Page 76 of The Vampire Always Rises
Kelso wagged his tail, and whined, looking expectantly at the door.
We’re coming in.
What? No, don’t! Nico is here, and I’m trying to talk some sense—
I flung open the door and charged into the room, screaming at the top of my lungs while waving my hands around in the very best “distract the bad men who might be holding your vampire” method.
Before I could skid to a stop, there was a dark blur and a man with dishwater blond hair had Merrick against the wall, a wicked dagger at his throat.
Beyond them, Carlo was stuffing a laptop and a handful of thumb drives into a black leather satchel.
“Who is this?” the man with the dagger snarled.
Yeah, who is that?I asked Merrick.
Nico, the fourth Horseman.
Oh. Is he normally this testy?
Testy doesn’t quite cover it.“This is no one, Nico. Just ignore her, and tell me why you’ve betrayed us. Betrayed your own people.”
Look, I know you said that because you’re trying to protect me and divert his attention from me, but just so you know, that shit don’t fly.
Tempest,he said, amused.Such language.
“Do you think I will be fooled by such obvious rot? This is your woman, isn’t it?” He sniffed the air a couple of times. “She’s a Beloved!”
Oh my stars and heavens!I clapped a hand over my mouth even though the words hadn’t emerged from there.Now I’ve got a potty mouth! Hey. Why aren’t you worried?
“She is, but I don’t want her. I’ve told her so frequently, haven’t I, Tempest?”About Nico? I can take him.
“Daily, if not hourly,” I said, nodding, my gaze flickering over to where Carlo was emptying out the contents of a few drawers into his bag. “He’s become a big pain in the ass, and I’ve decided I don’t want him, either.”What about my cousin?
If I was to ask you to leave—
No. You want me to sic Kelso on Carlo? I don’t want him getting hurt—Kelso, that is—but if it gives you a distraction, I’ll rush Carlo myself.
“I don’t give a damn what you think of each other. I’m done taking orders from you,” Nico snarled, and a line of red appeared under the knife. “You can be as self-sacrificing as you like, but I’d rather have a life, one filled with all the things I’ve wanted. And I’m going to have it, too. I’m going to have—”
Now!I shrieked in my head, and, without warning, leaped forward, yelling for Kelso to attack with me. I flung myself across the desk and tackled Carlo without much of an idea as to what I’d do once I got him, which of course meant that approximately ten seconds later I lay facedown on the floor, my arm twisted up behind me in a way that brought tears to my eyes, and Carlo snarling over me.
“Stay back, or I’ll blow her brains out.” A cold object touched my temple.
Did you disarm Nico?
Yes, although I wish you’d given me a little more warning that you were going to do that. I had the situation well in hand.
Where is he?
On the floor. Unconscious. With a broken nose and collarbone.There was a distinct sense of pleasure in Merrick’s voice that I couldn’t help but approve.
“Now here’s what’s going to happen,” Carlo said, his voice as cold as the gun pressed to my head. “You’re going to carry my bags out to the car parked in the back, and I’m going to take your little playmate with me to make sure you don’t get any ideas.”
Don’t listen to him, Merrick. I’m a Beloved, so according to C. J. Dante, I’m now immortal, too. That means his bullets can’t hurt me. Go ahead and grab him.
Er ...
My eyes widened.Why are you concerned about me? I can feel you are worried. Wait, what do you mean by thinking “irreparable brain damage”? I’m immortal now, aren’t I?
