Page 28 of Blood Lust

“There’s an old limestone mine about a hundred miles southeast of here. It’s deep in the woods and the mine’s been converted into an underground parking facility. There’s very little road access, all private. The mine’s a place my dad uses to store his planes and boats when he goes up to the cabin.”

“Sounds awesome.”

“It is. There’re some food, water and other supplies down there, so you can hide out for as long as it takes to come up with a plan.”

“Great.” I smile at Cassandra. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to rest in the back for a little. That took a lot more out of me than I expected.”

“Sure thing. I need to concentrate on keeping this thing in the air.”

“Good idea.”

I go back into the rear cabin where Richard and Kevin already fall asleep. I stretch out in one of the posh leather seats, recline it all the way back, and quickly fall asleep.

I don’t know what happens next, but suddenly, the helicopter is falling out of the sky. Every flying instrument seemsto have alarms beeping and everyone is screaming and shouting. I can’t make out what’s being said or who’s saying what.

When we hit the ground, I feel like I’ve been thrown off a cliff and then had a boulder hurled on top of me. The wind is knocked right out of my lungs and soon, all I can see is black.

I wake up several hours later. I’m lying on my back, still inside the wrecked helicopter. It’s surprising the thing hasn’t blown up on impact. We probably are low on fuel.

I look toward the cockpit, and Cassandra is nowhere to be found. I look around for Richard, Bruce, and Kevin, but I can’t see them in the wreckage. The stink of smoke fills my nostrils.

I groan and close my eyes again.

Then I hear a noise and open my eyes to look up. Standing over me is Kevin. He has a strange look on his face, which is still covered with the guard’s blood... or at least, I hope it’s the guard’s blood.

I try to speak, but no words come out and I end up in a fit of coughs. The cabin is filled with smoke, making it difficult to breathe. Kevin leans over me and unbuckles my seat belt. “Come on. We have to get you outta here,” he says.

My vision blurs again and I’m sent swimming back into another sea of black...

Chapter Twenty-four

Six Years Later

Six years is a long time to live like a ghost.

I’ve changed my name, grown out my hair, and learned to keep my head down. But inside, I’m still running. Still watching the door. Still waiting for the past to catch up. I changed my name, too. I’m Eli Roberts now.

The new nose was a happy accident. It came via some asshole’s lucky punch in a dive bar bathroom. Turned out his father’s pay-out came with a top-tier plastic surgeon and a wad of cash thick enough to help me relocate to Southern California.

Now when I catch my reflection, smoother angles, softer tip, I almost don’t recognize the man staring back.

I’ve worked truck stops, gas stations, warehouses. But my job here at Heroes Bar & Grill is different.

Why? Because I didn’t stumble into the place.

I hunted it.

She mentioned the place once. Just once, in an old chat log. A weird little bar on the edge of a strip mall, with dark booths and a decent wine list. I read it, reread it, and let the words burn themselves into me. Because back then, I didn’t know if I’d ever see her in person. I just wanted to know where shemightbe.

So I came here.

At first, I hung around, watched. Then I got a job behind the bar. And most nights, I pour drinks and pretend I belong. Pretend I’m not waiting for someone or something.

Yes, something. Because I’m pretty sure she’s the real deal. A real, bloodsucking, supernatural creature of the night.

Then she walks in.

And the air shifts.

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