Sucker Punch (First Fangs Club #3) - Kristen Painter Page 0,70
you, it would kill me. Not to mention the kids would be inconsolable.”
Cammie frowned. “Do you have any idea how many vampires I’ve confronted? I may be human, but I’ve been anointed by the church. Just because the Venari kicked me out doesn’t mean I’ve lost my powers, my protection, or my skills.”
“What kinds of powers and skills? What kind of protection? Don’t you normally do your hunting in a group?” Donna knew her sister meant well, but what could she really do alone? What had she done at the raid? Donna hadn’t seen much of her after she’d arrived.
Cammie poked Donna in the shoulder. “You don’t need to know specifics. Just that I do. And nothing will happen to me. Especially because he’ll think I’m still Venari. Trust me, a little warning that the Venari are watching him, and he’ll straighten right up. Besides, he doesn’t know that I’m your sister.”
Donna thought it over. Cammie did look pretty impressive in her gear. “I don’t know…”
Cammie leaned in. “How about if you go with me? Not to the actual meeting, but you can watch from a safe distance. That sort of thing. Just so long as he doesn’t know you’re there. I don’t want to risk him figuring out we’re related.”
“Okay, the invite makes it tempting.” Donna chewed on her bottom lip. “You really think this would work?”
“Ask Neo what she’d do if a member of the Venari showed up on her doorstep and told her she was being monitored.”
“Pretty sure Neo would attack them with her drone. But that’s a good idea. Let’s get Pierce’s opinion. He’s a little more levelheaded and has been around vampires a lot.”
He walked into the kitchen behind them, hands up apologetically. “I wasn’t eavesdropping, but I heard my name. I can go.”
She didn’t really care if he had been listening. “No, stay. I need to know something. If you were a vampire and Cammie showed up at your door in full Venari regalia and told you to chill or be permanently put on ice, what would your reaction be?”
He looked at Cammie, then back at Donna. “I’d do my best to be a good little vampire. The Venari are no joke.”
Cammie tipped her head in a very I told you so kind of way.
Donna rolled her eyes. “All right. Let’s find out where Fitzy lives.”
Chapter Twenty-four
Turned out, Fitzhugh lived in the Upper East Side version of Wellman Towers called Montevetro. Donna knew enough Italian to make out that the name kind of sort of meant “mountain of glass.” Seemed mostly fitting for the angular glass and metal monolith that probably cost God’s salary to buy into and looked like some kind of modern Danish saltshaker.
Charlie had told them the New York governorship owned the top three floors.
Donna tried not to let it bother her that Fitzy had one more floor than she did, but she couldn’t fake it. That extra floor bristled. But then, with an ego his size, he probably needed the space.
Or he was overcompensating.
Temo had driven them but dropped Cammie off a few blocks away so she wouldn’t be connected to them. Once they’d arrived in Fitzhugh’s neighborhood, Temo had parked on the side of Fitzhugh’s building. They could see into the lobby, but the doorman’s back was to them.
Temo moved to sit in the back with Donna as well. The SUV’s dark-tinted windows would keep them from being seen.
It was early evening, but the city was relatively quiet. Donna thought that might change if anyone looked too closely at Camille.
She’d dressed in her battle gear again. Leather pants, chain mail shirt with the cross, sword strapped to her hip, crossbow on her back, and this time, a leather cowl pulled up to hide her face. The cowl felt vaguely like a cross between her nun’s wimple and an executioner’s hood.
It was a total mood. One that was clearly meant to intimidate. But would it work on Fitzhugh? He was so cocksure, Donna had her doubts.
Temo had also fitted Cammie with an earpiece, like the one he’d given Donna for the raid, so they’d be able to hear the conversation. It would also give Cammie a way to call for help should she need it. She’d assured them she wouldn’t, but Donna didn’t trust Fitzhugh one iota, so if nothing else, it made her feel better.
“Here she comes,” Donna said.
Cammie strode through the lobby doors like she owned the place and had just decided to tear it down. She went