Hugh wasn’t a criminal. Which meant only one thing: it was personal.

Eliminators for the top-secret organization were supposedly the best assassins in the business. Their identities were virtually impossible to find out. Being human, they blended in with society, but had the unique talent of mixing in with Veilers as well.

They also killed with the knowledge their targets deserved it. Was someone supplying phony information on him? The idea made his jaw clench, his hands fist. It had to be all connected. Trey’s disappearance, the hit, the Banoth.

“Was the Banoth a warm-up?” Hugh started to pace, casting glances in Tess’s direction while he contemplated their next move.

She looked about ready to bolt, her head tilted to the right like she’d been waiting so long she couldn’t keep it up. Her long, athletic legs were thrust out, putting her body at a relaxed yet fatigued angle against her car.

“Probably. But it’s a possibility we’re dealing with more than one opponent.” Dane paced opposite him.

Hugh was pleased Dane had said “we” and not “you.” Regardless of their differences, he had to believe he could count on Dane when things got tough. “I agree.”

And that was when it hit him.

Like a bulldozer.

He looked over his shoulder at Tess. At the woman who was anything but ordinary. She gave a wave, a smile crossed her sensual lips. He blinked and her scent surrounded him.

She’d lurked around a dark alley in a seedy part of town unafraid and reacted unruffled to Dane’s shifting. She’d thought the Banoth fun—his senses had picked up on her amusement more than anything else. Very few humans knew about Sentients, but she had. And when he’d told her his real name, she’d choked and doubled over, completely thrown off balance to discover he wasn’t Trey.

His stomach lurched like he’d eaten bad fish. His chest tightened and burned. Tess was the P.I.E. eliminator. It made perfect sense. Her bravery, fighting skills, attitude and knowledge of Veilers all pointed to the occupation. What didn’t make sense was why she’d just saved his life if she planned to kill him.

“Head back to the main house and see what else you can dig up,” he told Dane. “Put some calls out to the others for help. I’ll be in touch.”

“What are you going to do?” Dane landed a hand on Hugh’s arm, putting a stop to their pacing.

“I’m going to talk to Tess.”

“Maybe I should stick around for that.”

“You shouldn’t. But…” He didn’t like what he was thinking, but it was time to turn the tables. “Have you got any duct tape left over from the patch job you did on the air duct at the main house?”

Confusion clouded Dane’s face. “I think so. It’s in the car.”

“Great. Go get it for me.” Excitement coursed through him, the pain in his chest and stomach lessened. He wasn’t sure what the hell he was doing, but he and Tess were going to get a few things straight.

“Why?”

“Just do it.”

Dane jogged to his car and Hugh gave Tess the minute signal with his finger. “Here you go,” Dane said.

“Thanks. You can take off now.” He put the tape in his jacket pocket, waited for Dane to leave, then headed straight for the woman who quite possibly could be the death of him regardless of her intentions. The fact that she might be an eliminator did nothing to squelch his desire for her.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, genuine concern in her voice.

She straightened her posture and ran her palms down the side of her thighs. Was she nervous? Did she guess he might be on to her?

“It’s fine. Thanks for waiting.” He positioned himself on her left and leaned back against the sporty vehicle. A pretty expensive automobile. One he was hard pressed to believe the average private investigator could afford.

They stood in silence for a few moments, as if neither of them knew what to say. He guessed her inquisitive nature was because of the job. A job she’d been cleverly honest about. In return, he’d supplied her with more information than he’d ever told anyone else, so maybe his first step should be to get more information on her. Even the playing field.

“How long have you been a PI?” he asked.

She cast a quizzical glance at him. “Why do you ask?”

“I like to get to know the person I’m thinking about helping before making a decision.” That ought to be vague enough to keep her gullible.

“A long time.”

Touché, he thought. “And being at it so long, you haven’t been able to find this person you’re desperate to locate?” He had a feeling her needing his help was a ploy to stay in contact with him.

“I never said I was desperate.” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms like she was cold.

He wanted to warm her up. Give her his jacket. Take her in his arms. He didn’t.

“You know what? Forget I even asked.” She moved to open the car door.

“Hang on.” He caught her by the shoulder. “I didn’t mean to sound so callous. I’m just surprised you need help. After what I’ve seen tonight, I imagine you can do pretty much anything.”

“It would serve you well to remember that.” She released the door handle and shrugged his hand off her shoulder.

For the first time all night, her voice turned lethally businesslike. It startled him. She wasn’t a woman to be taken lightly. He couldn’t help but be further intrigued.

“What agency do you work for?” No more beating around the bush. Considering the late hour, he planned to…he didn’t know what he planned to do beyond interrogating her until something slipped.

“None of your business.” She squirmed then recovered without so much as a beat. “Unless of course you want to hire me. I was willing to do this trade-off without a contract, but if you insist on making it a more formal agreement, that’s fine by me. However, I was under the impression you wanted to keep Trey’s disappearance off the radar.”

“Tell me about who you’re looking for.” If he could get her to drop the attitude and relax, he was sure he’d be able to tell if she was lying about needing to find someone.

“Have we got a deal?” She bent over while speaking, pulling something out of her shoe.

“Talk and I’ll let you know.”

The sound of voices wafted in their direction again. More people left the bar. Headlights slanted across the road as a car turned the corner and drove past them. A man and woman holding hands crossed the small side street and got into a convertible parked a few automobiles up the road. The guy leaned over and kissed the girl before starting the ignition.

Tess took in the visuals around them just as he was. She was waiting, he assumed, until the coast was clear to start talking. He also imagined she was deciding how much, if any, truth to tell him. Letting the silence continue, he took the opportunity to focus in on her body rhythm. Her breathing was even, her heart rate normal. That all too pleasing scent of hers touched his nose and he knew he’d forever remember it.

“I’m looking for a wolfen,” she breathed, her gaze straight ahead, eyes searching past the bar and parking lot.

“Can you be a little more specific?” He stared at her beautiful profile.

“Not really.”

He sensed her unease, that what was on her mind was difficult to share, so he bit back his snappy comeback. He let the sentient part of him rise to the surface, just enough to detect she told the truth.

Maybe he’d let his imagination run away with him, and she wasn’t an eliminator after all. Or maybe she was, and the kiss they’d shared had tilted her axis as much as his. He knew it meant something to her. There was no faking the passion that passed between them.

Why the hell had she saved his life?

Because she really did need his help?

“How long have you been looking?” he asked, an involuntary shiver racing down his spine.

“Five years.” Her soft voice nearly wrenched his heart out of his chest. She cast her eyes downward.