Page 27 of Blood Submission

Chapter14

Dante burst from the elevator,strode through the lobby, out the main doors, across the sidewalk, and straight out into the street in front of the apartment building. A late night Uber honked its horn as it swerved to miss him, and he slammed his fist into the back end of the car as it passed. Tires squealed as the driver frantically righted the vehicle, then glanced up in the rearview to see what the hell he had hit. Dante bared his fangs at the idiot.

He had to get the fuck out of there. Had to get the fuck away from that woman and the things she made him feel. Taking deep breaths of the cold night air, he backed up a few steps and stood in the middle of the sidewalk, not caring that he made the humans walk around him. There weren’t many out this time of night anyway.

He needed to get rid of her. And he needed to do it five fucking minutes ago. So why hadn’the?

“Dante?”

He knew that female voice. A moment later, Shea’s concerned green eyes appeared up in his face. “Shea,” he greetedher.

“Oh my gods. You’re back!” She reached out for him, then thought better of it and dropped her arms back to her sides. He took no offense. Shea was unable to touch a male without paralyzing pain. He knew what her deal was, and he had no desire to cause this particular female any suffering. She was a vampire, like him. And he still needed to change his clothes. A fact that he’d completely spaced on after he’d gotten the woman here. All he’d been able to think of was getting her out of sight before anyone saw her, so he could have her all to himself.

“Are you okay?” Shea interrupted his thoughts. “You look a little…not quite right.” She gave him no time to answer. “Where have you been? What the hell happened to you? I came to look for you and Christian, but you were bothgone—”

“Where is Christian?” he asked. “Was he taken, too?”

“We all were,” she said. “All three of us. But he’s back now, too. You’re the last one to return. Have you not been upstairsyet?”

He shook hishead.

“How long have you been back?” Waving at his clothes, she said, “I would think it was recently, but one can never tell with you.” She smiled.

“Just an hour or so ago,” he told her distractedly.

Her smile faltered before dying altogether. Shea searched his face for so long that he narrowed his eyes at her. “What.”

“Are you all right?” she asked point blank.

He exhaled. “I’m fine. Let’s go upstairs.”

After another searching look, she nodded. “Everyone will be happy to see you. Luukas told us that you were on your way home.” Reaching out to him again, she touched his arm with light fingers for a fraction of a second before yanking her hand away with a hiss. “I’m glad you’re home, Dante. And that you’re okay. And I’m sorry that I got there too late to help you. I failed you, and for that, I sincerely apologize.”

Dante knew the pain that touching him must have cost her, even so briefly. “It’s not your fault, Shea. Shit happens.” Turning away before she got more emotional on him, he headed back into the apartment building. He didn’t wait to see if she would follow, knowing she would. “I have to make a stop in the parking garage first,” he said over his shoulder.

Sure enough, he heard her soft footsteps directly behind him as he headed back to the elevator. Punching in the number for the parking level Laney’s car was on, he didn’t offer up any explanation, just went to get his new friends.

Shea raised an eyebrow when she saw the furry faces in the car window. “So we’re an animal rescuenow?”

“Something like that.” The doors were locked. Smashing his fist through the passenger side window, he unlocked the car and handed her the cat’s food and litter while the dog wagged his entire back end with excitement. Dante scooped him up and tucked him under one arm, letting him get in a lick or two before silently telling him to knock it the fuck off. Hanging the cat over the other arm, he kicked the door shut again. Shattered glass fell to the pavement to scatter at hisfeet.

“Did they come with the car?” Shea asked him. “Where is the driver?” She knew he didn’t drive. “I can smell her onyou.”

Guess that would give it away, too. “Not here. And I found the dog before the car. The cat came with it,” he answered.

“The car or thedog?”

“Thedog.”

“Huh.” She shrugged and headed back toward the elevator with herbags.

This time he hit the button for the very top floor—Luukas’s penthouse apartment. They didn’t speak the entire ride, and that was one of the things that Dante appreciated about this particular Hunter. She knew when to keep her mouth shut. At least withhim.

The elevator doors opened and they stepped out in unison. When they reached Luukas’s apartment, Dante stopped, threw the cat up onto his shoulder, and knocked twice. Fraidy curled around his neck, purring loudly, and hung over the opposite side to get a lick from the dog. Dante caught Shea’s smirk out of the corner of his eye. “What?” he asked.

“Why is it you only knock on Luuk’s door? I still need to fix the hinges on mine from the last time you came to visit.”

A small smile lifted one side of his mouth. “I only do that for Christian’s benefit.” He offered no apology. Not that she would’ve expectedone.

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