Chapter 46: Show me...
Kaine climbed the fire escape to his apartment building as the first rays of dawn painted the sky pink and gold. His clothes were torn from the chase, his jacket shredded where Chad’s claws had found their mark during one particularly close encounter. Marcus followed silently behind him, the ghoul’s pale eyes reflecting the morning light like mirrors.
They’d spent the entire night tracking tChad through the industrial district, only to lose him when the wight pulled that blood magic trick near the railroad yard. Three hours of additional search for the X and O killer—no trace, no scent, no sign of where the psycho killer had gone to ground.
Kaine was exhausted, frustrated, and looking forward to a hot shower and a few hours of sleep before he had to deal with the world again.
That plan died the moment he reached his floor and saw Rebecca waiting by his door.
She seemed dressed for work in a navy blazer and matching skirt, her hair pulled back in a professional bun. But there was nothing professional about the way she looked at him—arms crossed, jaw set, brown eyes flashing with something between worry and anger.
"Well, well," she said, her voice deceptively calm. "Look what the cat dragged in."
"Morning, Rebecca." Kaine fished his keys from his pocket, very aware of how he must look. "You’re up early."
"I never went to bed."
That stopped him cold. "What?"
"I said I never went to bed." She stepped closer, and he could see the exhaustion in her face, the dark circles under her eyes. "I was worried sick about you."
"Rebecca, I told you I had work—"
"Work?" Her voice rose. "At three in the morning? What kind of work keeps someone out all night, Kaine? And don’t you dare say vampire hunting like it’s some kind of joke."