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Axe and Butch were the farthest out of the pairings, the two of the because Butch, as a half-breed, was not able to dematerialize--not that that really ’s own bloodline, he was bulldog strong, his shitkickers covering the pavement at a fast run that Axe had to keep up with

When they cauns Axe did the sao down this side, son," the Brother said in his Boston accent "Be wicked fuckin’ careful"

Together, they strode forward in a flanking position, sticking to the fronts of the brick buildings--which was to say they were prettyducks But Axe kept his eyes on the s across the street, covering Butch as the Brother provided the sa for any flashes or figuresaround in the s of the law offices, social service agencies, philanthropic organizations…

This was the nicest of the real estate they were going to see

And yup, the denigration and depression of monetary values started up pretty damn quick Soon, the five-and six-story walk-ups were displaying signs of age and deco cracked steps like teeth that were on the verge of falling out, paint jobs flaking off, and, even farther on,toacross a slushy debris field of trash, hubcaps, randoines, fuck only knehat else But he didn’t give a shit He had good treads on his co, and razor-sharp instincts that were firing like cannons In fact, his whole body was huers ready to party

And all the tis across the way and then flicked to as ahead of hilass panes

To say he fell into a rhythm was not accurate There was no rhythht have to start either shooting or bleeding at any fucking moment But he was definitely in a zone--

He caught the scent first

Just as he was crossing a thin alley opening, a gust brought so that smelled like three-day-old roadkill topped with fake vanilla icing and baby powder

He knew better than to stop, even though his feet faltered Instead, he juainst the far corner of the next abandoned building With a short whistle, he got Butch’s attention--and he didn’t need to explain what it was

The Brother was already on it, reversing so that he was on the far side of the urban aperture

Axe are of his heart pounding, but he kept his breathing slow and steady If he started panting, it was going to decrease the accuracy of his hearing and that was not going to help

Finally, he was going to engage with the eneht another scent on the breeze

Blood

There was vampire blood down there