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Chapter 1 There was something decidedly sneaky about skulking about the house in the middle of the night, but Toby Wise was hungry. Really hungry. Hungry for the sweet warmth of her mortal blood and the glorious scent of her skin. Too bad his overactive conscience was giving him such a difficult time. He was vampire. He fed off living mortals. He never harmed them and made certain they had no memory of the event. He’d managed quite nicely for the past century and a half or so. Taking mortal blood for sustenance was what vampires did. Why was Laura Fox any different? Because she was. Damn. He paid her very well, along with the other nurses who took shifts to care for Piet Connor. The seemingly straightforward plan had been to feed off each of them in turn—necessary since in Oregon he lacked the connections to maintain a constant supply of blood bags. His scheme worked brilliantly until Laura Fox arrived. After a vampire lifetime of detachment from his food source, Toby Wise had fallen h
Chapter 1
Chapter 2 It was heavy dusk by the time Toby reached the outskirts of the small town. Quiet and peaceful, a knot of tourists sitting out on the front porch of the Kountry Kitchen, the town looked like something out of a tourist brochure, until he drove through the town and saw Adela’s vandalized car parked beside the little house. She hadn’t told the half of it: The slashed tires were just the beginning. The windshield had been smashed and some noxious substance poured all over the bonnet. Someone wanted Adela grounded. As he parked and walked over to inspect the damage, Toby glimpsed a shadow at the window and a flicker of a curtain. He didn’t blame her being cautious. Down at the end of a dirt road, a good hundred meters or more from the nearest neighbor, she should have been safe and unbothered. Instead… “Toby?” She called from the half-open door. “Thank the goddess!” At the panic in her voice, he crossed the front lawn in seconds and was inside the house, pulling the door closed be
Chapter 2
Chapter 3 The trail was unmistakable. It led, as expected, to the neighbor’s land. Toby even found the exact position where the unfortunate dog had been savaged. The scent was stronger here and mingled with the dog’s dying terror. He understood the owner’s anger at finding his dog mauled to death, but blaming Adela was a bit over the top. And as for sending the Neanderthal deputy over to haul her down for “questioning”—Abel give him patience! Narrow-minded small towns still dotted the map just as they had in his mortal days. He was not lingering here. The last thing he needed was for said neighbor to accuse him of trespassing. Taking the still-strong scent as his guide, Toby followed it for a couple of miles through the growing dark to the riverbank and what appeared to be the creature’s lair among a heap of rocks. The opening was small. Toby sensed a heartbeat—at least of sorts—within. Unwilling to transmogrify small and face the chupacabra in its own territory, Toby decided to wait.
Chapter 3
Chapter 4 “Sheesh, Toby, let you loose in your native land and mayhem happens.” Call an old friend for advice and support and look what you get. “You’re a fine one to talk, Kit Marlowe. Who had half the colony in his sitting room last year for an ethics enquiry?” “Wasn’t over me. That was Justin. Besides, it was a weak point of law anyway. Everyone knew Justin wasn’t culpable. Now this business of yours…” “Yes?” “You’re telling me it’s a bit complicated and involves mortals.” Too damn many of them. “I’m trying to decide whom to handle first—this FBI lass in my household or the pair breathing down my neck—and what to do about Adela, not forgetting a burnt-out shell of a house and an exploded car.” He’d ignore the scars on his thigh and arms for now. Not that they didn’t worry him. The last time he’d scarred was after a beating when he was mortal and another man’s property. But at least these new ones were fading, if slowly. “See to the girl. She’s right in your pocket, so to speak. If A
Chapter 4
