Read Online Twilight Illusions by MAGGIE SHAYNE - Free Book Online Page B

side pressed tight to his left one. He could feel the softness of her breast, the curve of her hip, the firmness of her thigh against his. This was insanity.
    â€œI didn’t think anyone would be here so late,” she said, as if their closeness had no effect on her at all. “What are they doing?”
    A shiny black hearse with a government emblem on the sides, and the letters “DPI” in bright yellow paint, backed up to the door. The driver emerged, walked around the vehicle and opened the back. Shannon stiffened beside Damien. “They’re moving her!”
    He tightened his hold on her. “It could be anyone, Shannon.”
    She shook her head hard, meeting his gaze, her own tortured. Then her head swung forward again, as the office door opened. Two men pushed a gurney out into the night, stopping behind the hearse.
    â€œThat’s the ME.” Shannon nodded toward the shorter, pudgy one who wore the white lab coat. The other man was taller, elegant in his movements, solidly built and darkly attractive. He wore an expensive gray suit and a long black wool coat.
    â€œYou’ll rule it a suicide,” he told the medical examiner. His voice carried the ring of authority.
    â€œThere’s still the PI that found that body—”
    â€œWe’ll be in touch with her. Don’t worry. We’ve dealt with situations like this before.” The driver and the ME collapsed the gurney and lifted the vinyl-encased body up into the hearse, while the tall man stood with his hands thrust into his coat pockets, watching. His breath made little steam clouds that hid his face. He exuded confidence.
    The ME walked back inside, shaking his head and muttering, as the driver slammed the doors. Then the two got into the front seat and the vehicle moved away.
    Shannon was shaking all over. “Where are they taking her? They can’t just take her away like this. Dammit, Damien, let go of me!”
    He held her tighter. She kept struggling until the hearse rolled out of sight, and then it was as if the fight went out of her. She felt limp. Her head lowered to his chest and her hot tears dampened his skin. She clung to him with one hand and rained painless blows on his shoulder with the other. “You should have let me stop them.”
    He threaded his fingers in her hair, moved his palms over it again and again. He knew this pain. He knew just what she felt right now, what she’d felt since her friend’s death. Too well. Maybe that was another reason for this closeness he had to keep fighting. The grief. The shared pain.
    He held her for a long time while she cried. He hadn’t had a chance to look at the body, but he’d been close enough. He’d lowered the walls around his mind for an instant, just long enough to focus on the dead woman. He needed to practice more, to hone his mind better. But he had managed to understand one thing. Tawny Keller’s death had been brought about by a vampire.
    Damien still wasn’t certain if that vampire was him.
    Shannon straightened, swiped her eyes so hard it must have hurt her. “Something’s going on, Damien. Those men were feds or something—the ME wouldn’t lie about a cause of death unless he had no choice. I know that. He’s a suit, but an honest one.”
    Damien nodded his agreement, but was as baffled as Shannon. “I don’t understand this any more than you do…unless…”
    Her head came up sharply. “Unless what?”
    He shook his head. “I was going to say, unless they actually believe in the existence of vampires, but that’s unlikely, isn’t it?”
    She shrugged and looked away. But Damien wondered. If he hadn’t kept himself so closed off from others of his kind, he might know more. Was the federal government aware of their existence? What in hell was this DPI?
    Shannon touched his arm. “I want to go home. Take me home now.”
    He saw her