Page 46 of Hunters and Hydrangeas

His eyes turn to the ice bucket on the table. As soon as he spots the prescription blood, he makes a face. “You’re not still taking that chemical substitute, are you?”

“How did you know I was here?” I ask instead of answering his question.

“I have a friend staying in the city. He’s keeping tabs on Cassian. When I heard you were in the area, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to visit you.”

“Is this the same friend who broke you out of prison?”

He laughs, genuinely amused. “I suppose, in a roundabout way, you could say that.”

“Why would a bunch of vampires come to Miami? If you haven’t noticed, it’s ninety-five degrees with eighty percent humidity out there.”

Ethan sighs. “My friend is hoping to buy a hotel in South Beach. It’s a lost cause—the owner has no desire to sell. To be honest, I think this entire trip is just an excuse to show off his yacht.”

One thing seems certain: the friend he’s talking about is Alfred.

It looks like Ethan is about to say something else, but his phone rings. “Excuse me for a moment,” he apologizes. “I need to take this.”

Almost laughing because this break-in is so ridiculous, I nod.

“Yes?” Ethan says into his cell, and then he scowls. “Already?”

I glance around the space, looking for a weapon. But there are no sharp wooden objects in the hotel room. Weird.

“Then get rid of them.” Ethan pauses to listen, his expression darkening by the second. “I’m not asking for something unreasonable. This is yourjob. Be better at it than he is at his.”

He must be talking about Noah.

Without another word, Ethan ends the call. “We’re going to have to cut this visit short. I have a new number, and I’ll send you a message with it soon. I’m afraid I don’t have time now.”

“You’re leaving?” I ask, incredulous. I thought this was a kidnapping.

Mistaking my surprise for disappointment, his eyes soften. “I need to lie low right now—I’m sure you understand. But this is only a temporary parting.”

I hug myself, hoping I look contrite…and also blocking him from moving in lest he get any ideas. “Where are you staying?”

“I’m afraid I can’t say for security reasons.”

Oh well—at least I tried.

“Goodbye, Piper.” Ethan pauses by the door, giving me one last lingering look, and then he slips into the hall.

I stare at the door as it slowly swings shut, full of disbelief when the lock clicks into place.

What the heck just happened?

11

I’m still standing herewhen the door beeps to alert me that someone has just used a card key. Noah throws the door open and storms in. Cassian’s right behind him. Guns raised, they’re not messing around.

Noah scans the room and then demands, “Where’s Ethan?”

“He left right before you got here?—”

Before I can finish, Cassian is out the door, presumably on the hunt.

Exhaling, Noah lowers his weapon.

“How did you know he was here?” I ask.

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