Electric Storm(22)

“Now you’re jumping to conclusions.” She gave up on men. Needing a little peace from the testosterone in the room, she strode toward the door. “Just because it was a vampire doesn’t mean I shouldn’t take the case. It doesn’t mean shifters are automatically the perpetrator. It doesn’t mean that humans are stealing people to do testing.

“If I want your help, I’ll ask for it.”

“What if it’s a trap?” Taggert’s question pulled her up short; there was something in his tone that made the back of her skull tingle. When she turned, she only found concern on his face.

“I’ll find out the truth. I won’t accuse the wolves or anyone else until I have proof.”

Taggert shook his head, his gaze unrelenting. “A trap for you.”

He didn’t seem to care about the argument. His first concern had been her. That took her aback. “Why would they come after me?”

“You’re unique. Something about you draws attention. I noticed it last night at the club. Though he might not admit it, Jackson noticed. So did Durant. Do you have the same appeal to vampires?”

A dangerous question that. One she didn’t know how to answer truthfully.

Dominic’s gaze on her sharpened. “It’s worse around the dead, isn’t it?”

Unnerved at how close he was to the actual truth about her lack of control, Raven lifted her chin, prepared to be just as stubborn. “Leave it be, Dominic.”

“What did they do to you that makes you so dangerous?” Jackson’s soft question did nothing to alleviate the anger that vibrated in the air.

Though the anger wasn’t directed at her, she jumped under the lash of it anyway. The force of it left her little doubt why Jackson made such a fantastic enforcer for his people. No, neither of them could be allowed to know the truth about her birth or the injections forced on her in the labs that made her a crossbreed. It was too dangerous for everyone. “I’m not something you can fix.”

“No, but I can try to protect you if you’d let me.”

Her throat tightened at Jackson’s softly spoken words. She could see him shuffling through his thoughts, categorizing her and adding up the facts, concluding that she was a lot more than human.

But if he knew, why was he being so nice to her now? What changed? She gathered up her laptop and hugged it to her chest. “It would only get you killed.” With deliberate steps, she turned and left. She had research to do without being distracted by the people invading her life.

The desire to slip out the front door taunted her. Escape whispered in her ears. But she wouldn’t walk blindly into this mess without the proper research.

The basement door opened on silent hinges and lights flickered on at her movements. As she flipped the computer open, she lost herself in the world of reports and statistics.

She didn’t know how long she sat there reviewing the photos Scotts had sent of mutilated victims when her senses picked up on the intruder.

Jerking to her feet, she yanked the power from the room and dumped them in darkness.

“Please don’t leave.”

“Taggert?” Relief made her control waver, and the lights flickered then brightened. She picked up the gloves by the computer and tugged them over her naked hands, feeling very exposed.

“What are you doing down here?” She closed her eyes and severed the connection to her core as hard as possible and all that lovely energy slowly melted back into her bones.

“It’s late. You aren’t sleeping.” He sounded hesitant, clearly expecting to be reprimanded for daring to voice an opinion. It was the only reason she didn’t snap at him to mind his own business.

“I don’t sleep often. Go on to bed. I’ll come later.”

He didn’t move. “You need to rest.”

She tipped her head to the side, confused at his actions. He appeared pale. A light sheen coated his skin, and a slight tremor passed through his frame. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s worse at night.” There was no fear in his voice, only acceptance. Those strange eyes, like warm chocolate, focused on her.

“What is?”

“Taggert, go to bed.” Jackson’s harsh voice echoed in the cement room. He stepped out of the shadows wearing a pair of shorts and nothing else. His skin gleamed in the fractured light.

When she didn’t say anything, Taggert turned and headed past Jackson and toward the stairs.

“Maybe it’s about time you tell me what the hell’s going on.” Raven leaned against the table and crossed her arms. “He’s going through drug withdrawal, but there is something else neither of you are telling me.”