Something like... there.

Something like... there.
Shit. I was an asshole. Using compulsion on my partner? But I didn't know how to calm her down. She still didn't trust me, and I needed to get her mind right. She had just seen monsters, ones she shouldn't even know existed. They almost killed her, and she couldn't let them live in her thoughts. She needed to sleep. Sleep and forget, as he had instructed her to do.
"I need to get her back to the helicopter. " I tried to reach for her, but Jason held up his hand.
" Hey, you've got something on your face, Artuto " . He made as if to point to where it was on his own face and then made a circular motion all over his face. "Something like... there."
I lifted my finger and ran it across my cheek. It was slick and red. "Whoa, shit." I couldn't go marching back through the Neutral Zone with my partner in my arms and the blood of my enemies.
I ran the sleeve of my jacket over my skin, but Jensen shook his head.
"I think you're only making it worse. " He stood up and took off his jacket . "Look, change with me. I'm on cleaning duty anyway, aren't I?"
I nodded, "It wasn't meant to end this way, though. You get rid of the bodies. I'll take Amara home." I looked into her face and exhaled sharply, an uncomfortable and unfamiliar regret at the same time. "I shouldn't have brought her. But what choice did I have? I only trust her to you, and I needed you with me. Call me when you're done here."
He grimaced, sucking air between his teeth. "How many pieces did you leave them in?"
Amara groaned.
"Oh, putting them back together would require an instruction manual and tools. " My words were directed at Jensen , but my attention was entirely on Aman .
Jesen rose from his crouched position and removed his jacket before handing it to me and taking my blood-dampened one in return.
"We're so lucky you prefer black clothes," he grumbled.
I gritted my teeth a little as I looked at Amara . "But she's wearing gray."
"Be careful when you pick her up. Keep her close to you in case there's blood transfer. " She shrugged." Vampirism should come with a manual."
Normally, Jensen's ridiculous comments amused me, but not now. I reached out for Amara and drew her into my arms, settling her against me. I would have to go through the Neutral Zone, and François certainly had cameras, but he also knew I was protecting Amara , so this shouldn't seem so strange. Or I could simply say that Bourbon Street had been too much for her. I took off her shoes and let them dangle from one of my toes, like any man trying to make his partner comfortable.
"Call me. " I tossed the words over my shoulder as Jensen was lost in the shadows and I walked toward the restaurant, the most important thing in my life in my arms.
I did not enter through the front door into the Neutral Zone. There was no need for any diner to see Amara asleep as I carried her in my arms. I took a side entrance, near the stairs that would eventually lead to the rooftop.
And I took those steps two at a time, ignoring the cameras that swiveled lazily toward me as I went. I would have greeted someone casually, but I didn't want to lose control of Amara .
We reached the helicopter without incident and the pilot opened the door.
"There's too much fun on Bourbon Street " I muttered, feeling the guilt grow inside me at that casual lie.
I settled Amara into a chair, fastened her seat belt and put her headset on. Then I sat down next to her and, without thinking, took her hand, stroking her fingers with my other hand until she wrapped them around mine. My arms felt empty without her, and my heart pounded as I watched her face, so still.
My gaze strayed to her pale neck, to the two red scratches there, where the vampire had teased her with his fangs instead of biting her. Only luck separated my current relief from what could have been grief, and that was like a punch in the gut.
It was a situation I had no control over.
A fine silver necklace glittered against Amara's skin, and as I tugged at it, I pulled a caged amethyst pendant from under the fabric of her dress. Was this the reason she had left the restaurant? Tourism? Shopping? So much risk for nothing.
Worry, as unfamiliar as regret, gnawed at me, and when the rotor blades stopped spinning after we landed at La Fresh Blood , I had already contacted Jenson and Danny , so they would be ready.
Jenson met me at the private entrance to the casino, I settled Amara into the limo and then quickly ran inside to change into some spare clothes in my office.
Arriving back at the limo, Jenson opened the door so I could sit next to Amara. I watched his face, looking for any discomfort or change.
"Has she moved or spoken at any point?"
Jenson shook his head. "No, sir."