Chapter 5 Yesterday Toby had driven this road, thinking perhaps Adela was overreacting. Now he wondered what exactly awaited them in Dark Falls. He was actually quite curious to hear what tale the deputy had to spin. “I don’t know what to tell Gertrude,” Adela said, shaking her head. “I should have called her and told her.” “Best wait until we know for sure. Might not be as bad as it looked last night. It was dark.” She gave a dry chuckle. “Toby, I appreciate your efforts to be tactful but are you really telling me you couldn’t see with your vampire sight?” “I could see, but couldn’t foresee how it would burn. Something may be left.” Not much. The house was a charred shell, the car a heap of black metal. The smell of burned rubber still lingered in the air and the remaining grass and shrubs were trampled underfoot. “Dear goddess!” Adela said, her voice tight and low with shock. “It’s destroyed.” He couldn’t argue. “I brought a camera. A few pictures for the insurance will help your fri
Chapter 5
Chapter 6 Vlad was a darn good listener. Toby made his report as brief as possible but was still pretty involved and based, he realized, on Laura’s word and the coincidence of a surname. It was more than enough for Vlad Tepes. “I’ll send Zeke down to see what’s going on. Better an unknown investigate than you, who plan to stay awhile. Zeke can poke and pry and ask nosy questions, then report what’s happening.” Nothing like seizing the moment. “And just in case he does find an intruder, Larouselière will be on his way too.” Short but seldom sweet, Vlad rang off. Toby was covered now and, with a bit of luck, Vlad would take care of everything, and leave Toby to concentrate on Connor Inc. and the FBI. More than enough for one vampire. As Toby headed for the beach to give Adela the all clear, he couldn’t help wondering how Etienne Larouselière, who seldom left France and never, to Toby’s knowledge, ventured beyond Europe, was in obligation to Vlad Tepes. Not that he didn’t have far more pr
Chapter 6
Chapter 7 Axel Radcliffe looked down at the inert, but still breathing, Granger Fox. The useless mortal had passed out yet again. Inconvenient if he was weakening. Damn! He needed the man alive. The local excuse for a newspaper was perfect cover for asking questions and poking and prying. And getting that bitch of a daughter involved was an inspiration. Pity she was so useless. Looked as though he’d have to use her to gain entry into the house himself. A threat to rip out her father’s throat would no doubt work wonders with her professional scruples. He’d been far, far too patient with these mortals. He’d come to this chilly, rain-washed country to discover what happened to his brother vampire, who’d sent such glowing reports of success and then disappeared without a trace, along with the money he’d supposedly put aside for their benefit. If Laran had double-crossed them, he would suffer, slowly. If another had harmed Axel’s nest brother…Axel smiled at the prospect of wreaking slow and
Chapter 7
Chapter 8 Zeke was tempted to spit long and hard and add a few choice cuss words for good measure. He was vampire. Vampires didn’t get lost but, dammit, he had! After driving for hours on country roads without street lights and seeing far more of the Pacific Ocean by moonlight than one vamp should endure in an eternity, he conceded defeat and headed back to Devil’s Elbow. Appropriately named! On the way back he drove through Florence twice and narrowly missed heading for Eugene. And he wasn’t going to think about the scrape on the rear fender where he’d grazed a lamppost while reversing. Either Toby and that mortal woman had given him lousy directions and the wrong damn map, or he was out of his element. Damn! Why the heck didn’t they have buses and an El out here? He’d try again in daylight, drag the wiseass Brit vampire with him if need be, get whatever information he could and get his tail back to Chicago on the first flight available. He’d had a bad feeling about this job from the
Chapter 8
Chapter 9 Sally Preston arrived in good time to take over. Laura helped her bathe and dress Piet and settle him in his favorite chair on the terrace. Then, while Sally fixed him scrambled eggs, Laura made her exit. She couldn’t wait to get home, plan her next move and have a long, long talk with Dad. But first… She took a deep breath. She’d made her decision in the turmoil of the night and had to follow through. Toby was sitting on the terrace with Zeke, both of them talking to Piet, or at least letting the old man feel he was part of their conversation. Some days Piet was pretty much coherent, other times he was lost in his own hazy world. This morning he’d been particularly out of it, which made Toby’s efforts especially thoughtful. Not that he wasn’t always. He was a considerate employer. That was the root of the trouble. If he hadn’t been, she wouldn’t be obsessing about him to the point of featuring him in sexy dreams. Now that she had a story to satisfy Dad, there was no reason f
