Chapter 11
AVA
“Report is on your desk, Captain,” I say as I breeze out of his office and sit back down at my desk.
Captain Barnes replies with a gruff thanks, and I get back to work.
Rain pounds against the windows, and I wish for a few days off from this torrential downpour.
My poor pink hair can’t take it much more.
I’ll be due for another dyeing session soon.
I wonder if I should mix it up and do a different color, but … nah, the pink is me.
Glancing at Celine’s empty desk, I can’t help but deflate at the sad sight. She made work fun, and even though I see her often back at the apartment, I miss her terribly. Interviews have taken place, and I know when the position is filled it’ll be even sadder to see a new occupant in her seat.
With a sigh, I send the email I was in the middle of before Captain Barnes needed me.
“Did you see the pictures?” a detective murmurs none too quietly around the corner to someone else.
Being the nosy bitch I am, I dial in to eavesdrop.
“What could do something like that?” another detective replies in disgust. “I don’t even want to mention the poor girl that disappeared seemingly into thin air.
We’ve got nothing to go on. It’s just like that case from last month,” she continues as they walk down the hallway where I can’t hear anymore.
“Something odd is happening in Chicago.”
The first detective lets out a gruff laugh. “You’re telling me. I told my wife to be extra careful anywhere she goes. I think we have more than one serial killer on the loose.”
“What the fuck?” I say out loud to myself.
They couldn’t be referring to a case tied to the Mayhem Murderer, a.k.a.
Zav, could they? He’s still up to his usual antics, but the second half sounded more like Genevieve and her shenanigans.
Zav isn’t the type to make some random girl disappear.
He’s picky about his kills—choosing criminals over random citizens.
He enjoys the thrill of killing, but I can’t see him being desperate enough to do this.
But she’s dead. Like dead-dead. Dead as a doornail.
So, if it’s not Genevieve and not Zav, then what’s going on?
“I’m here to liven up your boring dinner!” Zav announces as he strolls into my apartment like he owns the place. Dramatically bowing, he looks me in the eye when he comes back up. “Please, hold your applause.”
I don’t miss Valen’s flinch at the door smacking the wall. A wave of anger washes over me at how inconsiderate Zav is, and I rush over to swat at his arm.
“You dumbass,” I hiss. “Read the room.” I give a subtle nod toward Valen.
Zav looks apologetic but leans over to whisper in my ear. “He can hear you, Strawberry Shortcake.” He taps his ear. “Vampire hearing.”
I look sheepishly behind me and see Valen rubbing his neck awkwardly. Shoving Zav away with a huff, I get back to setting our dinner plates on the island.
“Leave her alone,” Celine chides as she walks in behind Zav and closes the door softly. “She’s just looking out for him. I think it’s sweet.”
“Ava? Sweet?” Zav scoffs. “Sweet as a Sour Patch Kid, maybe.”
“Exactly!” I point a finger in his direction. “Sour and sassy on the outside, but once you get to the middle, I’m all sugar, baby. Bite me.”
Zav mock bites at the air toward me, and a growl so low I almost miss it comes from the living room. Shocked, I turn toward the source of the sound and find Valen with a snarl twisting the features of his handsome face. Sharp fangs have descended, and pure possessiveness burns in his eyes.
It’s hot as fuck.
My heart thunders in my ears, racing wildly as my body responds automatically to that sound—to that look. I’ve never seen him with that expression.
I belong to him, every cell of my body seems to scream. But it’s not in a he’s a possessive alpha male who owns me way. It’s more like my body is drawn to his on a molecular level.
“Chill, dude.” Zav holds his hands up innocently. “I’ve got my own pretty girl right here.” He snags Celine around the waist and smacks a loud, wet kiss to her cheek. She shoves him off and he just laughs.
At that, Valen shakes his head and seems to come back to himself. He clears his throat and excuses himself to use the bathroom even though I know he’s only embarrassed. Vampires don’t need to use the toilet.
Celine gives Zav a look, and he smiles innocently at her.
“You did that on purpose,” Celine muses. “Why are you poking the bear? You know Valen is still acclimating, and seeing his mate with another vampire has to be threatening.”
Zav pushes his glasses up his nose and drags a hand through his crimson hair.
“Celine,” he whines. “I’m choking on the tension between them.
He still has trauma to sort through, sure, but he needs to acknowledge that what’s right in front him is one of his biggest strengths.
” Zav winks at me and I laugh at his matchmaking antics.
“You’ll be more helpful than you know with getting him through it. ”
Zav sounds like he speaks from experience.
A knock on the door signals Luna before she lets herself in.
“Hello, hello!” she chirps, blond hair bouncing with each step she takes. “What’d I miss?”
“I’m getting blue balls from Valen and Ava,” Zav jokes, making Luna smile. “You could cut the sexual tension with a knife. Just. Kiss. Already.” He claps his hands on each word like he wishes he could physically force us together.
I give Luna a hug, and she turns to give one to Celine and Zav as well. Valen joins us again, face a mask once more.
“Are you okay?” I ask as softly as I can.
He gives a nod. “Sorry about that.”
“No need—” I was going to say no need to apologize, but he’s already moving away from me to snag a seat at the other end of the table.
Well … okay then.
We go back and forth between spaces when it comes to our dinners, and tonight my apartment is the happening spot.
“How was work?” Celine asks me as she assembles her first taco.
“Really fucking weird, actually.” I remember the odd conversation I overheard.
“I wanted to bring it up tonight because it has me worried. Some detectives were talking about a case that sounded like something Genevieve would do.” I chew on my lip and peek at Celine, worried I’m bringing up the incident when she might not want to talk about it.
“I might just be jumping to conclusions, though. After everything I feel a little on edge.”
She’s frozen in place for a second but melts back into Zavier when he breezes over to stand behind her. He rubs her arms in reassurance and kisses her temple.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be dramatic. Sometimes it hits me out of nowhere—the crazy shit that went down.” Celine sighs and gives Valen a sympathetic look, and he does the same to her.
“You’re not dramatic,” Luna chides her. “It was a horrific thing that happened and you’re valid in your feelings.”
Celine nods at me to keep going.
“I don’t have much more than that. They were talking about a girl disappearing and I thought it resembled the case that Genevieve was involved in.
It felt fishy and I couldn’t shake the feeling that it’s all tied together.
Isn’t Genevieve dead?” I question Zav, even though I already know the answer.
“I held her decapitated head in my own hands and ripped her apart piece by piece.” He grins manically, and I shudder at the predator shining through the boyish looking vampire.
It’s easy to forget what he is. “And then lit those pieces on fire for good measure. And because I’m extra dramatic, I scattered her ashes in various places. ”
“Thanks for bringing that up over dinner,” Luna sighs.
Zav downs a juice pouch–style blood bag, bendy straw and everything, before responding.
“I’m going to check in with my contact and see if there have been whisperings of what’s going on.
The rain hasn’t let up, and since that’s a sign of a lot of supernaturals in one place, it doesn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy.
There’s still more going on here. I’m missing something and it’s driving me crazy. ”
That’s what scares me—that we’re all missing something big right in front of us.