Page 6 of Nexus

“On who’s authority, Ms. Sterling?” the dragon asked.

“I don’t need a license to be a bounty hunter,” I pointed out. “I just need to witness a monster breaking the law and I’m allowed to off them.” I drew my thumb across my throat for emphasis and looked pointedly at his undead henchman. Ruen hunched his shoulders and shrank down in his chair slightly.

“Perhaps you’d better explain why you were discovered next to a freshly dead body, Ruen,” Lord Gilden said.

His servant looked embarrassed rather than guilty, which was a strange reaction. “I heard a woman scream and went to investigate. She was already dead when I found her.”

“If you didn’t kill her, then who did?” I asked, then continued before he could reply. “I sensed a leech nearby and you were drooling over the corpse when I got there.”

The dragon lifted an eyebrow, inviting Ruen to explain himself. “I was hungry and she was covered in fresh blood,” the vamp said defensively. “I haven’t fed in a couple of days, which made it difficult for me to restrain myself.”

“It would appear the culprit fled from the crime scene moments before you both arrived,” Drake mused, stroking his bearded chin thoughtfully. “How did you track Ruen to this club?”

“I followed the trail of holy water I sprayed on him.”

“How is that even possible?” Ruen asked skeptically. “Holy water doesn’t leave a discernable trail.”

“The trail is discernable to me,” I said smugly. “I can see the mist hovering over your head right now.” It was slowly dissipating and would soon be gone entirely.

“I’ll need to send the body disposal team to get rid of the corpse before someone stumbles across it,” Drake said and took his phone out of his pocket.

“It’s already been taken care of,” I informed him.

“By whom?”

“My mom has connections and she called it in.”

He snapped his fingers in recognition. “That’s why your surname seemed so familiar. Your mother must be Pearl Sterling.”

“That’s right,” I confirmed.

“Should I know her name?” the vampire asked sullenly.

“She’s a former bounty hunter,” his boss explained. “She worked for the agency before its owner was killed by a rogue vampire two decades ago.”

“Mom trained me to take her place,” I said proudly. “I’m hoping whoever hired the bounty hunters will hear about me taking down a rogue vamp tonight and offer me a job.”

“Good plan, except you caught the wrong man,” Ruen said with a sneer.

“I’ll consider hiring you if you manage to find the culprit and end his life,” Lord Gilden said.

“No offense, but I don’t want to work in an office job, or whatever position you’re offering me,” I said with my upper lip lifted in distaste.

He smiled, which upgraded him from being gorgeous to godlike in the hotness department. “The bounty hunters in Nexus all work for me,” he informed me. Most of the old crew mom had worked with had retired by now. He’d hired new hunters over the years and had a full team on his payroll.

A flush worked its way from my tattooed chest up to my hairline at that news. Now it was my turn to shrink down in my chair while Ruen smirked at me. Instead of impressing the man I’d hoped would become my boss, I’d fought his employees, had gatecrashed a swanky party and had tried to murder one of his minions right in front of him. “I guess I must have made a memorable first impression on everyone,” I said in a weak attempt at a joke.

“No one will remember it, except for we three,” he said. “Ruen, assist Ms. Sterling to find her target.” We both scowled at that idea and he heaved a sigh. “Vampires have an acute sense of smell. He can track the rogue for miles. Do you possess that ability?”

“No,” I replied sullenly. If I was going to find the real target, I was going to need help. It would suck to have to rely on the leech I’d staked. I doubted he was my number one fan after I’d tried to kill him.

“Assist Ms. Sterling to find the rogue, then bring her to my office before dawn,” Drake ordered.

Ruen nodded obediently, while grimacing in annoyance. “We should leave before the trail fades,” he said grumpily and stood up.

“Try not to accost any innocent vampires during your hunt,” the dragon requested wryly, standing politely when I rose to my feet.

“If your pet bloodhound leads me to the right guy, my target will be the only one I’ll be turning to ash tonight,” I vowed. “Unless any other rogues try to munch on me, that is,” I amended.