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Either she was an übervamp, a thousand years old or better, or she was that lesser de Of course, thus far they’d been so busy doing the sibling arguing thing that I didn’t think they’d even gotten around to investigating I’d had a chance to meet the entire DeLuca clan one Christ and loud, but it never kept the the job done, and it wouldn’t keep the or anyone that went after another family member It was a perfect example of the classic "nobody picks onfamilies, and it had made me wistful for my own sister

I paid forabout the s, but whether it was stress, lack of sleep, or soeon , my hat pulled down to my ears, I stepped out of the air-conditioned couround to an abrupt and aard halt when they sawabout , I turned to the elder of the two "Hey, Matty Long time no see So, is she the delaring with enough heat that I expected to burst into flames at any second His chocolate brown eyes had darkened to black, and there was a dangerous flush creeping up his neck Still, Maentleritted teeth "Hello, Celia We were discussing that very thing"

Didn’t anyone ever tell you lying’s a sin, Father?

"Really? What did you coative, but Bruno talked over hiiven Brave nored it "She’s not a deerous bat But why do you think she’ll coically, she shouldn’t There was an entire world of victims out there, a veritable buffet But I’d betfor those protections to fail

"Celia?" No, the DeLuca boys weren’t impatient Not at all

I tried to explain what I’d been thinking "She hated that she couldn’t get to him Almost as if it were a personal affront And she didn’t like that Edgar ordered her back I can’t swear to it, but I’d bet she’ll be back, if for no other reason than to prove he doesn’t control her" Petty, maybe even stupid But while vamps may not keep their memories, they do keep their basic personality traits I was betting Ms Übervamp had been quite the bitch back in the day

"You sure about the de of teeth Reaching into the pocket of his black uniform trousers, he pulled out a little car that was very similar to the one I’d lost, except this one had a crucifix emblazoned on its tiny little hood

I whistled, impressed I’d looked at one of those the other day It had been so far out of e

"So what’s the plan? She’s not what you’re after, but she is a serious threat Even if we put the barrier back up, she bespelled the kid last night as if there was no barrier She ain"

Bruno looked at his brother "Matty?"

Matty sighed "We can’t afford to take anyone off of the h, she’ll be able to call him I can’t take that risk I’ll stay and deal with this"

"Not alone you won’t" That wasn’t diplomatic Yes, he’d hunted bats professionally But he hadn’tto take this one down

"Excuse ladly have launched into me, but Bruno stepped between us

"She didn’t mean it like that, Matt And it’s an old bat You yourself have said that any bat over two hundred needs at least a two-person tealared at ue, so Bruno continued "Besides, it’s been a while since orked together"

Oh, Lord Male bonding Male fa I had to put a stop to this before I drowned in testosterone "Is Matty a e, too?"

"Yessss" Bruno drew the word out slowly It was a subtle way of telling ue No surprise there, few are

"I’m only ranked at a six" Matty spoke calmly, but the flush was still there and his jaas thrust out just a little h to do a trip wire, isn’t it?" I turned to Bruno for confirht I remembered my lessons correctly, but o

He grinned, flashing deep di a lot of white teeth "Yes it is, you clever girl"

Matty looked froh to know that he’d round and education to know exactly what I could tell it irritated hiliured I was just ar able to finish each other’s thoughts, however, inally thought And while his figuring that out didn’t change a da, it did make me feel a little bit better Because dahten me?" He looked from Bruno to ave me the nod, so I started to explain

"Either one of you could just put up the barrier But if you do, she’ll sense it And she’ll go soht lose her"