Page 58 of Sinner's Salvation

She understood what drove them to be so paranoid. Having some paranoia about the situation was healthy. It kept you alert and on your toes, ready to react no matter the provocation, but it was also tiresome, and could lead to mistakes or errors of judgement if you weren’t getting enough rest.

All they needed was some normal human getting killed because they did something that a vampire considered threatening.

They navigated a couple more forks in the tunnel, always taking the right hand turns.

“How many places does this tunnel system go to?” Nika asked.

“Not all of them go anywhere. Yvgeny blocked off a couple due to later construction or when a building changed hands,” Baz explained.

Jie cleared her throat. “We did something similar in China, only we tunneled under the landscape.”

Anna almost stumbled. She’d never seen the Chinese offer up information so freely before. Had their government frightened them that badly? Or had disaster already struck?

“Did you lose any people?” Anna asked.

“Grandmother chose to stay behind and detonate the bombs under our home.”

It was worse than she thought. Much worse. Their home had been full of rare art and artifacts. And grandmother An had been a wise and respected elder. Her loss would be felt for many years to come.

They reached a closed doorway.

“Did you come in this way?” Baz asked.

“Yes. We were careful. No one saw us.”

“Do you mind?” Baz asked, gesturing toward the door.

The Chinese backed away a few steps.

Baz opened the panel next to the door and typed in a code. There was a click, and the door swung open.

Mason stood in the doorway with a big fancy rifle in his hands. As soon as he saw Baz, he dropped the business end so it pointed at the floor. He checked over their group before frowning at the Chinese.

“I apologize,” Mason said, looking at Baz, then Anna. “They got through the door before we could stop them.”

“They got us out of a rough spot,” Baz said. “We’re in negotiations. There will be a large number of Chinese tourists, who aren’t tourists, arriving at the hotel shortly. Treat them like a tour group. Set up the ballroom for them with refreshments and someone who can provide a summary of the top places to see in the city.”

Mason nodded and looked the Chinese vampires over with a critical eye. “Will they be staying with us?”

Baz looked at Jie, who gave him a slight nod. “Book them in for three nights for now. Keep them on the same floor if possible.”

“Yes, sir.”

“We’re also going to have a bunch of nosy nellies arriving. FBI, Homeland Security, NYPD, and possibly some military types. Cooperate, and tell them Yvgeny is away on vacation. You haven’t seen Anna or Brian and you’re concerned. Contact the FBI and ask them if they know where Brian is.”

Mason turned to go, but Baz stopped him with a gesture. “Also, the Italians have lost their minds. They might do something stupid.”

Mason nodded and moved out of the doorway. He climbed a set of metal steps embedded in the wall on the other side of the door. Above him was an open hatchway.

Baz followed Mason, then the Chinese vampires went up. Nika, Brian, and Anna followed, with Evan bringing up the rear again. The room they’d climbed up into was small, the size of a janitor’s closet, but empty of any equipment.

Once they were all through the hatch, Baz closed it. A distinct click echoed through the small space.

“Where are we?” Brian asked.

“The emergency stairway.” He opened the only door, revealing the metal staircase that went up fifty-two floors.

Their Chinese guests didn’t hesitate the begin the climb behind Baz, but she noticed Evan looking around before he brought up the rear again.

---