Page 16 of Hunters and Hydrangeas

“It’s a little late for that.” Cassian backs him against the front of our vehicle.

Like a cornered cat, the man attacks, attempting to punch Cassian. Unfortunately for him, Cassian has had a couple of centuries to perfect whatever martial arts technique he uses. And just like that, Hunter is pinned against the hood.

I blink, startled by how quickly that all went down.

“You’re not going to kill him, are you?” I ask Cassian, nervous.

Hunter’s eyes go wide as he jerks his head to look at me.

“I could,” Cassian muses. “It’s well within my rights. He was illegally infected.”

“I mean, that’s not really his fault.” I think about that for a minute. “Unless he wanted to be infected, which I suppose we have to consider.”

“I started dating a woman Ethan introduced me to—I didn’t know what she was,” Hunter says, desperate. “One thing led to another, and now I’m this.”

I look at Cassian. “Was she one of Sophia’s vampires?”

“Looks like it.”

Uncomfortable, I say, “He wasn’t dating Sophia herself, was he?”

“No.”

I figured. If Hunter had been romantically involved with Sophia, I’m afraid Cassian might have killed him already.

“What do you want from me?” Hunter demands, his eyes flashing even though he’s terrified.

“Tell me which line your brother was involved with,” Cassian says.

“I don’t know.”

“Piper, look away,” Cassian instructs. “This might be gruesome.”

“Wait!” Hunter cries. “Wait. I…I remember someone he started hanging out with.”

“I need a name, Hunter.”

“It was something old.” His eyes scan us frantically, trying to remember. “Uh…uh…Albert? Alvin? It’s Al something.”

“Alfred?” Cassian suggests.

“That’s it!” Hunter nods as well as he can while he’s pinned against the hood. “He was doing business with us, but Ethan handled it all.”

“How did they meet?”

“Alfred’s girlfriend is friends with the woman who changed Ethan.”

Cassian yanks the man up. “Alfred’s girlfriend is friends with Sophia?”

“Yeah. I don’t remember either of their names.”

“Did you ever see her?” Cassian releases him. “Alfred’s girlfriend?”

“Yeah. She was a brunette. Pretty. I don’t remember too much about her.”

Cassian shoots me a look. “What did I tell you?”

“Yes, fine. There are lots of pretty brunettes,” I say wryly. “I got it.”

---