Every time Millie tried to share a “secret”’ conversation with him—which was pretty hard in a place where a combination of TV screens with nonstop sports and music blared in the background—he invited Trina into the conversation. The guy was oblivious and determined to keep Trina in the loop. It was sweet, but she was secretly glad these two were getting drunker by the minute. They’d remember less that way.
Trina had to find the bastard vamp before he surprised her again. How had he gotten into the store without her noticing? Then again, all vamps weren’t created equal. The older they got, the easier it became to conceal their presence. But no matter how well they could disguise what they were, it was only a matter of time before she figured it out. All they had to do was let their guard down for a second and she would know what they were and could attack when they least expected it. Not that this cocky bastard had bothered to hide what he was. Still, while stalking her, she had no doubt that he’d use all the tricks he had access to, and he could be watching them right now.
She couldn’t help wishing, for what was probably the millionth time, that vamps couldn’t enter a public place without an invitation from the owner. That would make her life so much easier. Unfortunately, such restriction only stretched to people’s homes.
A chuckle escaped her. She liked tempting fate by having a doormat on her balcony stating: Welcome, all vampires, all the time, and had even read it out to the wind to see if it gave the invitation more power. If this dude kept following her around, maybe she’d soon find out.
Zeke stretched his arms over his head and yawned. “Excuse me,” he said holding a hand over his mouth. “I think it’s time I called it a night.”
Trina frowned. Why was he looking at her when he said that?
It didn’t matter why, and she nodded because she was looking forward to getting out of here as well. “I agree.” So much color and activity was helpful when she wanted to blend in, but it was hell on her senses when she was trying to detect a threat. As far as she could tell, there wasn’t a single vampire on these premises. Except for the bartender, everyone inside this pub was human and drunk.
“Are you sure?” Millie looked at Zeke and pouted. “The night is young.”
He stood, pulling his arm out of hers when she grabbed it in an attempt to stop him. “I think it’s time we all caught a cab home.”
Trina followed suit and stood. Millie gave her a dirty look but also got to her feet. Trina walked behind them as they headed for the door, taking another quick look around before they ducked outside.
Hardly anyone noticed they were leaving, except for the guy behind the bar who watched their every move. He wasn’t a vamp, but he wasn’t entirely human, either. She didn’t have the time to explore the possibilities of just what he was right now.
As she stepped out into the cold night, it actually felt good on her face. She let the cool air wash over her and cleanse away the sting of the alcohol and hot air inside the pub.
“That was great. I think we should do it again sometime, girls.” Zeke stepped in between them, wrapping an arm over each of their shoulders. “Now, where are those cabs?”
Maybe Millie hadn’t noticed, because she was smiling like an idiot, but Zeke was drunker than he’d seemed inside. His eyes were bloodshot.
Trina glanced up and down the silent street. “There aren’t any cabs.” Actually, there were hardly any cars on the street. Then again, she wasn’t surprised. It had to be way past midnight. “Why don’t we walk? Do you guys live far?”
“Actually, no, I live down the road.” Millie didn’t sound upset or defensive when she pointed down the street.
“Zeke?” Trina prompted.
“I live a little farther than that.”
“Yeah, he lives a few blocks from the local high school,” Millie supplied.
Trina knew where the high school was and, for her, it didn’t sound too far to walk. But if she were drunk, that would be quite an uncomfortable walk. And it wasn’t a good idea to be out in the open with some crazy vampire on the loose. But without a cab, she didn’t have a choice. She’d have to walk them home.
She sighed. “It’s settled then, we’ll walk. First we’ll get Millie home, and then we’ll get you home.”
Zeke nodded, but Millie grabbed ahold of her arm and dragged her away from Zeke, who didn’t seem to notice as he leaned back against the building’s wall.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Millie’s breath smelled like beer and peanuts, and her rage was obvious in the stiff set of her narrow shoulders.
“I don’t know what you mean—”
The small blonde wasn’t smiling now. “Of course you do. It was bad enough that you tagged along with us tonight, but now to try to steal him right out from under me?”
“I’m not trying to steal anyone. I just want to get home as soon as possible.”
“So, go, then. Zeke can stay with me tonight.” Her stupid smile had returned.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea . . .”
“Why?” Millie interrupted. “Because you’d rather he stay with you?” She tightened her grip on Trina’s arm. “Well, that’s not going to happen. I saw him first. I knew him way before you even thought about working at Pen, Paper & Beyond. You’re not going to take him away from me.”
“Millie, I don’t want him.”
“Don’t lie to me! I’ve seen you flirting with him, and I’ve got news for you. He’s mine, you got that?” If her spiteful words were all Millie had done, Trina would’ve taken her crap and walked away, but when she tightened her grip on Trina’s arm and started poking a finger in her face, Trina pulled out of the woman’s grip and spun her around. Squeezing her forearm beneath the girl’s chin, she applied just enough pressure to knock her out. This wasn’t how she’d planned to end the night, but she figured it was the best way to shut Millie up.
