Winter Wolf (27 page)

“I asked them to,” I said, unable to keep the exasperation out of my voice. “They were doing it to each other.”

“Standard training. She had a helmet and face guard as well as a bulletproof vest. She walked away with bruises.”

“And a desire never to get shot with a real gun,” I muttered.

“See? She’s fine. No harm done. She’s not the helpless girl kidnapped while walking her dogs anymore. If you want to keep her safe, why don’t you insist she enroll in martial arts classes? She can handle a gun well enough, but she can’t always protect herself by shooting people. You’re a black belt, aren’t you?”

Richard sighed, relaxing a bit.

“She moves
fast
. Faster than me,” Daniel said, his voice meek.

The door to the bathroom opened, and Alex emerged, wearing nothing more than a towel tied off around his waist. “Welcome home, ladies. I trust your trip went well?”

Amber whistled as the Fenerec crossed the room. “Looking good, Alex.”

“Why thank you.”

“Go put some clothes on,” Richard growled.

“But there’s such an admiring audience.” Alex turned to me, winked, and said, “If you take your shirt off, he’ll forget why he was angry with you ladies.”

My cheeks burned. “Alex!”

The Alpha Fenerec growled a little. “Clothes, Alex.”

“He can stay like that.
I
don’t mind.” Amber leered at Alex.

“Your mate will care.” Richard pointed at the smaller of the bedrooms. “Clothes. Now.”

Alex shuffled off, swaying his hips back and forth. “Spoilsport.”

“Someone’s in a good mood,” I commented, watching the Fenerec head down the hall. “So Alex has a mate, then?”

“And what are you staring at, Nicole?” Richard didn’t sound happy.

~Ours,~
the book said in a smug tone. I wasn’t sure if it was referring to Alex, Richard, or both of them.

At least the book’s possessiveness was better than its previous desire to murder the Fenerec for being a threat to me.

“Two weeks,” I reminded her.

The witch sighed. “Two weeks,” she agreed, casting a surly glance at Richard. “You were supposed to be angrier than this.”

“I am angry, but I’m not stupid. You had good reason. You knew I would’ve tried to stop you.” Richard sighed. “I would have been wrong.”

“Unbelievable,” Alex said from the other room.

“How good are you, Nicole?”

“I have no idea?” I shrugged helplessly, decided it was safe to approach the coffee table, and wiggled out of my leather coat. My muscles were still stiff and ached as I got out of my shoulder holster. I unloaded my Beretta, setting the ammo clip aside before placing the firearm down. “Amber?”

“She’s good enough that they felt comfortable getting her carry permits.” Like me, Amber shrugged. “I wouldn’t want to be on the business end of her with her Beretta. She was better with the AK-47, though. Not sure how she managed
that
, seeing as the damned things are shit for accuracy.”

“You let her play with an assault rifle?” Alex asked, emerging from the bedroom clad in a pair of tight fitting jeans and a dress shirt, which he hadn’t bothered to button. “Why?”

“A reward for good behavior.” Amber chuckled. “If we had it on the range, she fired it at least once. Never know what type of weapons she’ll have handy, and I wanted her to know how to handle them without killing herself.”

“Makes sense.” Richard stared at me. This time, I kept my gaze lowered, though I made sure not to expose my throat to him. “So how good is she?”

“In terms of accuracy? Better than me. She was making head shots at a hundred yards with a scope nine out of ten times. She just needs practice moving and firing at the same time. But if she’s standing still and has you in her sights?” Amber mimed firing a gun. “Bang.”

I blushed. “You’re better.”

“I’ve been training for years, usually twenty or more hours a week. Of course I’m better than you. But you’ll be world class one day.”

“I have to live that long first,” I muttered.

Chapter Seventeen

Amber didn’t tell Richard or Alex about the serial killer. I followed her lead. When the two excused themselves a few hours later, apologetically claiming they had to handle some work out of town, I told them I’d stay in Vegas for another few days before going back to Los Angeles.

Neither of the Fenerec were happy about it, but I didn’t care. I needed to guard Amber’s back.

Richard left us with a debit card, gave us the pin, and ordered us to make use of it. When they were out of sight, I closed the door and turned to Amber.

“You want to help me with the killer,” she said.

“Yes.”

“But you won the bet.”

“I can’t let my hired bodyguard get herself killed while hunting a nasty serial killer.”

“What about the plague?”

“I’m still trying to figure that out,” I admitted. “The tricks I know aren’t enough to find the Winter Wolf. My magic needs a focus—like his blood. I don’t know if he had any relatives, I have nothing he owned, and nothing to help find out what happened to him. It’s a dead end.”

“The Winter Wolf? I must have missed that part of the conversation?”

I jumped up on the dining table, swinging my legs back and forth. “He cured the plague once. I was hoping I could find him and learn how he did it. But anyway, unless I come up with some great idea, I’m at a loss. If I help you take care of this killer quickly, you can help me figure out what to do about the plague.”

I considered my options. If I told her what I had done with Scott’s blood, maybe she could help me figure out an idea to use my magic to find the Winter Wolf. But the book’s warning about taboo magic was too fresh and Amber
was
an Inquisition witch.

