Page 69 of Bonded By Blood

Chapter Eighteen

Nighttime in Sacramento was plenty busy, even with a serial killer on the loose. By the time Kendall received Brianna’s phone call, Joe had already twice bumped shoulders with less considerate—or plain oblivious—humans despite his best efforts. People were coming and going from the shops on the edge of downtown, talking on phones or with companions, juggling bags, purses, and keys, and paying absolutely no attention to passersby. They were entirely unaware that some of the individuals slipping through the crowd weren’t human at all. They were deliberately ignorant of the fact that the murderer hadn’t been caught—or formally identified.

It was a bit of a hassle, but the after-work crowd gave Joe a sort of crash-course on silently enduring being surrounded by what his instincts insisted was food.

Kendall didn’t seem interested in cutting through the heart of downtown, and Joe didn’t push. She was the one on a mission to prove herself. His only goal at the moment was to keep her alive in the unlikely event that she found what she was looking for.

“Ugh.” Kendall groaned as they came to another intersection several minutes after Brianna’s call. “Maybe downtown was too obvious. They already hit here, right? But it’s the easiest place to look for … you know, people.” The way she said the word made Joe think she meant a different one.

Instead of asking that question, though, he posed another. “But what makes you think they’re looking for anyone tonight? Didn’t we already agree they’re running?” He glanced across the way, letting his gaze linger on a suspicious figure until he determined that the person was—if nothing else—human. Therefore, not a Wilson. They knew nothing about the Wilson brothers’ supposed ally, but he had to assume the individual was also a vampire. Particularly if Garvin’s term of “Master” had been accurate.

Kendall pulled out her phone. “Should we have stayed at the airport, then? Do you think we passed them on the road?”

“No,” Joe said. “Vampires heading toward the airport, especially in the light of day, would be too suspicious. They probably hunkered down and watched the news break. Whatever move they planned after the body dump, they’re making it now.” Granted, he had no way to know that for certain. But it felt like a safe presumption to make.

Kendall glanced over at him. “So you think we should go back now? Or are you saying they won’t take a flight directly out of Sac at all?”

“They’ll take a bus, or rent a car,” Joe said. “Something low-profile. Hard to track. They might even already have the car.”

“Which would be problematic,” Kendall muttered, closing out of the webpage she’d barely pulled up and tucking her phone away. She shifted her weight. “So … what now?”

Joe inhaled, prepared to point out that he was following her lead, but something in the air stung his nostrils. A moment later, he became aware of a presence behind them.

“Now you feel extremely grateful that I convinced Jasen I work better solo.”

Joe twisted around as Kendall let out a startled squeak, her hair flying as she spun in his peripheral vision. By the time he’d flipped his vantage point, he processed the barely-familiar voice and locked eyes with Adrian Colt.

“You scared the crap out of me!” Kendall exclaimed in a classic stage whisper, her heart pounding wildly.

Colt stood just inside arms’ reach, close enough to talk quietly, hands loose at his sides. One brown brow kicked up at her explanation as he shifted his stare to her. “Shouldn’t you have been on guard?”

“I—”

“Or were you relying on your freshly-Turned friend here to do all the hard work for you?”

Joe winced. He wanted to be offended, but the Slayer had just snuck up on him. He had to allow for the validity point. Instead of responding to the jibe, Joe chose to ask a question of his own. “Where is Jasen, then?”

Colt studied him for a moment. “Hunting.” The word, the answer, sent a chill down Joe’s spine.

“Well, what a coincidence,” Kendall said. Her heartrate had calmed a little and her breathing was stable again. “So are we. Excuse us.”

Didn’t she want to talk to him? Or was she upset by his sudden appearance?

“You should leave that to the professionals,” Colt said. “Go home.” He started forward without waiting for a response, angled to walk past Kendall in the direction they’d previously been aimed.

Kendall drew a breath, obviously offended, and turned to follow after him.

Colt stopped directly behind them and, voice barley a whisper, repeated himself. “Go home, now.”

Joe’s eyes narrowed. What? There was something off in the way he issued the rude command. He looked away from them, away from Kendall, and studied everyone he could see. And he almost missed it.

Crossing the street, one block behind them and face largely hidden by the ballcap on his head, was none other than Troy Wilson.

“—do you think you are?” Kendall was asking, unaware of the larger problem. Anger had seeped back into her voice, which was climbing above a whisper at an alarming rate.

“Kendall,” Joe said quickly, sharply. “He’s right. We need to go.” And make a phone call.

Colt released what sounded like a mildly surprised, amused laugh. “Huh. This is funny.”