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“The Key Inn?”

“No. It's a name. Cian. Anyway, she said he was going to help her. But she hasn't answered her phone in two days and now I am worried. ”

“You know, Grandmama, technically, she is already dead,” Sergio said timidly. The events of the other night still haunted him and he tried hard not to think of it too much.

“I don't care. She's alive in a new way,” his grandmother answered. Her lips set into a firm little line as she lifted her chin. “And we're going to go find her and save her. ”

“Grandmama, I don't mean to upset you, but Amaliya is not the most reliable person in the world. ”

“Maybe not. But she's our blood. And she is my granddaughter and your cousin

and we protect family. ”

Sergio looked at her through bleary eyes trying to figure this whole thing out when something occurred to him. “Hey, how did you get here? She took your car!”

“My boyfriend brought me,” his grandmother answered primly.

“You have a boyfriend!” Sergio suddenly felt very awake. “You have a boyfriend?”

“Yes, I do. ” His grandmother rubbed the cat under her chin vigorously and made soft noises to the furry creature as she obviously ignored Sergio's reddening face.

Sergio waited a beat, then said explosively, “Who?”

“Juan Carlos. ”

“The old guy who rides around on the moped. He brought you over on the moped?”

His grandmother rolled her eyes and pointed at him with a gnarled finger. “Get dressed. Get your guns. We're going to Austin. ”

Sergio leaped to his feet. Not to run for his gun, but to look out the window. “Where is he?” He had a strong desire to go outside and shake the old guy and threaten him something good.

“He left. I told him you would take me to Austin. But we need to go to my house. I have my stuff packed. ”

Sergio blinked and turned to look at his sweet, tiny grandmother. He knew she was feisty, but he was realizing she had this whole other life he was not aware of. “You have a boyfriend and didn't tell me. ”

“I didn't think you'd be okay with me having sex,” she answered.

“Oh, God! I don't want to hear it, Grandmama!” He covered his ears with his hands and stood staring at her in disbelief.

“I told you. You're such a wussy,” she said with a sad shake of her head.

“I am not. You're just. . . ” he stammered to a halt. Calling his grandmother an old woman would get his ass kicked. So he clamped his mouth shut.

She smiled at him victoriously, seeing she had the upper hand. “Now, go get dressed. We need to go save Amaliya. ”

Sergio rubbed the top of his head with one hand and frowned. “Nothing I say or do is going to keep you from going to Austin, right?” He could feel himself giving in despite his tiredness and his desperate desire to crawl back onto the sofa and sleep.

“I'll steal your truck while you sleep if you don't go with me,” she answered truthfully.

“Fine! I'll get ready!” Stomping out of the living room, he couldn't help but smile and by the time he was in the shower, he was laughing.

***

Amaliya woke up first and stretched with a soft yawn. She felt a little hungry and she rolled over onto Cian and lightly bit his neck. He woke up with a start, then wrapped his arms around her. Teasingly, she held his flesh between her teeth, but didn't draw blood. He ran a slow, seductive hand up over her back. She let go of his skin to kiss him. It felt wonderful considering everything that had happened the last few days and she let herself enjoy the tenderness of it.

“I'm hungry,” he said in a low voice, and pushed her gently off him. “We both better feed. ”

With a little growl, Amaliya sat up and ran her hands over her hair to smooth it down. Cian rolled over and opened the wall. It slid upward and revealed the young blond woman from the elevator the night before sitting in a chair. She had been waiting for them to awaken and she sat with her legs crossed. Her hand was resting on the gun on her lap.