When the woman went limp, Trina slung her over her shoulder, grabbed a hold of Zeke’s forearm and said, “Come on, let’s go.”
Zeke nodded. He didn’t seem to notice Millie was now unconscious.
As they headed down the street, Trina walked as swiftly as she could. Luckily, Millie was so small and thin she hardly weighed anything. Once she dumped this moron safely inside her house, Trina would then be free to handle whatever situation arose. And she knew something would happen. She had no doubt the old vamp dude would strike when she least expected it.
So she carried the woman, making sure to drag Zeke beside her, down the deserted street. At least she could be grateful that neither of her workmates would probably remember any of this the next morning.
Chapter Nine
Doug watched Trina as she stepped out of the two story apartment block. She closed the door behind her, looked up and down the concrete corridor before walking away.
He kept his eyes on her until she reached the staircase on the left side of the building, descended it, and exited the complex.
For a moment, he’d felt a surge of jealousy when he’d watched her duck into the guy’s apartment while he clung to her. Doug couldn’t help smiling at her reaction when the guy he recognized from the stationery store had made a move to kiss her. She’d jerked back before he could even get close to kissing her.
Seeing her reaction was worth stalking her. Just because he’d made a “date” with Trina didn’t mean that Doug would stop watching. In fact, he’d seen Luis waltz out of the stationery store earlier, trying very hard to appear human. If Luis had tracked her, he knew exactly where she worked and lived, and he’d systematically hurt everyone around her before turning his full attention on her.
Unlike all the random people Luis had turned for the fun of it during the last year and then discarded like dirty rags, Trina would provide a challenge. She’d keep him interested until he couldn’t take it anymore.
Luis Gallego was an old school vampire who’d one day—for whatever reason—decided to change his ways. Where feeding used to be about survival and ke
eping vampiric secrets, now he enjoyed chasing his prey, loved toying with it. He played mind games and didn’t shy away from hurting anyone he felt was in his way or could rouse a reaction from his primary target. It was why he couldn’t understand this new routine Luis had of grabbing a random person and turning them instantly.
But Trina had just become Luis’s ultimate prize.
Trina was long gone by the time Doug noticed Luis on the roof of the building where her coworker lived. Before Doug could decide on what to do, Luis had already slipped inside the guy’s place. The man was now in danger.
Shit! He couldn’t afford to blow his cover with Luis. He would have to let Trina do it.
He sighed and headed for the man’s apartment. He was probably already too late, but he had to see if he could somehow save the man from Luis.
He crossed from one side of the roof to the other, and paused when he heard the click of the door below him. Luis skipped down the stairs and walked onto the street, as if he were just a casual bystander who’d stopped by to visit a friend.
Once Luis’s footsteps completely retreated, Doug became the third person to slip into the man’s apartment tonight. He closed and locked the door behind him, and the smell of warm blood stung his every sense. It was like a toxic drug he couldn’t ignore, and his fangs pushed through his gums. The smell of blood roused this uncontrollable reaction from him, but it didn’t mean he had to follow it through by killing. He was here to see if this human was still alive.
If he wasn’t, Doug would be forced to put him out of his misery.
Chapter Ten
Trina jumped, and her heartbeat sped up when someone knocked against the sliding door. She didn’t have visitors at home, hadn’t even invited the priest and his deacon over yet. Her apartment was her sanctuary, untouched by the other, darker things in her life.
She grabbed the wooden stake sitting on the couch and headed for the door. Clutching it tightly and hiding it behind her back, she pushed the thick curtain aside. She sighed with a mixture of relief and confusion. What the hell was he doing here?
Trina kept the stake at her back and opened both doors—sliding and screen—with her other hand, before blurting, “What the hell are you doing here?”
Vigilante simply smiled. Apparently not bothered by the fact he’d just appeared on her balcony when he was supposed to be meeting her in an alley in less than an hour.
“I was in the neighborhood, and thought I’d surprise you.” he said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world for him to appear on her doorstep.
“I’m not even going to ask how you know where I live.” She looked over his shoulder, trying to see if anyone else had decided to drop in for a visit.
“I’ll tell you anyway. I followed you home the other night.”
She shook her head, trying to hide the surprise. Why hadn’t she noticed him? She was usually diligent about making sure no one was following her.
Instead of letting him see how his stalking affected her, she said, “You better not have led that other asshole here.”
“I didn’t, but he’s probably watching us right now. You’re not exactly hard to track.” He met her gaze and smiled. “May I come in?”
Trina rolled her eyes and headed back inside, resisting the urge to slam both doors in his face. “You might as well, since you’re already here.” She was about to ask how he’d climbed six stories to reach her balcony, but remembered how easily he’d dropped out of nowhere in the back alley only a few nights ago.
His laugh echoed behind her. “You’ve got to be kidding me, a welcome mat for vampires? Do you like to tempt fate or something?”
“I don’t even know if it works.”
