Page 65 of Clash of Sin and Secret

“I’ll draw him down and over toward the shadows there. I can incapacitate him, and you can move in and confirm that he’s made and not born.”

“Scottie’s going to kick my ass for letting you do this…but it’s a decent plan.”

I wave away his concern. “She’ll be fine. She’s a strategic woman and knows I can handle myself.”

With nothing more to be discussed, I ease around the corner of the building, keeping my movements casual but deliberate. The lone outdoor smoker lounges against the loading dock railing, his posture relaxed but alert.

“Hey man, is there a party here tonight?” I call out. “Or did I get punked?”

The vampire’s nostrils flare, scenting the air. His head snaps toward me, his eyes narrowing. The predatory shift in his stance tells me I’ve got him on the hook. His lips curl into a cruel smile. “Oh, yeah. The party’s inside. Must be your lucky night.”

I stop before I step into the line of the loading dock cameras and take another look around. “Where are all the cars and people?”

“The parking lot is on the other side of the building.”

I take a few steps backward, drawing him my way. “Shit, maybe I’ve got the wrong address.”

As I retreat further, he jumps down from the loading dock, the predatory look in his eyes enough to make someone’s skin crawl. I turn back toward where Huntley is waiting, stumbling in my pretend panic as I play the part of the frightened human. “Look, man, I don’t want any trouble.”

“And I want to lick you like a chocolate dip cone. Who do you think will get what they want?” The vampire stalks closer, focused entirely on me.

Just a few more steps…

He lunges, fangs bared. I drop and roll as Huntley materializes from the shadows behind him. My stalker spins, but he’s too slow. Huntley’s massive arms lock around his head and with one brutal twist, there’s a sickening crack.

The guy’s body crumples to the ground. “Well? Is this one of Daeva’s turned army?”

Huntley examines the body. He opens the vampire’s mouth and tests his incisor with the pad of his finger. When he straightens, he brushes his palms together. “He’s a fledgling turn, not more than a few months old. It’s a good sign, but it’s not exactly a lock. We need more.”

With that, Huntley scoops the downed vampire off the ground and starts jogging for the shadows.

I follow, double-checking that no one is around to notice us. “What are we doing with the body?”

“We’ll find a place to stash it. Do you want the honor of relieving him of his head, or would you rather I did it?”

I grunt. “He said he wanted to lick me like a chocolate dip cone.”

“Fair enough. He’s all yours.”

Scottie

I’m torn as Zane claims me for the stakeout. I invited Tucker along, and now he’s stuck with Huntley. Not that he’ll do anything against my guy. Huntley and I are over the worst of our issues, but still…

“Come on, Scots. I have an idea where we can hide ourselves.” Zane takes my hand and tugs me in the opposite direction of Huntley and Tucker. His grip is warm, firm, and if I’m not imagining things, a little possessive.

Zane gets what Zane wants—it’s part of being a Fondatori royal.

We jog off, the shadows of the old trees lining the perimeter offering us the cover we need to remain unseen. I glance backward, but Huntley and Tucker have been swallowed up by the darkness.

A knot of worry twists in my stomach, but I shove it down. Those two are both capable of taking care of themselves. Together they are a lethal force.

When we get around to the front, we skirt the long laneway leading out to the dead-end street. Zane leads me to a pair of massive old trees standing off to the side of the main entrance. “What do you think of this for our makeshift watchtower for the night?”

I glance around, considering our view and the potential escape points. “Yeah, this will do nicely.”

Zane leans forward and links the fingers of both his hands. “Leg up?”

I place my foot in the cradle he’s offering and press my hands against the wide trunk. The bark is rough beneath my fingertips, and I feel around until I get a good hold and can pull myself up. “It’s been a long time since we climbed trees together.”

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