Page 10 of The Incubus and the Bodyguard

“Thanks,” Vlad muttered. He started to push himself up.

His legs buckled.

Cortes caught his arm, surprise flashing across his face.

“Hey, take it slow.” Concern laced Jared’s voice as he moved to the other side of him.

Tarang pressed against Vlad’s back, supporting him.

The familiar’s confusion and agitation bled through their strained bond. Vlad’s heart clenched.

Did those men do something to us?!

Jared glanced at the gathering crowd. “Let’s get you somewhere less public.”

“I hate to say this, but you look even worse now than you did after you passed out,” Cortes told Vlad grimly.

Vlad let them guide him toward a black SUV with government plates. The short walk seemed to take forever, his legs feeling like rubber all the way.

“Lieutenant Dickson!”

A young officer was jogging toward them, his expression keen.

Jared’s face hardened. “Not now, Peterson.”

“Sir, witnesses are saying they saw the Lucianos and the head of theRed DragonTriad walk into that building—” the officer protested.

“What they saw,” Jared cut in sharply, “was a couple of restaurant guests entering the premises before a failed robbery attempt took place. Nothing more.”

“But—!” Petersen faltered at Jared’s scowl. “Yes, sir.”

“Get statements from the crowd,” Jared ordered. “Standard procedure.”

Peterson walked away, visibly deflated.

“Rookie?” Cortes hazarded.

“Fresh out of the academy.” Jared sighed. “He’s got a good head on him.”

“Give him a month,” Cortes said. “He’ll soon learn not to ask questions about the weird shit that happens in this city.”

Jared’s expression grew pinched.

They reached the SUV. Vlad sank gratefully onto the back seat, his body feeling impossibly heavy. Cortes and Tarang climbed in beside him, the familiar’s usual grace oddly stilted.

Jared got in the front seat and shut the door, muffling the chaos outside. He turned to face Vlad.

“The agents from the bureau are handling the cleanup, but I need to know what exactly they’re cleaning up in there.” The Immortal’s tone grew careful. “My understanding is theBlack Devilswere brokering a deal between Giovanni Luciano and Wei Chen. What happened?”

Vlad wasn’t the least bit surprised the Immortal knew the details of tonight’s meeting.

Cortes glanced at him. Vlad nodded, too dizzy to speak.

“We were attacked by a team in tactical gear,” Cortes told Jared.

Jared’s eyes shrank to slits. “Special ops?”

“I doubt it.”

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