Chapter 9
Chapter 10 Adela really hoped Zeke got where he was going. Honestly! You’d think, with all the other powers vampires possessed, they’d have a sense of direction. A directionally impaired vampire. The idea had her grinning. Still, he had managed to follow her to the outskirts of Dark Falls and had taken the right road off toward Wyatt’s Bend. If he got lost again, it wasn’t her fault. Turning in the opposite direction, Adela headed up the narrow road toward the charred ruin of Gertrude’s house. She didn’t really blame Gertrude for refusing, after all, to come down and see the horrid mess that was once her home. Being right on the spot, Adela could easily get the fire department and the police to fill in the forms Gertrude faxed. Adela had even agreed to meet with the insurance adjuster and take him to the house. All perfectly reasonable and fair since the arson occurred during Adela’s occupancy. Why, then, did she have this nagging worry that trouble lurked very close? Perhaps she was h
Chapter 10
Chapter 11 Adela’s map and directions sure helped. Not that Zeke would be in any hurry to admit to anyone that he needed help from a witch, and a white one at that (he had to grin) to find his way around. He reached the house, obviously inhabited but currently empty—not a sound of a mortal heartbeat anywhere. He should have asked that nurse to come with him and invite him in. As it was, he settled for sneaking and peering, skills he’d perfected as a teenager looking for trouble. One thing he caught right away: the odor of sour vampire, strong, sharp and repulsive. Exactly what Adela had found around her daughter’s house. There it had been stale and bad. This was fresh and foul. What sort of creatures lived like this and left such a trail? And how, if they stank like this, could they live among mortals and conceal their nature? Heck, they’d stand out in a gathering of street people. No doubt about it, the Brit vampire’s suspicion was dead on the mark. What now? He should report what he
Chapter 11
Chapter 12 Didn’t take long to snatch the pertinent memories from Dave’s brain and send him on his way, unaware of the service he’d rendered. He might wonder why he was driving home from this direction, but Toby left the knowledge that he’d done a minor, but very much appreciated, favor for the acting boss of Connor Inc. All in all, Toby was pleased with the outcome but still worried about the implications of Adela’s engineered arrest. Even given that Axel was unaware Adela was under another vamp’s protection, the action was unacceptable. Toby considered it tantamount to a challenge. He had time to contemplate the next move. While Dave checked to be sure Laura and Adela were off and away, Toby had taken care of the deputy’s memories. He might wonder at the used, but now unoccupied, cell but wouldn’t connect Adela with his confusion. A good day’s work. Now home, to check on the women. Adela greeted him with a smile and a hug that made him feel like a conquering hero. Nice of her, and
Chapter 12
Chapter 13 Toby didn’t make for the front door, but the side one by the kitchen, and then up the seldom-used back stairs two at a time. He crossed the wide landing, nudged open a door with his elbow and slowly set her on the floor. Laura relished the not insignificant pleasure of sliding her body down his. He was hard and his dark eyes gleamed with need. He wasn’t even breathing fast. Where the heck did he work out? Not that Toby’s fitness regime was foremost in her mind. Or his. He smiled, teeth white and gleaming, eyes dark and almost feral. His hands were cool on her face as he cradled it in his hands and brushed her lips with his. “Sure about this?” Damn scruples, professionalism and correctness! Laura stood on tiptoe, reached for his head and pressed her mouth hard on his lips. Sweet heaven on Sunday! With a sigh of anticipation she pressed his lips open and tapped the tip of his tongue. He responded like a wild thing, curling his tongue over hers, yanking her body against him, an
