Relentless (Vampire Awakenings #11) - Brenda K. Davies Page 0,92

get enough room to wedge the tips of his fingers under it. His flesh peeled back, and blood seeped from his wounds as he clawed at the metal.

They had to get out of here. Not only did he have to bring Julie home to her mom, but he needed to be with Cassidy. They’d sealed the mate bond; without him, she would die.

His fangs lengthened, and he clawed at the metal. He would not fail Cassidy or Julie. He would not let either of them die because of him. More blood spilled free, but he couldn’t get the metal to budge.

With a curse, he gave up and spun to face the room. Their only other option was the backstairs, and he knew it wasn’t an option. Leaving Preston and Julie standing by the window, he sprinted to the next one to discover it as sealed as the first.

“This way,” he said as he returned to them.

He bent to drape Julie’s arm around his shoulders. “We’ll try the back door,” he said.

The two of them ran Julie across the floor and to the back door, where he discovered more metal bolted into place over the top of it. They had no choice. They either fought their way out of this mess, or they died.

He hoped Jasmine didn’t have many friends as, behind him, the door creaked open.

Chapter Forty-Three

Dante took a deep breath before turning to face their enemy. Standing in the doorway was a striking woman with auburn hair that fell in waves to her waist. She had a pointed chin and a narrow face, but somehow, they didn’t make her look like a rat; instead, along with her almond-shaped eyes, they gave her an exotic appearance.

She rested one hand on a rounded hip as she struck a pose, both seductive and predatory. Her eyes flashed red as her cruel smile revealed her elongated fangs. When Julie whimpered, Preston hugged her closer.

That whimper was all Dante required to confirm this was Jasmine. He suppressed a snarl as he studied the vicious woman. She’d created so much suffering and destroyed lives, and all for what, revenge on an ex?

An ex who had every reason to break up with her given the fact she was crazy. And she seemed to be getting crazier by the day.

Jasmine pushed the door further open to reveal three sets of reddened eyes hovering behind her in the shadows. He couldn’t see them, but he suspected there were more in the stairwell.

“Do you have a stake?” Dante asked Preston.

“No,” Preston said.

Dante handed Preston his stake and removed the last one from inside his jacket. They were outnumbered and had Julie to protect, but he would tear these things apart to get back to Cassidy.

Jasmine ran her tongue over her teeth before stopping to prod one of the tips of her fangs with it. “Hello, Preston,” she greeted in a husky voice. “Who’s your friend?”

Dante lifted an eyebrow when she nodded toward him. He smiled grimly back at her as he tapped the end of the stake against the palm of his other hand.

When Jasmine’s eyes narrowed at the implied threat, Dante’s smile widened. If he could provoke her into acting recklessly and leaving her companions behind, he’d have an easier time of taking her down. But then, her anger vanished, and she winked at him.

Dante kept his face impassive as wrath simmered inside him. He’d been trying to provoke a reaction from her; he refused to let her turn the tables on him.

“Are you going to tell me your name, handsome?” Jasmine asked.

“It’s Dan,” Dante replied.

Her brow furrowed before smoothing out again. “How boring for someone as delicious as you.”

“I’ll make sure to let my parents know.”

“Why are you doing this, Jasmine?” Preston demanded.

When her attention shifted back to him, the fire in her eyes grew. “I gave you life, and you threw me aside. You are going to pay for that.”

“I never threw you aside,” Preston said. “I love you, but you started acting so crazy after you turned me that I couldn’t take it anymore.”

“Crazy!” she practically screeched. “Crazy!”

Her features twisted into something so malevolent and inhuman it was as if a demonic creature possessed her.

“Don’t call her that again,” Julie whispered.

With measured effort, Jasmine fisted her hands and inhaled a ragged breath. Then she plastered a serene smile on her face, unclenched her hands, and smoothed the front of her body-hugging, black shirt.

“I’m glad you’re here. I had planned to call you, but it seems