Beguiling the Enemy - Chapter Two

The girl may have flinched when he’d pushed the gun deeper into her flesh, but she hadn’t made a sound. She was used to keeping a brave face and she wasn’t about to let that slip now. Instead Caitlin’s fingers coiled against the wall, knuckles pale, body tense in anticipation of the shot.

‘I’m flattered you’ve given me an option,’ she said, turning her head towards him, ‘considering your usual tack.’

Kane couldn’t help but smile. Controlling her body had been easy but controlling this one’s mind was going to be a whole other challenge.

This was worth the lingering moment.

He leaned closer, one arm above her head as he slid the gun slowly and coaxingly over the inward curve of her waist, down her hip. ‘Is that what keeps you warm at night in that empty bed of yours, Caitlin, thinking you know me?’

She frowned, clearly using all her willpower not to flinch. ‘I know this is where it ends for you.’

Easing her jacket aside to assess the outward curve of the small of her back, the pertness of her behind, he whispered against her ear, ‘Tell me, what’s it like being the token psychic on the big boy’s team? Someone have an equal opportunities box to tick, did they? Or was someone promised the prising open of those slender thighs?’

She exhaled curtly. ‘You can go to hell, Kane. And I’m going to put you there.’

Cornered and still fighting. He could almost like her if she wasn’t a tracker. The seventh sense he could forgive – that wasn’t her choice. But the VCU and their sanctimonious ways irritated the hell out him, interfering in things that were none of their concern. And with this one’s mind admirably but insultingly still focused, coupled with that naivety, she was presenting a lethal concoction for his self-control if he didn’t want to end up with damaged goods.

But lucky for her, and even luckier for him, her seventh sense was strong. Her years of abstinence maintaining her power as if she’d been celibate all her life – and that made her too valuable to waste with what was to come.

‘Now that sounded like you meant it,’ he said.

‘There’s no way out, Kane. Just pull the trigger or give yourself up.’

Releasing the gun from her side, he flipped her around and pinned both her hands above her head with one of his.

Her eyes widened briefly as she snapped back a breath, their eyes meeting for the first time.

She was even prettier up close – unassuming, unless you studied the delicate features and ready-to-kiss lips, sandy-brown hair damp and tousled from the rain, those bright, enticing coffee eyes beautifully offset by her pale skin. And from the sudden dilation of her pupils, the flush in her cheeks, he wasn’t alone in liking what he saw.

It was a shame. Under other circumstances she had just enough feistiness to keep it interesting until he chose to exhaust her, playfully and cruelly manipulating the resilience indicative of her kind. And the more self-controlled they were, the more pleasurable it was, especially when they were as attractive as her. But this was no time to play. This was about preserving her until it was time to drain her body, mind and spirit. Toying with her slowly, excruciatingly until she made that fatal choice of letting him in, allowing him access to that otherwise untouchable soul.

He raked the tranquilizer gun teasingly down her chest, along the top of her jeans now sitting loose on her slender hips, over the inviting hint of bare flesh, the subtle curve of her toned stomach. Hitching the waistband down just a little further, his gaze lingered tauntingly on the cream lace band of her underwear, before meeting her eyes again. ‘Are you calling my bluff, Caitlin?’

Her chest heaved beneath her t-shirt, her defiant gaze fixed with steely determination on his, her curt breaths enticingly sexy, her pulse racing, her warm body trembling.

‘Or maybe you’re just stalling until the real agents show up?’

Caitlin’s eyes narrowed. ‘I’ll repeat: Kane Malloy, I’m detaining you on twenty- one alleged accounts of crimes against members of the third species, including your own, thirty-two against humans, crimes of the third, second and first degree. You will be detained until further notice whereon you will undertake questioning through which a confession is recommended. Should you elect not to confess, a shadow-reader will read you. If you are subsequently found guilty of any charges, your reticence will automatically qualify you for a more severe sentence.’

The girl was unbelievable. Hauled up against a wall and still reading him his rights. Taming her really would have made for an interesting couple of nights.

‘You don’t do submissive well, do you, Caitlin?’