Chapter 13
Chapter 14 “Vlad? Toby Wise here.” “What happened to Zeke?” So much for cordial and conversational. A testy Dracula was not what he needed right now. “He’s due back anytime. He went over to Dark Falls to investigate Axel Radcliffe. Want me to ask him to call?” Surely Zeke reported in at intervals. “Zeke is dead.” “What?” Stupid response. As his creator, Vlad would know. “When?” Much better question. “About six p.m. our time.” A quick bit of mental arithmetic put that slap in the middle of Adela’s rescue. “What can we do?” “Join in avenging him! Is the Frenchman there?” “Yes, but not stirring yet.” The hiss expressed clear frustration. “He will be by the time I get there.” “When can we expect you?” “I’m leaving as soon as I hang up.” Good. Vlad’s power could only help. In the distance, Toby heard a faint click—Etienne emerging from his packing case, presumably. “How many are you bringing with you?” “Two of my best warriors.” How like Vlad to use that expression! “When the frog awakens,
Chapter 14
Chapter 15 “What happens next, Toby?” Laura asked. Very, very good question. “We wait for the vampires I expect to arrive, and then we put our heads together.” “Okay,” Laura replied in a tone that implied it really wasn’t at all. “Let me get this straight, we’ll have five or six vampires in the house, plus myself and Adela. Ever thought that might disturb Piet? Get noticed by the substitute nurse?” “Yes, of course!” Did she think he had no sense? “It’s going to be tricky.” She was sexy even when she rolled her eyes at him. “More like impossible!” She had a lot to learn about vampires. “Not impossible, Laura, just difficult. We excel at difficult.” He excelled at being difficult! Laura sighed. “And between now and then? What about my father tomorrow? What about Adela? Think they won’t notice she isn’t locked up anymore?” “We took care of all that. The deputy won’t remember anything about her.” “What about the rest of the people who were in the Kountry Kitchen? To say nothing of Axel, wh
Chapter 15
Chapter 16 Toby rolled his eyes as Etienne bowed. Sheesh, the man belonged in the Middle Ages, which, after all, was when he’d been transformed. “Mademoiselle Laura, I came not only to help as I may with this predicament, but on a commission for the esteemed Mr. Roman.” “Really?” Toby asked, drawing out the vowels and raising a dark eyebrow. “You’re working for Vlad?” Laura exhaled slowly. She’d have to be unconscious not to pick up the tension between the two men—okay, two vampires. Etienne inclined his head. “I am.” The two of them would have played “stare me out” if Adela hadn’t spoken after several pregnant seconds. “And is your commission for Mr. Roman relevant to our current worries, and Laura’s apparent, very justified concerns for her father?” The look on his face had Laura wishing she had a camera. He obviously wasn’t big on soliciting female input. “I’d like to know that too.” “While we’re at it,” Toby said, “I’ll admit to curiosity. Anything special you’d care to mention, La
Chapter 16
Chapter 17 “Want a glass of wine, love?” When Laura shook her head, Toby asked, “A cup of tea?” “I’m tempted to say yes to the wine, but I want a clear head. You’re not getting me relaxed and then trying the seduction game on me. I have questions.” “I know, and Adela’s right, I should have told you more. How about a cup of tea, lots of answers to questions and then seduction?” Of course she might be so narked she’d walk away. Abel, no! “Okay, Toby.” She was one perceptive mortal. “Fine, love. What is it? Tea?” “Lemonade. There’s a pitcher in the fridge. And if I am staying here tonight, I need something to eat.” “Better check the kitchen. Between Adela and Elizabeth there has to be something there. And whatever Piet eats.” Laura had never seen the fridge, or the freezer, so full. She couldn’t face the effort of actually cooking something. Even opening a can of soup sounded like work. A sandwich was about the limit of her energy right now. Fast and easy, all the sooner to be able to p
Chapter 17
