Page 63 of Vampire Lee

“It doesn’t matter, but if they travel around with this fighting ring thing, they’re not here all the time, right?”

“Guess not.”

The van backed up to what Dillon assumed was the staff entrance.

Then they waited and waited. No one exited the van, and no one opened the door. Devin fidgeted while Dillon focused on taking deep breaths. They were so out of their league. Two humans in the supernatural underworld. No wonder Mars was pissed. How had Murrie allowed them to go?

They were understaffed though, had been since Dillon moved in, and with Rei allowing himself to get taken, and Faelan doing his undercover thing, there weren’t many people left.

A door opened, not the staff door, but the one Dillon figured was the real entrance. Three women spilled out, laughing and stumbling.

“Fuck, that’s Hanna.” Devin slunk back in the seat. “Whoever is in the van will see her.”

The women stopped in the middle of the parking lot, laughed and hugged, only to split up and head toward different cars. Hanna headed toward theirs. Dillon held his breath as she opened the door of the backseat and climbed in.

He turned the key in the ignition since the other two had started their cars.

Sharp eyes met his in the rearview mirror. Whatever drunken giggling mess she’d presented outside, it had been pretense. He should’ve known, of course.

“Stop a bit farther down the road, and we’ll see which way they’ll go and follow.”

“But then we don’t know if they have Rei.” Devin turned around in his seat to look at her.

“They took him into the kitchen. Conan or whatever he’s called.”

“Who’s Conan?” Dillon didn’t think he’d heard the name before.

“Bartender. He and Lee split the shifts between them pretty evenly. Jala helps out, and one of the waitresses hops in when there’s a crowd.”

Dillon nodded and searched for a place to park where they could see the entrance to the parking lot. He stopped along the street and killed the engine.

It didn’t take many minutes before the van drove out and turned in the opposite direction from them.

“Follow it.” Hanna leaned forward between the front seats. “Let Murrie know we’re on the go.”

Devin grabbed the phone again.

* * * *

Lee hissed as the guard threw Angelo inside the cage. He was out cold. You didn’t see unconscious vampires often.

“What the fuck?”

“Splash some water on him.” The guard gestured at a bucket in the corner. Was there water in it? Lee had assumed it was the latrine. He walked over to it, and it was water. Clean looking.

“Clean enough to drink?” He looked at the guard, who shrugged.

“From the hose.” He gestured at a hose on the wall. Good enough. He cupped his hand in it and took a hesitant sip. It tasted all right.

Next, he walked over to Angelo and put a hand on his shoulder. There was blood on his face and his hands, increasing swelling, and new bruises were forming on top of the old ones on his frail body.

He wanted to kill these bastards so badly he shook.

“Angelo?”

No reaction. Lee cradled him in his arms ready to lift, only to let go and walk over to get the bucket instead. Moving him as little as possible was for the best. He tore the bottom of his shirt and dipped it in the water. As he wiped Angelo down, he twitched and whimpered.

“Shh. I’m cleaning you up. I’m Lee, remember?” Fuck, this place was bad when you could see what went on around you. Angelo must be in a constant state of being terrified, forever trapped in a nightmare.

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