Paris After Dark by Jordan Summers Read Free Book Online Page A

the water. The hair on Rachel’s neck rose, leaving gooseflesh in its wake. “I know you’re here,” she said.
    “Come for your necklace?” a male voice said, far too close for comfort.
    “Yes, and to get justice for the women you killed.”
    He laughed, the sound rusty from disuse. “We both know that’s not going to happen.”
    A cool chain touched the skin on the back of her hand. Paul’s necklace. Rachel snatched for it, but missed.
    “So close,” he said smugly. “Now, what am I going to do with you?”
    The floodlights came on suddenly. Rachel blinked, temporarily blinded.
    “Claude? What are you doing here?” Gabriel asked.
    Rachel’s vision cleared and she saw the dark-haired man from the side street standing four feet from her. His green gaze was locked on Gabriel.
    “You know this man?” she asked.
    Gabriel didn’t take his gaze off the other man when he answered. “This is my partner – my friend. We work together.”
    Rachel’s stomach pitched. “This is the man who attacked me. He killed those women.”
    “Claude, what is she talking about?” Gabriel’s disbelief was clear.
    “The woman is obviously mad. You said so yourself. Why else would she be down here so close to the Otherworld entrance?”
    Gabriel’s blue eyes burned holes in his partner. “I heard what you said. Every word. Looking back, I should’ve known. You knew she’d been drinking the night of the attack before I even said anything. The only way you could’ve known that was if you were there.”
    He tugged at his cuff, straightening it. “That is a shame, mon ami. It would’ve been easier had you stayed out of it.” Claude launched himself at Gabriel, knocking him into the wall of bones, then proceeded to pound on him with his fists.
    Rachel hadn’t even seen him move. It would be a very short fight if she didn’t do something quick. “Claude,” she shouted, then grabbed a thigh bone and hit him on the side of the head as he turned, giving Gabriel time to scramble to his feet.
    The men circled, taking swipes at each other with their bare hands. Given the power behind their blows and the sharpness of their teeth, they didn’t need weapons. Rachel watched in fascinated horror as each man tore chunks of flesh from the other. Gabriel was bleeding badly now and didn’t look nearly as focused as he’d been earlier. Claude dodged right and struck Gabriel across the head with his fist. Gabriel went down – hard.
    “Let’s end this so we can have some alone time.” Claude smiled viciously at Rachel as he pulled a long antique dagger out of his sleeve.
    Gabriel moaned and tried to stand.
    She’d already seen what Claude did to women and had no intention of joining his little club. Rachel looked around quickly and snatched up two damaged bones. The joints had been snapped off, leaving jagged points behind.
    He grabbed Gabriel by the hair and bared his neck. Claude raised the dagger, preparing to slash his throat. Rachel didn’t think. She roared in anger and rushed forwards, bones held like stakes in front of her.
    Claude blinked in surprise. He quickly dropped Gabriel to face the oncoming threat. Rachel ploughed into him. It was like smashing into marble. She drove the bones into his shoulders. They went in a few inches then splintered in her hands.
    Rachel stumbled back. Pain blossomed. Burned. She looked down at the dagger sticking out of her abdomen. So much blood. She shivered. Cold. Rachel fell, still clutching the weapon in her gut.
    Claude’s fangs extended. His green eyes began to glow. He stalked towards her. “You should’ve waited your turn. But if you insist on going first.” He hauled Rachel to her feet and slammed her against the pillar. “Don’t move.”
    She was too numb to feel anything.
    “What, no begging or pleading for your life? How about the life of your lover?” He glanced at Gabriel.
    Rachel glared. “Just get on with it.”
    The bones made sucking noises as Claude pulled them