Bad Mouth by Angela McCallister

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    “No. We’ll meet tomorrow night.”
    He sighed. “Fine, but keep your sidekick on a leash before he gets eviscerated.”
    “You wouldn’t dare.” She couldn’t believe he had openly threatened Graham.
    “Try me,” he growled. His eyes flashed at Graham, who looked on the verge of impetuous
     violence.
    Without a word, Val tugged Graham toward his Prius. She had to find a way to deal
     with the two of them. The more their exposure to each other, the more likely Graham
     would meet an unpleasant demise. She had to keep them separated.
    Or maybe she should cancel meeting with Kade. He wasn’t doing anything to help her
     investigation. Other than her vengeful desire to make him suffer, there was no reason
     to continue with him. She’d never have to see him again.
    That should have satisfied her, but it didn’t. It made her restless instead. The fact
     remained that she needed his help. They had several deranged vampires to find, but
     without the benefit of his position, they had better odds of winning the lottery.
     If he intended to stand by and watch, she’d simply have to find a way to convince
     him otherwise.

Chapter Six
    Night had consumed the city over an hour ago, but Kade was still sitting on his ass.
     Waiting. His rock glass shattered in his hand. Cursing under his breath, he brushed
     the shards off his thighs and the seat fabric. He waved away his driver, who’d jumped
     out from behind the wheel to assist. Pulling out a new glass, he poured more scotch
     and downed it in one toss. Fucking humans. They’d invented watches. Couldn’t they
     read them? His time was precious. Kade snorted at his acrimony and poured another
     double. Too fucking bad he couldn’t get drunk this way. After last night’s debacle
     at Eva’s, he’d need to be drunk to survive any sort of repeat tonight.
    Of all the cases they could have checked out last night, the humans had to choose
     Gas Works Park. So much for trying to impress Val with his power and influence. He
     counted himself lucky Eva hadn’t noticed anyone at the scene. Or if she had, the little
     Legion vampire had enough sense to keep her mouth shut. He had to be much more careful
     in the future, especially with a woman of Val’s station out for vampire blood.
    A light rap at the window told him the humans had decided to show, but when he glanced
     up, only Val’s doormat friend stood there. Who had invited that fool? His mood had
     already soured at the wait, and Kade didn’t take kindly to the knife twist of the
     bastard’s presence. After kicking the door open, he stepped out and scanned the curb.
     An ass-ugly Prius had parked behind Kade’s Mercedes, but no one else waited in it.
     Val was nowhere in sight. Was he to be saddled with this douche bag the rest of the
     night?
    “Val’s coming,” the man said. Kade grunted, not much inclined to acknowledge the human’s
     existence. “Look, Mr. Rollins, I apologize for my offense last night.”
    “Don’t give it a second thought.” Kade gave Fischer a look designed to chill bones.
     “I haven’t.” The dumb fuck probably figured Kade had lost sleep over the bullshit.
    “Sorry!” Val called from halfway down the block as she jogged toward them. When she
     reached them, she was out of breath, bending at the waist and bracing against her
     knees. Her gorgeous, spun-gold hair spilled forward in a wavy mass, obscuring her
     pixie face.
    “What did you do? Run all the way here?” the douchebag asked.
    “Stupid cab…got some call…and dumped me off…ten blocks short.”
    “Why did you take a cab?” Kade frowned and then pinned Graham with a glare. Why didn’t
     that bastard pick her up? “How did you get here? That’s yours, isn’t it?” He gestured to the Prius next to them. Douchebag
     nodded but looked abashed.
    “Well, I’m here now. What are we waiting for?” she asked.
    Kade growled. “Next time call me. I’ll get you or I’ll send a car.”
    Her fae