How much forbidden magic could I get away with before Amber decided I was too much of a threat to let live?

I couldn’t kill Amber.

The realization chilled me. I had a gun, but I wouldn’t use it on her.

If she turned on me, I would be helpless.

When had I started caring so much about what happened to Amber? Why?

~Because you are kind,~
the book said, and once again I was aware of its pride in me.
~And because Amber is a victim, too. You protect those beneath you. Like you wanted to protect that Fenerec boy. It’s who you are. Who we are—protection through destruction. We must eliminate those who would bring harm to us.~

“The Winter Wolf cured the plague once,” I began, staring down at the carpet. “He knew how. He saved the Fenerec. If I could learn how he did it, maybe…”

“Maybe you could use your wizardry and do what he did.”

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

“And you have no idea how to find him?”

“None at all.”

“We’re right where we started, then. We’ve no idea how to stop the plague and running out of time.” Amber made a frustrated sound. “The Inquisition doesn’t know anything either. They have doctors, Nicole. I asked. They know about the plague, and they’ve been trying to find a cure. Nothing works. It’s as insidious a virus as
Ebola
, but it’s even worse. There’s no cure, no treatment, no hope. Even rabies can be treated if you catch it early enough.”

“You asked the Inquisition?”

“When you were sleeping the first night. I like Richard and Alex, Nicole. We’ve worked together for years. They’re as close to friends as I get with Fenerec. I don’t want them to die.”

The pain in her voice convinced me she spoke the truth. I closed my eyes and nodded. “I understand.” I didn’t want them to die, either.

~Ours,~
the book agreed, and its voice—my voice—was sad.

“So what’s our plan?” Amber asked.

“Why are you asking me?” I wrinkled my nose, then shrugged. “I think we deal with the serial killer first. Then I keep my word, and we head back to Los Angeles. My agent is probably flipping his top. Once I have my business settled there, we hunt the Winter Wolf. To do that, I’ll need to speak to Mr. Desmond.”

“As good of a plan as any. As for our friendly killer, we need bait.” Amber chuckled, picking up the debit card Richard had left on the coffee table. “You’re far, far prettier than me. Why don’t we make Richard’s money work for us? A wealthy woman playing high stakes games is just what the serial killer ordered. Except you and I will be armed and very, very dangerous.”

“Me?” I narrowed my eyes, watching Amber swish the card in the air. “Richard is going to kill you if he finds out. And we have no idea how much he’s letting us use.”

“Knowing him? It’ll be enough. After we eliminate the killer, the Inquisition will compensate Richard for the investment. They don’t mind spending money when innocents are being killed. Anyway, you’ll be safe enough. You’ll be armed. You know how to handle a gun in close quarters. If our target tries anything, shoot him. We—I mean the Inquisition—will clean up the mess. I don’t intend to let you out of my sight, but if he gets you alone, you can protect yourself until I can get you out. I don’t look like a rich girl. I can’t pull it off. You talk like a rich girl when you want to. I can’t act worth shit. My other option is to watch him lure some poor woman in, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to get her out before he kills her.”

“So, what do I need?”

“Clothes, jewelry, a thigh holster, and accessories. Do you know how to gamble?”

“Not really,” I admitted.

“Then you’ll need to act like you know what you’re doing at the tables. I’ll teach you the basics of Blackjack, Hold ‘em, Pai Gow, and Roulette. Craps is pretty complicated, though it’s popular.”

“Teach me craps too, then.”

Amber made a thoughtful noise. “Okay, put your gun back on and we’ll hit some shops and the casinos. This guy hunts the rich and famous, so we’ll head to Casino Royale to practice. It doesn’t attract the wealthy types.”

“The casino from the Bond movies?”

“That casino is in Montenegro,” Amber replied, laughing. “But yes, the Casino Royale here is based on the one from there. Of course, the one in Montenegro is far, far more spectacular. The one here isn’t nearly so regal. If you like cheap food and even cheaper beer, though, you’ll like the place.”

“I take it you like James Bond.” While I had seen one or two of the movies, that’d been enough for me.

“We live the life.” I thought I heard a bit of sadness in Amber’s tone. “You don’t have to help me, Nicole.”

“I want to,” I replied, checking my gun over before reloading and holstering it. “Let’s live to die another day.”

“Did you just pun me?” Amber asked incredulously.

“Me?”

~~*~~

My new-found courage abandoned me in the thick crowds swarming along Las Vegas Boulevard. I stuck close to Amber and jumped at the shadows cast by palm trees swaying in the hot wind. If she noticed, she didn’t make any mention, guiding me through the sea of people. Instead of taking me to the Venetian’s Canal Shoppes, we crossed the street to Caesar’s Palace.

“Forum Shoppes first, then we’ll hit the Bellagio. The Bellagio is better for the designer stuff, but this is on the way,” Amber explained, pulling me through the columned entry leading into the hotel’s shopping center. “And there’s better food here. I hate shopping on an empty stomach.”

“I hate shopping,” I muttered.

