“You just watched me shoot three people and I can guarantee you, I didn’t have any heartache about it. Why the hell would you invite yourself into my car?”
I flashed her a smile. “I just want to be friends. We should get out of here before the cops show up.”
Fuck whoever left me that note. I could make friends.
For some reason, I wanted to know this icy-eyed old woman with steady hands.
She gave me a look, then said, “Drive, Carter.”
He grinned as he pressed down on the accelerator pedal. “Come on, Elly. You’re always recruiting.”
“Not like this,” she told him sharply. Then she said to me, “We’ll drop you off somewhere safe. Where were you trying to go?”
I took a deep breath.
This time, I’d have to tell the truth.
“I don’t know.”
Chapter One
Alisa
* * *
I was having a perfectly lovely morning, chasing down a vampire, until the damned strange male ruined everything.
“Excuse me, coming through!” I called as I pushed through the morning commuter crowd heading into the D.C. metro, trying to keep my gaze on the vamp racing ahead.
Some people parted to let him through, but no one answered me with anything but a glare. Sexism. That’s what that was. I hoped they got bitten.
I chased him down the street and into an alleyway, where he finally turned to face me. He’d greased his jet-black hair back, as if he’d watched too many movies before he’d been turned, and now he was trying to live up to the stereotype of a vampire.
His lip peeled back in contempt when he looked me over, and I grinned back at him. That’s right, you sentient stiff tube sock; only one of us is walking out of this alley.
It was a hot summer day already, even though the sun hadn’t been up long. The alley stunk of wet cardboard, piss and the coppery tang of blood coming from the vamp.
He licked his lips as he took a step toward me, those dark eyes gleaming. “Aren’t you the hero? I hope you already had your coffee, so I can get my caffeine buzz and my iron all in one.”
“No coffee yet. I’m pretty sure I’m still drunk from last night.” I flashed him a smile.
He grinned. “You’ve got a death wish, little girl.”
“Not exactly.” I disagreed.
I only had a fraction of a death wish.
I had a lot more of a killing wish.
I reached back and gripped my sword’s hilt, drawing it over my shoulder in one smooth motion.
“This is usually the part where your kind run,” I said.
“This is usually the part where my kind dine,” he corrected.
There was the crunch of a footfall close behind me.
“Trap?” I cocked an eyebrow at him.
His grin widened. “Trap.”
“I’m glad you finally realized it,” I said.
I whirled, my blade a flash of silver arching through the air. There were two vampires behind me, and my sword sliced deep through the neck of the first one. Almost all the way. Fuck. A smooth vamp beheading was a matter of pride to me, but everyone has an off day sometimes.
My head reeled as I spun. Should’ve taken it easy at the bar last night, Alisa.
And by last night, I meant three hours ago. Elly was going to kill me if she heard about this. But once I saw the vamp, what was I supposed to do? Walk away? We’d been trying to track this ugly monster for weeks.
I ducked as the second vampire sprang at me, throwing up one arm defensively as I tried to jerk my sword free. He slammed into me, but my sword pulled loose just before he managed to propel us both into the opposing brick wall. My head and shoulder drove into the brick, leaving a jolt of pain in their wake.
We were too close now for a good sword blow, and I grabbed for the knife on my belt.
The vamp got an arm across my chest to pin me and reared back. His eyes dilated as his fangs ripped through his gums. The effect was always gruesome, and I winced as flecks of spit and blood splattered across my face.
“Should’ve brought a better weapon than some big ol’ yellow teeth,” I said, just before I slammed my dagger into his guts.
He fell to his knees in front of me, his eyes wide with shock.
I kicked him in the chest, knocking him backward on his ass before he sprawled out across the ground. There was no one else in the alley. My biggest prey had