The Bloody City by Megan Morgan Read Free Book Online Page B

shot through it, complimenting his olive skin tone and brown eyes. Though most of it wasn’t visible at the moment, Diego had as much ink as she did. Some of it peeked from under his T-shirt, crawling up his throat and down his biceps.
    They embraced so hard June’s chest hurt. Seeing a familiar face made her heart soar so high she could kiss him. With tongue.
    She couldn’t form words through her surprise, though she had a million questions. Sam stood with his gun at his side, lowered, but body still poised for action.
    “That’s nice,” Diego said, gesturing at Sam’s gun. Sam—or someone—had customized the barrel, the black metal decorated with silver antique filigree. “That a Winchester?”
    “You better stop worrying about my gun and start talking,” Sam said. “How the hell did you find us?”
    This was the foremost question in June’s mind.
    “I’ve been searching for you for months.” Diego looked at June. “Your mother sent me.”
    She sucked in a breath.
    “I’ve been asking everyone about you. Trying to find someone who had seen you or knew what happened to you. I haven’t had much luck. Then I ran into these people who said they were part of a group called the Paranormal Alliance.”
    Sam narrowed his eyes. “Are you a normal?”
    “Yes.”
    “This is going to be funny, then. Continue.”
    “They sent me to Old Town,” Diego said. “They told me the vampires could help.”
    Sam shrugged. “It’s what I would have done. Test his mettle.”
    “Yeah, well—” Diego yanked the collar of his T-shirt down to reveal his neck and shoulder. Even through the copious colorful ink, dark puncture marks were visible. “I did a lot of bargaining for information, but they didn’t actually have any.”
    “Goddamn it, Sam!” June turned on him.
    “I didn’t do it!”
    “I was about to give up.” Diego righted his shirt. “Then I saw you, June. Last night.”
    “You did?” She widened her eyes.
    “Yes. You were walking with a guy, a black guy with dreads. I wasn’t sure what was going on, so I didn’t approach you. You looked fine. You look fine now.” He sounded cautious, even a bit accusing.
    “Looks can be deceiving. I have a bullet in my chest, and we’re hiding here because some scientists want to cut my vocal cords out.”
    “I don’t think they’d actually cut them out,” Sam said.
    “Would you shut up?” June glared at him. “So you followed me here?” she asked Diego.
    “I’ve been lurking around, watching the house. What’s going on?”
    June heaved a sigh. “It’s a long story. You can’t imagine how long.”
    “Is Jason all right?” he asked. “Is he with you?”
    “Yes, and he’s fine.”
    “There’s no one else with you?” Sam peered toward the front of the house.
    “No.” Diego shook his head. “It’s just me. I’ve been doing all this searching on my own.”
    “Good,” Sam said. “Let’s get inside before someone sees us.”
    Sam ushered them into the house. Once inside, she clutched Diego in another huge desperate embrace and held on.
    “I’m so fucking glad to see you,” she whispered against his shoulder. “Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re here.”
    “The feeling is mutual,” he whispered back, and trembled as she held him.
    “I wish Muse were here,” Sam said. “So she could make sure you are who you say you are.”
    “He is who he says he is.” She pulled back. “Trust me, Sam. I know my best friend when I see him.”
    “And how do you know he’s not a shapeshifter, pretending to be your best friend?”
    “What?” Diego flinched. “I’m not… I’m not a shapeshifter.”
    “Can’t you tell?” she asked Sam. “Like Occam could tell?”
    “No.” Sam shook his head. “That’s an Occam thing. He’s been at it a lot longer than I have.”
    She pondered. “I have an idea. If it’s someone pretending to be Diego, they wouldn’t have Diego’s thoughts, would they?”
    “No.”
    She breezed past Sam to