Page 42 (1/2)

The first shot rang out--not from the rifleman ahead but from an unseen shooter somewhere behind It was a er weapon a few yards away, thunked heavily into the engine co ducks" Bubba fired his big old 44 cannon at so behindhis ti to be easy with all the swirling s periodic coughing fits

"All right I’ to create a diversion Giveto do Kevin, you take Michelle, Ee If you have to, you can jump into the lake to escape the fire See if you can e of the lake; I saw an aluminum canoe at the dock there Take Michelle out onto the center of the lake and wait for nal She’ll be safe from the fire there and it’s too far for a clear shot" I reached down, took er fros went really bad, it wouldn’t helpand Emma was a steady shot "Bubba and Talia, you take out the shooters behind us Try not to get killed I don’t want Mona pissed at ht, people Good luck" I took a deep breath, checked ht for the ene I rarely wanted to do: I embraced my innerbloodlust to giveand vision, the works I tore across the paveave a priood look at the shooter until I was alive him this, Jack Finn was no coward I could hear his pulse speed up, but he still tried to take ai way too fast I leapt over the hood of the vehicle, screa for hiet and landed on the pavement a few feet away I spun around in an instant

I expected hi the rifle, Jack rolled co to his feet, he ran straight for the edge of the da, and dived in The spell he’d used to control the flauttering quickly out

The huun in my hand and aim at him Then I stopped

Spare the pawn

I didn’t want to spare him I didn’t want to spare anyone I wanted blood, and I wanted it now I heard the splash as he hit the water, out of my reach, watched as he swaone

But there were others close at hand

I turned With my vampire vision I could clearly see the hu remains of smoke and ash, despite the thin metal shell that enclosed some of the my body perfectly still as I tried to remember why I should not feed on thery I couldn’t think of it

They were so warer craround and tried to think like a human I had a name What wasIt was se hu If he just caer, and the cold

My hands tightened into fists, nails digging deep into my pale human was Bubba, low of my skin faded I was Celia I would not feed on humans Not now Not ever But I still did not truste of the dock,in an uneven rhythm I stared out at thedeep breaths--in throughsound of the water co with the heavy scents of algae and fish drowned out other sounds and other scents, but I still knehen Kevin drew near

"You okay?" he asked

"No" What else could I say?

I’d ht And I hadn’t been thrilled when the very people I was trying to avoid followed hbor’s place

Kevin dropped two small plastic bottles onto my lap "Emma bummed a couple of nutrition shakes froht them with me"

"I take it you drew the short straw?" It sounded ured I knew best of all of us what you were going through" He squatted down beside me

"You knohat it’s like to see your friends and only be able to think of the lots of sharp teeth "Steak tartare"

I laughed so hard there were tears in : strawberry, a little too sweet and a little too cold But I knew that in a fewwhen he sank down onto the dock besidefood She’ll take us wherever we’re headed, but she can’t stay She needs to get back to the boat Her brother agreed to babysit, but I understand he wasn’t happy about it I’ back with her Or ?"

"Yeah I figured you’d need so to deal with the authorities, and a ride hoood at this "Thanks"

"No probleested "Distract me"

"What would you like to discuss?"

"How’s the client holding up?"

"She’s a little shell-shocked, but she’s hanging in there Paulie’s staying close to her"