The Fire Within Read Online Free Page B

over their meals. Healers turned cannibals, they reveled in the pain they inflicted as they devoured the flesh of their still-living prey.
    No, something was seriously wrong here, and as soon as Dante was done for the day he planned on giving Gabriel a call.
    First, though, he was going to visit his partner in the hospital. The frantic phone call from Lakisha had frightened him. He’d raced through his morning coffee and was out the door before he’d even combed his hair. Why hadn’t he listened to his messages when he’d gotten home the night before?
    Instead, he’d sat in his family room, watching television and cursing Elizabeth’s name. He’d gone to bed to dream of sweaty, rosy skin and gray eyes glazed with passion.
    Fuck. He was getting hard just remembering it. Not the way he wanted to see Lakisha. Lakisha would need someone there for her while Purvis was being taken care of, and Purvis would need to know that Dante had his back, and his woman safe. Purvis would do the same for him if he had a wife who needed looking after.
    Hell, Purvis had tried to make friends with Lillian. Even Lakisha had tried. But Lillian had wanted nothing to do with his partner and wife.
    Dante should have known then Lillian wasn’t the woman for him. Thank God she hadn’t fought him too hard during the divorce. He had more than enough ammunition to annihilate her.
    Once he arrived at the hospital he headed straight for the information desk, flashing his badge without a second thought. Hell, if it got him information on his partner he’d flash his ass. “I’m looking for Nelson Purvis.”
    The nurse quickly looked up the room number once she caught sight of his badge. “That would be room three sixteen.”
    “Any word on his condition?” Dante tapped his fingers impatiently on the counter. At least he knew Purvis was still alive. That was something.
    “I’m sorry, but you’ll have to ask the doctor that.”
    “Thank you.” Dante headed for the elevators, glancing around for a glimpse of Lakisha. If she wasn’t at her husband’s side, he bet she was badgering one of the nurses. The woman was scary-tough and adored her husband.
    A heart attack while shoveling snow. Dante couldn’t believe it. Purvis wasn’t that old—only forty-three. But then, knowing Purvis, he’d headed home after work, started shoveling and pushed himself. He wouldn’t have wanted Lakisha to have to deal with it.
    Knowing Lakisha, once Purvis was feeling better, she’d have something to say about that.
    He stepped out of the elevator and onto the third floor and headed toward Purvis’s room. Lakisha stood outside, her shoulders hunched, her expression pinched.
    She held out her arms to him, the smile Purvis had fallen in love with wide as she grabbed and hugged him. “You’re late.”
    “Hey, I have a murder investigation to run.” He kissed her cheek gently, then glanced inside the room. Purvis was hooked up to some machines, the steady beep reassuring him. “How is he?”
    “The docs say he’ll be fine, thank God. They only had to do one bypass. He won’t be back to work, not for a while at least. He’s got months of therapy and rehab before they even think of putting him at a desk, let alone chasing bad guys.” She glared at her husband, who smiled at them and feebly waved. “And we are definitely buying a snow blower.” Dante heard the slight tremor in her voice.
    “Think he’ll mind if I stop in? If he’s resting I don’t want to disturb him.”
    “I know he’d be delighted.” Lakisha’s smile gleamed brightly against her dark brown skin. Other than his mother, Lakisha was his favorite woman in the world. If she wasn’t married to Purvis, Dante would have snatched her up in a heartbeat. He noticed the fine strain lines around her dark eyes, the fear that she was trying so valiantly to hide.
    Damn it. Where the fuck was Rafael? If his brother were here, he’d make sure Rafe got in to see Purvis. The Azar would heal his