Suddenly, the black Chevy was back, trying to run them off the road. Hunter hit the brakes and jerked his car over. They skidded sideways.
Her stomach lurched.
"You know," Hunter said calmly. "I really hate Romans, but I have to say their descendants make one fine automobile."
He shifted and accelerated again, flying past the Chevy. They jumped the median, drove across oncoming traffic, and went down an exit so fast that all she could see was a flashing blur of lights.
The sounds of horns and screaming brakes filled her ears. It was followed by grinding metal and a loud pop and crunch as the Firebird full of Daimons hit the black Chevy. The Firebird drove the other car of Daimons into the retaining wall where it flipped over the traffic.
Amanda still couldn't breathe as the Daimons' Chevy came to rest beside the highway without striking another car.
Hunter actually whooped as he cut the wheel to turn the Lamborghini around in the street to face the opposite direction. He slammed on the brakes and took a look at the chaos they had left in their wake.
Her entire body shaking, Amanda gaped.
Hunter turned the radio off and smiled triumphantly. "And not a single mark on the Lamborghini. Ha! Eat steel, you soul-sucking bastards."
Downshifting, he stomped the gas, turned a tight, squealing circle in the street, and headed back toward the Quarter.
Amanda sat in stunned disbelief as she did her best to take long, deep, soothing breaths. "You actually enjoyed that, didn't you?"
"Oh, hell yes. Did you see the look on their faces?" He laughed. "Man, I love this car."
She looked up at the sky, and implored divine aid. "Dear God, please separate me from this maniac before I die of fright."
"Oh, c'mon," he said, his voice teasing. "Don't tell me that didn't get your blood pumping."
"Yes, yes, it did. In fact, my blood is pumping so fast that I'm not really sure why my heart hasn't exploded." She stared at him. "You are one crazy human being."
The laughter died instantly. "I used to be, anyway."
She swallowed at the hollowness of his voice. Without meaning to, she must have struck a nerve.
Their mood subdued, Amanda gave him directions to Grace's bungalow off St. Charles.
A few minutes later, they pulled into the driveway behind Julian Alexander's black Range Rover. The back fender was slightly crushed in from his latest collision with a lamppost.
Poor Julian, he really was a menace on the road. She slid a sideways glance to the Dark-Hunter. Then again, comparatively speaking, Julian wasn't so bad after all. At least he'd never given her a heart attack.
Hunter helped her out of his side of the car, then led the way to the door. The old-fashioned bungalow was completely lit up, and through the sheer curtains over the windows, Amanda could see Grace sitting in an armchair in the living room.
The petite brunette had her long hair in a ponytail, and her stomach was twice as round as it had been the last time Amanda had seen her. Even though the baby wasn't due for another nine weeks, poor Grace looked as if she could give birth at any moment.
Grace was laughing at something, but there was no sign of Julian or their guests.
Amanda paused to brush her hair with her hand, straighten her dirty clothes, and button her coat over the bloodstains. "Grace said they have company, so I think we should try and be a little inconspicuous, okay?"
He nodded as she rang the bell.
After a brief wait, the door opened to show Julian Alexander in the foyer. At six three, Julian was every bit as striking as Hunter. He had hair the same shade of blond and the bluest eyes Amanda had ever seen. His face was perfectly sculpted, but considering that he was the son of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, it was to be expected.
The welcoming smile on Julian's face faded as he caught sight of Hunter.
His jaw went slack.
Amanda turned to see a very similar reaction from Hunter, who stood stock-still.
"Julian of Macedon?" Hunter asked in disbelief.