Otherworldly Bad Boys: Three Complete Novels by V.J. Chambers Read Free Book Online Page A

meet with him once a week. And I just got done with my session. He wanted me to give you a message.”
    Avery got to his feet. “No. Whatever that bastard has to say, it’s not important.”
    Kayla nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry. I thought I should check, though.” She turned to go. “Sorry to disturb you guys.”
    “Wait,” said Dana. “What’s the message about?”
    “He watches the news a lot. Spends a lot of time on the internet,” said Kayla.
    “He gets a TV?” said Avery. He still hadn’t sat back down. His face was turning red.
    “He’s not a prisoner,” said Kayla. “He’s a sick man. He’s mentally ill.”
    “Bullshit,” said Avery.
    “The message?” said Dana.
    “It’s about the rogues you two have picked up in the past few days,” said Kayla.
    Now Ursula looked interested. “Really?”
    “He thinks he knows why they’ve started killing again after all this time,” said Kayla. “He says he has unique insight, because he’s made the same decision as they have. He thinks he can help.”
    Ursula sighed. “Well, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to hear what he has to say. I know you two are tired, though. I’ll go down and see him.”
    Kayla shook her head. “No. He won’t talk to anyone except Dana.”
    Dana felt a little shiver go through her. She couldn’t tell if it was fear or excitement.
    “Out of the question,” said Avery. “She shouldn’t have to see him ever again.”
    “Didn’t your psychiatrist forbid you to have contact with him?” said Ursula.
    Dana swallowed. “It was more like a suggestion, not an edict.” She wanted to see Cole. She cursed herself, but she was giddy at the prospect. “I could go down to talk to him.”
    “I’m not sure, Gray,” said Ursula. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
    “I’ll be fine,” said Dana. “He’s locked up.”
    Ursula spread her hands. “If you’re positive.”
    Dana nodded.
    “I’m coming with you,” said Avery.
    “Oh, you don’t have to do that,” said Dana.
    “No way am I letting you face him alone,” said Avery.
    “At least get some rest first,” said Ursula. “Neither of you have slept in quite some time.”
    “I’m not that tired,” said Dana. She wasn’t. The prospect of seeing Cole had perked her right up. What the hell was wrong with her?
    “I insist,” said Ursula. “You two take a nap, and then you can see Randall in the evening.”
    * * *
    Dana tried to sleep, but she couldn’t. She was exhausted, but every time she lay down and closed her eyes, she thought of Cole. She thought of going without Avery, but she wasn’t sure how she’d explain that to him. Sorry, I was so jazzed over the idea of seeing the man who kept me chained up in his basement and nearly killed me that I couldn’t wait for you. She didn’t think that would go over too well. She’d wait. She’d go with Avery. It would be better anyway. The thought of seeing Cole alone was terrifying. Exhilarating, but terrifying.
    Since she couldn’t sleep, she decided she might as well call Hollis. She’d promised Ursula she would, after all.
    She went into her living room, got out her phone, and stared at it, her heart pounding. She really hadn’t talked to Hollis in quite a while. What would he say? Would he think she was calling because she wanted to rekindle their romance? Not that her relationship with Hollis had been very romantic exactly.
    She and Hollis had met when he was covering a story about a rogue. He’d pestered her until she went out with him. He was nice enough. Intelligent. Not prejudiced against wolves. Fairly handsome.
    But he wasn’t infected, like she was. The lupine virus could be transferred sexually sometimes. That meant that having sex with someone who wasn’t infected posed issues.
    Condoms were supposed to be pretty good at protecting the uninfected, but nothing was one hundred percent.
    For his part, Hollis had seemed much less worried about it than she was. But it had worried Dana.