How to Elude a Vampire (VRC Vampire Related Crimes #2) - Alice Winters Page 0,28
floor. And… he’s jumping.”
I look up as Barnett leaps out of a second-story window and takes off.
“I’ll head him off and tranq him,” I say as I split away to where I’ll have a clear shot at him.
I aim my gun just as the others drive him toward Marcus and me. I step down onto the driveway but feel no contact with the ground when my right leg hits. Expecting to come down on my right leg instead of nothing, I fall forward, slamming hard on my hands and knees as Barnett rushes past me.
“Finn!” Marcus shouts as he rushes to my side.
“I’m fine, go stop him,” I say.
Marcus hesitates, clearly deciding that my face planting in the driveway is more important than catching a killer.
He can’t seriously be planning on letting a killer go because I fell. “Marcus, go!”
“Dammit. Karsyn, watch him,” he shouts and then takes off after the others.
Karsyn hesitates before coming to me as I roll onto my back and look down. Even though I’m telling my foot to move, nothing is happening. Did my leg just stop working?
“How’d you trip? There’s not even enough to your legs to trip over them, they’re so short,” Karsyn says.
“Come close so I can hug you,” I say.
He must know that “hug” translates to “pinch” because he stays back. “Are you alright?”
“Fine. My leg’s not working.”
Karsyn retrieves my gun that’s a few feet from me before kneeling next to me. My hand and knee sting from the fall and when I look at my hand, I notice it’s bleeding.
“My hand hurts. Lick it!”
He looks confused. “What? I don’t want to lick your hand!” Karsyn cries.
“Marcus licks me when I’m hurt!”
He cringes and looks disgusted in the same breath. “Yeah, that’s because you guys are fucking weird,” he grumbles, but he does take my hand and knocks a few small pebbles out of the scrapes.
“I’m pissed,” I grumble.
“Because you fell?” he asks.
“Because of… all of this.” I wave at myself. “I’m useless and just a hindrance to you guys.”
Karsyn shakes his head. “I would never say you’re useless. Remember that one time I used you as bait? That worked extremely well.”
I try not to smile. “Ha. Ha. You’re funny.”
“And that other time we bribed that vampire with you by telling him he could eat you if he came with us, and then Marcus beat him up for thinking he could touch you? You’re extremely useful.”
“Why is being a meal the only thing I’m useful at?”
“No! That’s not true. You’re not a meal, you’re more of a snack.”
I scowl at the annoying vampire. “I try to like you but sometimes, I realize that you truly are evil.”
Karsyn nods like he approves of this message. “Let’s get you back to the vehicle.”
He reaches for me like he’s going to pick me up but I hold my hand out instead of grabbing onto him. “Help me up.”
“You’re going to… hop there?” He seems skeptical about my determination.
“Yes.”
“I could carry you.”
“I refuse.”
He sighs and grabs my wrist before pulling me up. I wrap an arm around him, make one hop and then Karsyn scoops me up and zooms over to the vehicle before I can utter a complaint.
“Dammit! I could have done it myself!”
“Yeah, well, I’d have been an old man by the time you made it.”
“It sure wouldn’t make you any nicer,” I mumble as he opens the door.
“What happened?” Miller asks from the driver’s seat.
“Nothing. I fell,” I say, waving him off as Karsyn helps me onto a seat. Then I stuff my hand down my pants, hoping a reattachment will make the fucker start working again. I can’t get my hand down far enough to feel much of anything.
“Just take your pants off,” Karsyn says.
“I don’t need to.”
He growls something at me before unbuttoning my pants. “This is the only time you’ll get the chance to be stripped by me, so you’d better enjoy it.”
I snort because I’m aware there is no part of this I’ll enjoy. “Are you pretending I’m you-know-who?” I tease.
“There is no you-know-who. You’ve made all this shit up in your head.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll find you someone to love, Karsyn.”
“I want no one.”
“Liar,” I say as I push my pants down.
Karsyn’s eyes immediately drop down, but most people are very interested when they see it; I can’t necessarily blame them for looking. I just wish I didn’t have to deal with any of it.
“This is amazing,” Karsyn says, looking astounded. “I’ve only seen your hand, but this