The sound of the sliding door gliding across its track made her turn around, but she relaxed as she watched him taking in the living room.
“Nice place,” Doug said looking around. “Not too cozy, but nice.” His eyes skimmed around the apartment, and she couldn’t help watching him, curious to see what would happen when he saw the Allure Urn. But he didn’t say a word about it; didn’t even seem to notice it.
That’s strange. Why didn’t he say something about it? The urn certainly was an eyesore, with its strange organic exterior and the blood-colored etchings. A shiver raced down her spine. The urn seemed to be pushing some sort of reaction her way, which made no sense, so she chose to ignore it. Still, she held onto the stake. Maybe Doug was right and the vamp was nearby, waiting to charge.
“Listen, before I go anywhere with you, I need a name. You know mine, and it seems unfair that I have to call you Vigilante.” His hair had a little extra curl today, caught up in the collar of his jacket, while his eyes glowed in the dimness of the room. His dull clothes fit his lean body perfectly. Too bad he wasn’t an eyesore. It would make this so much easier if he was, because she actually enjoyed looking at him.
“Is that what you’ve been calling me?” he asked, raising a dark eyebrow. “Maybe I prefer that to my real and much more boring name.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at him. “Just spill it . . .”
“Okay, okay. I’m Doug.”
“Maybe I just like you. Would you have any objections to that, Trina?”
Her pulse quickened as she thought: No, because as stupid as it sounds, I think I like you too.
“Well?” he prodded when she didn’t answer.
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “We have a job to do. I don’t think now’s the right time to discuss anything else.”
Doug took another step. “Oh, so later, after we’ve polished off the vampire, maybe we can talk about this?”
She shrugged, looking away. “Maybe.” Was there really anything to discuss?
“I like the sound of that, and I might just hold you to it.”
Before he could step even closer, Trina turned away and headed for the bedroom. She needed some breathing space, a chance to sort through all the strange things she was feeling right now. As attracted as she was to this guy, something about him bothered her. She just couldn’t put her finger on what it was, and it wasn’t just his blatant stalker ways.
Attraction was something she’d ignored for so long that it had become a strange, foreign emotion. She didn’t trust easily, so trusting her own feelings about a man she barely knew seemed wrong. And taking into account who and what she was, things would never end well between her and any man. It was easier to flirt and lead a vamp on just before killing him than allowing herself to actually get involved with a man.
She carried stakes around so much, half the time she forgot she had one in her hand. At least Doug hadn’t seemed to notice. She tucked the wooden stake into the space between her jeans and the small of her back, added a few wooden spikes to her jacket pocket, and headed back into the living room. She’d decided to dress the same way she would if she were heading out to hunt on her own—black jeans, black fitted top, heeled boots, and since her denim jacket was still soaking in the laundry room, a black sweatshirt jacket.
Doug whistled when she strolled back into the room, but she ignored him. No point in paying attention since it might just fuel the fire within her a little more than she was comfortable with.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
“Whenever you are.”
“Let’s go then.” She headed for the front door, switched off the light, motioned for him to step out first, before locking the door and pocketing the keys. “So, where do we start? Have you been
tracking him?”
Doug didn’t say anything until they’d reached the foyer. He opened and held the security door open for a couple who were walking in. They thanked him and exchanged smiles with him while Trina kept her gaze down, avoiding eye contact. She didn’t like to get friendly with her neighbors. It was easier this way. Wedging distance between her and humans made everything easier.
She was suddenly reminded of what had happened two nights ago with Zeke and Millie, which confirmed that it was better to keep people at a distance. That way she didn’t have to get so involved she had to deliver them to their homes, nor did she have to deal with jealous girls, or guys who tried to convince her to spend the night with them, like Zeke had just before he’d crashed on the couch.
Thankfully, she hadn’t seen either of them since then. Millie didn’t work on Fridays, and apparently Zeke was sick. Hung over, more likely.
After her neighbors headed up the stairs, Doug held the door open for her, and she brushed past him, stepping out into another crisp and cold winter night. Although the ground was shiny and wet, it wasn’t raining at the moment. But it did explain the extra curl in Doug’s hair. Rainy weather wasn’t kind to her hair either. It suited him though.
Winter was the perfect time for vampires in Sydney. The nights were longer, the weather was cooler, and most places weren’t completely packed. It was easier to go undetected while searching for prey.
Generally, Trina spent more time out and about during the three coldest months of the year, but this year she’d taken a break so she could pretend she was normal. And this is what had happened. Some ancient vamp dude was out killing and turning people, while the vigilante beside her took it upon himself to take out the new vamps and shadow her.
It’s just my luck to have this crap happen when I’m on a break, she thought dourly. Maybe she should’ve waited for summer. At that time of year vamps were rarely in the suburbs. The days were longer, more people were out and about at night, and it was more difficult to separate a single person from the herd. Sometimes in the warmer months, she ventured out of suburbia and into the city to find vamps for the urn.