Page 88 of Fire Dancer

Leave while you’re still ahead,my mind screamed.

Not done here yet,my heart insisted.

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.

“Give us a minute, please,” Jananovich murmured.

Like that, the kitchen emptied. Even Nancy went after a last, questioning look.

“I’ll get a ride home later,” I assured her.

Another promise I really, really hoped to make good on.

Silence fell like a curtain. Jananovich leaned in slowly, ominously, putting the onus on me to begin.

A very big, very creepy onus.

I took a deep breath, then started.

“As I said, I was hoping to see you.”

Somehow, my voice didn’t waver. Bonus points for me.

“Indeed.” His voice was as smooth as ever, but his eyes took on a hunter’s sheen.

I took a deep breath, then let it all out. Go big or go home, right? I just hoped it wouldn’t be in a body bag.

“I know you’re a vampire,” I started as matter-of-factly as I could.

Jananovich’s eyes sparkled in a way that said,Now, this sounds interesting.

“I know what the vials are for. I know what the escorts are for. I know your guests are interested in exoticflavors,” I said, using air quotes.

He looked neither surprised nor offended, which really pissed me off.

“Aha. Let me guess. You’re here to blackmail me.”

“Ha. Like I’m stupid enough to blackmail a vampire. I’d be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life.”

“As long as your life lasted,” he agreed, oh-so casually.

I snorted. “Like I said, not stupid.”

On the other hand, I was in his lair and laying out everything I knew. Well, almost everything. So, stupid? Maybe.

Vampires were a pale bunch, but Jananovich’s cheeks were practically ruddy with curiosity.

“Then what exactly are you offering?”

I lifted my chin and stuck my chest out. In for a penny, in for a pound, right?

“What do I have to offer? Simple.” I looked him straight in the eye. “Me.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

PIPPA

Wow. Using the direct approach was pretty damn effective. Pretty damn terrifying, too.