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I couldn’t help but wonder what I’d done that was so wrong What had been so horrible about having ths to get rid of ain "Fletcher! Where are you? Come back! Please!"

But he didn’t answerme alone on the ic snapped me out of my dream It took me half a second to realize what the sound was - the spiral protection runes in the stone of the outer wall of the suite surging to life and warning lanced at the clock by the bed: 11:33 They’d shown up sooner than I’d expected them to I would have waited until much closer to dawn myself Harder for people to rouse themselves from sleep then

I pulled a silverstone knife froainst the shtstand, enjoying the cold, co one of the knives uprobe when I’d been out on the patio, talking to Bria; but after ed into -sleeved black T-shirt I’d gone to sleep within the side of either shoe

I’d wanted to be prepared in case Dekes decided to send oons, and it looked like the va on my door The poor bastards should have walked ahen they’d had the chance - because I wasn’t giving them a second one

Chapter 8

I eased out ofthe mental map that I’d made earlier to skirt around the couches, tables, and other furniture I stepped up to the door, careful to keep away fro around outside wouldn’t realize I ake and already waiting for them

I looked across the suite at the closed door that led to Bria’s bedroom As an elemental, she’d be able to hear the stone’s cries too, although they wouldn’t resonate as loudly with her, since she had Icewhether she’d heard ate, but her door remained closed Looked like I’d have to deal with our visitors myself Not a problem

I blocked out the stone’s wails, put ht next to me, the brass doorknob softly turned and rattled

"Sorry," so key It’s this one, I think The third ti keys already, and that’s what had triggered the protection runes in the stone Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy If he’d used the right key the first ti my silent alarrowled "That bitch skeweredthe sauy I’d stabbed earlier at the Sea Breeze, was outside, along with his friend with the keys But neither one of them were elementals, otherwise they would have heardinto a trap Too bad for theht clerks, told me that sweet little blond piece of ass is in there with her too," Pete continued "We’ll have fun taking turns with her Maybe both of theh for everyone"

Pete laughed at his ugly promise, and I heard a few more sly chuckles chime in with his Make that more than one friend outside I ss Good I’d hate to get out of bed just for Pete

"There," the second guy said "I told you I had the right key Get ready"

A soft snick sounded as the door unlocked I eased away from it and stepped behind a fake palm tree in a brass pot in the front corner of the suite

The door opened a crack, and a pair of bolt cutters slid through the narrow space and caught on the security chain Fro spot, I saw a hand squeeze down on the cutters, which easily sliced through the fliht He’d have the strength to use the cutters with one hand, and he was probably as pissed athiuys outside I wondered how many more Dekes had sent, or if they’d decided to do this on their loneso dead

"Quiet now," Pete whispered "I don’t want those bitches to knohat hit them Maybe if we’re lucky, we’ll still catch them in bed and make it that ht, then go out to the restaurant to to Reyes"

More dark chuckles filled the air, but they weren’t nearly as black as the cold rage that slowly seeped intoto threaten me - that was part of my job description as the Spider But nobody - nobody - came after my baby sister and lived to tell about it Randall Dekes and his ht very, very personal

The door whispered opened, and light spilled in from the hallway outside I stayed where I was, hidden behind the potted palhtness The door opened all the way, and Pete stepped inside the suite He had on the saarish shirt he’d worn earlier at the Sea Breeze, and his right hand was heavily bandaged where I’d rah his palht - not by a long shot

Another guy, a short hu of keys that went jingle-jingle-jingle together

"Quiet!" Pete hissed

The guy stuffed the keys into his pants pocket He wore the white linen uniform I’d noticed on the valets earlier, which meant that he worked here at the Blue Sands Of course he did Callie had said that Dekes owned the hotel No doubt the vamp had several folks on staff he could call on for occasions just like this one

A giant I didn’t recognize crept in behind the valet, and Trent, the giant I’d beaten down before at the restaurant, brought up the rear The fourroom, and there was a whispered conversation as they debated which of the bedroo to see if anyone else would follow the men inside, but no one else appeared, and I didn’t hear any soft scuffles of footsteps on the carpet or see any shadows in the hall Four of the odds of their lives

"There’s no way they’re getting past us," Pete whispered "Charlie, turn on the lights so we can see what the fuck we’re doing"

Charlie, the valet with the key ring, trotted back up the steps and obligingly flipped the switch on the far wall The second the lights came on, I stepped out from behind the potted tree and kicked the door shut behind hbors with the screams that were sure to couy closest to me, whirl around in surprise