Beyond the Grave Read Online Free PDF Page B

lip. “Don't say anything we both might regret. At least not until you've thought it through. As much as I need you, I can't stay with you forever with this unconsummated need burning between us. I'm just not that strong."
    Oh God. Her heart felt like it would break. He deserved better. “Britt, please understand,"
    "I'll try, but that doesn't mean I'll be able to keep my hands off you."
    Then he switched from hunk of the month to the tough cop she admired. She had hurt him again and she hated herself for it. Bad enough wondering how her brother's life would have been all these years without her curse tainting everything he tried to do. But now she was on the verge of doing the same thing to another good man. Was she really that selfish?
    As if able to read the heaviness of her thoughts and the burden of her soul, Britt said, “Let's take the stairs this time.” They both looked at the balcony that had become a revolving door for vampires lately.
    "Like you have a choice.” She turned her head so he wouldn't see her grin. She silently thanked him for alleviating the tension between them before pushing past him and taking the lead.
    * * * *
    The Dragon's Lair Club was in darkness. “The alley's over there,” Jess said. “Let's break in through the rear door."
    "Lead on. I've got your flank.” She heard the humor in Britt's voice.
    "Watching my flank is completely unprofessional, Brittain."
    "I know, but what can a Lieutenant do?"
    She shot him a withering look, and he reined in his humor and at least pretended to be repentant.
    Moving along the alley she ignored the handsome, tough-guy inches behind her by putting all of her energy into concentrating on her surroundings.
    Grabbing the handle of the door she yanked it open. “You coming?"
    "Still right behind you,” he whispered way too close to her ear, making her shiver.
    They slid along the corridor inside the dark building. Britt followed closely behind Jess since she could see clearly for both of them.
    "There must be an alarm system, somewhere,” Britt said.
    She pressed her hand against his chest to stop him. “There is. Infrared beams start right in front of me."
    "Good thing your vampire vision can see infrared."
    She glanced at the wall to her right, then left and spotted the alarm. “Not a problem. We'll have this baby out of commission in no time."
    He locked his hands together to give her a foot up.
    She didn't need it, but she accepted the boost anyway. She had the alarm deactivated within seconds.
    "Vaslov's office is this way, but let's check these rooms first.” They opened the first door.
    "Ahhh, a secondary backup to the alarm system. Smarter than I thought.” She bent down and looked at the screens monitoring every room in the club. Every room except Vaslov's office.
    "Look. There's a view of the alley. I didn't notice the camera out there."
    "That means we'd better find the tape of us breaking in just now."
    "Maybe we'll be able to see who was in the alley with me earlier."
    Britt cursed himself for not being with her that night. Next time he wouldn't take no for an answer, superior officer or not. They'd passed that barrier when she slept in his bed. He rewound the current tape. “No good, the last tape was changed at midnight.” He scanned the office. “There's a locked cabinet over here, looks like the type that stores disks.” He pulled hard. The drawer rattled but wouldn't budge.
    Jess reached over and, with the flick of her wrist, the drawer popped open. She wasn't showing off, so he ignored the hit to his ego.
    It didn't take long to find the tape since they were filed by date and time. He shoved the tape into a machine in the corner and fast forwarded it according to the time code at the bottom. When he got close to ten p.m. they began watching in real time.
    Jess pointed at the screen. “There I am, just stepping out the back door."
    When she moved in to look over Britt's shoulder, he clenched his teeth until they felt glued