Jaci Burton - Taken by Sin

Grounded. Banned from work. Michael thought she was frozen with fear and unable to pull the trigger.

Ha! Bullshit. She’d show Michael she could get the job done. All she had to do was find a demon. And what better place for a demon to hunt for victims than a bar that catered to the drunk and senseless? Easy to take them down when they weaved their way out of the club and into the parking lot.

She’d scouted all the hot spots over the past couple days. Nothing better to do, since Michael wouldn’t let her work-though she’d kept her eyes and ears on the pulse of Realm activity, so she knew what was going on. Through their investigations the hunters had discovered some strange attacks that could denote demon activity, both in this area and in others. Fortunately not yet as widespread as they’d feared, but definitely growing. Mandy had feigned disinterest, but oh, she’d been listening, especially when the report zeroed in to this area specifically. One body had been found a block from here, the corpse seemingly emaciated, as if it had been drained of every liquid. And finger marks were noted on the victim’s throat. Cause of death was listed as strangulation, but the Realm knew better. Mandy had snuck in and studied the files when Michael wasn’t around. It appeared another victim had turned up a few blocks away, right behind The Bomb’s sister club, The Shelter.

She rolled her eyes at the irony of the name. Hadn’t provided much shelter for the poor dead victim, had it? Autopsy reports indicated hard-pressed impressions of fingers on the throat, including puncture wounds, which the police surmised were caused by some kind of small tool like an ice pick.

Or a demon’s sharp claws, but the coroner hadn’t guessed that, unsurprisingly.

So there she sat in her perfect spot in the darkened corner, her gaze pouring over every table, every patron seated at the long, scarred bar, searching out anyone who just might fit a demon’s profile. She picked out what she thought might be a few suspicious characters, and kept an eye on them. Tall, dark, and handsome types who seemed cold and aloof, with the kinds of smiles that didn’t quite reach their eyes. Then again, that could be just a normal guy thing. How would she know? Still, worth a try anyway. She did her best to throw off signals that made herself approachable, but not too easy. And she made it appear as if she’d been drinking. A lot.

Which in the eyes of a demon looking for food made her prey.

When one of those types approached her, she leaned back in the booth and propped one of her booted feet up on the threadbare vinyl seat.

“You alone?” he asked.

“You blind?” She shot it back dripping with sarcasm, not wanting to appear too available.

Not at all deterred by her attitude, he slid into the booth alongside her and held out his hand. “I’m John.”

How nondescript. She slid her hand in his, noting the icy cold fingers barely touching hers before he pulled away. Bingo. “I’m Mandy”

“So what are you doing here tonight, Mandy?”

She decided she’d play it like a woman who’d just gotten dumped and was looking to rebound in a hurry with some anonymous guy. She gave him a half smile. “Getting drunk, John. What about you?”

He lifted his beer. “Same. Not much action, though.”

She gazed around the bar. “It’s a slow night. Are you looking for some action?” She made a point of giving him the once-over, hoping she could fake some glimmer of attraction.

“Who wouldn’t be? You’re gorgeous.”

She took a drink of her beer to hide her grimace, then forced a smile afterward. “Thanks. You’re not so bad looking yourself.”

“You wanna dance?” he asked.

Someone must have pumped a couple quarters in the jukebox, because there seemed to be music playing. Really lousy music.

“Uh, sure.” She stood and followed him across the floor, stomping on cracked peanut shells on the way. He held out his hands and she stepped into his arms, trying not to shudder in revulsion when he touched her.

God, he was cold. And it was like ninety degrees outside, not much cooler in the bar. These demons were going to have to do a better job of masking the chill factor.

He laid his cheek against hers. “You smell really nice. Like vanilla.”

“Thanks.”

“Your skin is soft, too.”

Is this what went on between the opposite sexes, this lame search for something romantic or sexy to say? If it was, she realized she hadn’t been missing a damn thing all these years.

“I bathe regularly. Glad to know it’s effective.” Really, she was at a loss here. All she wanted to do was kill this thing, not make a date.

The killing part took front and center when he grabbed her ass and pulled her against what appeared to be a rather sizeable erection.

Now he really was going to have to die.

Plastering on what she hoped was her sexiest smile, she leaned back. “Got something in mind?”

“I think you know I do.”

Gag. She lowered her voice in an attempt to sound sexy. “Then let’s get out of here. My car’s in back. I’ve got a nice big SUV” With weapons in the backseat.

“Sounds great. Let me go pay the tab and I’ll be right behind you.”

She let her lips brush his. “I’m counting the seconds.” Until you’re dead.

She turned on her heel and went out the door, stalking to her car, shuddering off the effects of that thing touching her. She clicked the remote on the SUV and went straight for the backseat, climbed in and left the door open. She grabbed the pistol and slid it behind her back, then scooted into the far corner. Silence was on, safety was off. She was ready for him.

For it.

While she waited, she reminded herself this thing wasn’t human.

And it wasn’t Lou. It was okay to kill it.

As the demon approached her vehicle in the deserted, dark alley, she caught the telltale glow of his pale blue eyes and knew with full certainty that she’d found the right target. She grinned as he ducked his head inside the SUV

“Ready for me?” he asked.

“More than. Come on in and shut the door behind you.”

His teeth gleamed white as he pulled the door closed and slid across the bench seat until their thighs touched.

She had to force herself to stay put and not move away, especially when he loomed over her, his intent more than obvious. He was going to kiss her.

Okay, she could handle this. It would make her job easier.

“You are so beautiful.”

The demon needed some original lines. Did women fall for this shit? He leaned in, his eyes glowing an unnatural blue as he pressed cold lips to hers. She fought to keep her lips moving, trying to act like she was into it while she moved her arm from around her back, insinuating the gun between them. In a lightning quick moment she pressed the barrel of the pistol against the demon’s middle.

He had no time to react, and Mandy didn’t give herself time to think or to focus on his face. She pulled the trigger, the force of the blast catapulting the demon off her and across the vehicle. It slammed against the door, blood spraying everywhere. She fired again, once, twice, three times. Again and again she pulled the trigger, emptying the clip containing the liquid nitrogen. The demon had long ago stopped moving, the clip was empty, but she kept pulling the trigger. Sweat poured from her body, soaking through her clothes. She wasn’t even seeing the creature anymore.

All she saw was Lou’s face swimming in front of her, the sadness in his eyes as he crumpled to the ground. He knew the price of what he’d asked of them, but he’d asked it anyway. She’d see his face every day, every night, until she died. She’d relive the horror of what she’d done, just as she was doing right now.