Page 299 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

“Thanks, Dom,” she mumbled, picking up the contents of her bag that had spilled on the ground. Dom crouched down and helped her pick them up. “Did you just happen to be out here or…?”

Dom sat back on his heels and contemplated her. “I felt your fear.”

Oh right. Of course.

“Are you hurt, Kate?”

“Nope. Not at all,” she said, still not looking at him. She threw all the stuff in her bag as quickly as she could and stood up. He was looking at her with sympathy, which she couldn't stand.

“It was my fault that happened to you. I'm really sorry,” he said.

“How was that your fault?” She shook her head. “It was just a drunk asshole.”

“I shouldn't have handled him the way I did in the club. I don't usually get rough with customers like that, especially if they're drunk. It just makes them more belligerent.”

She shrugged. “Well, it's no big deal.”

He was looking at her like he knew that was a lie. Damn him.

“I'm going to get home, now.”

“Kate, in the future, I want you to ask someone to walk you out, okay?”

For some reason his authoritative tone irritated her, but it really wasn't in her to give him any backtalk. “Fine,” she said dully and climbed into her car, backing up and driving off with Dom still standing there watching her.

“Another vampire has been found drained.” Fox looked at Dom over the top of his laptop. He and Dom were both sitting in Dom's living room at their laptops while Stella made them dinner in the kitchen. “Another old one.”

“Who was it?" Stella called from the pass-through.

“Lucas Aragon. Age 473. He's the third vampire over the age of 400 to be killed in the past six months.”

Stella came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands. “So what are vampires saying?”

“That's the creepy thing. Everyone seems to be scared into silence. At least on the Yahoo group. But I emailed Randolph privately and the word is that everyone suspects Roxanna Vagomir. She's the oldest vampire left.”

“Yeah, but why would she be picking off older fangs? What do they think is the motivation?”

“I don't know, but what they do know is that she's building an empire out of other vampires' businesses. Suddenly everyone is just happily laying their operations at her feet and becoming her loyal followers. It doesn't make sense.”

Fox could tell Dom was listening even though he hadn't offered any comment. “What do you think, Dom?”

Dom shrugged. “I don't know. I think I'm glad we're in Tucson rather than Chicago or the old country.”

“Are you not going to give it any more thought than that? I mean, look, if Roxanna—or whoever is doing it—is picking off the oldest vampires, that means you're on the short list. I mean, how many more are left?”

Dom didn't answer.

“Dom? Shouldn't you be worried?”

“Don't let yourself get wrapped up in all the drama, Fox. It has nothing to do with us.”

“How can you say that?” He heard his voice take on a plaintive tone. “I think giving this a little thought and investigation is totally warranted.” He hated when Dom was dismissive with him. After almost two hundred years together, he still felt like he was the little boy to whom Dom never gave his full attention or respect.

“The label 'drama queen' comes to mind,” Dom said mildly.

“Fuck you,” he snapped, knowing full well he'd pay for that little piece of disrespect.

Dom looked up and his eyes narrowed. He raised his hand with the fingers cupped and squeezed, causing Fox's throat to constrict as if he were being strangled.

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