Page 31 of Visions in Blood
“I’ll keep an eye on her.”Simone turned in her seat and gave me a level stare.“And you will do as I say.No questions asked.”She held that glare for a solid minute before turning back to check her blades.She carried several.I suddenly realized she scared me ten times more than Devon—and she knew it.But I had to admit, knowing she had my back made me feel bulletproof.And if my incompetence didn’t do me in, that misplaced confidence would surely get me killed.
I touched the sheath of my single dagger, suddenly feeling silly.There wasn’t anything I could do in the middle of raging vamps other than put the others at risk.“I’ll stay in the car and wait for Ginger.”
Devon’s nod was barely perceptible, and I turned to stare out my own window.
Sergi slowed as we reached my old neighborhood.Devon was on his phone, either texting or using GPS to locate his team.The streets were strangely quiet, but it was a weekday morning when most people would be at work, except for the dealers, and they know to keep their mouths shut.Where would Bulldog be in all of this?Holed up at the laundromat if he had any sense, and he didn’t get where he was by being stupid.
I sat up, searching the street and other buildings for anything suspicious.When Sergi pulled in front of the apartment, I assumed we missed the battle.It was peaceful, if not eerily quiet.But the vamps sprang from the car as soon as Sergi put it in park.
Devon bent to peer back into the sedan.“Stay put.”It was more of a sneer in combination with the order.He slammed the door shut, and the sound of the locks engaging reminded me how serious this was.
I waited until they were halfway to the apartment before I tested the door, afraid he’d locked me in.The door opened, and I breathed a sigh of relief before reengaging the locks.I kept my eye on the building as the three separated.Devon stormed toward the front door, his long duster, most likely worn to hide his array of weapons, fluttered in his wake.Sergi and Simone broke off, each taking different sides of the building.
They didn’t get far before someone, I assumed a vamp, flew through the front door, shattering glass on their way out.It appeared to be male, but it was impossible to tell from this angle, especially without a head.The body landed with a thud on the cement walkway.Devon bent and laid a hand on it, then shook his head as he gave his two guards a quick glance.I didn’t think Sergi’s expression could get any stonier.Had Devon just lost one of his family?I closed my eyes, hoping like hell it wasn’t Lucas.
I scraped my fingers along the door handle.My anxiety moved from high alert to all out terror, imagining Ginger being the next one to fly out the smashed door.By the time I pulled my attention from the dead vamp, the other three were gone—quick as a flash.
I scooted across the bench seat, my knee bouncing as I stroked my dagger, waiting for whatever was happening inside the apartment.I couldn’t roll down the window, so I inched the door open.
The sounds of demolition, or maybe war, made me jump, and I slammed the door closed, pressing the lock button a couple of times—just to be sure.I pictured Lucas and Ginger barricaded inside the apartment or at the end of the hall as vamps pulled the place down around them.How many vamps were there?I should have demanded Devon give me specifics during the drive over.Slim chance he would have told me, but he might have.
Minutes ticked by, and try as I might, I couldn’t sit still.I gave the neighborhood a more thorough scan, focusing on doorways and the handful of cars on the street.If there were any vamps out there, they would have attacked Devon on his way in.Vamps weren’t the skittish type.
After one last check, I slipped out of the sedan, making sure to unlock all the doors so I could dive back in if I had to, and ran across the street, ducking into one of the doorways where drug deals went down.It was a long narrow entryway, perfect for staying out of sight of police cars, which were a rare occurrence, or other gangs.I paced in the shadows, keeping an eye on my surroundings.While it was a private spot against prying eyes, it was also a dead end, so I’d have to run before anyone got close.
The sounds of breaking walls and windows had slowed but weren’t completely silenced.I had a view of the front door and the single side door that led to an inside staircase where Simone would have entered.The only other door on the ground floor was the one in the back that I assumed Sergi had used.The building had been through a partial upgrade back in the seventies, adding the inside staircase on the west side of the building.External fire escapes were the only emergency exits on the other side, leaving a twelve-foot drop between ladder and the ground—child’s play for a vamp.
After what seemed like forever, but was more likely mere minutes of pacing, the side door burst open, and Ginger ran out.Instead of heading toward the street, she ran for the alley behind the building.What the hell?Why was she alone?Seconds later, someone raced after her, and it didn’t take a genius to recognize the speed and grace of a vamp.
I didn’t hesitate and barely checked the street before bolting after them.I’d expected one of Devon’s vamps to storm out next, but I couldn’t take the chance, already running at top speed and grateful I’d switched shoes.Ginger must be terrified and not thinking clearly because she knew the alley was a dead end except for a short stretch of chain-link fencing a person could either jump over or crawl through the jagged section that had been cut away.
She wouldn’t have the time to try either choice.
I pumped my arms and legs faster when Ginger turned around, her back against the fence, and faced down the vamp, who shifted from foot to foot as if deciding the best way to grab her.It seemed odd since he could pounce on her before she even decided which way to dodge.He was playing with his food—or his orders had been to retrieve.
Why was she out here by herself?
I was too far away so I did the only thing I could think of to create a distraction.
“Hey, vamp.Want to play with someone a bit more challenging?”I sucked for air.I needed shorter taunts.And after all that, the asshole didn’t turn around.I dragged in another ragged breath and shouted, “Are you one of those pussy vamps?”
That did the trick.
His movement was a blur as he spun around then hesitated to determine the threat.He sniffed the air then threw his head back to laugh.
Let’s see if he'd still be laughing after a few moves from my training sessions.I hoped to god this vamp didn’t have the mad skills of Devon’s cadre.The element of surprise and his underestimating my skills would be the only thing to save Ginger before his supernatural endurance gained the advantage.
He was still laughing when I reached him and only quieted when he noticed I wasn’t slowing.I grinned with great satisfaction when he stood and stared while I leaped.My feet him square in the chest, and I rode him like a surfboard as he fell back under my unexpected weight.
I didn’t land right and planted a hand on his face to keep me from falling flat on mine.After regaining my footing, I spun with my dagger out and kicked the vamp in the stomach while he fought to get to his feet.Guess he was more surprised than I anticipated, and I took full advantage, stomping on his back when he went down.
I glanced at Ginger; her doe-sized eyes were glassy.“Run out front to the black sedan.”When she only stared, I kicked the vamp in the head and yelled, “Ginger.Black sedan.Lock yourself in.Now.Ginger.”
The second use of her name seemed to do the trick, and she edged around us as I kept striking the vamp to prevent him from getting up, but that wouldn’t last forever.Once she passed us, she raced down the alley, glancing over her shoulder as she ran.
I refocused on the vamp, who grabbed for my leg as I prepared to give him another kick.I managed to avoid his grasp, but the move knocked me off my center, and I stumbled.He was up in a blink of an eye.I swiped my dagger, and he jumped back.
That damn smile was back, but after facing an even deadlier smile each time I sparred with Sergi, I ignored his game.He was proficient with martial arts, but I was better.I’d built stamina over the last couple of weeks, working with two vamps in most of my training sessions, and could last fifteen minutes without losing a step.I had no delusions after that but didn’t think I’d need that much time.Maybe another couple of minutes for Ginger to make it to the car or before help arrived.I refused to entertain the possibility this guy’s buddy might show up before the calvary.
