We found who was really killing vamps. Even lured him out of a club. We set him straight—he’s done killing.”
“What has gotten into you, Diaz? You falling for this stupid Backstreet Boy motherfucker? Please tell me you’re not that fucking stupid,” he bit out, murder still swimming in his dark-brown eyes.
I shook my head and lied, “No, nothing like that. I lured a human male out of a club for a feed and he tried to kill me. Dude was wearing a hoodie and was about the same height and build as the subject. That’s when I realized it wasn’t Judson Creed. It was this guy.”
Ringo relaxed a little. “Okay then. Where’s his body?”
I bit my lip and looked away. “Well, therein lies the problem. After I fed, I knocked him out and lifted his wallet for some cash. But it wasn’t a wallet, it was a Deputy’s ID. I didn’t think killing a fucking cop would go over well, I so I left him.”
“Are you insane?” Ringo roared, pounding his fist again on the desk. “You don’t leave cops alive. He’ll be hunting you down until his last breath! And then there’s the problem of him continuing to kill our kind. I swear to Lucifer, I should kill you right now, you insolent little bitch!”
“Whoa, calm down, man. Listen, I compelled him to stop killing vampires. I think he’s done. I really do.”
He paced the space between his desk and the wall. “You know allusion of that kind doesn’t last more than a few weeks!”
That actually surprised me. “Um, actually, I didn’t know that. I also didn’t know humans could see silver in our eyes sometimes. You know, because you haven’t taught me jack shit. You’re a horrible maker.”
“And you’re a horrible bounty hunter! Now, get the fuck out of my office and don’t come back until that cop is dead. In fact, just to be safe, bring me the cop’s body and Creed’s! Now get out!” he roared.
I didn’t have to be told twice. I left and got into my car. As I drove, I said, “Call Judson.”
“Calling Judson,” the female computer voice repeated.
“Hey, beautiful,” he answered.
“Well, that went over like lead balloon,” I said dryly.
“That well, huh?”
“He wants the deputy’s body. Not that I expected anything different,” I replied.
“Fuck,” Judson said.
“That’s not the worst part.” I bit my lip.
“It gets worse?” he asked with a dramatic sigh.
“He wants your body, too. Ringo wants me to bring him both of you. Dead.”
“Goddammit. This guy needs to go. You need to kill him, Dani. Next time you’re there, just stab him. Cut his head off. Something.”
I laughed, but it was completely without humor. “Easier said than done. I’ll be there in five.”
I ended the call and realized that the only two options we had left were to kill Ringo or go on the fucking lam.
“So, I hear Washington is nice this time of year,” I remarked as I sat and watched the man I loved eating Chinese takeout.
He paused the noodle-laden chopsticks at his mouth. “Washington state or Washington DC?”
“State,” I replied, looking down at my phone. “The northwest part of the state is the gloomiest. Hardly ever gets any sun. I could maybe go out during the day there if I had to.”
“Sounds like a blast,” he replied dryly, shoving the noodles into his mouth. “Days and months without sun. That won’t be depressing at all.”
“Colorado is too sunny for vampires anyway,” I continued. “Over three hundred days of sun per year. I’m surprised any vamps live here at all.”
“I think you’re missing the point,” Judson said, wiping his mouth on a paper napkin. “This Ringo fucker needs to die. Period.”
“He says the same thing about you,” I murmured.
“Exactly,” Judson said. “I refuse to live in fear from the very same type of creature that killed my twin. I fucking refuse, Dani.”
Realizing he was speaking out of grief and not taking it personally, I put my hand on his and said, “I know. But we have to be smart about this. I agree he needs to go, but Ringo is not that easy to kill.”
“No shit. The question is… if you don’t produce a body—or bodies—by October thirty-first, he is gonna do it himself? Like come to my house or to Bash and just kill me in front of God and everyone?”
“Good question. The answer is… I don’t know. I usually just get the information, kill the subject, get paid, and move on with my life. This has