‘I don’t do submissive at all.’

He leaned closer, his mouth hovering less than an inch from hers, her erratic breath evocative against his lips as she recoiled tight against the wall, forging whatever distance she could. He nudged her thighs apart, keeping them that way with one of his, the panic in her eyes further confirmation of what he’d guessed from her reaction when he’d unclasped her belt: Caitlin was way out of her depth coming after him. And if the stakes hadn’t been so high, he’d already be proving it.

‘Tell me you’ve never fantasised about this moment,’ he said, revealing just enough of his canines to goad her.

Her pulse raced as she floundered under his scrutiny. ‘I have,’ she said breathily. ‘Only I’d already lodged a stake in your dysfunctional heart. Now are you going to pull that trigger or am I supposed to stand here all night until you work out how to use it?’

He laughed curtly, but then he saw it: the knowing glint in her eyes.

Caitlin knew what he was.

And that made her actions far more than just reckless.

Those adept detection skills were reserved only for the most capable of shadow-readers.

Now Caitlin Parish dangerously sparked more than his interest; she’d triggered the most instinctive part of him.

But restraint was a necessity and the echoes of two sets of footsteps fast approaching from the main corridor told him time was short.

Taking both her hands in one of his, he turned her around, tucking her against him as he raised the tranquiliser gun to the brighter light of the main corridor ahead. ‘Looks like we have company,’ he whispered against her ear. ‘Make a noise and I’ll do more than send them to sleep.’

As soon as they appeared, Kane let off a single shot.

Neither agent saw it coming.

His shot pierced the first agent cleanly in the chest.

But something also pierced Kane.

Pierced him in the palm of his shooting hand. Something that threw him off balance, weakened his hold on the gun as paralytic pins and needles swarmed his fingers, his wrist, his elbow.

The second agent took the opportunity and shot Kane twice in the shoulder.

But Kane’s world was already turning black.

He didn’t even have time to curse.

* * *

Caitlin’s breath misted the office window as she gazed out across the headquarters’ floodlit grounds, the smattering of rain obscuring the cityscape beyond. The radiator warmed her thigh through her jeans, her thumbnail jammed between her teeth as she bit it nervously. Vampires hunted more in the rain. Rain meant hoods up, umbrellas up, deficiency of sound, lowered eyes. Rain disorientated and distracted people, making the kill or capture so much easier. Rainy nights were busy nights; busy when you weren’t suspended pending a full investigation.

She mindlessly rubbed her neck where he’d caressed her. All those years studying him and none of it had prepared her for the lethal spark behind those navy blue eyes. Eyes that only seven hours before had confirmed her deepest fears, her deepest hopes.

The truth of what he was had glimmered through that compelling self-assured gaze. Kane Malloy was indeed a Dual Feeder, a master vampire. He belonged to a rare archaic strain of vampirism. A strain believed to have slipped into extinction in place of the weaker and more prevalent singular blood feeders. And deep in the shadowy recess of his absent soul, every last remaining truth about his species lay concealed.

Until she got into that interrogation room.

Which is exactly where she needed to be instead of wasting time waiting on others to decide her fate.

She pulled herself from the window, glanced down at her watch for the ninth time in the last ten minutes and wandered over to her desk to find the last of her caffeine tablets.

‘Caitlin,’ Mark called from behind. ‘You’re wanted.’ He looked as sullen and tired as the rest of the team but there was something more. He cocked his head towards the corridor. ‘Max’s office. Now.’

Her stomach flipped. With leaden legs, Caitlin headed the few doors down, steadied her breathing and composed herself before opening the door.

Her step-father stood in front of the floor to ceiling window, the ignited cityscape his backdrop, his hands cradled behind his back as he turned to face her, his lips taut, his eyes grave.

And behind the dominating conference table, folder neatly opened in front of him, sat Xavier Carter: not only head of their division but head of all six units that dealt with third species matters.

His usually elusive presence was enough to tell her something had gone horribly wrong.

Xavier stood, indicated for her to move to the seat opposite his, his wrinkled grey eyes observant, intrigued. ‘Agent Parish. It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard much about you.’ He held out a hand across the table.

