Мишель Роуэн - Fanged & Fabulous

I moved out from behind the bar to give Quinn a big hug. I was surprised at how glad I was to see him.

“You are a sight for sore eyes.”

“I am?”

“Hell yeah. When did you get in?”

“A couple hours ago.”

“Where have you been?”

“Down south. Had some stuff to take care of.” He grinned. “But I’m back now.”

“I see that.” I smiled back at him. “You know, you just missed Veronique. She left for her flight back toFrance a few hours ago.”

He didn’t look overly disappointed by the news. Quinn and Veronique had had a short-term relationship last month. Short-term in the fact that it had been about six days, after which, Quinn had left town.

“I hope she sends a postcard,” he said. “But I didn’t come back for her, you know.”

I froze. “Quinn . . . ”

His grin widened. “Relax, Sarah. I’m back in Toronto for other reasons. I’m not going to go all stalker on you. Well, not again, anyhow. I know you and what’s-his-name are still together. You made your choice and I respect your decision.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Really?”

“Not even remotely. If I had any say in the matter you would be making out with me right now.” He glanced at an unoccupied booth in the corner. “Over there. But I’m not going to press the issue.”

“No pressing of the issue,” I told him. “Any issue pressing would be wrong. But I’m glad you’re back.”

“That makes two of us.”

I’d met Quinn just after I’d been turned into a vampire. Since he was a hunter at the time, he’d tried to kill me. Twice. Then he was turned into a vampire. It was a rather traumatic experience for everyone involved. I helped him out, and he’d . . . become a bit fixated on me. Go figure. And, believe me, it would have been a mutual fixation—Quinn was hot and sweet and wonderful—but I only had eyes for

Thierry.

Yeah,Thierry .

The one who didn’t acknowledge me as his girlfriend or show any public displays of affection. The man I barely knew anything about because he was so damn secretive about everything.That Thierry.

I gave Quinn another hug. It felt good to be in his arms. Somebody who actually wanted to touch me. In public, even.

Very public.

It felt as if somebody was staring at us and I pulled away from Quinn. Yes, somebodywas staring. The whole club was. Including Thierry, who’d just emerged from his office again. He approached slowly,

eyeing Quinn.

“You’re back.” His voice was flat and he slid an arm around my waist to pull me a little distance away from the other man. I looked up at him with surprise.

“I am,” Quinn replied simply.

They stared at each other in silence. I could feel the gazes of everyone in the club still on us, but then I heard the buzz of conversation start up again as the CD version of Diana Krall sang about “The Look of

Love.”

I cleared my throat.

“So,” I began. “I guess I’d better get back to the bar.”

Thierry and Quinn continued to size each other up.

“I was under the impression that you had departed the city for good,” Thierry said.

Quinn nodded. “I considered it.”

“You did?”

“Briefly.” He took a deep breath in and glanced at me. “But I kind of like it here. Just can’t get enough of these Canadian winters.”

“What are your plans?”

“What do you mean?”

“Now that you’ve returned. You are no longer a hunter,” Thierry said the word with such distaste it was nearly palpable. “You have no current employment, do you?”

“Are you offering me a job, Thierry?” Quinn gave him a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Thierry matched the expression. “I am always looking for janitorial staff.”

“I’ll think I’ll pass. Don’t worry about me, buddy. I know how to take care of myself.”

“I’m sure that you do. Well, it is a great pleasure to see you again. And you found the new club so easily. I am surprised.”

Quinn nodded. “Sarah told me where you were going to be set up.”

There was an interesting new painting on the wall I was currently and conveniently studying, but it didn’t stop me from feeling a burning sensation on the side of my face that signified Thierry was staring intently at me. I raised my eyebrows. “Hmm? What was that? I wasn’t listening.”

“It is good of you to let Quinn know where to find us.”

I nodded. “Sure. I do what I can. He . . . uh . . . called about a week ago. Didn’t I mention that? And I .

. . let him know where Haven is.”

Thierry nodded. “You are a good friend to him.”

“I try to be a good friend to everyone.” I glanced over at the bar. “Anyhoo, George is flagging me down over there. Got to go.”

Thierry’s fingers dug into my side. Not enough to hurt, but enough to keep me in place. I was still floored that he was touching me in public. Should I feel special, or annoyed? Not quite sure but I was leaning toward “annoyed.”

I didn’t remember him and Quinn being quite so unfriendly before, though they were definitely not best buddies. In fact, while Quinn was briefly seeing Veronique they’d considered joining Thierry and myself down inMexico for a couple of days.

That never happened.

It was probably for the best.

Thierry regarded Quinn again. “It was nice of you to stop by tonight.”

He crossed his arms and glanced around the club. “Well, you’ll be seeing a lot more of me. I’m moving to the area permanently. Do what I can to help the other vampires out. Saving the ones who’ve gotten themselves into scrapes with the hunters. It’s going to be my thing now. Redeem myself a bit for being on the wrong side for such a long time.”

“Is that so?”

Quinn shrugged. “In fact, I’ve been following a lead on a vampire serial killer that led me back here.

He’s taking out hunters and humans alike. Even ripping the throats out of other vampires. Some young ones have been found still intact. Doesn’t seem to have any preference for species. This is the kind of killer that has given vamps the stigma that they’re all monsters. He has to be stopped. I wanted to ask you about it, Thierry, since you’re the go-to man with answers around here. Know anything about this?”

Wow. Talk about an exaggeration. There must have been a memo or something that went out to everyone today about my new rep. Now I was supposedly killing humans and other vampires, too?

Wonderful.

I opened my mouth to clear the matter up, but Thierry spoke first.

“I’ve heard of this, though I haven’t seen any proof. What does it have to do with you?”

Quinn shrugged. “I just want to help. I want to keep innocents safe, be they human or vampire. When I find out who this vamp is, I’ll put a stop to it.”

“A noble endeavor.”

“I try.”

“Though it does nothing to erase the crimes of your past. All of the innocents that you, yourself,

slaughtered with your hunter friends for fun and games.”

Quinn’s eyes narrowed. “It was never fun and games to me.”

Thierry waved his hand dismissively. “No matter, it is ancient history.”

“That’s right.”

“You know, that killer vampire might be just a rumor,” I said. “Nothing to worry about.”

Quinn smiled at me. “Maybe. But I’m going to check it out anyhow. Listen, I’m going to take off. I found a motel room nearby that they’re willing to rent to me on a weekly basis until I find something a little more permanent. I want to grab some shut-eye. It’s been a long day.”

“Good seeing you again,” I told him, trying to ignore the tightening of Thierry’s hand at my waist.

He nodded, shot a last extremely unfriendly look at Thierry, and headed back to the door past Angel the bouncer.