Hunting Season (Aurora Sky Read Online Free PDF

back in the saddle.
    â€œIt’s stick,” Noel said.
    â€œYeah, well, why do things the easy way when you can do them the hard way? Speaking of which, want to tell me about this secret mission tonight?”
    Better Noel than me. I’d had enough excitement for one day.
    When I looked over, Noel made a face.
    â€œNothing exciting. Just some vampires dealing drugs at a party on the eastside. I’ve been keeping an eye on them ever since the doors of the palace closed. Not my favorite assignment.”
    â€œI thought you said Melcher didn’t have much work for you these past six months.”
    Noel shrugged. “Just the usual informant, spy stuff. I’m playing it cool. What about you? You have to go back up to that place next weekend?”
    â€œOne last time,” I said, barely audible.
    I stiffened as Melcher’s voice echoed through my brain.
    â€œWe’re going to shut down Diederick’s tastings permanently.”
    I wanted no part of it. I especially did not want to partner with smug-mouth Levi and the lackluster Mason. No, I wanted to team up with Noel and Fane to rescue Dante and take down Jared and Melcher.
    Hopefully I made it through the next mission in one piece to carry out my own.

3
Defensive Measures

    Once we reached home, Noel yanked the keys out of the ignition and thrust them at me.
    â€œGive these to Fane, will you? I’ve got to dash.”
    The moment the keys slipped from her fingers into mine, Noel rushed off to the house. I waited in the driveway, expecting Fane to pull up in the Jeep at any moment.
    He didn’t.
    I planted my feet firmly over the concrete and swung my hips in figure eights to keep busy and stay warm. When a car drove by, I stopped until it passed and started again as though slow dancing with myself.
    What was taking Fane so long? Did he decide to upgrade to the Jeep? Sure, insult a man’s integrity then keep his ride. Real sportsmanly… and so not Fane.
    The door to our house slammed shut as Noel raced toward her convertible. I blinked when I saw her dressed in black fishnets covered in a knee-length, high collared purple Gothic jacket.
    â€œHalloween isn’t for another month,” I said.
    Noel grimaced before answering, “I’m blending in.” She opened her car door and squinted into the dark street. “Fane’s not back yet?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhy don’t you wait for him inside?”
    â€œBecause then I’ll have to invite him in,” I said. That wasn’t why I waited outside in the cold. The real reason I stood fidgeting in the shadows had more to do with guilt over not riding home with him after he asked so nicely.
    â€œYeah? And?” Noel said and chuckled. “Invite the man in. I won’t be home for hours.”
    She winked and dove inside her car before I could respond. As the convertible zoomed down the road, I groaned inwardly.
    Sure, invite Fane inside. Why not invite him to spend the night again while I was at it? Meanwhile, who knew where Dante was? I was still waiting for a phone call. I’d told Giselle I wanted to talk to him and make sure he was all right. She said that could be arranged. When? My phone had yet to ring with Dante’s voice on the other end. Where was Giselle keeping him? And where was Fane?
    It wasn’t as though he’d get hungry along the way and stop for pie. That was Dante’s M.O.
    I checked my phone for any missed calls or texts, but nothing new had come in.
    Impatience finally got the better of me. I called Fane.
    It was a relief when he answered, even when he skipped the pleasantries to say, “Be there shortly.” With that he ended the call.
    Fine. No sense standing around in the dark.
    Once inside, I paced around the kitchen and listened for the Jeep. Fane obviously knew how to handle a stick shift. Big surprise. If I asked him to teach me, I knew he’d agree. He was the one who’d started my