Nightwalker. Connie Hall

own men? None of it seemed practical, but then a lot went on in classified government agencies that would probably make her hair stand on end. Not until Fala hooked up with Stephen had Takala found out that witches had infiltrated government positions. Some duly elected officials were possessed by demons. Others were just plain demons. Shifters, too. You name it, and you could find all manner of paranormal creatures in high places. And people thought Watergate was bad.

      This Nightwalker vamp could be a real mean dude with limitless power to back him up. She knew little about vampires, other than the ones she’d dealt with in her line of work. Her clients were mostly human with human problems. Occasionally she was hired to protect women from a stalker, who sometimes turned out to be a vampire. She had helped Fala, her sister, the Guardian, the most powerful shaman on the earth, take out a few evil vampires and their dens. Mostly, though, vampires operated below the radar and stayed to themselves. Takala was glad she’d never come up against this Nightwalker vamp. She wondered why Stephen had never spoken of him. When she had some alone time, she’d have to call Fala and Stephen and get the skinny on Nightwalker.

      “This Nightwalker dude must be a badass,” Takala said. “Never seen a vamp out in daylight. Thought they had to sleep during the day.”

      “This one’s unusually old and powerful. Sunlight only weakens him.” Lilly’s brows met in a frown, and she said, “So, how is it you showed up when you did? You’re not working for B.O.S.P., are you?” Her eyes narrowed to slits as she studied Takala.

      Takala took her attention off the road long enough to stare squarely into Lilly’s eyes. Then she lied with ease. “I was casing a house—cheating husband.” Takala shrugged nonchalantly. “Saw you were in trouble, so I helped.”

      “I’ve ruined your case.”

      “Nothing I can’t rectify. He’ll probably be there for a while anyway. He’s a bigamist.”

      Lilly chewed that over for a moment, then said, “I don’t even know your name.”

      Takala supplied her usual bogus moniker. “Tonya Richter.”

      Lilly considered her a moment as if wondering if that was Takala’s real name. Then she said, “I’m Lilly Smith.”

      Only one of her aliases. Takala grinned and said, “Nice to meet you.”

      Lilly bobbed her head in kind. “Since I’ve disturbed your case, you have to let me compensate you.”

      “No big deal.”

      “I don’t like owing people.” Lilly thought a moment, the red of her lipstick making her mouth gleam as if it had been doused in shellac. “How does five hundred sound for your trouble?”

      Takala had to find a way to keep Lilly near her. The sign for Interstate 95 appeared, and she hopped onto the highway to Richmond. Finally she said, “I don’t want to take money I haven’t earned. What about you hire me for protection?”

      “I don’t know.” Lilly tapped her painted red nails on her arm and stared at the traffic ahead of them. “You might end up being more trouble than you’re worth.”

      “I saved your life, didn’t I?” Takala sounded as insulted as she felt by this woman’s lack of trust.

      When Lilly didn’t say anything right away, and before she could come up with a reason to say no, Takala said, “I could use the work.” She tried to sound more desperate than greedy.

      “The economy. It’s killing everybody.” Lilly shook her head in disgust. “I guess I can hire you. If it doesn’t work out, then you’re gone. And if you’ve lied to me about being a B.O.S.P agent, you’ll regret it.”

      Takala ground her jaw together and passed a Corolla blocking her way. Then she said, “Let’s get one thing straight here. I’m not lying, and I don’t appreciate your threats.”

      “Noted.” A superior grin toyed with the curves of her red lips. “You must understand that in my line of work I can trust no one.”

      “I get that.”

      Her tone turned dismissive and businesslike. “I’ll only need your services until I get safely to France—if that long.”

      “Okay. I usually get a hundred dollars a day for expenses, but I’ll knock it back to fifty if you pay for my ticket.”

      “Sounds fair.”

      This was a no-brainer. Takala didn’t have any pending cases at the moment. In fact, a mob boss had tried to abduct her a month ago for testifying in court against him. His thugs had almost killed her. If Fala, her older sister, hadn’t used her healing powers, Takala would be dead. She could also spend time with Lilly and see if she really was a murderer, much less someone she could even like.

      Takala thought a moment and said, “I’ll have to call my boyfriend first and let him know where I’m going. He’s about to propose,” she added to gain Lilly’s confidence. “He just doesn’t know it yet.”

      Lilly arched a dark brow. “Oh, one of those. Isn’t it comical that we can make men do anything we want?” She grinned sardonically.

      Takala smiled back, but it was only a polite smile. Something told her Lilly Smith enjoyed manipulating more than just men.

      Takala didn’t like talking on the cell phone while driving, but she had no choice. She pulled out her phone and hit 1 on the speed dial.

      A woman’s high-pitched giggle sounded in her ear, then, “Oh, Akando. That feels wonderful.” Lust filled each word.

      Another giggle.

      Takala felt jealousy soar through her like a hot poker. “Who the hell is this?” When there was no response, she yelled, “Hello! Akando!”

      A deep, sexy voice melted over the phone. “Hey, babe.”

      “Don’t babe me. Who’s with you?”

      “No one.”

      “You’re lying through your teeth. I heard a woman’s voice.” Takala wished she was standing before him, because he wouldn’t have any teeth when she was done with him. “Who’s with you?”

      “Just a friend.”

      Another giggle, then a smooching, sucking noise. Takala felt a hole opening in the pit of her stomach, and her heart began being sucked down through it. Her chest ached as if he’d just put his foot through it.

      She’d really thought Akando was the one. The love of her life. No! No! No! This wasn’t happening. “Just tell me the truth,” she said, the need to cry burning the back of her throat. She wouldn’t cry. Not over him.

      He paused as if summoning his courage. She’d never thought Akando was weak until this moment. “The truth is, you’re sweet, and we’ve had a good time, but I want to date other women.”

      “You told me you loved me.”

      “I never said that.”

      “You did.”

      “I didn’t. I made a point of not telling you that.”

      Had she heard only what she wanted to hear? She could have sworn he’d said it at least once. When she couldn’t remember the exact moment, she said, “You implied it.”

      “I can’t help what you let yourself believe.”

      “Let myself.” How could she have been so oblivious?

      “Yeah, you got carried away.”

      “Only because you made me believe you loved me.”

      “Don’t blame me, babe. You came up with that notion on your own.”

      Another feminine giggle near the phone.

      The sound cut through Takala like fingernails on a chalkboard. “I guess we’ve both been deceived,”