"And I won't lie and say we weren't really hurt… we were. But maybe it wasn't just you. Maybe everything happened as it did because of the fates. If you hadn't betrayed us, we wouldn't have been kicked out of the pack. If we weren't banned, we wouldn't have come to Tucson and formed a new pack. Our own pack. Most of our members have good lives here. Better, one might argue, than the scraps they would've had to fight over in Phoenix. But that doesn't mean they'll forgive you as easily as I did. If you try to join my pack, they won't make it easy on ya."
"I know. I deserve it."
"Tell you what, kid. You got asylum as long as you need. As long as you're on our turf, no one messes with you. But to join our pack you need a sponsor."
"Sponsor?"
"Yeah. And there's only one who I trust to look out for you."
Trey. My heart leaps up, only to plummet. "He's not talking to me."
"You stood up to your father and mine tonight. Not to mention handling meets with the vampires. If Trey wants you in, I could use you."
"Thanks, Cuz." We end the call and I let the phone drop. Now I just need to find Trey and grovel. And for that I need the right outfit…
There's a strange scratching on the window, a figure moving in the shadows. I rip the curtain aside and glare at the creepy vampire beyond the glass.
"Nero." I knew it. Yep, there's his black car is parked at the curb.
"Hello, little wolf." He draws his nails down the window and I grit my teeth at the horrible sound. I close the curtain, and open my desk drawer, drawing out a little surprise I have ready.
When I open the door, Nero is waiting.
He pushes back the silky blond curtain of his hair, licking his lips. His fangs flash as he caresses the air between him and me, as if there's a solid wall keeping him from crossing the threshold. "Little wolf, little wolf, let me come in."
"Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin," I say, and have an idea. "But if you tell me who left the dead body at Fight Club, I'll come out to you."
Nero raises a brow. "Why do you wish to know?"
"I'm impressed," I lie. "Lucius is so old he's practically all powerful. Whoever dares to disobey him must be very strong."
"Oh I am, lady wolf. I will show you how strong."
I cock my head to the side. "So it was you?"
"Yes," he hisses.
"Why?"
"Frangelico is old, but he has forgotten his purpose. Vampires are made to rule. Me and my brethren, we keep the old ways."
"Brethren?" Dang, there were more of them flouting Lucius' rules. They hadn't done much yet, but they were probably only beginning.
"Soon you will know. The world will know." Nero licks his lips. Did I ever think he was hot? "Now come out, little wolf."
"Okay. But first"-I twitch aside my bathrobe sleeve, and raise the Glock I bought after I took out a frat boy-"say hello to my little friend," I quote, and aim for the vampire's crotch.
Trey
THE CALL COMES in right as I'm about to pack up and ride back. Sheridan's number scrolls across the screen as if I've conjured it. In my rush to answer, I almost drop the phone.
"Trey?" Sheridan's voice wavers, just a little, and I'm on my feet, muscles tight and ready to fight.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" If her father yelled at her, so help me...
"I have a... leech problem."
I kick up my bike's kickstand before she's gotten half her explanation out. "Where are you?"
"At the casita."
"Stay there. Stay put."
"I've got it mostly under control, I just-"
"Do as I say," I order, and roll out.
I break a speed record getting back to Sheridan's place. My motorcycle races through the old barrio, pulling in behind a black sedan that smells of vampire.
Sheridan's sitting on the stoop in a bathrobe, her eyes vacant.
I go to one knee. "You okay?
"Yeah." She forces a smile.
"What happened?"
"I had a visitor." She nods to the dark car parked on the street in front of her house. "I shot him." Twitching aside a fold of her bathrobe, she uncovers a gun with an extended muzzle.
"Whoa." I hold out my hand. I want to know what the hell happened, but Sheridan's acting so weird, probably best to go slow. I pick the pistol up and examine it. It smells funny.
"And no one called the cops?" I glance around but all the houses are dark and silent. No one is squinting through the blinds at their neighbor in a bathrobe, which is good, because they'd also see a big scary biker carrying arms.
"I had a suppressor."
"I can't believe this."
She shrugs. "Speak softly and carry a big gun."
"All right. Where's the body?"
"Secured. It's Nero."
"You shot a vampire?" Come to think of it, the gun smells like garlic.
"And staked him halfway. It won't keep him down forever, but it'll buy us some time."
"For what?"
She rises and shakes her hair out of her pony tail. "I need to dress, and then I need an escort."
"Escort?" I blurt. This is all going too fast.
"Yeah." She pauses on the threshold. "He confessed to killing the fight club victim, so we need to deliver him to Frangelico."
Before she can disappear into the house, I catch her hand. There's no time, but I have to say something. "Wait. Sheridan. You're really okay?"
"I was in shock a little. But now I'm fine. You're here." She pecks me on the lips. Again, she starts to go and I tug her back.
"There isn't time to discuss this now," I tell her. "But when you were in danger you called me."
"Yes."
"You chose me."
Her expression softens. "Yes."
I kiss her, and let her go. "Go change. Fast. We'll talk later."
She grins and disappears, my little vampire huntress.