Relentless (Vampire Awakenings #11) - Brenda K. Davies Page 0,100

arms, and though he looked like he might throw up, Preston hugged her as she cried.

When the first hint of dawn lightened the sky to a dull gray, they removed the bodies from the van and set them on the side of the road. They waited until the sun hit them and nothing but ash remained before climbing back into the vehicle and leaving.

The stench of the Savages lingered, but it wasn’t as bad, and the fresh air coming through the windows helped dispel it further. Cassidy looked up to discover Julian giving her and Kyle another fulminating look.

“We didn’t know what we were walking into tonight, and we were trying to keep you safe. Besides, you took off for four years without much contact with all of us, and we got over it,” Cassidy reminded him. “I think you can forgive us for not calling you tonight.”

Julian grunted in response.

“You didn’t talk to me at all for four years, and I got over it,” Aida said. She fluttered her lashes and smiled sweetly at Julian when he frowned at her.

Cassidy grinned at her sister-in-law.

“Your mate is a very smart woman,” Kyle said to Julian.

Aida’s golden-brown eyes twinkled in amusement when she turned to look at him. “Are you just realizing this?”

“I had my doubts when you choose Mr. Computers Are Better Than Girls over there, but you’ve redeemed yourself.”

Aida and Cassidy laughed as Julian glowered at Kyle in the rearview mirror. Kyle smiled back at Julian and waved. “We’re alive, it’s over, and we found the girl. If we ever get into a life-or-death situation again, you’ll be the first one we call.”

Julian gave him the finger, but his features softened. “Why don’t you stay out of those situations from now on?”

“Believe me, we don’t want to be in them,” Cassidy said. “And if you recall, you dragged us into the last one.” When Julian scowled at her again, she blew him a kiss. “We love you too.”

“Assholes,” he muttered.

“Does that mean you don’t love us?” Cassidy taunted.

Julian stared at the road as he replied, “You know I do.”

Dante smiled over their banter as he draped his healing arm around Cassidy’s shoulders and pulled her close. He kissed her forehead as he inhaled her sweet scent before resting his head against the van.

The hum of the tires on the road was lulling him to sleep. It had been a long night, and he was still weak from blood loss. He hadn’t taken enough from Cassidy to sate his hunger, and it churned incessantly inside him.

Across the way, Julie was still paler than normal, but she held Preston’s hand as the two of them sat shoulder to shoulder.

“You should meet my mom,” Julie said to Preston.

Dante considered that to be an excellent idea. He suspected it was only a matter of time before Preston’s mom tried to get money out of Mrs. Abbott. It would be a lot easier for the woman if she learned about Preston’s existence from her daughter first. It would be difficult in the beginning, but once she saw how much they cared for each other, Dante believed she would grow to accept and love Preston.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Preston said. “She probably doesn’t want to meet me.”

“You’re my brother; she’s going to have to accept that you’re a part of my life. After all this, I can’t keep sneaking away to see you, and I’m going to stop treating her like garbage, so she has to know about you because you are staying in my life.”

Preston mulled this for a little bit before responding. “And what if she tells you to stay away from me?”

“She won’t,” Julie said. “I’m sure she’s going to be upset that my dad never told her about you, but she wouldn’t do that. She’s not cruel; she’s not… me,” Julie whispered.

“You’re not cruel,” Preston assured her as he hugged her closer.

Fresh tears streamed down Julie’s face. “I’ve been so awful to her.”

“And she understands,” Dante assured her. “She knows how difficult your dad’s death was on you. You’ll get through all of this together.” He looked to Preston as he spoke the next words. “All three of you will.”

Preston stared at him before giving a small smile. “Yes, we will.”

It was a few minutes before Cassidy spoke again. “What are you going to tell your mom about why you’ve been gone?” she asked Julie.

“It’s going to break her heart, but I’ll have to tell her that I