Aurora Sky Vampire Hunter - By Nikki Jefford Page 0,47

of here."

"That's the spirit, Sky."

Dante floored the gas pedal at the first big intersection. As we approached the center, he cranked the steering wheel. The Jeep slid at a sideways angle.

I grasped the nearest handlebar.

Dante straightened out the wheel and we were once more moving head first.

When I'd regained my breath, I screamed, "In one piece, Dante!"

He chuckled. "Sorry, it's just so much fun driving these streets when no one's on them."

I pulled out my cell phone and dialed into voicemail.

"Who are you calling?" Dante asked.

"Shh!"

Fane's voice spoke urgently inside my ear. "Hey, I've been trying to reach you. Are you okay? Give me a call."

Dante whistled a tune as I tried to listen.

When we entered Nenana, Dante said, "Gotta gas up," before pulling into a Chevron.

He hopped out of the Jeep singing "Young Forever" by Jay-Z. I could hear him through the glass. "Forever young, I wanna be forever young..."

Tommy lifted his head at the sound then settled it back over his paws and sighed.

I called Fane while Dante refilled.

He answered immediately. "Aurora, I've been worried."

"I'm fine. Sorry about cutting you off earlier."

"What's going on?"

"I got kidnapped...by choice anyway. Sort of. I just left Fairbanks."

"Are you kidding?"

"Wish I was."

"How'd you get there?"

"A friend convinced me to skip the whole car rehabilitation thing and dive in head first...or in this case, drive in head first."

"A friend," Fane repeated. The words dropped like a frown. "Who's this friend?"

"Why? So you can get jealous?"

"It's a guy then."

I glanced out the window. Dante belted out, "Forever, forever," into the pre-dawn darkness.

"More of an annoying big brother."

"When will you be back?"

"I don't know. Noon maybe? I'll call you when I'm in town. Could we meet at the video store?"

"Yeah, I'll be there."
Chapter 17 Some Like It Red
While the streets of Fairbanks had been dead, Anchorage was choked with traffic when we returned late morning.

I stifled a yawn.

Dante hadn't shut up since we left Fairbanks - like he was on some kind of adrenaline rush. He'd wanted a detailed play by play of what went down at Ivo's. Finally I'd relented, it was either that or listen to him sing.

Dante said I did good. I had to admit it went a lot smoother when I only had to stab my target once.

"Do you mind dropping me off in front of Video City?" I asked as we neared home.

Dante raised a brow.

"I want to spend a quiet night watching movies."

Dante broke out into his trademark grin. "Good idea. Rent some chick flicks, kick back, and relax. You earned it, Sky."

I began tapping my fingers over my thigh as we approached the video store.

I unclicked my seatbelt when Dante parked.

"Thanks for dropping me off. See you around?"

"No, it's cool," he replied. "I'll wait while you pick out some DVDs, then drive you home. I can help make suggestions if you like. I have excellent taste in movies."

I looked at the dashboard. "I'm kind of meeting someone here."

Dante clucked his tongue. "Is this someone a boy?"

"None of your business."

"We're partners, Sky. You don't ever have to lie to me. Just say the word. I'm cool with it."

I relaxed in my seat. "Yeah, I know. Thanks."

"No problemo."

I reached back and scratched Tommy's head. "Bye for now, Tommy. Keep Dante out of trouble."

Dante chuckled. "Stay out of trouble yourself, Sky. Sure I shouldn't stick around and meet this boy, make sure he's up to snuff?"

"I never said it was a boy."

Dante smiled way too much, but at least it wasn't creepy like Melcher. "Of course it's a boy."

"Whatever," I said. "You're such a man child."

Dante reached behind my seat for my backpack, laughing as he did.

"Forever young," he said with a wink, handing over my pack.

Once on solid ground, I said my last goodbye to Dante.

"Be in touch again soon, Sky. Get your rest!"

The Rubicon sped away.

I opened my phone and called Fane to tell him I was at Video City. A minute later he pulled in. Either he drove at lightning speed or was nearby to begin with. I was thinking the latter given he was driving the tank.

The Catalina squealed as he pulled in front of Video City.

"I don't think she likes the cold," I said as he stepped out.

Not even a smile. Crescent shadows rimmed Fane's eyes. Maybe I shouldn't have called him in the middle of the night, hung up, and then ignored his calls for the next couple hours.

"So you took off for Fairbanks with some guy?" he asked.

Then there was that. "Brother-type guy."

"Right,"