Morales and Megan have been arranging the halfway ranches to accommodate cattle.”
The way he said her name felt like hot silky chocolate going down her throat on a chilly night.
Because Poe was staring intently at her boots, she didn’t notice the vampire smile down at her.
“So can we count on you joining us?”
Poe shook her head. “No one asked me. And I haven’t seen Sainvire since the big meeting.”
“The meeting where you killed some of his people? And shot him several times?”
Poe flushed shame red in the dark. She tossed her serrated hair out of the way. “I tend to get innocent people and good vampires killed. That’s why I’ll never be included in your future world.”
“Well, can we at least get your promise that you won’t try to blow up Trench’s hotel for the next few days? We really don’t want any of the master vampires and councilmembers tightening up security and making it more difficult for us.”
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Poe nodded, her mouth clamped shut. Jacopo stood up and prepared to leave.
“Um, one more question, Jacopo,” she asked.
“Did the Council order the raid on the library?”
Only one thing betrayed his poker face. It was the engorgement of fluids on the largest vein on his forehead that pulsed erratically. Poe couldn’t make up her mind whether the telltale pounding was an indication of dishonesty or truth.
“I’m not sure.”
He knew about it. Poe’s heartbeat raced, her face heating up. She rose. Her index finger itched. “There are three of you on Sainvire’s side and you didn’t know?”
He shook his head, “It’s complicated. I can’t elaborate anymore at this time.”
The hand holding the gun wavered, but she stood up and stepped deeper into the shadowed corner away from the small fire. “One more thing, Jacopo,” she said, stopping the vampire from leaving. His face bore the expression of a person in a hurry.
“The woman you like, is it Gwendolyn?” If Jacopo knew she’d just butchered the goddess vampire of his dreams…
The councilman forced a grin. He hovered in the air with one of those smiles that was indescribably guarded and far from comforting. Poe watched him disappear in the dark purple sky. Like Sainvire, Jacopo could fly.
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CHAPTER 10–A SHOOTOUT LIFE
SLEEP EVADED HER. THE cloying stench of garlic hurt her eyes. Stupidly she’d doused herself with sticky garlic juice before hitting the sack. It was her cross, her amulet against fiends of the night. Her battered body needed protection even if she smelled like foot sweat.
It was open season on the girl who had killed a councilmember and a score of others at different stages of death. A platter awaited Sainvire’s head for allowing Poe to go on a binge. Her battered ribs hurt which made breathing laborious. But she had to rise and put on her gear. A shower was out of the question.
Only the very sick and injured remained. The rest had slipped out before dawn. Poe could taste their fear even with her eyes closed. The plan was so audacious that casualties were inevitable.
A series of explosions shook the underbelly of downtown not one hour later. They originated from random, dispersed corners. The first thing Poe thought of was Penny who lounged alone in the bunker. She’d left the lame dog enough food and water for a week, but she still felt sick with guilt.
“Holy cow. It’s started,” Poe said and rubbed her nervous tummy. “Look after all of them,” she prayed to her parents. Her heartbeat was surprisingly steady.
By six, Poe emerged from the building, Kevlared and heavy with artillery. From where she stood, the 277
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triangular roof of Parker Center was gone. Black smoke rose from the gutted building that housed many of Trench’s police goons. It was as if downtown had lit giant incense sticks to flavor the air. Union Station, a quarter-mile from Chinatown, was intact, however.
Jointly administered by the Council and a handful of master vampires, it was the best defended of all the cattle farms.
“Better go get Penny,” she muttered to herself.
Poe helped herself to one of the leftover bicycles in the alley as her limp slowed her down. She pedaled speedily down Broadway, the voice in her head becoming vicious. You need to help them, the voice urged. Some of them are your friends. You can’t let them be slaughtered.
“Shut up, you,” Poe said. “I don’t owe them crap.
If they eat it, it’s on their own heads. Now get the hell outta my head!”