Bad Cop (Entangled Covet) by Angela McCallister Read Free Book Online Page A

Ander’s extravagant mansion lit up from every casement window. The electric bill had to be higher than most people made in a month. Red brick cladding and white trim covered the exterior of the Tudor-style structure right up to the steep roof and around the gabled bay. He’d take his humble rambler ranch house over this waste of perfectly good funds any day.
    The door swung wide, and a short, thin subjugate with a prominent brow greeted them and led the way into the household. The human wasn’t only short in stature, but his attitude followed along the same lines. Ian couldn’t help comparing the subjugate to his own. His human servants were always friendly and respectful, and he expected no less, regardless how far away the prospect of their impending transformation. Perhaps it made a difference that Ian lived out in the boonies, surrounded by trees rather than brick and mortar and gas fumes. Then again, maybe anyone who had to serve Ander while they awaited transformation would share the same bad attitude affliction. Ander had always been a pompous, power-hungry ass.
    Speaking of which, the ass was nowhere to be seen when they entered the den. Instead, another Immortalis Dominus rose to welcome them, if you could call the vampire’s frown welcoming.
    Ian spoke before the Dominus could. “Kenji. It’s been a while. Can’t say I missed you in the meantime.”
    Kenji’s lip curled. “If I’d known Ezra was sending you, Tracker, I wouldn’t have hung around to waste my night.”
    “No cussing in front of the lady. She hates the T-word.” He guided Alice closer to his side, admiring her somewhat bemused expression as he introduced her. “Kenji, this is Alice Capshaw, current Vice Director of the VLO. Alice, Kenji here is a Dominus adjuvant and apparently one of Ander’s roadies.”
    The tall Asian vampire’s eyes flared brighter, but he held his tongue. Surprising. The guy had always been too hotheaded to seem like the Ancient he was. He hadn’t changed much over the years, his face still a little too long and a little too lean, but he had added a sparse goatee and an extra foot of hair. Apparently, he’d also taken to wearing designer suits. Last time he’d shown his face, he’d gotten a few mouthfuls of Ian’s fists.
    He glanced toward Alice, but otherwise ignored her. Ian fought the urge to feed the guy more fist. It brought some satisfaction that Ian was a giant in comparison.
    “I’ve been informed of your request, Tracker , but there is nothing to tell. The human was not my subjugate, but my assignment to transform. I did my adjuvant duty—turned the human, completed the aftercare, and left him in his quarters. By the end of the night, his door was lifted from the hinges, and he was missing. No witnesses on the estate to the occurrence. For all we know, he went rogue.”
    “And you didn’t report it?” Alice asked, her frown matching Kenji’s. “He could have been deranged.”
    Kenji did nothing more than pass his gaze over the top of her head, as if she weren’t even worthy of eye contact. “As I said, the aftercare was complete, and he was not my subjugate.”
    Alice was about to blow a gasket. Not good. He nudged her with an elbow, and then the evil eyes were all for him. Dandy.
    He cleared his throat and turned back to Kenji. “Any blood in his quarters?”
    “None.” Kenji affected a mien of boredom.
    “I want to see Ander’s transformation facilities.”
    “He won’t allow it.”
    “You have something to hide?” Ian asked.
    “Not to hide, but to protect. Something called privacy. I doubt you’ve ever heard of it. You’ll have to get orders from the Rex to get into our facilities. Oh, right. There is no Rex .” Kenji’s slimy smirk begged readjustment. Ian took a small step forward, but Alice hooked her arm through his.
    “Okay,” she said. “We’ll be back then with that order.”
    Ian gawped at her. “What? Are you fucking insa—”
    “I think we’re done here,