She pronounced it the French way, like bouchey. It sounded pretty, coming from her, even though he knew it meant "butcher."

"There was no crime committed here. And while it is true that my friends were too loud and messy, I'll clean everything up and pay for any damages. You have my word on that."

She kept her gun pointed at him. "There's blood everywhere. A sure sign of violent crime. Just because I haven't found the body doesn't mean it didn't happen."

"There is no body."

She edged toward the bathroom. "I haven't finished checking everywhere yet."

He sighed. "Don't go in there."

She lifted her eyebrows. "Sounds like an invitation to me." She reached behind her to ease open the door.

She glanced back and gasped at the sight of VANNA Black sprawled on the tile floor.

With vampire speed, Jack lunged forward and snatched the gun from her hand.

She gasped again. Her eyes grew wide. He could hear her heart racing dangerously fast.

Merda. Did she really think he would kill her? "Bellissima, you wound me." He ejected the clip and handed it to her. "I would never hurt you."

She stared at him, then at the bullets in her hand. Her heart still pounded, but he could hear it slowing down.

She glanced at VANNA Black. "Another sex toy? How many do you need?"

He gave her a wry look. "It's not mine."

"Right."

He concentrated all his efforts on one last attempt to take over her mind. She stumbled back, knocked off balance by the strength of his psychic power.

You will leave immediately and forget you were here. You will forget you ever met me. The reality of that last command pricked him with a twinge of regret. He almost wished his mind control would fail.

With a grimace, she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ouch."

He should be careful what he wished for.