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It didn’t take long before Dante spotted exactly what he was looking for. A punk ass and his buddy appeared from the other end of the camp, picking their way along the center path. Their eyes were shifty as they crept through the encampment, peaking inside the tents where they could.

A quick connection of his mind to theirs confirmed his suspicions, and Dante smiled. These two were the perfect reciprocals for his aggression.

His hunting instincts took over as he watched them get closer. A quick look around confirmed that everyone else was asleep. Not that it mattered. He cared not whether he was seen here. Everyone thought these people were nothing but crazy meth addicts. Nothing they said was taken seriously. A moment later, and he was crouched on the branch of a large oak. He hadn’t made a single sound. Watching them closely, he waited for the exact right moment.

Dante liked to toy with hisprey.

One of them ducked into a tent, only to reappear moments later. He shook his head at his friend, and they kept going. Dante waited with the eternal patience of the damned as they made their way towardhim.

Come on, you fuckers. I want toplay.

They walked beneath the tree, completely oblivious to the angel of death crouched directly above them. He let them pass, then stood and stepped off the branch, landing behind them with a softthud.

They spun around at the same time, and Dante smiled at their matching looks of horror as he towered above them. “Wrong place, right time, assholes.”

Grabbing them both around the throat, he dragged them further into the underbrush that surrounded the camp. There were still a few cars on the nearby highway, the sounds of the traffic muffling the sounds they made as they tried to kick and claw their wayfree.

Dante pulled the one with the greasy black hair in closer until his fangs were front and center in the idiot’s line of vision. He caught the terrified gaze with his own. “You will remain calm, sit quietly, and wait your turn.” Then he dropped him to the ground where the guy obediently sat up and wrapped his arms around his knees towait.

He then turned his attention to the one he still held. Panic-stricken blue eyes shot from Dante to his friend and back again. Shaking his head back and forth, Dante tsk’d at his bad behavior. “Stealing from the poor. That’s pretty fucking lame. Even for a piece of shit like you.” The guy’s eyes bugged out of his head as he clawed at Dante’s hand, still wrapped around his windpipe. It was a good look on him. Dante flashed his fangs with anticipation.

The human’s gurgling screams, however, were beginning to grate on his nerves. He squeezed his fingers closer together until the guy’s lips flapped like a fish out of water. But at least he was fucking quiet.

Much better.

The smell of urine reached his nose, and Dante cocked his head to the side with mock sympathy. “Don’t feel ashamed, asshole. I tend to have that effect on people.” Then he narrowed his eyes and brought him in closer. “What shall I do to a thief and a liar, hmm?”

“He never lies,” the one on the ground informed him in a monotone voice. “But he does steal. I think he even stole off meonce.”

Dante gazed down at his greasy head, considering. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you for telling me.” Then he smiled, and tore the jacket from his victim’s shoulder with his free hand. Rearing back, he prepared to strike.

“Dante.”

He froze with his fangs barely touching the homeless man’s throat. Dante didn’t have to look to see who it was. He knew. “Leave me be, Shea.” His victim whimpered in his arms, and Dante tightened his grip around the guy’s throat to shut him the fuckup.

“Dante, what are you doing? They’re justkids.”

With an impatient sigh, he twisted his head around to look at her. “Old enough to steal from others who have nothing to spare.” On that note, he tore into the guy’s throat with relish.

A second later, he threw him to the ground with disgust and spat out the vile blood in his mouth. “Godsdammit!” he roared, and spit some more. “This is fucking disgusting.” He shoved the human with his booted foot. “What the fuck are you on, asshole?” The human turned eyes wide with shock upon him as he pressed both hands over the gaping hole in his throat. It did nothing to stem the flow of blood, however, and he soon passedout.

Or bled to death. His friend watched it happen with no reaction.

Shea crossed her arms over her chest. “Who exactly are you punishing?” she asked. “That human? Or yourself?”

Dante did not have the time nor the inclination to defend himself. Grabbing the human that was still alive by the hair, he hauled him up off the ground until they were face to face. “Follow me,” he ordered. Then he dropped him and walked away, the human on his heels.

Shea jogged to catch up to him. “Look. You can tell me to fuck off if youwant—”

“Fuckoff.”

“But I think I know why you’re acting out this way, and why you’ve done it before.” She paused. “Okay, I’m lying, I have no idea why you do this. Maybe you’re just old and cranky.” She hurried on when he shot her a look. “But Laney’s awake. She’s asking foryou.”

Something lurched inside of him. He gritted his teeth and ignored it. “She doesn’t needme.”

“She seemed pretty out of sorts when you weren’t there.”

When she didn’t expand on that, he stopped, turning to glare down at the human when he walked right into him. Giving his attention back to Shea, he cocked one eyebrow. “And?”