Page 20 (1/2)

"Don’t let him Those ould re out"

Damien could hear the smile, and it chilled him to the bone

"Such decisions, Damien There are so many ways to destroy, so utterblood? What would you do?"

Sensing that any ansould be both inadequate and dangerous, Da anything but myself Do what you like You can, after all"

It was the right thing to say

"Patronizing, but true Be quick about it, Daot much time And if you hold me up, you’ll have even less"

Damien ended the call without a sound, looked at the phone for a moment, then tucked it back in the pocket of his overcoat He was suddenly very, very tired and felt everythe prey of soht to have In this case, a whole lot more

But he was a Shade, sworn to it body and soul until the tere sundered A man only had so o, and even fewer good ones And as he’d told Ty before they’d parted ith a fight that still ranked a the most bitter Damien had ever been involved in, you either chose a profession where youfor your mercy or you wound up at theirs

He had o in the October night, oblivious to the fact that theseemed to vanish in the blink of an eye

Just as no one noticed the large black cat that stood in his place for only an instant, then turned a corner and vanished into shadow

Chapter ELEVEN

TY TOOK ONE LOOK at the brawny vampire in the expensive suit and knew they were in trouble He couldn’t see the hbloods when he saw therip that left no doubt as to his intentions

Lily had gone completely still, but one look in her wide eyes told Ty she wasn’t any happier about the situation than he was

"I like it where I arip tighten and groaned inwardly Soa sexy redhead on his ar him trouble He just hadn’t counted on it quite so quickly

"Please," the other lance at Ty "I kneas a gutter cat the second I looked at hi, honey, or you would have realized right away that you’re looking at a serious difference in quality here I’ll be happy to de his neck prickle, a warning sign of a serious flare of teo not to let these assholes and their ignorance bother him But this particular asshole had his hands on Lily

"She said she’s happy where she is Show the lady a bit of respect," Ty said, his voice low and raspy It was all he could do to keep hihblood’s attention, and Ty could see right away that this one was in a fightingspiked with expensive vodka He’d be ridiculously easy to take down, this egotistical stuffed shirt with his pretty face and his rheuroup of his buddies watching very intently just a few feet away They always ran in packs, just like the olves they hated soyou need to learn," the va as he stepped forward "No stupid cat is going to talk to a Dracul that way What are you gonna do? Scratch rin

Oh, hell with it, Ty decided He could take thely The alternative, however, was co, then irritation, cross Lily’s face

"I thought you said you didn’t want to cause a scene," she nored her

"I think I’ll show you that bloodline has nothing to do with being able to kick someone’s worthless ass, you piece of--"

Lily cut hied to finish She spun, as graceful as a dancer, and cozied up to the other vampire, whose curled lip left no doubt that he’d be happy to take Ty up on his offer The sudden change in her attitude was enough to surprise both men into silence, and when she spoke, her voice was as sweet and s over to see you" She waved merrily at someone behind Ty, and a quick look showed hi scene and was on her way over He opened his mouth to ask Lily whether she’d lost her , and this tiht," she cooed "Maybe I should broaden my horizons a little Do you dance? I love to dance," Lily purred, resting one hand lightly on the va deeply into his eyes