Hunting Evil Read Free Page A

whispered.
    “No. I was his daughter. I’m now his hunter.”

Chapter Two
     
    Looking out the passenger window, Lauren bit her bottom lip. She’d told Vince more in a ten-minute conversation than she’d ever told anyone. Well, with the exception of York. What was it about Vince that made her feel she could trust him?
    He grunted. “I’d like to go to the park and set up a stakeout in the trees. I have a feeling he spots his victims there before following them. If he stays true to his pattern, he should be selecting his next target soon.”
    Lauren nodded. “Girls are traveling in groups these days, but Armand won’t be deterred by that. He’ll pick one out and follow her. Learn everything there is to know about her before he strikes. He could’ve already found his next victim, which would make this whole thing a waste of time, but I agree, it’s the best chance we have.” She looked around the busy park. “It’s always been a hangout for high school kids.”
    Vince turned the corner and parked the nondescript car on a side street. “Do you have a bottle of water or anything? It could be a long night.”
    “I’ll be fine.” She slung her purse-like backpack over her shoulder and looked at Vince. “Do you have something to drink, or are you just planning to take a sip of me when you get thirsty?” She didn’t know why she said it. It was a cruel and prejudiced thing to say. “I’m sorry.”
    “No problem. I’m used to it.” Vince walked in front of her and headed for the trees.
    There were several groups of teens hanging out around the large, brightly lit gazebo. One of them had an iPod hooked to speakers and several of the kids were dancing. The music was loud enough that she and Vince wouldn’t have to be silent in their vigil.
    Lauren sat in the spot Vince indicated. She wondered if she’d hurt his feelings with her flip comment. For some reason, it mattered to her. “I really am sorry.”
    Vince turned his head to look at her. “I said it wasn’t a problem.” He exhaled and looked down at the patchy grass. “I’m sorry, too.”
    “For?”
    “Being an ass earlier. I feel guilty that I haven’t caught Armand. I know my time is ticking away, and I’m pissed.”
    Lauren looked at the large man beside her. Vince was definitely taking his job personally. She lived among a species of man that she basically knew nothing about. Jeez, her best friends were vampires, but she didn’t dare get close enough to see what made them tick. For York, Drone, and Benson, living was fighting and winning the war. They dropped their walls long enough to invite her into bed with them, but that was as far as she let things go. At least, she thought that was all to their relationship. After the phone conversation with York, she wasn’t so sure anymore.
    For years, Lauren told herself sex with them was enough, but she’d begun to wonder. After their last encounter, she’d decided to make a change and open herself to the possibility of a relationship. Maybe, she should stop daydreaming about Vince and hightail it back to York. Fuck. She needed to keep her head together. Catching Armand was the most important thing.
    Reaching out, she covered Vince’s hand with hers. “It’s not your fault you haven’t caught him. He’s devious. You should be as angry as I am that your system let him out of prison in the first place.”
    She felt a slight tremor running through his hand as she tried to soothe him.
    “He did his time,” Vince said with a shrug.
    “No he didn’t,” Lauren countered. “He was released early on probation. The review board thought he was reformed. Boy, did he have them fooled.”
    Vince seemed to study her for a few moments. “Did you speak against him at the review hearing?”
    “I didn’t know anything about it until it was over.”
    The look he gave her was typical. Lauren hated explaining herself, but if she had to work with Vince, she would have to do just that. “I was in Seattle