‘Just in the last few hours I bet.’

Xavier smiled as he shook her hand once, firm, businesslike, and indicated for her to sit. ‘On the contrary. Your work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Your name has been put forward for some rather significant achievement awards at this year’s forthcoming ceremony.’

‘I don’t do this for personal accolade, Mr Carter.’

He smiled again; just a hint this time. ‘Your dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed.’

She eased her chair under the table, perched on the edge, her hands concealed in her lap so they couldn’t see the tremor.

‘Which is why I’m sure your temporary suspension has come as quite a shock to you,’ he added. ‘I can see it has caused you some distress.’

She glimpsed across at Max as he took his seat beside Carter, fully in official role. She wouldn’t expect anything less. Wouldn’t want anything less. In this room, under these circumstances, he wasn’t her step-father, he was her boss, family connection severed.

‘Max warned me of the consequence if I proceeded with my course of action. I chose to ignore it.’

‘So you agree with the suspension?’

‘Absolutely not.’

Max shot her a warning glare as Xavier lifted his eyes from the paperwork. ‘You appear very resolute in your conviction,’ Xavier remarked.

‘I do a job, Mr Carter. My job is to track and detain vampires who breech the code of conduct. Kane Malloy has proven elusive for far too long. As soon as I sensed that he was going to abscond, I proceeded to locate him and detain him. That’s what I’m paid to do.’

‘You are also part of a team, agent Parish. You moved directly against my orders,’ Max reminded her. ‘You went in there unprepared and unsupported. You put yourself at risk as well as Morgan and Brovin. You’re lucky they turned up when they did.’

‘I hear Morgan’s doing fine.’

‘You’re fortunate Malloy only got one round in him.’

‘I was handling it.’

‘And if they hadn’t intervened when they did?’

‘Morgan wouldn’t have got shot,’ she finished. ‘Just me.’

Max opened the package in front of him, took out the plastic bag, placing the gun it contained on the table between them.

Her gun.

Her heart thudded uncomfortably as Max slid it towards her, as she saw the disappointment in his eyes.

‘Who made this for you?’ he asked.

‘Does it matter?’

‘Illegal customisation of VCU property? Yes, agent Parish, it matters. The lab tells me the release pin was not only loaded with sedative but also a hefty dose of hemlock. An illegal weapon and an illegal substance. Who designed it?’

Caitlin lowered her gaze.

‘Agent Parish?’ Max persisted.

She sighed and reluctantly looked back at him. ‘I did.’

‘You?’

‘I wanted a back-up plan.’

He picked the gun up, held it by the barrel and squeezed the trigger. The pin sprang through the back of the grip with a powerful stab, hitting the air instead of the flesh of his palm as it was designed to; what it had succeeded in doing with Kane. ‘So anyone with pressure different to yours activates this and that goes straight into their bloodstream.’

She shrugged. ‘Worked, didn’t it?’

Max placed the gun back on the table, unable to mask the disapproval and disappointment in his eyes.

‘Tell me again what happened,’ Xavier said, recapturing her attention.

‘Like I said in my statement and every interview since then, when I saw Kane Malloy re-enter the building, I pursued him. I worked out he was more than likely to head up to the roof where he would be able to cross several buildings and enter any one of them to escape. There is a single corridor that leads to the roof so I chose that one. I proceeded several metres and turned down a darker corridor when interference in my earpiece caused me to momentarily lower my guard. He came up behind me, took my gun and pinned me up against the wall. I told him his rights and advised him to give himself up. As I was disarmed, but knew Brovin and Morgan were not far behind, I resolved to keep him occupied for as long as possible. Malloy heard Brovin and Morgan approach, shot Morgan, thus activating the pin in my gun, releasing the hemlock and sedative, the former temporarily paralysing his hand and arm. Brovin immediately counter-shot Malloy twice in the shoulder. Malloy was unconscious within seconds.’

There was a momentary silence. Max and Xavier exchanged glances, adding to Caitlin’s unease, her irritation.

Max leaned forward again. ‘I last spoke to you at 10:27 p.m.’

