Page 130 of Blood and Bonbons

“Maybe for a little while. I’ll be right on your heels, though.”

“So, a little playtime.”

“I think you both deserve it. But, Vena, be careful. Don’t hurt him.”

“Yeah, I know.” For once, Vena looked serious when she spoke about Anchor. “I get that he has to find his mate and all that. I’ll be somewhat good.” She grinned. “Starting after playtime.”

She hugged Miles tightly, told him he was rank and needed a shower, then waved goodbye at the door as he and I left. His steps were a little slow, but he didn’t need my assistance to get to my car.

“Are you sure you don’t want to see a doctor?” I asked.

“And tell them what? That I was drugged for five days by a crazy woman who manhandled my junk so I could pee in a bottle and fed me broth and pudding so I wouldn’t die?”

I looked down at the soup in my hands.

“Miles, I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it. And don’t make a big deal about it in front of Vena. I don’t want her to worry more than she already is, or I’ll have to send proof of life photos every fifteen minutes.”

I helped him into the car and hurried around to my side.

“I have some questions now that she’s not here,” he said as I closed my door. “How did you really find me if Spawn didn’t talk?”

My phone chimed with an incoming text that I quickly read as I buckled.

Shepard: Boulder told me you’re leaving with the brother. Where are you going?

I looked up and scanned the street but didn’t see anything.

Me: Why am I being watched? Did I do something wrong?

“Everly?” Miles asked, probably wondering why we were just sitting there.

“Sorry,” I said, glancing at him and saw Vena still standing at the door.

I waved and gave her a thumbs-up as I answered Miles.

“The story of how Vena and I found you is a little crazy.” My phone chimed again. “Give me a second to take care of this.”

Shepard: You’ve done nothing wrong. But a vampire that can survive sunlight fed on you. I’m not letting you out of my sight until he’s dead.

I groaned.

Me: I’m taking Miles home, and Vena is running to her parents’ house outside of town.

Shepard: Addresses.

I sent them then sent a text to Vena.

Me: We’re being watched. Shepard wants to know where I’m going. I let him know you’re going to your parents and gave him the address.

Shepard: Someone will be at Miles’ place in five. No side trips.

I tossed my phone into the center console and started the car.

“You want to know how we found you? It all started with that dumb cave and the vampire we woke up.”

As I drove, I gave a cliff-notes explanation to Miles about how we’d found him gone at the same time Vena discovered the vampire was missing. How we’d gone to the market to ask Spawn and received a text with the strip club’s coordinates. How we’d gone to their parents’ house that night to look for clues, and the vampire had found us and the deal I’d struck.

---