Page 68 of Criminology of a Character

“Wait?” Reese’s gaze shifted between the men as if they’d gone mad. “Are you both going to disrespect my daughter’s memory because the dog won’t acknowledge her body?Thisis ridiculous.”

“We aren’t disrespecting her,” Griffin said. “This isn’t her.”

“I’m looking at her!” Reese shouted. “That’s my daughter.”

“No, it isn’t.” Eamon stepped before Reese, letting his full power seep from his skin, and Bel’s dad recoiled. “That’s not Isobel, so dry your tears. Someone went through a lot of trouble to make us believe she’s dead, which means she’s still alive, and I will find her.”

“I don’t understand what’s going on,” Reese said.

“You don’t have to.” Eamon pushed Cerberus into the man’s arms. “She isn’t out of the woods yet, but your daughter isn’t dead.”

“I doubt the legal channels will offer much help, but I’ll do what I can,” Griffin said.

“That’s okay.” Eamon strode for the exit, leaving Reese with a gaping jaw and a squirming pitbull. “I don’t need the law. I need a bear.”

“It’s not Isobel,”Eamon said as he barged unannounced into Olivia Gold’s apartment.

“Oh god!” Olivia flinched at his sudden entrance, her normally subtle southern accent more pronounced in her grief.

“Eamon?” Ewan rose from the couch and planted himself before his girlfriend, his stance protective as if he half expected Eamon’s invasion to be a hostile one.

“The accident victim. It isn’t Isobel.” Eamon shoved his shirt sleeve in front of Ewan’s nose, forcing him to smell where he’d come in contact with the corpse, and Ewan barely inhaled before grimacing.

“Oh god.” He leaned back to escape the smell. “That’s foul. Bel’s scent is sweet.”

“Intoxicatingly so, and her blood is even sweeter,” Eamon said.

“Blood?” Olivia peered around her boyfriend to stare at their towering intruder. “What’s going on?”

“Could it be the decay?” Ewan ignored her questions. “She’s been dead for over twelve hours.”

“Decomposition wouldn’t alter a person’s scentthat drastically, and I tasted her blood to be sure,” Eamon said. “The body isn’t her.”

“What is going on?” Olivia leaped off the couch and sidestepped the men as her hand unconsciously grasped the phantom sidearm on her hip, and Eamon didn’t miss the way Ewan shifted uncomfortably. “Why are you talking about drinking Bel’s blood? What kind of lunatic are you?”

“Olivia,” Ewan started.

“Get out of my house.” She wiped her eyes as anger replaced her grief. “Eamon, get out before I arrest you for breakingand entering, or worse. I can’t believe I left poor Bel with you, you psycho.”

But Eamon made no move to leave as he glared at Ewan, who’d practically collapsedinon himself. “You didn’t tell her?” His emotionless voice was more terrifying than his rage.

“I…” Ewan threw the panicking Olivia a desperate look. “I didn’t know how to.”

“Telling her was our agreed-upon condition,” Eamon said. “The only reason I’ve allowed you to stay in my town is because I believed you told that woman the truth.”

“Tell me what?” Olivia shouted.

“Alpha predators don’t coexist, but I made an exception for you.” Eamon stepped into Ewan’s personal space, and the massive man cringed as Eamon’s beast commanded the room. “Detective Gold is important to Isobel, and you are important to her, so I made allowances, but you disobeyed me. I’ve killed men for less.”

“Please.” Ewan collapsed to his knees as he begged.

“What are you doing?” Olivia shouted, her voice shrill at the sight. “What’s going on?”

“I wanted to tell her.” Ewan gazed up at Eamon with pleading in his eyes. “I was going to. I swear it. I wasjustwaiting for the right time.”

“Tell me what?” Olivia’s scream was so loud that both men finally acknowledged her.

“Sit,” Eamon ordered Ewan. “You shouldn’t have waited because this is how she finds out, and I don’t have time to make this eloquent or comforting. Isobel is alive, but she’s in danger. I need the bear.”

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