‘Okay.’

‘Brovin reported having taken Malloy down at 10:31.’

‘So?’

‘Four minutes to read him his rights?’

Caitlin held her gaze steadily on Max; his was riddled with suspicion. She frowned. ‘If you say so.’

‘And what did Kane say to you?’

‘Very little.’

‘In four minutes?’

‘Time flew.’

‘Agent Parish,’ Xavier cut in. ‘You’re the only member of this unit, this division, who has ever got that close to Malloy and survived. I’m sure you understand we want to know why.’

Because he had a purpose for her. A purpose that required her alive. For the time-being anyway. ‘He was interrupted.’

‘Four minutes later, yes. It would have taken him a split second to kill you.’

‘I’d be no use as a hostage then would I?’

‘Why would he need a hostage when he could have out-run you? All of us?’ Max asked. ‘Instead he held back, followed you down that corridor subsequently increasing his risk of getting caught.’

‘What do you want me to say? I took a chance and it paid off.’

‘A chance that could have got you killed,’ Max reminded her.

‘It was a snap decision.’

‘No, Caitlin. You knew before you started last night that you weren’t going to let him go. Your gun is proof of that.’

‘This is my case,’ she said, meeting his accusatory gaze. ‘It’s me who got us to this point. Four years it’s taken me. So no, I wasn’t going to just let him walk out of there. It was then or never.’

‘You do know your action meant he was apprehended illegally?’

‘If he hadn’t shot Morgan, the gun wouldn’t have activated. He was an active aggressor trying to escape. I did my job and I will stick by my decision.’

‘Are you attracted to him, agent Parish?’

Caitlin’s gaze snapped to Xavier, the question almost winding her. ‘Excuse me?’

‘It’s a simple question: are you attracted to him?’

‘I don’t see what that has to do with any of this.’

‘It has everything to do with this.’

She frowned. ‘Are you accusing me of being unprofessional in my intentions?’

‘It’s merely a question.’

‘I acted fully within the code. I read him his rights word for word.’

‘You wanted him to pull the trigger.’

‘I was willing to take a shot to bring him down.’

‘Did you try to provoke him?’

She kept her gaze solemnly on Xavier. ‘Where is this going?’

‘I’ll ask you again: What prevented him from shooting you?’

‘I don’t know. Why don’t you ask him? Or can I assume that he’s saying nothing. Just as I’m guessing he’s refused a voluntary confession. Which is why I should be in there shadow-reading him and not sat here wasting time.’

‘We brought in Isla,’ Max declared.

Caitlin’s heart leapt at the treachery. But not just that. If Isla, much weaker a shadow-reader though she was, got even an inkling of what Kane was then suspension would be the least of her worries. ‘And?’

Max hesitated for what felt like a lifetime. ‘Nothing.’

Her heart lunged with relief. ‘What do you mean “nothing”?’

‘He blocked her. She couldn’t even read his mood.’

She stared from Max to Xavier and back again. ‘Did she retry?’

‘Three times,’ Max said. ‘No reading. No confession. All topped off with an illegal apprehension. Still sure we’ve won, Caitlin?’

Discomfort squeezed the pit of her stomach, a light perspiration sweeping over her. ‘You’d better not be saying what I think you are.’

‘We have no choice,’ Max declared sullenly.

‘Yes, we do,’ Caitlin said, standing. ‘You need to reinstate me.’

‘Sit down.’

‘No third species can block shadow-readers. It’s just a trick. Isla’s got half my sense. Let’s see how much of me he can block.’

Max glowered up at her with the warning of a protective parent. ‘Sit down, Caitlin.’

But she couldn’t. They had no idea what it meant if they let Kane go. She needed him contained. She needed him confined. It was the only way she’d ever have him long enough, and be safe enough, to extract the information she needed. ‘He’s only been here seven hours. We can keep him for another seventeen. Let me in there and I will sort this. You know I’m stronger than Isla...’

‘I said, sit down!’

Reluctantly she did so, perching on the edge. ‘He is not slipping through our fingers because you’ve suspended me over some technicality. Just give me an hour with him, I’ll get everything we need…’

Max showed her the palm of his hand, the cue for her to stop talking and start listening. She pressed her lips together in resentment.