Chapter 18 There was something she meant to say, but as Toby eased his hands over her breasts, sensations muffled her brain. Talk about a fast worker! Seconds ago she wore a T-shirt and a bra; now she was naked from the waist up. Happily naked. Delighted to be naked as Toby’s incredible hands cupped and stroked her breasts. Thrilled to be naked as he teased her nipples with his fingertips until they almost ached with pleasure. She did manage to ask, “Where did my clothes get to?” He just grinned. “What the hell do you need them for? You’re wearing too much as it is.” Not much longer. In moments he had her jeans unsnapped and down her legs, and somehow her underwear went with them. Shoes and hose seemed to have evaporated. “How the heck do you do that so fast?” “Old vampire trick.” Must also be an “old vampire trick” to plant a line of soft butterfly kisses all the way down her ribcage to her navel. And back up. For almost five seconds, she was vaguely disappointed he hadn’t proceeded l
Chapter 18
Chapter 19 Laura understood how Alice felt, once down the rabbit hole. Looking from Toby—still sexy enough to make her mouth water—to Adela and Elizabeth, she felt right out of the loop, but one thing was pretty clear through all the mess. “Hadn’t someone better go after them? Do something? If you want to keep vampires secret, leaving one in the hands of the Feds is hardly a bright idea.” “I’ll go.” She hadn’t expected rich girl Elizabeth to jump in. Maybe she’d misjudged her. “No, you won’t! Tom would have my hide if anything happened to you.” That was just like Toby. Smart woman! She all but ignored that little interruption. “I can run fast enough to overtake them. Distract them and—” “And then what? You’ll be drained from the run and the damn Feds will have a ghoul and a vampire!” Did Toby have to be quite so snappy? Okay, he was worried but…“We’ll both go.” Elizabeth nodded. “Okay. Better get a move on, then, or they’ll be back in Eugene unloading him.” “Do you have any sort of pla
Chapter 19
Chapter 20 If Toby had any complaints about Laura coming along, he kept them to himself. Just as well. It gave her time to wonder if any of her nursing training could be of use helping the injured vampire. Toby stopped the Hummer a few meters after he turned into the drive. “Wait here a jiffy. I need to take care of Nurse Nosy Parker. She’s seen more than enough already.” He looked back over his shoulder. “How’s Larouselière doing?” “Much better,” a tired voice, with a more pronounced than usual French accent, replied. “Thanks to an angel who saved me.” “You’d better give thanks to Toby and Elizabeth too,” Adela replied. “They found you.” “Indeed, I am indebted.” And worn out, by the sound of things. “Hold on, everyone.” Toby was out of the car and closing the door. “I’ll be back.” He was, within five minutes. Not five minutes after that, they were in the house and Laura, clutching Toby’s keys in her hand, was running upstairs to fetch blood. She wasn’t squeamish. She was a nurse, for
Chapter 20
Chapter 21 Someone, something, had intruded while Axel slept. Intruded and disturbed the trespassing vampire’s pyre. Axel snarled to the heavens. Who was daring to invade his property, his domain? Granger’s pathetic mortal offspring? No, she was too scared to come to the house. Sneaky little phone calls and visits to the newspaper office were about all she dared anymore and, with a bit of luck, after last time, he’d put paid to that. Odd about the silver, though. Without that he really could have terrified her delightfully. Still, these irritating coincidences happened. And coincidence it had to be. If, by an impossible chance, she did suspect his nature, how could she know what silver did to him? No, it was pure chance. That he could brush off. An invasion of his territory he would not. First the inquisitive vampire and now…he sniffed the air and ground around the pyre, following the trail a hundred meters or so until he lost it. The fucking intruder smelled like vampire but apparentl
Chapter 21
