Blood Flame (The Flame Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

She didn’t know what he was thinking, but like hell she was going to look away first.
    She knew the game. Vampires valued strength above just about everything else and one thing the battling of his kind had made her: She was damn strong.
    His jaw worked and his eyes narrowed as he finally shifted his gaze once more to the couple on the pavement. “So what do we have here?”
    Iris looked at the wrecked bodies once more. “I have no idea.”
    He waved a hand toward the woman. “And she’s a witch.”
    “Yes. Sadie Thompson. She worked at the Tribunal, though in a different department.” She took a deep breath. “I didn’t know her well, but I understand she was a good, hard working woman.”
    He glanced at Iris, his lips twisted in disgust.
    Right. Vampires hated her kind as much as she despised his. In his view, there was no such thing as a good witch , so what did he mean by hovering above her house as often as he did? Was he spying on her?
    He walked slowly toward the bodies, scowling. Leaning down, he pulled the hair back from the vampire’s face then let loose with a long string of obscenities.
    Connor knew him.
    “He’s a Border Patrol officer, isn’t he?”
    “Yes. Jason. He’s only been missing a couple of days. I thought he just needed to let off some steam. Christ, who would do this to a BP man?” For the most part, even the drug-lords let the officers alone, except to bribe those they could, of course.
    She frowned at Connor. Was he on the take? Somehow, she doubted it. A man who would carry a runner to a clinic wouldn’t take bribes.
    The earliest questions resurfaced in her mind. Why had both she and Connor been called to Sentinel Bridge?

CHAPTER TWO
    Connor stared down at Jason, his chest tight. All Border Patrol officers made enemies, usually a member of one of the Five Bridges cartels.
    But it was rare for an officer to be killed outright. Connor knew of instances where officers simply disappeared never to be seen again. One thing the drug bosses excelled at was keeping a low profile.
    Which made this incident a quandary. There was nothing subtle about two dead bodies on Sentinel Bridge.
    He squatted on his haunches to get a closer look. There would be no forensics team. His world didn’t bother with serious investigations. And as far as the human world was concerned, every citizen of Five Bridges could go four-hooves-up and no one would give a damn.
    But Connor needed at least a few questions answered. “Iris, I’m going to have a look at Jason. Just a warning. You might want to turn your back.”
    “Thanks, but I’m good.”
    He glanced up at her. The woman had strength. Another thing he liked about the witch, damn it.
    Reverting his attention back to his fallen comrade, he slid his hands under Jason’s back then tilted him onto his side. He held him in that position, not wanting him to fall forward.
    What he saw made his stomach churn. Jason had been hung up on meat-hooks then beaten with something more than a pair of fists. Metal pipes, maybe. Other deep cuts went past his waistband. He didn’t want to think about where they led.
    He carefully laid Jason back down. He couldn’t hurt him now; he was long dead. But he felt a profound need to be gentle. He took a couple of deep breaths, an ache in his throat.
    He examined Jason’s hands for other signs of torture. His nails were intact though several of his fingers were broken. He also had a red, half-heart tattoo between his forefinger and thumb.
    Curious, Connor glanced at the witch’s hand.
    And there it was.
    He stood up. Was it possible? “Holy shit,” he murmured.
    “What?” Iris moved in closer.
    Connor waved his hand between the bodies. “These two were involved.”
    “Why on earth would you say that? Wait a minute, what did you see?”
    “They have a shared tattoo, two red half-hearts. If you put them together, you get a whole.”
    Iris shifted to have a look herself, then returned to stand once more beside Connor.