page22 (1/2)

Chapter 22

I waited for Will to argue, but he didn't

"The feolves for the Weendigo to kill and eat," he said, "the less power he accumulates"

"And if he doesn't have a hundred by the night of the blood lanced at Jessie

"Works for me," she said

I glanced at theThe sun was coht - "

Jessie nodded "Tonight we have some fun"

Neither one of us noticed Will going into the bathroom, buthim come out He held Jessie's blood-spattered uniform in his hands

"What the hell is this?"

We exchanged glances I shrugged He was all hers

"What does it look like?" Jessie headed for her bedrooue while wearing a towel

Will followed her "What happened?"

"Relax, Slick; it's not my blood"

"I'm so relieved"

He didn't sound relieved He sounded pissed

I retrieved un and slipped out the door I didn't want to listen to theue I definitely didn't want to be around when they htwith Daain

That I couldn't only made me want to more

I drove hoht burst over the horizon I enjoyed sunrise, the end of night All the dangerous beings with fangs gone to sleep or returned to human form What wasn't to like?

For the first ti lot Where was everyone?

I cli Upstairs I set the weapons on the table, took a quick look-see around my apartment Didn't appear that anyone had been in here lately, except forinto bed Then I heard the music

The notes flew on the early-hcountry tune Toby Keith singing about the red, white, and blue I loved that song

I loved country music I liked the slow ones and the fast I liked the easy southern cadence of the words and the long-drawn-out stories they told

Who was playing country music in an empty bar? Only one way to find out I went downstairs

The door was open I stepped inside

Half-afraid I'd find Cowboy, I wasn't any happier to see Damien Well, who had I expected? Elvis?

A huge boom box perched on a table, a stack of CDs at its side Damien swept the floor with his back to htened "Wait"

Toby was infor the world we'd put a boot in their ass; it was the American way You can see why I like him He's a man after my own heart

"I can't" I kept uish on his face stopped me in my tracks

"What's wrong?"

He shook his head "Nothing You're right You should go"

I should, but now I couldn't He was upset Seriously upset I'd planned to avoid hi in his front yard I'd definitely decided we shouldn't be alone together I kneould happen if he came anywhere near me I had no self-control around him I'd already proven that

But he was hurting, badly I couldn't just run upstairs and go to bed Even if he did turn down the music

I inched closer Toby wanted to talk about me, I, number one I wanted to talk about Damien

"Bad night?" I murmured

He shrugged and returned to sweeping, though the floor seemed pretty damn clean to me

"Not really I accomplished what I set out to"

I frowned "What? Selling more whiskey than rye?"

"No, more beer than tequila"

I couldn't tell if he was joking or not

"Why are you still here?" I asked

"Nothing better to do"

Damien and I had a lot more in common than I cared for

He glanced up "Where did you take off to in such a hurry before?"

I'd torn out of here after Jessie's call, which had followed my horrible daymare Just the memory of it made me cold and clammy

"I had to meet the sheriff"

The truth Wow I could tell it

The an Trisha Yearondered how she could live without him Hoould she ever survive?

I used to love this song as well Until it hit too close to home

Suddenly Damien stood directly in front ofmy space I took a step back and stumbled over my oo feet

His hand snaked out; his ar with Trisha

"Daan

"Dance with me," he whispered "Just once"

I could have refused, should have But he sood - like wind and trees and summertime, with a hint of tobacco that should have been unpleasant but was, instead, te

His skin arainstthat had happened between us It had been sex, not love, but I could pretend, and right now I needed to

I an to ood dancer, unusual in a e

My grandfather had shown me the waltz, the polka, the fox-trot No one kne to dance like a civilized huht hiht me

The music swelled, seemed to both surround and fill me My feet moved next to his in perfect rhythm As I laid my head on his chest, he pressed his cheek to my hair

I hadn't realized how lonely I was My life was full Of death, sure, but that's the way I wanted it I didn't have time to miss all I'd lost Not much anyway Whenever I did, I moved to another town, shot a dozen irl in-side ofolf hunter; I didn't get to cry So why did I want to?

Because here, in Crow Valley, I had caught a glimpse of what I lacked Not only friendship but also co, except killing - which made me one sick cookie And I called Hector psychotic