The Pursuit Read Online Free PDF Page A

like a second skin. Talia had seen that look before on the streets. It was the look of an addict.
    “Damn,” Will muttered, beside her.
    Talia turned to Jean Luc, who crossed his arms as he studied the room.
    A few moments later, one of the vampires hurried toward them. He was dressed in a business suit and matched the picture Will had showed them.
    “I’m sorry, but this is a closed event,” he said.
    “Simon Jamison?”
    He frowned. “Yes.”
    “I’m Talia Walker from the BSR. We need to talk to you.”
    “This is an inappropriate time.”
    Talia smiled even though she wanted to smack the smug look off his face. “My intent is to avoid causing a scene, but I will if you don’t come with me now.”
    Simon opened his mouth as if to argue until Jean Luc stepped up next to her.
    “Please do not make this any more difficult than it needs to be.”
    Simon huffed and walked down the hall and into an empty conference room. Talia, Jean Luc, and Will followed.
    “What is so important that could not wait until later?” Simon asked.
    “We understand that you’re acquainted with Melanie Thomas,” Talia responded.
    He narrowed his eyes. “What about her?”
    “Please explain your relationship.”
    “Did she steal something again from one of the stores? I don’t know why she keeps doing that. I give her plenty of money.”
    “And why, exactly, do you give her money?” Talia asked.
    He looked away for a moment before continuing. “Melanie and I have an arrangement.”
    “An arrangement that includes sex and blood?”
    He still avoided Talia’s eyes. “There is nothing illegal about helping a friend financially.”
    Talia’s stomach twisted. “And does your relationship include sharing her with others?”
    Simon cleared his throat. “She is willing to be adventurous.” He rushed on. “She is a consenting adult.”
    “She was a consenting adult. Melanie is dead.”
    His eyes widened. “How?”
    “She was drained.”
    He paled. “I did not kill her.”
    “No one said you did,” Jean Luc replied.
    He glanced frantically between her and Jean Luc. “I wasn’t the only one who spent time with her.”
    Talia shook her head. “Glad to see you’re so broken up about her death.”
    Simon’s fangs lengthened. “I don’t need to answer to you, fledgling.”
    She took a step closer and got right into his face. “Since I work for the BSR, actually, you do.”
    Simon tensed, but before he could make a move, he froze, his eyes widening slightly. A burst of power surged over her from the right, where Jean Luc was standing. She didn’t take her eyes off Simon, but she could imagine what Jean Luc’s face looked like. It took a lot to make Jean Luc angry, but once you did, watch out.
    Simon backed up a step. “Melanie frequented the hotel regularly. She could have met anyone here.”
    “Were you with Melanie last night?” Will jumped in.
    “Yes.”
    “Did you bite her?” Jean Luc asked.
    Simon hesitated.
    Talia shrugged, although she was feeling anything but nonchalant. “If you don’t tell us, we could make you give us a bite impression. Our Medical Examiner will analyze it.”
    “Yes. I bit her.”
    “Where?”
    His eyes narrowed. “Where? She had more than one bite mark? I bit her on the thigh. That is the only place I ever bit her. She was too perfect to mar where people could see.”
    Talia shook her head. “She wasn’t a doll. She was a person, and now she’s dead.”
    “Well, I didn’t kill her. I’m innocent!”
    “Innocent? She gritted her teeth to stop her fangs from extending. “You’re a blood pimp.”
    His mouth fell open, and he sputtered. “I am not a pimp.”
    “You gave Melanie money for her blood and sex, plus you shared her with others? What the hell else would you call it?”
    “She got a lot out of the relationship. She was not some poor, picked-upon human.”
    “No, she was an addict. You got her addicted to the pull, didn’t you? And what about the women in the