Page 33 of Kiss of Light

“Blake! What the fuck?”

The mercenary kept the muzzle trained unwaveringly on Lemar.

“I thought vamps would be tougher. He didn’t make a peep when I cuffed him. Of course, that might be because I told him I’d put a bullet in your head if he didn’t comply.”

Tala eyed the gun.

“Silver bullets?”

“You know it, Blondie. Silver cuffs too. Better than garlic.”

“Good to know you came prepared,” Lemar said drily. Blake laughed.

“As Tala will tell you, I’m always prepared.” He turned to her and winked. “Sorry I’m late to the party, sweetheart. Took us a while to track you.”

Tala folded her arms.

“How?”

“Nice lady at the airport car rental desk. Amazing what a bit of flirting can get you. She gave me the GPS co-ordinates for the lojack system on the SUV.”

Tala kept her face immobile as she mentally yelled the worst swear words she knew.

“Doesn’t matter. I got to the bounty first, Blake. Rules are rules. He’s mine.”

“Well, normally sweetheart I’d respect the rules and back the hell off. Fair’s fair and all that. Can’t go round stealing other people’s bounty. But here’s the thing. You’re not playing by the rules.”

“What do you mean? I tracked the mark and I found him. It’s my bounty.”

“Yeah, but the contract is for his head. The terms are very clear. And from where I’m standing, his head still looks very much attached.”

“If I may interject,” Lemar drawled. “Whatever you’ve been offered for my head, Mr Blake, my father can double.”

“Is that so?” Blake cocked his head. “Word on the street is that your father wants you dead too.”

“True. But he would never allow a human to do the deed. The Vetali are a proud race. If there’s any beheading to be done, you can be sure my father would prefer it done by one of our own.”

“It’s true, Blake.” Tala took a step forward and lazily Blake drew another gun and pointed it at her. She knew he was equally lethal with either hand. “You won’t be out of pocket. Just let us go and I’ll see you get paid. You have my word.”

She prayed his venal side would win out. The money would be the most he’d ever earned as a hunter. She watched him consider the idea.

“So double the pay-out to let you walk?”

She nodded eagerly.

“Just pretend you never found us. Vetali are rich, Blake. They live a long time. They accumulate a lot of wealth.”

“Indeed,” said Lemar. “Stock market fluctuations hold no terrors for us.”

Blake laughed.

“I see why you like him, Blondie. He’s funny for a vamp. Dead pan. Get it?Deadpan.”

Tala rolled her eyes.

“I get it. So what do you say?”

Blake didn’t answer right away. He studied Lemar.

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