’t see you wheedling your way out of this.”

He nudged his head at the double doors. She grumbled, trudging forward.

“With Val on the dark side, it’s a matter of time before you cross over.” He pinched his lips. “What’s bothering me is whether I will follow.”

“Devereaux, Captain wants to see you.” Martinez, the officer behind the desk, gestured to his counter. “What do you want me to do with these?”

Roses, lilies, and orchids filled the room with their pungent fragrances.

“Did someone die?” She stroked a finger across a white petal.

“Die?” He slammed the cards down on the counter. “I had to read each one to make sure they’re all for you. Just say yes to the poor man, for pity’s sake.”

Her breath caught, and her fingers trembled as she swept up the cards. She shuffled through them, her heart leaping with excitement and joy. Bouncing on her toes, she grinned at Mike, needing to share this with someone.

“Well, what do they say?” Gathering a few vases, Mike nudged her hip with his.

She followed suit, grabbing a few bouquets. “Sweet one-liners and an invitation to dinner tonight.”

Clouds rolled out before her, and she felt as if she floated through the precinct to her desk. Her thoughts swirled around his scrawled words.

Thinking of you.

Wish you were here with me.

Dinner tonight?

The messages weren’t intimate, and she was grateful for that, not wanting Martinez or anyone else on the force to read anything personalized. A few fellow officers placed the remainder of her flowers around her desk and on Mike’s. He grumbled but didn’t move them.

“Devereaux.” Captain Metcalfe hovered in her doorway. She flicked her finger, and Callie bolted across the open plan. “Close the door.”

Ice drenched her from her neck to the base of her spine. To close the door meant her captain had something private to discuss. This was it. She was about to lose her job.

“I just spoke to the mayor.” Metcalfe stared out of her window, hiding her expressions from Callie. “He wants me to employ…non-humans to the force, then he mentioned you by name.”

She gasped, tightening her fingers gripping the chair. “What? Why?” One name came to mind…Carter. He must have spoken of her to the mayor. The ass sure was determined to make her his spy.

“They need a liaison between vampires and us, said he saw you at the ball talking to one.” Metcalfe spun and leveled on her an I-told-you-so expression.

Fuck. Callie clenched her jaw, fighting the curse words burning her tongue. She nodded when Metcalf waited for her response.

“Good. I need frequent reports on your progress. No doubt the mayor will ask often.” She tilted her pointed chin at the door. “And Devereaux, keep this between us.”

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