Page 56 of Colin

Instead, Dane cautioned, “You’ll stay behind us.”

“Of course.”

“And you won’t provoke them.” Fox waggled a finger like some old-timey schoolmarm. “Not everyone is as nice as us.”

Colin only smirked at him, as if at some private joke.

They exited the lobby and strode down the path to the pool. There were a few families braving the harsh afternoon sun, shrieking children and parents watching from under their umbrellas.

There was also a lone figure facing away from them. Watching the families, just as the concierge had said.

Dane could tell the very moment they scented their trio. The figure stiffened and twisted toward them, looking out from under a broad-brimmed hat. Even before they finished turning, Dane knew this wasn’t their guy.

The figure let out a bright, tinkling laugh. “Oh my. Is this the welcome wagon finally come for me?”

Nope, definitely not their guy. Because this vampire—in all their long-limbed, red-lipsticked glory—was apparently a woman.

Looked like they had more than one visitor in town.

“Can I get anyone a drink?” The lady vamp—Serena, she’d told them—asked, fingers drifting lazily over a stack of glasses on the sideboard..

Colin let out a surprised laugh. He was tucked under Fox’s arm, Dane’s brother apparently feeling the need to stake his claim. “Dude. It’s not even ten in the morning.”

Serena looked Colin over in a way that had Dane’s hackles raising. “Cute.”

Fox growled, pulling Colin in even closer. “Don’t fucking look at him.”

To her credit, Serena didn’t look the slightest bit intimidated. She let out that tinkling laugh again. Despite its brightness, there wasn’t even a hint of warmth in the sound. “Why even bring your pet if you’re going to be so protective over it?”

“I’m stubborn that way,” Colin said in his even monotone, staring out at her coldly from under Fox’s hold.

“I bet you are.” She winked at him, and then it was Dane who was growling.

They were in her hotel room, some lavish suite she’d clearly been in for at least a few days. Maybe it had been stupid to follow her to another location, but she’d mentioned getting out of the heat and Colin had jumped on the suggestion like a life raft. And at least she wasn’t feral—she didn’t have that sour scent of rot, only the faint metallic tinge of their kind.

Still, she was in their territory uninvited, and that made her, if not an enemy, at the very least a person of interest.

“I’ve been staying on the outskirts deliberately, you know,” Serena told them, as if reading Dane’s mind. She took a seat in one of the room’s dainty little chairs, crossing her long legs. She was wearing nothing but her bathing suit and some sheer cover-up thing. Dane supposed if he were into women, he might find the sight tempting. She was beautiful, with her sleek dark hair and sharp brown eyes. “I’m not trying to step on any toes.”

“Then why the fuck are you here?” Fox asked, belligerent as always.

This was why Dane was the people person.

There was a long pause before Serena answered, her crossed leg bouncing as she considered them. “I’m looking for someone,” she finally said.

“So are we.”

Serena arched a manicured brow. “What a coincidence.”

Dane didn’t believe in coincidences. “The creep we’re looking for likes to turn kids.”

Her reaction was so faint he almost didn’t catch it. But it was there, in the brief tightening of her features.

“You know him,” Dane said, already sure of the answer.

Serena stayed quiet.

“You’re protecting him?” he accused, hot anger already building in his veins.

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