The entry of the Forum Shoppes opened to a dazzling pool made of mosaic tiles, guarded by pillars carved into Greek-themed statues. The statues towered to the third story, supporting walkways lining the shops above the fountain. An escalator circled a statue of a winged lion.

“You’ll like this,” Amber promised, dragging me to the second story, where she led me into one of the many stores.

Thirty minutes later, with Amber wielding Richard’s debit card like a weapon, we emerged with a purse, wallet, and a pair of high heels. I tried not to think about how much our spoils of war cost and kept a firm grip on the plastic bag in fear of losing it.

“Relax,” Amber said, patting me on the shoulder. “We’re just getting started.”

“But how do you know I need black shoes? Black shoes with
diamonds,
Amber. Diamonds,” I spluttered.

“They’re just tiny ones,” she replied, ignoring my protests and dragging me down the escalator to the first floor. “If it makes you feel better, I texted Richard and asked for the balance on the card, saying I wanted to dress you up for a night on the town. He said we were welcome to spend however much we wanted, but on one condition.”

I didn’t like her playful tone, so I asked warily, “What condition?”

“He wants me to text him a picture of you in it.”

My face burned. “You’re joking!”

“Not at all. He said if I got a pretty dress I had to send a picture of me too. Fair’s fair and the poor man’s single.”

“I don’t think he meant you could spend thousands of dollars on
shoes
,” I replied, appalled.

“I don’t think he cares, Nicole. He wouldn’t have given us the card unless he meant for us to use it. He doesn’t have anyone else to spend his money on. Let the man pamper us if he wants to. And we get to use it to stop a monster, which makes it even better.” Amber rubbed her knuckles against my temple.

I ducked my head and sighed. “This is insane.”

“Let’s go find dresses,” Amber announced, loud enough anyone around us could hear. She linked her arm with mine and pulled me down the hall. In a lower voice, she hissed at me. “I see him.”

With wide eyes, I followed Amber’s lead. A girl shopping for dresses would laugh and have fun, so I forced that mask, giggling with excitement to cover the surge of fear at the thought of being so close to our murderous target. It wasn’t until we turned a corner leading deeper into the Forum Shoppes that I saw him. He was a tall and pleasantly handsome with the dark skin of someone who spent too much time in the sun. He watched us, and when I was about to lose sight of him, he pushed away from the column he leaned against to follow us.

“I saw him,” I whispered back.

“He’s hunting.”

“
Us?
” I squeaked.

“We’re spending money in designer stores. Fits his profile. I didn’t expect him to be here, though.” Amber made a show of staring in the window at another store featuring shoes and handbags. Before I could protest, she dragged me inside. “I still need shoes,” she announced.

I followed her around, pointing at the shoes I happened to like, and pretending not to notice the well-dressed man loitering in the hall.

Unlike me, who was horrified at the thought of buying a single pair of shoes, Amber bought two pairs and a handbag. Hers, to my disgust, didn’t have any gemstones embedded in them. If it weren’t for the price tags, I would’ve thought they were normal heels.

“Why do I get the diamonds?” I hissed at her as she paid for her purchases with Richard’s card.

“Because you’re pretty enough to pull them off. I’m not.”

“You’re plenty pretty,” I protested, shaking my head. “And you don’t sound like you have a bad cold all of the time, either.”

“I don’t think our friend will be at all interested in your voice.”

I shuddered, but couldn’t argue with her. Our prey pursued us through the Forum Shoppes, and I wondered if he suspected we were hunting him.

“Let’s eat,” Amber suggested, dragging me to a popular restaurant. It was busy, and we waited in line for a seat. Our target made a show of taking photographs of the statues dominating the center of the walkway. “Oh, those are the moving statues. It’s a show.”

I tried to imagine the pegasus and warriors moving, but couldn’t. “Really? They look like statues to me.”

“That’s the point,” Amber replied, giggling a bit. We were seated at a table barely big enough for two, which let Amber duck her head close to mine so we could talk in whispers. “I can’t tell which one of us he’s interested in.”

“Does it matter?” I replied, staring at the menu. The prices reminded me of L.A. “If it’s me, you’ll get me out. If it’s you, I’ll get you out. That’s how it works.”

“You don’t have the training,” she hissed.

“Amber, I don’t need the training.” I glanced around to make certain no one seemed to be listening to me. “I’ll blast a hole through a wall if I need to. And I can take out any cameras with no issues. He hurts you, and he’ll be an ash smear when I’m done with him.”

I think the viciousness in my tone surprised her as much as it did me.

“You can’t do that. They’ll know, then.”

“No, they won’t,” I replied with a dainty sniff at Amber’s lack of faith.

“And how will you stop them from finding out?”

“Fire witch,” I said, pointing at her. “Ash is from fire.”

“You mean officially, I’ll have done it?” Amber’s brows furrowed. “Frying people isn’t how I operate.”

“We all make mistakes when we panic.”

“I don’t normally panic.”

“Shit happens.” I took a sip of water, pretending to concentrate on the menu while keeping an eye on our target. “Looks like he’s settling down to wait.”