Page 56 of Brimstone Bound
Lukas’s eyes gleamed and he suddenly relaxed. ‘True. I suppose I’d better stick by your side at all times.’ He opened Tallulah’s door and got into the passenger seat without another word.
My eyes narrowed. He’d given in very suddenly. I couldn’t help thinking that he’d been manipulating the conversation all along so that we could reach this very point and he could glue himself to me. Bloody vampire.
***
I parked Tallulah smack bang in Lisson Grove, metres away from the spot where Tony had said his last words to me. I’d barely climbed out of the car when a young woman – whose long hair was not only remarkably thick but also russet coloured –strode towards me. ‘You can’t leave that thing there!’
I patted Tallulah’s bonnet. ‘You must recognise her.’ And then, because I couldn’t help myself and I’d always wanted to say it, ‘Don’t you know who I am?’
She glared at me and opened her mouth to argue but Lukas interrupted. ‘Good afternoon. Is there a problem?’
‘Yes, there’s a problem,’ she began. ‘In fact—’ She glanced at him and stopped abruptly.
Lukas winked at me. ‘She knows whoIam.’
‘Sorry. I’m sorry.’ She dropped her shoulders and her head. If she’d been in wolf form and had a tail, it would no doubt have been between her legs. Either that, or she’d have presented him with her belly.
‘This woman,’ Lukas said, pointing at me, ‘is from Supe Squad. You have heard of Supe Squad, haven’t you?’
Her head was now so low that her chin was pressing against her collarbone. ‘Yes, sir.’
‘Well then, you’ll know that Supe Squad is permitted free access to this area. That includes parking.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘You will remain here and look after Tallulah until we return.’
‘Yes, sir.’
I sincerely doubted that was necessary; only a madman would try and steal the little purple Mini, and no amount of vandalism could make her look any worse than she already did. But this little show of power was about far more than the car. There was a great deal about this world that I didn’t understand.
‘Your hair,’ I said softly. ‘Do many werewolves have hair that colour?’
She mumbled something.
‘Speak up!’ Lukas ordered.
‘Yes, sir. Yes, ma’am. Many werewolves are this colour.’
It was my first time being ma’am-ed. I wasn’t sure I liked it. ‘Thank you.’
‘Predominantly Sullivans,’ she continued. ‘But not exclusively.’
Huh. I nodded and walked towards the sandwich shop. Lukas adjusted his long stride to match mine. When I glanced back, the woman was standing directly in front of Tallulah with her arms folded. She really was going to stay there and guard the car, then.
‘Was that completely necessary?’ I asked under my breath.
‘It’s how the werewolves work,’ Lukas said. ‘To them, hierarchy and power are everything. Everyone knows their place. Sometimes they just need to be reminded of it.’ He gave me a sidelong look. ‘Tony knewhisplace.’
I took that to mean that I didn’t know mine. ‘And the vampires?’ I enquired. ‘Are you all about hierarchy, too?’
‘When you’re a vampire,’ Lukas said, briefly displaying his white fangs, ‘there’s only one thing you need to know when it comes to power and leadership.’ He paused and waited for me to ask.
I sighed. I’d bite. ‘Go on then. What’s the one thing?’
He grinned. ‘That I’m in charge.’
I rolled my eyes.