‘You’ve been suspended. Even if you were able to read him, it would be thrown out of the court.’

‘So that’s it? He walks free? After all this?’

Max held her gaze, his eyes sober, his face terse. ‘He’s requested you be the one to take the release papers to him.’

Her stomach flipped. ‘I bet he did.’

Xavier leaned forward, his fingers interlinked as he rested them on the table. ‘He wants it done in private. He knows we’ll insist on watching but he has demanded no audio. They’re his terms for not pursuing the illegal apprehension. Caitlin, he wants something from you and if he has given you any indication of what that is, you have to tell us.’

And let them yank her off the case and wrap her in cotton wool in some distant district?

No. She had come too far. Invested too much.

‘I told you: he didn’t say anything.’

Xavier leaned back in his seat, the disconcertment in Max’s eyes telling her she wasn’t the only one holding information back.

‘I’ll be upfront with you, Caitlin,’ Xavier said. ‘Kane Malloy has been involved in some cross-species activity. Regular contact has been evoked between him and Jask Tao. Were you aware of that?’

Another fact she’d have to avoid disclosing; ammunition she’d held on to for when she finally got Kane inside. Revelations of furtive meeting with the lycan leader would have allowed her to detain him for longer should her initial readings prove less fruitful than planned. ‘I had heard rumours but nothing anywhere near confirmation.’ She glimpsed at Max silently berating her for her lack of disclosure.

‘Well, the LCU have noted several reports of their meetings.’

‘This doesn’t sound good.’

‘No. Not when you take into account he isn’t the only third species leader Kane has been in communication with.’

Caitlin’s pulse surged. ‘What does that have to do with me?’

‘I’ll get to the point,’ Xavier said. ‘A young woman like you gets the better of Kane Malloy, especially as underhanded as you did, and he’s going to want to reinstate his control. Unfortunate, yes, but maybe your hastiness tonight has given us the biggest advantage we’ve ever had of convicting him. We all know there are only two ways we’re going to do it. We either get him shadow-read when his defences are down. Or we catch him in the act. Something big. Something indisputable.’

‘Something involving collaboration with other third species deviants?’ she added.

‘Kane is going to walk free in the next couple of hours. We need to know what he’s planning. And we need someone on the inside to do that.’

Caitlin frowned. ‘You mean me.’

‘You never discussed this with me,’ Max cut in, shooting Xavier a glare contemptuous enough to have placed him on conduct procedures himself.

‘I am here to advise this unit on the best course of action. Taking everything into account, I believe this is it.’

‘By offering my best agent, my step-daughter, as bait in a situation we have no control over with a vampire none of us can begin to comprehend?’

‘A risk but, based on the fact Kane clearly wants her alive, a calculated one. I’m asking her to do her job,’ Xavier said, meeting his glare square-on. ‘But if your family connection is going to be a problem…’

‘It’s never been a problem,’ Caitlin said, avoiding eye contact with Max. ‘I make my own choices.’

‘Good. Because I’m offering you the biggest opportunity of your career, Caitlin, one that I have no doubt is well within your capabilities. I’m sure I don’t have to spell out what this will mean for that career if you’re successful.’

‘A career I’ve been suspended from, remember?’

‘Something else that has worked to our advantage. You’re out of the loop as far as anyone is concerned. Officially, I can get you reinstated in the next twenty-four hours on undercover work. No one else in the team need know. And I think it best we keep it that way.’

‘Caitlin, you don’t have to do this,’ Max said. ‘We can move you to a safe house. Get you the security you need.’

‘For the rest of my life?’ She could see it from the discontent in her step-father’s eyes that he already knew what she was going to say. ‘This is my case. I’m not backing out now.’ She looked back at Xavier. ‘So, let’s see what Kane’s got to say for himself.’

* * *
It took three double doors, each under a security code to get to the containment quarters. At the fourth the security guard keyed her in.

