Page 39 of Huntress Unleashed

“Yeah, three of them were on my termination list,” Jacqueline said, Dane helping her to her feet.

“Hmm, that means three of them were on my terminal list,” Dane said, a twinkle in his eye.

“There were eight in total,” Matt said.

“Well, four were ours,” Jacqueline amended. “Heskel was on our list too.”

“Right,” Dane said.

Joining them, Pasha said, “I got one.” She was wiping blood off five throwing stars.

Trey said, “The one I took down was on mine and so was the one Ryan eliminated.”

“I took down one,” Matt said. “He had been on Ryan’s list.”

“I got another one. He wasn’t on my list yet, but he wasn’t going to give up,” Stacey said.

“There were two more in the room off the cell,” Adonis said. “Danai and I took care of them. They were part of Piaras’s former staff. We thought we had eliminated all of them, but those two must have escaped and slipped back here when Heskel took over.”

“Good,” Zach said. “We eliminated the vampiress who had been in the bedroom with Heskel, and we were fighting Heskel, until he realized Jacqueline was nearby and vanished. We thought he had just fled like you said he had done twice before, until Jacqueline warned Dane that Heskel had grabbed her.”

While they waited for the police, Matt said, “Man, I feel like this place is just a vampire haven.”

“Yeah, since the rogues keep setting up housekeeping here,” Adonis said.

Trey said, “All I’ve got to say is the hunters who have been turned are unbelievably good at fighting the vampires. You should have seen Jacqueline. Two vampires had her pinned down. I wanted to go to her aid in the worst way. One came at her back, but I was still fighting one and he wasn’t letting me move. Then Jacqueline just vanished, and the rogue killed the other one she had been battling. The look on his face was precious until she came back to fight him some more.”

“Yeah,” Stacey agreed. “I told you guys at the therapy meeting how much I love the new abilities we have. I probably would have been a gonner if I hadn’t been able to move like they do.”

“I need to practice so that it comes naturally to me,” Dane said.

“We can practice fighting each other like that,” Jacqueline said.

“I’m game.” Stacey smiled at Dane.

Jacqueline wasn’t including Stacey, but then again, if they could all help each other, it could be worth it. “Hey, maybe some of the hunters who have been turned quite a while ago can help us navigate this new world we belong to.”

“I’m all for it,” Adonis said. “Though we’re here just for a visit.”

“So about going to the hunters’ club,” Stacey said.

“Oh, I want to do it early, like five? I think this calls for a celebration. I’m free from Heskel’s control now,” Jacqueline said.

“At five then. We’ll meet at the Starlight parking lot,” Adonis said.

Then the police arrived and took all their statements, but just as they were doing it, Van and Jacqueline’s best friend, Lettie, and Van’s two brothers showed up to fight the vampires in the house.

“You’re too late,” Jacqueline said, glad they beat them to the bounties. But mostly, she was thrilled Heskel was no longer a problem. Even though her life was still topsy turvy, at least that very major issue had been taken care of.

11

When Jacqueline’s ex arrived at Heskel’s house, Dane wanted to slug Van for abandoning Jacqueline after she had been turned when she’d needed him the most. But now Dane realized that since Heskel had been eliminated, Jacqueline no longer had a reason to stay with him at his house. He was disappointed about that. Though getting rid of Heskel had been tantamount.

Once they were done there, Van learned who all they had taken down, and looked mighty pissed for missing out on so many bounties. Jacqueline’s former best girlfriend appeared sheepish, trying to avoid eye contact with Jacqueline all the while. Dane and the others with him left the house.

Stacey shook her head. “Boy, if that had been my fiancé, I would have had some choice words to say to him.”

“He’s not worth it,” Jacqueline said.