“Changed my mind,” I said, trying to stay calm. I’d ask them nicely…once. “I’d like to get out here.”
“Oh, you’re going to have to pay the fare, little lady,” the driver said with a smile. The car was already rolling, and he turned onto the road.
Steve laughed.
I rolled with my back against the window and kicked Steve hard in the chest. He slammed into the window.
Steve wasn’t laughing anymore. I kicked him in the face, my heel catching his nose, which spurted blood. I was already moving, getting my arm around the driver’s neck. I yanked him hard against the headrest as he made a choked, shocked noise.
“You’re going to want to open that door before I lose my sense of humor,” I warned him.
The passenger window exploded open. Steve looked at me with wide, blank eyes. Then he slumped toward me, red suddenly blossoming across his t-shirt like a flower unfurling. Roger let out a strangled scream just before the second sound of a gunshot went off. His blood splattered across the car.
The older woman from the bar gripped her gun in one hand, and she made a hurry-up gesture at the driver. “I think the girl told you she’d like to get out,” she said, her voice courteous.
The driver fumbled frantically with the locks. They popped open. I couldn’t get out of that bloodied car, full of glass shards and bodies, fast enough.
“Five girls,” she said, her voice calm but loud in the quiet air. “She would have been the sixth you stole the life from, wouldn’t she? I usually hunt real monsters, but you certainly did your best to give the monsters a run for their money.”
I knew she was going to pull the trigger. The roar of the gunshot was no surprise.
She wiped the gun down and tossed it into the car with them. “You’ve got some moves, honey. But it’s time to get out of here.”
I stared at her. “I think I’d rather go with you, actually.”
She scoffed.
“You said you hunt monsters, right?” I said. “I’m great with a sword.”
“Why bother being great with a sword when we have guns?” she asked.
A long, sleek black car pulled up just then. I tensed, but she just raised her hand in a wave. “If I were you, I’d get out of here. People don’t call the cops for gunfire out in the country, but sooner or later, someone’s going to notice the car full of corpses.”
The driver’s side door opened, and a tall, good looking guy unfolded from the driver’s seat. “Hey,” he said, in a rough, sexy voice. “You all right?”
She shot him a look. “First of all, you are so late. Second of all, please don’t hit on the victim.”
“I’m not a victim,” I promised her.
She swung into the passenger seat. He shrugged at me—he didn’t look sorry—then ducked back into the driver’s seat.
I dove for the back door to their car. I managed to get the door open and slid into the leather interior.
She twisted in her seat and gave me an exasperated look. “You just watched me shoot three people and I can guarantee you, I didn’t have any heartache about it. Why the hell would you invite yourself into my car?”
I flashed her a smile. “I just want to be friends. We should get out of here before the cops show up.”
Fuck whoever left me that note. I could make friends.
For some reason, I wanted to know this icy-eyed old woman with steady hands.
She gave me a look, then said, “Drive, Carter.”
He grinned as he pressed down on the accelerator pedal. “Come on, Elly. You’re always recruiting.”
“Not like this,” she told him sharply. Then she said to me, “We’ll drop you off somewhere safe. Where were you trying to go?”
I took a deep breath.
This time, I’d have to tell the truth.
“I don’t know.”
Chapter One
Alisa
I was having a perfectly lovely morning, chasing down a vampire, until the damned strange male ruined everything.
“Excuse me, coming through!” I called as I pushed through the morning commuter crowd heading into the D.C. metro, trying to keep my gaze on the vamp racing ahead.
Some people parted to let him through, but no one answered me with anything but a glare. Sexism. That’s what that was. I hoped they got bitten.
I chased him down the street and into an alleyway, where he finally turned to face me. He’d greased his jet-black hair back, as if he’d watched too many movies before he’d been turned, and now he was trying to live up to the stereotype of a vampire.
His lip peeled back in contempt when he looked me over, and I grinned back at him. That’s right, you sentient stiff tube sock; only one of us is walking out of this alley.
It was a hot summer day already, even though the sun hadn’t been up long. The alley stunk of wet cardboard, piss and the coppery tang of blood coming from the vamp.
He licked his lips as he took a step toward me, those dark eyes gleaming. “Aren’t you the hero? I hope you already had your coffee, so I can get my caffeine buzz and my iron all in one.”
“No coffee yet. I’m pretty sure I’m still drunk from last night.” I flashed him a smile.
He grinned. “You’ve got a death wish, little girl.”
“Not exactly.” I disagreed.
I only had a fraction of a death wish.
I had a lot more of a killing wish.
I reached back and gripped my sword’s hilt, drawing it over my shoulder in one smooth motion.
“This is usually the part where your kind run,” I said.
“This is usually the part where my kind dine,” he corrected.
There was the crunch of a footfall close behind me.
“Trap?” I cocked an eyebrow at him.
His grin widened. “Trap.”
“I’m glad you finally realized it,” I said.
I whirled, my blade a flash of silver arching through the air. There were two vampires behind me, and my sword sliced deep through the neck of the first one. Almost all the way. Fuck. A smooth vamp beheading was a matter of pride to me, but everyone has an off day sometimes.
My head reeled as I spun. Should’ve taken it easy at the bar last night, Alisa.
And by last night, I meant three hours ago. Elly was going to kill me if she heard about this. But once I saw the vamp, what was I supposed to do? Walk away? We’d been trying to track this ugly monster for weeks.
I ducked as the second vampire sprang at me, throwing up one arm defensively as I tried to jerk my sword free. He slammed into me, but my sword pulled loose just before he managed to propel us both into the opposing brick wall. My head and shoulder drove into the brick, leaving a jolt of pain in their wake.
We were too close now for a good sword blow, and I grabbed for the knife on my belt.
The vamp got an arm across my chest to pin me and reared back. His eyes dilated as his fangs ripped through his gums. The effect was always gruesome, and I winced as flecks of spit and blood splattered across my face.
“Should’ve brought a better weapon than some big ol’ yellow teeth,” I said, just before I slammed my dagger into his guts.
He fell to his knees in front of me, his eyes wide with shock.