Page 50 of Blood Mosaic

Tatyana hadn’t known blood was dark like that. It hadn’t looked red, it had looked black, and when she dared to steal a glance at Oleg, all she could see was the black stain down the front of his bare chest as fire danced in his arms and his lips curled back, revealing a set of long, thick fangs.

Fangs.

“Please pull over,” she whispered.

“What?”

“Pull over!”

The moment the car reached the side of the road, she pushed the door open and—gripping her bag to her chest—vomited her fancy dinner all over the sidewalk.

The cab driver ran around and put a hand on her shoulder. He was a round man who reminded her of her grandfather except he was wearing a Yankees baseball cap.

“Girl, you need to go to the police. Or the hospital. Whatever happened, it wasn’t your fault and you need to report?—”

“I can’t.” She shook her head, and her heart rate spiked again. “It’s not safe.” She wiped her mouth with the sleeve of her jacket. “Please, I just need to go home before he can find her.”

The driver’s eyes were wide and sad. “Whatever this is, I am so sorry it has happened.”

Tatyana felt tears threatening, but she couldn’t break down. “I’m sorry we had to stop; I didn’t want to puke in your cab.”

“Don’t even think about it.” He helped her to her feet and back to the car. “You’re more considerate than the average drunk asshole.” Once she was back in the car, he carefully closed the door, then rushed around and got driving again. “I’ll get you home fast. I know a shortcut or two.”

Even with shortcuts, it was fifteen long minutes before they reached her neighborhood.

The driver nodded to the left when they came to a stop. “Is that it?”

“Yes.”

Tatyana had told him to drive up the street behind her house. She didn’t want anyone watching the house to see her return. She was just praying her mother was safe.

“You don’t want me to get you closer?”

“I can go through the neighbors’ fence. I know where the gate is.”

“There’s a car in front of your house.” He turned to look at her. “They’ll see you leave.”

“We don’t park our car at the house. It’s at a small garage nearby,” she said. “I need to get my mother and we can sneak out the back. They won’t know we’re gone.”

He kept his eyes on her. “Do you want me to wait here?”

Tatyana racked her brain. The man had been more than helpful, and she didn’t want to involve him any more than he was.

Then again, she didn’t have many allies right now.

“If you want to help, can you go and sit at the end of the street?” she asked. “You don’t have to talk to anyone or even get out of the car. Just act like you’re waiting for a fare maybe?”

“I can do that.” He nodded. “I’ll park in the middle of the road. They won’t be able to drive out of there with me parked like that.”

“Are you sure?” She had no idea if Oleg’s drivers carried guns. Then again, when your boss had fangs and could control fire, probably guns were not all that necessary.

“It’s not a big deal. Are these guys mafia or something? Is that what it is?”

“I don’t know, but they’re dangerous.” She opened the car door and ducked out quickly as the overhead light came on, shoving far too much cash in his hand. “Please be careful. And if they come near you, just drive away. Quickly.”

He reached out and grabbed her hand, dropping the cash to the floor of his cab. “I still think you should go to the police.”

“He knows them.” It was the easiest thing to say; the easiest explanation that she knew he’d believe. “But I have a place to hide. I promise, I just need to get my mom.”

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