Page 2 of Sinner's Sacrifice

His cousin’s expression soured. He’d never liked mights, maybes, or conditions. You’d think after being alive for eight hundred years he’d learned to be a little more flexible in his thinking. Unfortunately, most vampires went the other direction the older they got.

“I’m not the same man now than I was when my wife died.” Baz said. “The world around us is different in many profound ways as well.” He shrugged. “My choices will be different.”

“That,” Yvgeny said slowly. “Is actually more frightening.”

Really?

Baz studied his cousin. What could be worse than going on a rampage, destroying churches and other property, and killing hundreds of people?

“What crawled up your ass and died?” Baz asked. “You must have gotten some shitty news.”

Yvgeny let out a gusty sigh. “I’m trying to hire a new assistant.”

“I figured, since the last one died in the explosion that destroyed your office.”

“Yes, well, so far at least two undercover cops and three FBI agents have applied.”

“Huh. Well, would any of them be any good at the job?”

Yvgeny turned to stare at Baz with exasperated wide eyes. “Why would I hire one of them?”

Baz bumped his shoulder against his cousin’s. “Because you’d have control over what they see and don’t see. Or did your human assistant know about the family business?”

“No, but...” his voice trailed off. “Damn it, why didn’t I think of that?”

“You’re off your game, Yvgeny. Ever since the fight at your hotel, you haven’t been your normal confident, asshole self. What gives?”

“There are a lot of eyes on us, Bazyli, many of them not family. None of them friendly.”

“Have you heard anything official?”

“What, like a knife between my eyes?” he asked, his voice rising. “Or maybe my office blowing up? Or getting shot inside my own damn motel?”

“Has someone been throwing knives at you?”

“No, but it’s next, seeing as how the other two have already happened.”

“You killed the assholes who shot and blew you up.”

“There are always more assholes, Bazyli,” Yvgeny said like he was a priest giving a sermon. “Always.”

“True.”

Baz didn’t say anything else.

After a few seconds Yvgeny grunted. “But, no, nothing beyond the orders we were given two weeks ago.”

“The standard bullshit?”

“Conform to societal norms, stay out of hospitals, and attract no attention?”

“Yeah, that’s the bullshit I’m talking about.”

“Baz,” Yvgeny said in a tone that offered both sympathy and censure. “You’re usually hip-deep in so much shit, it’s hard to tell what’s new and what’s been stinking up your life for a while.”

Baz studied his cousin. “I’ve kept my head down and stayed out of trouble for a very long time, so we both know that isn’t true. You’re anxious about something, more than usual.”

Yvgeny stared at the pavement beneath their feet for three long seconds. “Something feels off,” he said slowly. “I can’t put my finger on it, but something feels off about the city.”

---