Mixed Blessing (Mixed Blessing Mystery, Book 1) by Nicola Claire Read Free Book Online

subconsciously smoothed my hair back and tightened my ponytail, my heart thundering in my chest for no apparent reason. There was nothing wrong with visiting an old acquaintance who happened to be the lead detective on my best friend's cousin's murder case. Nothing wrong at all. Tell that to my rapidly beating pulse.
    The door to the side of the glassed in cage where fatty cop sat protected opened and two large, broad shouldered shapes appeared behind the frosted glass. I was guessing one was Mark, he'd always been a big guy even back in school. You didn't get to be a forward for the first fifteen rugby team without having a bit of bulk.
    I didn't much care who the other guy was, probably his last appointment, so I stood and waited to catch Mark's eye as he came through the door.
    It wasn't Mark however who stopped in his tracks at the sight of me, but another large, broad shouldered acquaintance.
    Fuck. What was the Master of Auckland City doing at the cop shop? And why did he seem angry to see me here?
    “Georgia,” Jett's silky, deep voice reached out to wrap around me. “Aren't you meant to be at work?”
    Yeah, not happy.

Chapter 4
Anger
    It wasn't so much Jett's words, or even the neutral look on his face, that gave his mood and emotions away. It was my talent. Every vampire has a specific talent. Telekinesis, telepathy, mind manipulation. The list could go on. Me, I have empathy. But not just your average understanding of others' emotions, mine manifests in a distinct array of flavours and smells. So far, it has proven faultless. I could tell what a human, ghoul, fairy, shape shifter or vampire was feeling by simply licking my lips or inhaling.
    Right now, Jett smelled of stringent ammonia. My nose wrinkled in disgust, my fangs throbbed with a desire to bare themselves at the approaching threat. I willed both reactions to chill. Jett's eyes flashed azure briefly. He'd noticed my reaction, but now I could smell apple mixed with lime. Confusion. He wasn't sure why I was reacting to his question and neutral stance.
    I plastered a smile on my face. "I was just about to leave, but" - I looked over Jett's wide shoulders, past his long, curly black hair to Mark who was smiling broadly at me, clearly remembering who I was from school - "I was waiting for Detective Anderson."
    Mark stepped forward at the mention of his name. "You're here to see me, Gigi?" He sounded surprised and pleased. This could go a lot easier than I had expected.
    Jett flashed him a frown and then returned those baby blues to my face. His gaze ran down the length of me, I'm not sure what he was looking for, they lingered on my jacket. Jett didn't know what I was, so he couldn't have been looking for my stakes. As far as the Master of the City was concerned, I was a newly turned vampire working in his club, who refused to join his line. Nothing more.
    "Doug will be displeased if you are much later, Georgia. I will drive you to the club." He turned to Mark and before I could even open my mouth to voice an argument, he had glazed the detective and was shaking his hand.
    "Good to catch up with you, Gigi. Take care," Mark said, a slight daze to his face and a small amount of apple and lime wafting in the air as he turned and walked through the door to the station proper.
    I glared at Jett as he took hold of my upper arm and practically dragged me out of the station. Old fatty cop was smirking at the man-handling I was being subjected to. So much for To Serve and Protect .
    Once out on the sidewalk beside one of Jett's black Range Rovers he released me. My hands immediately made their way to my hips and my chin lifted in defiance. His lips quirked slightly at the corners.
    "I needed to talk to him," I said with a slight lisp. I was still new to this lark, controlling those fangs when I was angry was damn near impossible.
    "And I need you at work," Jett replied reasonably, turning to open the passenger door to his car, waiting for me to get in.
    I just glared