Page 94 of Act of Brotherhood
“You better be on the level, Viking-Cupcake Dude,” warned Clara, still in the vampire’s arms.
A man with long blond hair came out of the SUV, along with a man with shoulder-length, wavy dark hair. The blond was in a suit. He buttoned the jacket and offered a curt nod. “Nicolette, Clara, I understand neither of you have any reason to trust us, but how about Landros?” he asked, a British accent evident as he handed Clara a cell phone.
Clara took the phone as the vampire still held her off the ground. “Landros, these buttheads are with you?”
Nicolette tensed.
Garth rubbed her back gently.
“I understand, but this would have been a lot easier if you’d have told us the truth all along, starting with you being a creature of the night. What do you mean? Of course I know what you are! I suspected as much when I was like ten. You avoid midday sun. You barely eat. And you have a thing for ‘red wine’ that you keep stocked in a personal refrigerator. I thought you were Dracula himself for about five years. Don’t take that tone with me! You may be hot, but you can’t talk to me like that. What? Yes, I said you were hot. Oh, like you don’t know you make women want to toss their panties at you by just speaking.”
Nicolette felt faint. “Gah! Stop! He’s my uncle. That is gross.”
Clara lifted the phone from her ear, still being held by the vampire. “Uh, you’re more worried about the fact I told him he’s hot than the fact he lives off blood? Really?”
Nicolette shrugged. “Yes.”
Clara rolled her eyes and thrust the phone at the British man. “I’m done talking to him.”
The Brit took the phone, and then tried to hand it back to Clara. “He wishes to speak more with you.”
Clara snorted. “No.”
The man looked to Nicolette. “Your niece appears stunned. Perhaps this conversation is best had in person.”
Nicolette nodded.
“Meet us at Division B.” The blond hung up the phone. “Okay then. Ladies, if you will join us, we’d like very much to get you to safety. The Corporation has to be close. Your credit card will have been flagged by them by now.”
“Credit card?” asked Clara, before whipping around in the vampire’s arms and staring at Nicolette. “You used a credit card? How? You didn’t bring your bag.”
Nicolette shook her head. “No. I used the cash you gave me.”
Garth squeezed her to the point she thought she’d pop. “Grid! He already found them and drew us here, knowing I’d drop everything and come.”
Just then, a red dot appeared on the forehead of the vampire holding Clara. The man was too busy looking at Nicolette to notice. The strangest feeling started deep in Nicolette’s gut as she stared back at the man. In that moment, her mind and her body came to a complete and total understanding. He was not to be hurt. She did what felt natural.
She reached out towards him and shouted, “Get down!”
As she did, a hot tingling sensation started in her arms and hands as a loud buzzing noise sounded around her. The dumpster took flight and careened into the hotel front. The broken-down car that had been sitting in the parking lot flew as well, making a loud scraping noise as it did. It actually ended up dropping onto the roof on the left side of the motel.
The vampire who Nicolette had shouted at went to the ground fast, yanking Clara with him, just as a shot went by where his head had been. “Corbin!” he yelled, coming up quickly and thrusting Clara at the Brit.
Corbin grabbed Clara and spun around, putting his body in front of hers as he and the man with the wavy hair backed up, pulling weapons, inching Clara towards the SUV.
Striker rushed to Edee and swept her up and off her feet before diving behind the van with her.
Garth grabbed Nicolette’s hand and tried to yank her into the motel room. She shook her head and screamed as another shot rang out, just missing the vampire again.
Garth snarled. “For fuck’s sake, Auberi, get in here before she gets herself killed worrying about your already-dead ass!”
Auberi moved with a speed that stunned Nicolette. He lifted her out of Garth’s reach and went right into the motel room with her. Goth Guy and Garth followed, slamming the door shut behind them.
Chapter Twenty-One
Garth locked gazes with Auberi,who currently had Nicolette shoved against a wall, his body protecting hers. An unspoken understanding passed between the men. She was to be protected, no matter the cost.
“Get down!” yelled Nicolette again. This time she reached for Garth.