‘You know the procedures,’ Hadrian said. ‘Stay on your side of the table. Pass all things across the top of the table. We’ll be watching you from behind the mirror. If you are in distress bite your lip and we’ll intervene.’

Caitlin nodded. ‘Kane touches me and he knows he’s not going anywhere. I think he’ll keep his distance.’

Hadrian indicated for her to make her way through the next set of doors into the interrogation area. ‘Room one.’

Turning her back on him she passed two rooms on her right before stopping at the third.

She took a steady breath, her pulse racing, reached for the handle but let go.

You can do this, she insisted, her hands clenched by her sides. Closing her eyes for a moment she opened them with renewed determination, reached for the handle again and pushed the door open.

Kane Malloy sat back on the metal chair as relaxed as he would be knocking back shots in a club, legs casually apart beneath the table, his jeans cuffing his chunky lace up boots. He didn’t flinch as she entered, his elbows remaining lax on the armrests. His self-assurance exacerbated her unease, not helped by his position evocatively emphasising the taut muscles of his biceps, revealing glimpses of his honed chest through the fabric of his dark grey T-shirt.

Caitlin instinctively lowered her gaze, her stomach tightening as she recalled that hard, powerful body pressed against hers.

But it was too late to turn back now.

She closed the door, the twenty by twenty foot room suddenly feeling claustrophobic, the throbbing silence adding to the tension as she felt him unashamedly assessing every inch of her.

She cursed silently as tingles swept up her spine, berating herself for letting him affect her.

The intimidation was clever, dangerously low key.

The games had already begun.

Clutching the release papers tight to her chest, she’d never had so much difficulty putting one foot in front of the other. Grateful to reach the table quickly, she stopped at the far side from him and placed the papers on the corner, the pen on top.

‘You need to gain more confidence in those sexy hips,’ he said, that low rasp making every hair rise on the back of her neck. ‘Learn to make the most of them.’

Caitlin perched on the edge of the bolted-down chair, used every reserve to meet his gaze as she sat back, her expression impassive. ‘Very clever, Kane. How did you do it?’

‘Do what?’

‘Block her.’

Satisfaction danced behind those captivating navy eyes. If he knew she’d worked him out, he wasn’t letting on. ‘It’s an old vampire secret.’

She’d play along. ‘Not one that I’ve ever heard of.’

‘Because you’re the authority on all things vampiric, right?’

‘I know enough to know what you did is impossible.’

‘Don’t be a sore loser, Caitlin. I’m sure you enjoyed the chase while it lasted.’

‘It’s not over yet, Kane.’

‘Unsubstantiated accusations. No forensic proof. Hearsay. Alleged crimes. Failed shadow-reading. Not looking good is it?’

His self-possession was intoxicating, infuriating.

‘Still got you here, didn’t I?’ she retorted.

‘I underestimated you, that’s all.’

‘It happens a lot. Take heed.’

‘You cheated,’ he said, a glimmer of rebuke behind his eyes.

‘I thought you had to have rules to cheat. I don’t remember agreeing to any.’

He flashed her that fatally charming smile. ‘Now that sounds like a fun precedent to set.’

An effective predator at work.

A master predator.

‘You were waiting for me, weren’t you?’ she said, desperate to break the tension.

‘You’re not the only hunter around here, Caitlin.’

‘What do you want with me?’

‘If you hadn’t upped the ante, you would have known by now. But don’t worry, you will soon enough.’

Her stomach lurched at the candour in his tone, the darkness in those eyes. ‘Is that a threat?’

‘I prefer to call it foreplay. But whatever works for you.’ He leaned forward, rested his hands on the table: strong, masculine hands that had pinned her to the wall with such competent ease. ‘This was purely business. You made it personal with the wrong vampire, Caitlin.’

She leaned forward to mirror him. Had to do something to goad him. She needed him to snap, needed him to do something to justify keeping him in for a few more hours. ‘I thought you would have noticed I don’t play the helpless female card very well, so you can quit with the power games.’

‘Easy to say when you’re surrounded by people to protect you. How convincing will those pretty brown eyes be when I’ve got you alone again?’

‘You touch me and I will convict you.’

