Page 26 of Hunters and Prey

Everything bad that had ever happened to her was generally linked to George Miller, so it was the first idea that came to mind.

"Potentially," said Charles, non-committal.

She snorted. "You suck at comforting people who are freaking out."

"Maybe because I don't hang out with people who freak out. Sorry. I'm thinking."

She glanced at thevampire and bit her lip anxiously.

Chloe had stayed in NOLA long enough to have heard just about everything about vampires, and she knew that when they were pissed, they generally were angry; and when they were angry, their eyes shone even in the darkness. His eyes had a red glint.

"Do we need to stop to grab you some blood somewhere?" she asked.

Charles snorted. "Don't take me for a youthful weakling. I'm in control."

"But you're angry."

"Someone attacked my employee in my establishment," he responded, simply and quietly.

It would have sounded less threatening if he'd shouted. Chloe knew right away that she didn't have to worry about that guy. He'd be lucky to see sunlight.

It was a short walk between the club and her place.

"Okay, that's me," she said, pointing to the three-story apartment building in the heart of the Quarter. She paid an arm and a leg for it, and it was all worth it.

Charles glanced up, frowning. Slowly, he pushed the front door, finding it unlocked.

Chloe gasped. The lock wasn't there at all; someone had kicked it in.

"What floor?"

"The third," she replied.

"Stay here."

The vampire was a blur her eyes could barely follow as he flew up the stairs. She looked around herself nervously, taking in every stranger on the busy street. What if one of them was waiting to attack her?

She was becoming paranoid.

Less than two minutes later, Charles was back downstairs, her suitcase in hand.

"Empty, but I smell at least two different scents in there. Humans. They wrecked the place. Come. You can't spend the night alone here.”

The end of the beginning.

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