Page 20 of Fire in My Blood

I grab my purse and my overnight bag before turning back to my brother. “Why don’t you drive me home so I can pick up my car. I can go to the animal shelter and stay there until it’s time to leave for work. After work I’ll go to a cheap motel where I can pay cash, no questions asked, and stay the night there. I’ll make sure I’m not followed when I leave the base, and if I suspect I am, I’ll drive directly to the police station.”

David runs a hand through his short hair, making some of it stick up in odd directions. “I don’t like it. Are you sure you’ll feel safe staying at a cheap motel? What if—”

“David. I know it’s not an ideal solution, but I can’t stay at home, and I can’t stay with you. That leaves me few other options. I’ll call you from the base before I leave and tell you which motel I’ll be staying at. Then, I’ll turn off my phone andkeep it off until tomorrow morning. That way he’ll have no way to track me.”

“Fine.” He narrows his eyes at me. “But we have to find a more permanent solution to ensure your safety. If that means we all need to go into hiding until he’s caught, we will do it. I won’t gamble with your life or those of my wife and kids.”

“Okay.” I give him a small smile. “Thank you.”

David reaches out and pulls me into a tight hug. “I just don’t want anything more to happen to you. You’ve been through enough.”

Tears fill my eyes, but I quickly blink them away. I have to stay strong, both for my brother and for myself.

Chapter 13

Lucas

I hear footsteps approaching before they come to a stop outside the door, and my hands go to my hair to check that it’s reasonably tidy. After being here for days, my appearance isn’t at its best, but it will have to do. It’s not like I have a choice.

Erica has occupied my mind almost continuously since the last time I saw her. It’s been a long time since a woman has invaded my mind like this. I suspect she will be starring in all my fantasies for a long time to come.

The door opens, and the light is switched on, and David, my main interrogator, steps into the room. I want to swear at him in annoyance and disappointment, but instead I hide my feelings and give him a blank stare.

Barely contained rage is evident on his face, and his body is so tense it practically vibrates. I’ve seen him angry before but never so close to losing control as he is today.

“The time has come for you to tell me the truth. You’re out of time. I’ll beat it out of you if I have to.” David’s eyes are dark with fury as he stares at a point a few inches above my head.

I’m sitting on the mattress with my back against the wall. My long legs are stretched out in front of me and crossed at my ankles. If I get to my feet, I’ll tower over the man in front of me, but I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of thinking he intimidates me.

I believe him, though. He might actually be stupid enough to try to beat information out of me. The guy is obviously at hislimit, which only proves that this is personal to him. People don’t usually get this riled up if it’s not.

I try to project calmness and sincerity when I speak. “I’d like to help you, but admitting to a crime I didn’t commit doesn’t solve your problem. Please tell me more about the incident, and I’ll give you whatever relevant information I’ve got to help you find the person responsible.”

David chuckles, but there’s only cold resolve in his eyes. He keeps staring at a point above my head, knowing full well I’m not human and correctly taking precautions. “Yeah, just like all the relevant information you’ve given me so far. I know there are more vampires in the area. Who are they and where are they staying?”

I let out a frustrated sigh, not able to contain my irritation. I haven’t told him he’s wrong in his assumption that I’m a vampire, because then he’ll want to know what I am, and I can’t tell him that. But that doesn’t excuse his stupid assumption that all vampires know each other.

I glare at him. “Like I told you before, I don’t know any vampires around here, but I’ll be happy to help you find them and question them. I do not hurt or take advantage of humans.”

David’s lips thin, and it’s clear he’s close to blowing up. “Then tell me this: Can vampires talk to each other telepathically? Are you all connected somehow, so you can tell another bloodsucker to retaliate when you’re incarcerated?” His last words are practically snarled, or as close to a snarl as I’ve ever heard from a human.

My brows draw together as I stare at him. Has there been another attack in the last few days while I’ve been stuck in this room? It would explain David practically bursting into flames from fury. And it must have happened in the last couple of days.Before then the man was mostly calm and rational when he interrogated me.

An image of Erica pops into my mind, and unease sends a trickle of ice down my spine. An attack somewhere around here means an attack close to her while I’m trapped in here unable to protect her.

I narrow my eyes at David, my fists clenching at my sides. “Has there been another attack in the last couple of days? The vampire is probably still in the area. I’ll help you track him down if you remove these chains.”

“Stop your fucking bullshit!” David screams, his eyes bulging with uncontrollable rage. “You’re just trying to get out of here. But you’ll die trying, asshole. You’ll never be free again.”

I jump to my feet and launch myself at him, but unfortunately, the chains hold, and I’m brought to a sudden stop with my arms wrenched back. I barely notice the pain. “You’re only a weak human, David, and you’re never going to find and kill this vampire. It will kill you first. But I can kill it with my bare hands. Let me the fuck out of here, and I’ll get rid of it for you. Without me, you’re fucked.”

Fear flashes across his face, and he backs up a couple of steps, but he quickly regains his composure. Reaching behind him, he pulls out a gun and levels it at my chest. “Your usefulness just ran out.”

Round after round penetrate my chest, and I fall back against the wall. My breathing stutters as my lungs quickly fill with blood. Through a haze of pain and fading consciousness, I hear the door slam. My last thought is of Erica, and how I’ll never be able to make good on my promise to her to kill her attacker.

∞∞∞

Erica