Page 54 of Midlife Witch Unexpected

“You have rights to The Estate,” Branson said. “And The Estate is the most powerful piece of real estate around here by far, but the area outside of The Estate is controlled by me.”

“I thought I was in charge of the region?” I asked.

“Fiscally, you are,” he said. “Security is my domain. And right now, that vampire is encroaching on my space. The good thing about vampires, is they are full of themselves. They always think they are the cleverest of creatures and they write off the rest of us.”

“We can use that against him,” I agreed.

"We already are," smiled Branson. "Vamps will think I'm a dumb animal. He'll make the mistake of thinking that I'm going to charge in there, guns blazing, to save the girl."

"You're not?" I couldn't help feeling disappointed. But it gave me great resolve. If he wasn't going to save Anita, then I would. There was no way we were leaving her under the control of the vampire.

For the millionth time, I wondered what sort of animal Branson was. What if he was something really weird like a snail or a mouse? There was no way he was any of those things. He was way too gorgeous. He was probably a lion. Or a bear. Something big and meaty and furry and cuddly.

“Focus.” Branson bit the word at me.

“I am,” I lied.

“Turn your back with me,” Branson said. “We’re going to walk back towards the gas station now.”

“What about Anita,” I asked, panic rising in my chest.

“This should draw the bloodsucker out,” Branson said. “Be ready.”

His body tensed, the air thrumming between us. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. There was no mistaking the electrical, magical energy coming from Branson. If I had been closed off to the energy of others, his energy wasn’t taking no for an answer. He was sending a signal out to anyone in the vicinity. Branson was the Alpha here. He turned, placed his hand on the small of my back, and looked me straight in the eye. He was so serious my typical protests faded, and I stared at him feeling suddenly vulnerable and at the same time insanely protected. This man would die for me.

“Are you ready?” His voice was gruff and low.

“Now or never,” I chirped.

As we turned our backs towards the cabins and back towards the gas station, I braced myself.

Before I had even taken one step toward the gas station, the air around me turned chill and Joachim appeared before us with Anita caught in his freezing, vice-like clasp.

Chapter 32

“Drop her.” Branson’s voice was low and made my body vibrate with his power.

“I’m not a dog,” Joachim chuckled.

Joachim stood in front of me, his nails biting into Anita’s neck.

“That’s the best you can do?” I ignored the warning vibe coming from Branson. “You are a three-hundred-year-old vampire.”

“Three hundred plus,” Joachim said.

“I expected more," I said it like I wasn't going to take him seriously at all. I hoped it would work. Inside, my heart was racing. I really needed to find out how much perception the vampires had. Maybe if he had special hearing, he could hear how fast my heart was beating. “The best you can do is hijack a girl?” I continued to taunt him.

“She’s a grown woman,” Joachim said, and the way he said it gave me ice-cold chills.

“Give her back,” I said. “You know in human years she’s just a child.”

“I only came for one thing,” Joachim said, eyeing me up before he turned his attention to Anita. He trailed a claw-like finger against her throat. “But now I want two things.”

“You’ll get nothing,” Branson said.

“I want access to the cemetery and The Hayes.” He continued as if Branson hadn’t spoken at all.

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