Page 8 of Hot Vampire Next Door: Season Four

I turn the next corner and one of the newer vampires practically keels over at the sight of me.

“Sorry, sorry!” He dodges right, bumps into a marble pedestal and the priceless vase on top teeters. He spins, grabs it, holds it still. Looks like he’s about to piss his pants.

The vase means nothing. Jessie means everything.

Is she indestructible? A villain with a voice that can command a room, but if a knife were to pierce her flesh…

I can’t fucking think about it without losing my fucking mind.

“She safe?” I ask.

“Safe enough.” The Alpha’s voice levels out again. He’s as annoyed as I am.

“What is it?”

I hit the night air. It smells like rain again and the wind is crisp.

“Sam must have heard by now that there was trouble at Jessie’s Pledge,” he says, “and yet she’s here at the diner with a complete disregard for her safety.”

“Why the fuck do you care about one of the witches’ mortals?”

The Alpha is silent.

“Ahhh,” I say and follow the stone path to the garage I share with my brother. “Sam’s your fated mate.” It’s not much of a leap of logic.

The Alpha sighs. I hear the defeat and the frustration in the sound.

I can relate.

“Sam safe too?” I ask.

“Safe enough,” he repeats.

“Try not to strangle her before I get there.”

His grumble turns into a warning. “I don’t need you to protect my woman.”

“Does she know she’s your woman?”

“Not yet.”

I hit the remote on my key ring and the nearest bay door in the garage lurches upright. I duck beneath it before it’s opened all the way. My Audi is backed inside. I reach for the door handle, but Jimmy is suddenly there, that look on her face. It’s equal parts annoyed and worried.

I like annoying her. I hate when she worries.

She is much like my little sister in that regard. Too big of a heart, too intuitive for her own fucking good.

“Gotta go,” I tell the Alpha.

“I’ll be here until you arrive.”

I disconnect, sliding the phone into the pocket of my jacket. “What?” I say to Jimmy.

“Since when do you voluntarily involve the Alpha in our business?”

“His nose is better than mine. Might as well use it to our advantage.”

“Mmhmm.” She folds her arms over her middle and leans a hip into the side of my car. “You’re starting to like him.”

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