‘Like you have this time?’

She held his gaze defiantly. ‘It’s okay, Kane. Your ego is having trouble dealing with the fact that I outsmarted you. I can take it.’

He smiled again, albeit briefly, revealing an alluring hint of those even white teeth, those slightly extended canines, purposefully drawing her attention those sexy masculine lips. ‘So tell me, has your pulse raced that fast with every vampire you’ve caught?’

It was a cruel but clever change of tack. One he clearly sensed would make her falter.

‘I thrive on the chase,’ she said.

‘Not as much as you thrive on fear. Or maybe it’s me that’s the potent aphrodisiac for you.’

She exhaled curtly, felt herself flush. ‘Believe me, this is purely business, Kane. Much as I’m sure that’s another blow to your ego.’

He smiled again, his gaze unfalteringly intrusive. ‘I heard those shallow breaths when I had you pinned to that wall. I felt you shudder when I unfastened your belt.’

‘Repulsion does that to me.’

‘You are so unconvincing,’ he said, raking her slowly. ‘But I guess for someone like you, denial is the safe option.’ His eyes rested squarely on hers again. ‘Much safer than letting me in.’

‘Well, you know all about denial, don’t you, Kane? Why don’t you be a big boy and confess to what you’ve done? Unless you’re scared of the consequences?’

‘Such vehemence. I’m going to put that to good use. I think too many nights alone in front of the TV has left Caitlin a very tense and frustrated girl. A pretty one like you, too. You’d expect a few male friends. At least one or two one-night stands.’

She tried not to waver under the practiced seductiveness of his eyes. ‘My love life of interest to you is it, Kane?’

‘You probe around in someone’s business long enough and they’re going to start to notice you, Caitlin.’

‘Did you know we were coming for you?’

‘I know a lot of things.’

‘Except about hemlock pins in gun handles.’

‘Like I said, you cheated. But I’ll give you that one.’

‘And I’ll give you some advice – don’t underestimate me, Kane. Whatever trick you used tonight with Isla, I’ll work it out. And next time I bring you in, I’ll be the one to read you. We’ll see how clever you are at blocking then.’

‘Now who’s making threats. Do it again, Caitlin, and I’m going to stop being nice to you,’ he said, warning flashing in his eyes.

She pushed the papers in front of him, slid him the pen. ‘I’m not scared of you, Kane.’

He picked up the pen, a self-satisfied smile curling the corners of those seductive bow lips. ‘Lie all you want, Caitlin,’ he said, signing the papers, sliding them back across to her. ‘But we both know you know what I am. Just as we both know you’re never going to get me back in here again. So if you want to read me,’ he said, leaning back, lifting his wrists, his gaze locked challengingly on hers, ‘let’s see what you’ve got.’

Panic and shock whipped through her.

If he was calling her bluff, he was playing a very dangerous game.

Kane Malloy was many things, but stupid and careless were definitely not on the list. He was either a hundred percent convinced she would fail or a hundred percent convinced she would refuse. Because they both knew if she saw anything, even claimed to have seen anything, the fact he had volunteered would mean they could reinstate detainment.

Her instinct was to throw that compelling self-assurance right off balance.

But it wasn’t that simple. Shadow-reading was an intimate act: the proximity it required, the length of touch it necessitated, the sustained penetrative eye contact. Even if she could get inside him, overpower those barriers he’d used with Isla, it wasn’t going to be quick and it wasn’t going to be easy. And the absence of the containment chair, the protocol, others in the room, would only exacerbate the intimacy.

The very thought of it terrified her.

Back in the corridor she at least had adrenaline to blame for her reaction to him.

How her body had ignited at his closeness, relishing his intoxicating scent of musk and spices.

How when he’d held her against that wall, his lips temptingly close to hers, all she could think of was how his kiss would feel.

Whether he’d tease her lips apart sensually.

Or overpower her with force.

But now, as his gaze lingered on hers, she knew it was nothing to do with adrenaline. And putting herself in that position again wouldn’t only be a test of her self-control, it could show him just how vulnerable she was.

