Page 46 of Redeemed
They’re huddling, clearly planning their next play. I have no weapons on me, nothing but fists and a bad attitude. Real quick I need to decide if I’m the just businessman, the guy who runs The Club, or if I’m something more. Because playing by the rules isn’t going to help me.
“I’m done here,” I mutter, and when Miss Taser gives a particularly shrill giggle, I leap.
My fangs out, I land roaring at their feet. The crazy one is smarter than he looks because he spins around and takes off running. I need to make a statement, one they won’t misunderstand. I reach for the punk, stiffen my fingers, and hit him hard in the center of his chest.
With a quick flip of my wrist, I wrap my hand around his heart.
He freezes, arms outstretched, mouth working but no sound coming out. His dark blood wells up around my hand. The girl goes full wildcat, scratching and clawing, but I knock her aside. She must catch the look on his face because she latches on to my other arm.
“Stop. Oh my god Trevor, he’s…stop. Don’t hurt him.” She shrieks so loud I wish I’d picked her heart instead. I grab her upper arm and shake her to make her shut up.
“Both of you listen before I see how far I can pitch this ball.”
“You’ve got my full attention, man.” The punk’s voice is a bare rasp.
The girl doesn’t answer, but she does quiet down.
“Okay, I apologized for visiting your blood bank. Are you going to let me go about my business, or do I have to give you a more extreme lesson in what can happen when you mess with a strange vampire?”
“You’re killing him,” the girl says between sobs. Pink tears outlined in black mascara streak her cheeks. “Stop. Please.”
I let go of the punk’s heart and wipe the blood off on his shirt. His body starts to knit itself together before I get my hand clean. Smiling to show off my fangs, I head for my Range Rover, keeping an eye on them over my shoulder. “See ya ’round.”
Leftover vampire blood makes my hand stick to the steering wheel. I hear a clink, metal against glass. The chick’s bullet pops out of my biceps with enough force to hit the window. I pull out of the parking lot, the baby vamps watching me go.
If I were human, my heart would be pounding and I’d be breathing hard.
I’m doing neither of those things.
Making a break from Jacques had always been my goal, but this little trip to the desert gave me time to think and reminded me I’m not human. I’m a vampire, and I’m done with people giving me grief.
Like you, Jacques. I’m coming for you.
Chapter Seventeen
Connor
“KOWALSKI.” I GREET the man civilly, despite the threat sparking off his bronze aura.
His answering grin lacks even a hint of warmth. “MacPherson.”
David doesn’t say anything, but he’s radiating an appropriate amount of tension, given a guy with a gun just walked up to us.
“You wanted to talk to us.”
“No, I want you to come with me. Now.”
David growls, low, and both Lydia and her friend shift forward, alert and ready.
“I can tell you right here that I don’t know where the Princess is, so—”
“And I can tell you right here that you’re lying.” Kowalski’s voice rises above the clubby chatter in the room. The two guys he’s with show off their weapons, ready for a fight.Shit.
If I can’t talk these guys down, the wolves will follow me outside. Gang warfare, supernatural style. “All right. Let’s try this again.” I speak low and fast. “A couple nights ago, I visited the home of the Viscount Baltinglass. He keeps a mirror that shows you what you want most, and in it, I saw the Princess Tatiana. All she could tell me is that she can hear the ocean. The next night, a friend and I visited several houses that are owned by Jacques Betancourt. We think we found where he’s staying, but it’s nowhere near the ocean, so I don’t think the Princess is there.”
Kowalski’s expression doesn’t change, but his friends share a glance. Worried? Maybe. At any rate, it’s a chink in their armor.
“Why didn’t you come to me with this information?” Kowalski’s found something new to be pissed off about. Not sure if that’s a good thing, or…
