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"And?"

Business Focus on business Focus on working the case

Focus on finding Elaine "No dice She’s either blocked by ht that Elaine ht be dead stomped out the last bit of ivebravery in my resolve, I looked back to his face His expression had hardened to its normal cold calculation None of the fire reined it No I was a lot of things, but sexually unobservant was not one of therip on ift, my natural weapon

My natural curse

I didn’t think about itin front of him, I wondered if my aura of sexuality affected him Well, it al I could turn off--but he nore it, for the most part After all, it didn’t e attractive woh tothan y"

My eyes widened, and red crept up his neck

"Iwith the security man That wasn’t fair of et information from people in this business" He shook his head and a bit of da to his forehead, and Iout to brush it away "It makes sense, your approach I just…reacted"

I nodded, unable to speak for a h ainst succubi, Costa? Or do you just react that strongly to all the people you ith?"

He flinched "That’s none of your business"

"I think it is If we’re going to work together on this, I need to know that I can trust you to have my back"

His face reddened "You can trustpersonal business with you"

Oh yes Valerio Costa had some personal issues with my species and me I frowned at hi in me noas somewhere between zero and none

"Look, I’m sorry for how I reacted earlier" He cleared his throat and gestured toward the desk "Maybe you should sit down"

"Co than that apology" I gave him a sers through his hair and looked down I shoved my chin farther up "I’m fine Just spit it out, please"

"It’s Wendy" He reached forward and grasped my shoulder, and for a brief rip, into his body Let someone comfort me for once

But I couldn’t do that For one, he’d alerous Cos So I tried to focus on what he was saying, clinging to Wendy’s name like a life raft

"Wendy?"

"I’m sorry, Marisol She’s dead"

Chapter Six

"She’s--" My voice caught in my throat, and I tried to s around the lus crushed irl who’d defied her parents and culture to attend college The s Elaine out of her shell The understanding siren who’d helped make my sister whole

Costa pulledI struggled to breathe evenly I couldn’t lose it, not now

"Elaine?" I gasped out

"No sign of her yet I’

Really She’s out there and we’re going to find her"

I didn’t ainst his hardness and took in his clean scent I hadn’t known Wendy all that well, but she had been a regular visitor to our house lately She’d always been kind toElaine, by beco her friend, she helped me more than the sweet siren could have known She alleviated the pressure of being the only one to care for Elaine, the only one who tried to bring her out of her shell

And for that, I loved her

I pressed ainst Costa’s chest and pushed myself back I could feel the heat of his skin beneath his shirt, and it struck me that for once, he wasn’t cold I steeled aze with as level a look as I could su the wetness I could feel on my cheeks that now marred his otherwise dry shirt

"How do you know she’s dead?" I asked

"That’s co," I said It wasn’t a question "You’re going to tell s I can’t--"