But those beyond the two-way mirror didn’t know that. Nor could she allow them to know. If she turned Kane down, turned down the unexpected but perfect opportunity, they’d want to know why.

Caitlin had no choice.

‘If I find something, Kane, I can keep you in for another seventeen hours. Be warned, I’m stronger than you think.’

‘Maybe. But nowhere near as strong as me.’

She glimpsed across at the mirror. She knew what Xavier would want her to take any opportunity she could. She also knew if she did, Max would be watching, cursing her stupidity, demanding she sat back down again or have someone intervene.

But there was an agreement: no interference unless she bit her lip.

And there was no looking into the void unless you got dangerously close to the edge.

After a few more moments of hesitation, of preparation, she grasped the arms of the chair and stood. She stepped up to his end of the table, stopping at the corner, inches from his thigh.

His reciprocated gaze didn’t falter as he moved his leg out a little, enough to let her slip between him and the table before closing the gap again.

She felt the compulsion to lean back and grip the table’s edge for support, but that would have given too much away. ‘Last chance, Kane.’

His eyes sparkled coaxingly as he held up his wrists.

She hesitated for a moment longer before reaching out, her fingertips already tingling at the prospect.

But he was quick. Caught hold of her wrist.

He was instantaneously on his feet and a split second later she was flat on her back on the table, his thighs forcing hers apart.

Caitlin snapped back a breath; panic surging through her as in a swift skilful move he had trapped her beneath him, his hips melding against hers like they were two parts of the same piece.

And as he slammed her hands either side of her head, gazed deep into her eyes, Caitlin shuddered.

Because even in its wrongness it felt unnervingly right.

Even in her alarm, the power of his cool hard body was painfully evocative, his unwavering self-control rousing her further, the provocative playfulness in his gaze doing nothing to help abate her arousal.

‘You’re not the only one who can cheat, Caitlin.’

‘Big mistake,’ she hissed.

He glimpsed across at the mirror and back at her. ‘No one’s come running yet.’ He dragged his gaze appreciatively down her throat, her cleavage. ‘Just how much can I get away with before they come to the rescue, huh?’ His eyes glinted with mischief as he looked back into hers. ‘I bet Max is poised and ready. I’m sure he wasn’t happy you coming in here all alone. I know how protective he is towards you after all you’ve been through. Not that you talk about it; not that anyone ever talks about it. Not after he let your daddy down so badly. How fitting he made a move on your mother so soon after his best friend became ashes.’

Caitlin glowered at him, stunned by his knowledge. ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.’

He leaned closer, his lips dangerously near hers, his eyes terrifyingly beautiful in their menace. ‘Struck a nerve, Caitlin? Not nice having people pry into your personal business, is it?’

She turned her head to the side to break from the intensity, anger, fear, resentment searing through her. And she tensed as his lips brushed intimately against her ear, just as he had done in the corridor. Only this time she knew he was doing it to avoid being lip-read.

‘I know your mission to read me isn’t just about uncovering vampire secrets, Caitlin. So, if it makes you feel better, yes, I do know what killed your father and yes, it is the same thing that came after your mother. And you’re right: it is some ancient species you’ve never heard of. Yes, I do know how to find it and yes, I am one of the few capable of killing it. And maybe, one day, just for the hell of it, I will. But in the meantime, I have my own revenge to fulfil.’

She held her breath as he lifted her wrist to his mouth, brushed his soft lips along one of the most tender, receptive parts of her body. And as he let it go, gently used the back of his hand to turn her head towards him, she almost relented and raised the alarm.

‘Unfortunately, for what I have planned,’ he said, lowering his mouth to hers. ‘I’m going to need that precious glowing soul of yours.’

She knew she should have stopped it then.

Signalled for reinforcements.

But the shock of the revelation distracted her, her need to hear more overwhelming any self-defence. She stared at him in horror. ‘That’s why you want me?’

‘Why else?’

Her whole body flushed with heat as their lips almost touched.

‘Fight it all you want, Caitlin. But you’re no match for me. And by the time I’ve finished with you, I won’t need to seduce your soul out of that impenetrable astral body, you’re going to give it to me willingly.’