Page 12 of A Bond Beyond Blood

Chapter Five

Jack

As soon as I entered through the back door of Dad’s shop and it closed behind me, I froze, dropping my gym bag to the floor with a softthud.The air felt different...shiftedsomehow.

I breathed deeply as I settled into a ready stance, reaching for the stakes at my sides—

Fuck.My hands came up empty.

Back at the gym, I’d been so focused on my reaction to Vinny that I never replaced the plastic stakes in my holster with wood ones.Stupid!

My actual stakes were still in my bag, and the plastic practice stakes—which would admittedly suck in a real fight but were better than empty hands—still sat at the bottom of my locker at the gym.

In the darkness, my eyesight was limited, but I knew this shop well and could maneuver through it with my eyes closed.If there was a human intruder, keeping the lights off left them at a disadvantage.If this intruder was like Vinny, however, a monster who survived on a strict diet of human sacrifice, only one thing would do.Which meant I was screwed.I’d be a fool to think a vampire would allow me time to rifle through the bag at my feet for my weapons.

Besides, even if I was naive enough to try, Vinny had demonstrated countless times how swiftly he could move, how very unfairly we were matched.

And here I was, completely unprepared.

Caught off guard, all that training for naught.

My teeth ground together painfully as I shook my head.I’d have to think fast on my feet.But I had the upper hand; I grew up in this shop and ran it now in my father’s absence.I knew it like the back of my hand.

Ahead of me to the left, the walk-in freezer had rows of metal hooks.Terrifying and dangerous to a human, sure, but not against an immortal monster.

Directly across from the freezer to my right, was my father’s office.I did a mental scan of what could be of use to me...

In the center of that office, sat a wooden desk.Much too big to break and definitely not with any speed.But off to the side, a wooden stool.Difficult, but I liked my chances with the stool more than the desk.At least I could smash the stool against the desk and use a leg as a makeshift stake.It wasn’t ideal, but I was out of options.

Taking in a deep, steadying breath as quietly as I could, I sidled up against the wall and began to inch my way toward the office, heart beating wildly against my ribs.

Sweat beaded on my neck, dampened my palms.

A bloodsucker would smell my fear.He’d hear my heartbeat.

But I still had to try.I wouldnevergive up without a fight.

Even if this wasn’t the vampire I’d been waiting for, I was ready to go down swinging.The only good vamp was a dead vamp, as far as I was concerned.

With each step I took bringing me closer to the office and the makeshift weapon within, my fear began to dissipate, replaced with adrenaline that worked to spur me forward.

I’d been training for this moment for nearly a year now, preparing for a battle royale with the vampire who didn’t save my father’s life.

Eli made me an orphan, and in doing so, created his own worst enemy.

I knew enough about vamps now to know that all he’d had to do was offer my father some of his blood and the cancer would have cleared his system in a matter of hours.He wouldn’t have had to turn Dad in order to save him, wouldn’t have had to be saddled with a baby vamp if fatherhood wasn’t his thing.

He simply needed towantto help.

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