Chapter 22 Toby put his face to the wind, spread his wings and headed south. Those FBI sorts would curl their hair if they saw him now, flying down the coast on eagle’s wings. Darn good thing they couldn’t. With a bit of luck they were still busy pretending last night never happened, while cudgeling their narrow minds over what caused a big hole in the back of the van and a seemingly sealed packing case. They’d certainly been too busy to drop in on Connor Inc. again. He hoped to Abel that Vlad turned up darn soon and they sorted out this second Radcliffe fast. There was only so long a company could be neglected. Dealing with a vicious and predatory vampire was definitely making the world safer for mortals and ensuring the security of Connor Inc. and its employees, but it wasn’t the sort of activity one listed on one’s daily planner. But Axel Radcliffe, Larouselière and Vlad aside, life was pretty damn good. He had Laura and, by Abel, he was keeping her. How, was a bit of a poser, but h
Chapter 22
Chapter 23 The moment Axel looked at her, she knew it wasn’t going to be that easy. “Show me where it is.” “Down the hall, but there’s nothing left. The FBI took all the files, computers, everything.” He stepped toward her and leapt back. “Bitch!” he hissed at her. “Think you’re so clever, do you? Take them off!” “No!” Without her silver she had no protection. “I’ll show you where the office is, if you insist, but I’m not stupid enough to take my bracelets off.” “You will.” He moved faster than she could follow. She blinked and he was holding her father up by his hair. Dad cried out as Axel reached for his hand. “No,” he whimpered. “Please, no!” With a particularly nasty smile, Axel took her father’s good hand in his. “I’m going to count to ten. If you have one particle of silver on you when I finish, I’ll break every finger on this hand, then this arm,” he paused, just to let it sink in, no doubt. “One!” She had no choice. All options were off. Unless a miracle occurred and Toby or so
Chapter 23
Chapter 24 This might not have been the best idea of her career. Laura reached the hospital without ID, driver’s license or even a dollar bill. At least Dad had his wallet in his hip pocket. So they had his ID and insurance cards, and she forgave herself for filching a five-dollar bill. She needed coffee. The rate things were going, they’d be needing lunch and dinner as well. Once they checked Dad and decided his injuries weren’t life-threatening, they clapped a temporary cast on his arm and left him to wait. The arrival of victims from a multicar accident delayed things even longer. Fair enough Dad wasn’t likely to die from broken bones, but listening to him sob softly ripped her apart. “Why, Laura?” Dad muttered at intervals. “Why? Where’s Axel?” She’d like the answer to that one. Every time the outside door opened, she looked up, dreading the appearance of Axel, bent on revenge. They’d left him writhing on the floor, but Laura suspected she’d only won them time. Every minute they sa
Chapter 24
Chapter 25 Toby finally convinced Laura to leave the waiting room and get something to eat. Mortals needed food and she was pretty vague as to when she’d last eaten. “What did you do to Dr. Hayes?” she asked, looking up from the plate of rather dismal-looking lasagna Toby had insisted on buying. Her father was now in surgery and it was time for her questions. “Dr. Hayes?” Toby repeated. “Yes. You did something. Before you intervened, I could almost feel the handcuffs coming, and now we’ve pretty much had the royal treatment. You did it, but what?” She dug up a forkful of lasagna. He propped his elbows on the table and rested his chin in his hands. “I changed his mind.” She stopped chewing. “I sort of noticed that myself. How?” She put down her fork. Lasagna could wait. His dark eyes met hers. He looked worried. Really worried. “It’s a skill I have. We have. Vampires. We can influence some mortals’ minds.” “Just like that?” “No, not just like that.” He shook his head. Not just a denial,
Chapter 25
Chapter 26 Toby wasn’t used to the feeling of tightness in his chest, the gnawing anxiety, or the rush of contentment whenever he looked down at Laura sleeping in his arms. He wasn’t used to emotions like this. It was so…mortal! Not that he’d complain. He welcomed every single complication Laura brought to his existence but he’d be a total fool—and a fool Toby Wise was not—if he ignored the snags piling up ahead of them. He bent down and kissed the top of Laura’s head, luxuriating in the sensation of her soft hair against his face and relishing the wondrous mortal female scent of her. And therein lay the rub. Laura was mortal. He’d sigh if he could. Not that that would help one iota, but it seemed mortals found it a great release. Had he in his mortal days? Darned if he could remember. As if it mattered! What mattered was finding a way to keep Laura as she was: mortal and wonderful and his love. What the heck! Although defiance to the ways and mores of the colony went against the grain
