Page 81 of Nitro

Panic clawed at the edges of my resolve, urging me to retreat, but there was no turning back now.

I needed to buy time, to distract the vampire until the cavalry arrived.

"Killian?" I tentatively called out, hoping to keep the creature engaged in conversation.

The name seemed to strike a chord, and the vampire turned its attention towards me.

"That's right. Don't you remember me?" he asked.

I shook my head, trying to conceal the unease coursing through my veins.

"Are you related to Gregory Hicks in any way?" I asked.

“Gregory was my half brother. I was in Paris when your grizzly friends took him and our entire operation down," Killian replied in a flat, emotionless voice.

I forced myself to look through my old memories. I vaguely recalled Gregory Hicks mentioning someone named Killian in passing.

"You...weren't a vampire back then, just a human," I whispered, the realization settling in.

Killian's transformation from a normal human involved in Gregory Hicks’ operations to a supernatural predator seemed like a twisted turn of fate.

"I got bitten by a rabid vampire while hunting down new merchandise," Killian explained.

"Merchandise." I hated that word.

It was wrong, dehumanizing to refer to living beings as such.

Anger wrapped around me like a noose. I breathed in and out, trying to contain the fury coursing through my veins.

"That angered you," Killian observed.

He sounded amused. I gritted my teeth, fighting to keep my temper in check.

It wasn't just the word; it was the callousness with which he spoke it, as if lives were mere commodities to be traded.

"So you're here to avenge your brother?" I prodded.

"Our business was booming, and with me climbing up the food chain, we were going to expand overseas," Killian explained, a hint of pride in his voice.

The revelation only fueled my disdain.

"Enough talking. I know you're just buying time until your mate arrives, but it's too late," Killian declared, his eyes narrowing with focus.

Without warning, Killian lunged, his movements swift and deadly.

Instinct kicked in, and I dodged just in time, feeling the rush of air as he missed my throat by inches.

I knew that every second counted, and I needed to hold my ground until reinforcements arrived.

Luck abandoned me soon enough, leaving me vulnerable as Killian cornered me against the cold, rocky wall.

His skeletal fingers, grotesquely long, wrapped around my throat like a vise, cutting off my air supply.

I gasped, desperate for oxygen as the world blurred around me. Grim reality set in—I was outmatched.

The vampire was stronger and faster than I was, overpowering me with ease.

As Killian's grip tightened, the world dimmed. Each precious breath became a distant memory.