Page 71 of Hoofin’ It

“It’s been so long since I’ve enjoyed evidence of your love.”

“Oh for fuck’s sake.” I whipped out my new Ruger and shot the vampire in the knee. Unlike humans, Ernesto didn’t bleed, but I hated the crunch of dried, brittle bone in the wake of the gun’s concussive blast. Since I knew he’d beg until I shot the other one, I shifted my aim and fired again. “I swear. You meet with me only so I’ll do that to you, don’t you?”

“You’re the only cop with the balls to actually do it.”

“Ex-cop.”

“Your breed never quits. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? And with a badge bunny?”

“She’s the badge.”

“So you’re the badge bunny, then?”

I grunted to acknowledge the vampire’s successful baiting and wrinkled my nose.

“Say it,” Ernesto ordered.

One day I would learn from my mistakes. One day. “I’m the badge bunny.”

“She’s a pretty cute badge. Is she tasty?”

Marian pulled out her gun and blasted Ernesto in the ankle. “I’m revising my opinion of coming here, Shane. This is great. You should take me more places.”

“You’re a feisty little ankle biter, aren’t you?” The vamp’s gaze turned to the slow-healing bite on my shoulder. “Shoulder biter as well, if these old eyes don’t deceive me.”

A faint hint of red spread across Marian’s cheeks.

Maybe I shouldn’t have stopped covering the healing wound. A bandage would have kept the vamp from eyeing the scab like it was the main course of his dinner. “See the two dimes beneath it?”

“Someone tried to rob me of my most desired dessert.”

“Riddle me this, and I’ll think about letting you have a taste.”

“Ask.”

“Are you involved in any sex trafficking operations anywhere in the United States?”

“No.”

“Know of a man named Mark O’Conners?”

Ernesto hissed. “I know of him.”

“He was the one who tried to rob you of your most desired dessert.”

“Do you want him gone, dear boy?”

I smiled, holstered my Ruger, and stepped to Ernesto’s leather couch. I sank onto its sinfully comfortable cushion, stretching out my legs and weaving my fingers behind my head. Goading the vamp ranked high on my list of reckless things I’d done in my life, but if I wanted him to do my bidding, I needed to play his game.

As long as I didn’t behave like prey, I wouldn’t become prey.

“I want to know your thoughts on this ring.”

“Then let’s talk. Dear lady, do sit. Make yourself comfortable. I would escort you to a seat, but it seems I’m taking a break right now.”

Marian opened her mouth, her expression puzzled. She glanced in my direction, stowed her Ruger, and came to sit beside me. “I was just punned by a vampire I shot, Shane.”

“You’ll get used to it. Just don’t shoot him in the chest. He likes it.”