Chapter 26
Chapter 27 It wasn’t that Laura objected to being swept up in Toby’s arms. She suspected she was too wobbly and limp from the climax to walk very far under her own steam, but the speed he moved left her dizzy. She’d better get used to it. Getting accustomed to a vampire lover and a vampire who loved her hadn’t been a hardship so far. In fact… She let out a gasp as he lay her on the bed, on the sheets, no less, when she hadn’t even noticed him pull back the covers. The mattress gave as he climbed on the bed with her, and then her mind all but blanked out as he spread her legs and put his mouth on her pussy. “It’s too much!” She managed to gasp with supreme effort. She’d not yet recovered from her climax and his tongue on her sensitized flesh had her all but reeling. “No,” he insisted. “Not at all. That was just a prologue.” He blatantly ignored her whimpers of pleasure and her groans of bliss. She was lost in sensation. Her entire being focused on his mouth between her legs and the sear
Chapter 27
Chapter 28 “Am I glad you got back.” Adela set a mug of mint tea in front of Lizzie and pushed a jar of honey in her direction. “I thought getting arrested was stressful; that pales in comparison with today. And it’s nowhere near over yet.” Elizabeth stirred a generous spoonful of honey into her tea. “That bad, eh?” She lifted the cup to her lips, watching Adela over the rim. She did look stressed. Most unlike her, but the past few days had been insane. “Lizzie, love, it has been a nightmare.” It took Adela a good fifteen minutes to cover the entire saga. Elizabeth’s tea went cold, but she swigged the lot down anyway. Her throat was tight and dry by the time Adela finished. “It’s incredible.” Darn, she needed days to sort all this out. “Okay, so they have Axel downstairs, working him over.” She couldn’t hold back the shudder at the implications there, but she’d incinerated Laran, so she wasn’t really in a position to be squeamish. “You’re telling me Laura felled Axel?” Almost impossibl
Chapter 28
Chapter 29 Three pairs of female eyes scanned the assembled vamps. If Vlad and his lot thought they could walk away from this one, they were dead wrong. Literally! “Yes,” Laura said, trying not to sound snippy. The vampires did outnumber them, after all. “I really, really would like to know that. Given the trouble Axel has caused hereabouts, it would be good to know why exactly he picked Dark Falls.” “That,” Etienne said, with a flourish of his perfectly manicured hand, “was one of my first inquiries.” The way he said “inquiries” pretty much implied he’d not sat down beside Axel and said “please.” “One of many?” Elizabeth asked. “Why don’t you all sit down and tell us everything?” “Very good idea,” Adela added. “There’s a few answers I’d like to hear.” Etienne accepted the invitation, seating himself next to Adela. Laura had no time to consider any implications there, as Toby swung a chair around and wedged it between her and Elizabeth. “Keep that place for me,” he said. “I’ll get some
Chapter 29
Chapter 30 “Everything alright?” Toby asked. He tossed the suitcase into the trunk and opened the door as Laura got back in the car. “Sort of. I got clothes and toiletries for Dad.” And was eternally thankful Toby hadn’t come into the house and seen the squalor. She’d stifled the guilt at not having come in to clean. Heck, she’d spent all her junior high and high school years cooking and cleaning for Dad. But it had shocked her how horrible the house looked. The cop who’d checked her ID and followed her into the house hadn’t turned a hair, but presumably cops saw as bad or worse on a regular basis. “Did get a peep at the kitchen when I went in to check the fridge.” And nasty that had been too. “It rained here last night, all right. The backyard is a quagmire. The yellow tape was hanging in tatters, and I swear there can’t be a trace of Zeke left.” “Vlad carried away all he could. The storm was a complimentary extra,” Toby said. “Never seen anything like it in my life. Doubt even Gwylth
Chapter 30
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