Page 27 of Blood Pack Beginning

Was it greedy to want all three? Not really. Sasha was more woman than one man could handle. Two might be able to keep up. Three? Definitely enough to satisfy. As to the fact they were dogs? Weren’t canines eager to please? Also, seeing Thaddeus looking so content with his mates had her rethinking her opinion on them.

The group spilled out of the SUV, the late hour and recent murder leaving the sidewalk and road virtually empty. The menarmed themselves from the cache of weapons and set off walking three abreast. She’d not told them which alley disgorged the latest victim. Didn’t have to. The caution tape still fluttered, and even if it didn’t, the stench of death permeated the air along with the even fouler aroma of the killer.

As they entered the alley, Diego coughed. “Damn. You weren’t kidding about ghouls smelling fucking putrid.”

“It is bad, but in good news, that will make it easy to follow,” Amir remarked, dipping down to the pavement for a closer peek.

Cyrus remained standing, seemingly doing nothing unless you watched his face. His eyes moved, tracking the elements in the alley, from the single exit to the road, flicking over the dumpsters, and settling on the grate inset in the ground, its rusted metal bars partially plastered in a soggy paper bag from a popular coffee chain.

“The ghoul entered the alley from above,” Cyrus murmured, turning his gaze upward.

“No ladder.” Diego stood by the brick wall, pitted by time and weather. “It climbed using its hands and feet and left chunks of flesh in spots.”

A crouching Amir further summarized the crime scene. “It killed the person here.” He indicated the stain on the ground that rinsing hadn’t completely erased. “Then dragged the body toward the sewer.” He pivoted to take in the grate.

Diego leaned over and pointed. “Must have given up since it’s still bolted in tight.”

“A ghoul would have the strength to break it open,” Sasha added since they might not be aware.

“It mustn’t have had time. Something must have spooked it and it chose to flee.” Amir stood and raised his gaze. “It went back up, but how far could it have travelled on the rooftops?” He left the alley, and the group followed.

Diego loped ahead and took the lead, while Cyrus lagged, often craning to look upwards.

Keeping pace with Amir, Sasha murmured, “Aren’t you worried Diego will reach the lair first and win the kiss?”

“Bah, let him win that small token. I’m going to save myself for the bigger prize.” Amir surprised her with that statement, and her lips curved. It had been two nights since she’d woken to find him in her bedroom, and she’d been disappointed he’d not tried the trick again.

“Are you sure you can handle me? I might bite in the heat of the moment.”

“Is that supposed to be a turn-on?”

“You’re not afraid of me,” she remarked.

“Why would I be?”

“Because I could kill you with my bare hands if I chose.”

“You won’t, though.”

“You sound very sure.”

“Because I am. You don’t murder willy-nilly.”

“Willy-nilly?” she scoffed.

His grin widened. “Fine. You wouldn’t bother killing unless it served a purpose. Since I haven’t done anything to piss you off, or show disloyalty, there’s no reason.”

“You shouldn’t assume I have such lofty morals. I am a vampire after all. One that Thaddeus describes as having no conscience at all.”

“Maybe. But you’re also a decent person.”

“Given how you want to get in my pants, insulting me is an odd way to go about it,” she quipped.

He chuckled. “You might pretend to be tough, but I see you. You’re loyal, fair, and not one to waste a possible asset. Not to mention, you wouldn’t want me gone before we’ve fucked at least once.”

“Only once?” she teased,

“Once you get a taste, you’ll be back for more,” he boasted. His mirth abruptly ceased as Diego went stiff and growled, “The ghoul descended here.” The here ended up being a subway station entrance with a bus stop out front.

---