Page 105 of Obsessed in Blood
Sergi looked my way. “See you on the other side.”
I nodded, unable to gather enough spit to respond out loud. But he understood. He turned and ran, glancing right and left as he disappeared into the darkness of the garden.
Devon grabbed my hand, and we ran. And as we dodged down different paths and through hedges, only one thing rang in my head. Please let the entrance to the cave be there.
Ginger had watched Lucas,Cressa, and the others board the ferries that took them out of her reach. There was to be no phone chatter. Each team would be on their own to perform their tasks and then find their way off the island. An island that belonged to a vile enemy. She glanced around the sole limo they’d brought and noted the bar.
One little drink wouldn’t hurt. Besides, the scent of alcohol on her breath would only help later. She opened a cabinet and found what she was looking for on the first try. Tequila should do the trick. She hugged it to her as she opened a second cabinet. Several types of glasses greeted her, and she grabbed a short scotch glass. She poured a quarter glass and set the tequila back in its spot. The soft leather seats were heavenly, and she pulled her legs beneath her before taking her first sip.
The door across from her swung open, making her jump, somehow managing not to spill a drop. Jacques climbed in and shut the door.
He glanced at the glass and sneered. “You shouldn’t be drinking.”
“How do you know it’s not tea?”
“I can smell it.”
She slammed the heel of her palm against her forehead. “Of course. Well, I’m just a simple human, so I forget these things.” Her sarcastic tone was for relieving her own stress. She’d been around the vamps long enough to know they tolerated humans and their strange behaviors.
“There’s nothing simple about you.” He sat back, leaning his head back, his eyes unblinking as he stared at the ceiling.
She wasn’t sure if that was some type of compliment or a dig, so she ignored it. “You’re worried about her.”
“She knows what she’s doing.”
“So does Lucas, but I worry just the same.”
She thought she heard a grunt, which she took as acceptance, and turned to stare out her side window. Remus’s warehouse was starting to get busy. A couple of cars pulled into the lot, but only two or three shifters got out. She assumed they were shifters because they walked straight for the warehouse, bumping fists as they greeted the others. But single shifters were coming in as well, walking down from the main street or from farther down the marina.
Several minutes passed, her drink gone, and her nerves settled, she leaned down to glance out Jacques’s window.
“Lorenzo’s vamps seem to be restless.”
Jacques turned toward the window, then sat up, turning his attention to the front windshield. “Remus’s boats are coming in.”
Remus had a dozen fishing boats that worked out of the marina, and having three come in at one time wasn’t unusual for the end of the day. But these boats hadn’t been out fishing. They’d been docked at a small harbor farther south. The only thing the boats held in their holds were shifters. At least a dozen on each boat. There would be about three dozen more in the warehouse.
“How many vamps are out there?”
“It’s hard to tell. They come and go from their clubhouse. But at least a couple dozen, probably more. Venizi demands order.”
She snorted. “Then he’s not going to be too happy in about an hour.”
Jacques laughed. “Let’s get you in position while they’re focused on the shifters.”
They got out of the limo on her side, keeping them out of the main line of sight to Lorenzo’s clubhouse, which was more a working warehouse similar to Remus’s on the opposite side of the ferry entrance. The only difference was that a portion of Remus’s warehouse was a small food stall that was busy all day long providing breakfast and lunch to the fishermen and tourists.
Lucas told her Remus had done that specifically so Lorenzo’s vamps would have a difficult time harassing them if there were tourists around. Even without it, Lorenzo would have to be careful not to attract attention, especially with him being on the Council. But with it being past time for most boats to have returned, and the shops closed hours ago, it would be rare for a tourist to be out.
And tonight, security was tight on the vamp side of the dock.
The two of them walked slowly to the far side of Remus’s warehouse where a baby blue VW Beetle waited. It was a sad shame.
“I think the tequila will add realism.” Jacques conceded as he opened the door for her.
She climbed in and adjusted the seat and the mirrors. Then she turned on the radio and tuned it to a 1980s station. She glanced around.
“Where’s my purse?”
