Page 119 of Dawn Caravan
Ben stepped closer and used his height to subtly look down on Vano. “My uncle said you were smart.”
Vano’s men laughed and Vano smirked. “You should run along now, young Vecchio. Listen to your uncle.”
Ben returned the smile and let the “surfer dude” fall from his voice. “Yes, very interesting.”
Vano’s gaze sharpened. “If I were you, I’d be careful to not become involved in things that could get you or your friends killed.”
Ben had been keeping a strict leash on his amnis, but he allowed it to break free and the wind went wild. It knocked both of Vano’s men off their feet and made his own ears pop.
Vano stood in place, but Ben saw him leaning. It was taking effort for the other vampire to remain standing.
“Right.” Ben walked past Vano. “You really thinkmyfriends are afraid ofyou? That’s a take. Not a good one, but it’s a take.”
Ben strode away from the scheming little asshole vampire, giving the man his back. He’d observed enough vampire body language to know that Vano would take it as the insult it was.You worry me so little, I’ll turn my back to you.
Ben wasn’t afraid, but he was irritated. Not only did he have a red spot on his neck, he thought he might be bleeding.
It didn’t matter; he was focused on one thing: René in Tenzin’s trailer minutes after sunset, clearly in the middle of something Ben had interrupted.
What. The. Fuck?
Ben nearly ran into René when he turned the corner. He brought himself up short, and it took every ounce of control he had not to twist René’s head from his neck.
Pop. It would come off like a champagne cork. He could even throw it into the air in celebration. Look, everyone! The annoying little bastard is finally, really dead.
“Before you say anything—”
Ben’s fist shot out and slammed into René’s smug mouth.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Vecchio?” René’s lip was bloody, but he wasn’t on the ground. “You think this is going to impress her?”
“I don’t care,” Ben said. “I really don’t. I’ve been wanting to do this for years.” His left fist curled up and into René’s solar plexus.
The vampire’s breath collapsed and his body folded in two. He flew through the air, fifty yards from the clearing, and crashed into a large oak tree.
That felt good. Ben cocked his neck from one side to the other, releasing the tension that had gripped him since he’d heard René’s voice on the other end of the line. “You just don’t get it, do you?” He flew over and landed into a walk. “She thinks you’re annoying.”
René snarled and pressed his hands to the ground.
The earth reached up and tossed Ben from his feet. He stumbled for a second before he picked his legs up and floated through the air. “Nice trick.”
“Yes, I have a few. Make sure you ask Tenzin about the rest.”
Ben wasn’t in reach of René, but he forced the heel of his hand out, aiming for the chin, and the air speared out and snapped René’s neck back. Ben heard the crack and smiled.
“You idiot!” René snarled. “I am trying to help you.”
“Yeah? How’s that? You going to confess to being the thief?”
“I’m not the thief.” René’s lip curled. “You think I’d be helping you if I was?”
“I would not put it past you.” Ben hovered a few inches off the ground. “Why are you here?”
He cocked his head at Ben as if to sayReally?
“Don’t tell me you don’t have a theory,” René said. “Tenzin—”
“Tenzin thinks you’re amusing.”
