Page 181 of Vampire so Virtuous
“That’s everywhere.” He pulled his shirt on.
“And all within the last ten minutes, sir.”
“Coordinated,” Antoine said.
“Indeed. But light, according to the reports that have come in. We have sustained minimal casualties.”
Antoine reached for Cally down their link, and it pulled him toward central Boston. He reached for his phone and called Gabe.
Six minutes later, he was downstairs with Noah and Zoey. “Gabe’s sending us some thralls.”
“Nice of him,” Noah drawled, “but so far we don’t need them.”
“Don’t get cocky,” Zoey cautioned. “They have a lot more than we do.”
Noah barked a laugh. “They might have more, but ours are better.”
“Wishful thinking,” Zoey said, scratching at the bandage around her forearm. “Some of theirs will have military experience too.”
“Nevertheless, what Noah says may be true,” Marcel replied. “So far, we have not sustained losses, and the reports are that our thralls are stronger.”
Noah shot a finger gun at Marcel. “Antoine’s stronger than Minh, right? So it makes sense we’re stronger than his thralls?”
“Maybe,” Antoine said. “But Zoey’s correct. Overconfidence breeds mistakes.” He pulled his coat on. “Is there any sign of Minh yet?”
“No, sir,” Marcel reported, scanning the laptop before him. Then he winced. “A new update. We’ve lost Chestnut Hill. A vampire has joined the thralls there, but it is not Minh.”
“Matteo,” Antoine said. “Then I’ll start there.”
“What about us?” Noah asked.
“You and Zoey aren’t yet at full strength. Stay here.” Antoine turned to Marcel. “Make sure they know how the house works.”
“I already have, sir. They are fully versed in the defenses.”
Antoine gripped Marcel’s shoulder. “If thralls come here, you’re to go straight to the panic room. If you don’t, I’ll have Noah carry you there, and to hell with your dignity.”
“I’m far too old to care about my dignity.”
“We both know that’s not true, so consider yourself threatened.”
He nodded to Noah and Zoey, and headed for the garage.
At least Cally was safe with Gabe. One less distraction.
As he climbed into the Audi, he reached out to his thralls at Chestnut Hill.
“Tom. Talk to me.”
“We lost Dan and Liz. Joseph and I are falling back. Nine thralls, and a vamp.”
Merde. “Where are you?”He sped through Fisher Hill and down to join Route 9.
“Still in the woods north of the pond.”
Two miles away.“Be with you in five minutes. Don’t engage.”Traffic was heavier heading in than out. Antoine took advantage, weaving through gaps with the Audi’s sharp acceleration.
“They’ve got silenced MP5s. We won’t last in a firefight.”
