Page 85 of Blood Taken (Blood Mafia 2)
The bond between Mateo and me is like a trail of breadcrumbs. I follow the path until I'm standing in the room with him, Alissa, Colt, Grayson and the last people I expected to see inside the home of the Blood Mafia.
"Hey, girl, hey!" Xena says, beaming at me despite being handcuffed in some intense looking restraints.
I'm thankful they never used those on me. Then again, when they captured me they thought I was human.
Tyra tips her head to the side, flicking her short hair out of her eyes. "Hey."
Zander looks miffed, but nods at me.
"Hey," he says in a gruff voice.
I raise an eyebrow. "Hey?"
He shrugs. "How's the weather?"
"How's the weather, he asks. What are you guys doing here?"
X pulls her lips back in a wild grimace. "We maybe, sort of, broke some rules."
"Maybe, sort of?" I chuckle. "Are you here to kill the vampires?" I point to the four vampires in the room.
Tyra shakes her head. "No, we came to talk to you."
Zander glares at Colt.
"Hey," I say, snapping my fingers to get his attention. "If you want out of those restraints, I need your word. The vampires aren't to be touched."
X's eyes widen. "Oh, so it is true!"
She sounds way too excited. "See, Tyra, I told you Gerry wasn't totally full of shit."
Tyra groans. "Gerry is a douchebag."
Zander murmurs his agreement.
"Do I have your word?" I focus on the male Hunter because he's the one I'm worried about. He's the only one with his supe powers.
He nods.
"Good." I point to them and look at Grayson.
The snarky vampire seems pleased I picked him to release my friends and quickly sets them free before coming to me, pushing Mateo to one side so he can stand at the other.
The Hunters stand and stretch. X wiggles her shoulders while Zander rolls his neck.
"Damn, these vampires mean business," X says to Tyra, who gives her a pointed look, imploring her to shut her mouth.
X of course doesn't listen. "So. . . where do they keep the humans?"
Zander pinches the bridge of his nose. "Ignore her."
Tyra faces me. "We have a favor to ask."
"Okay," I say, not sure what I can offer these Hunters.
"Gerry's stuck in some archaic men and women belong together system and he's going to force us to marry."
X takes her hand. I look between the two of them. Oh.
