Page 54

“Eh, not that hard,” Eduardo shot back with a sardonic smile.

“Enough!” Samantha said, surprising everyone. “This isn’t a time to be arguing over who is more of a bad ass! Okay? Fuck me sideways! Do what Jeff said! We make a plan. We do it! I don’t want to die, okay? I almost did it once and I don’t want to do it again!”

“At least we have an idea of what we’re dealing with,” Jeff said at last. “There shouldn’t be any surprises that we can’t anticipate. ”

Amaliya busted out laughing.

“What?” Jeff felt defensive at her outburst.

“Now that you said that, we’re fucking doomed to have something come out of left field and knock us on our asses,” Amaliya answered.

“I’m not that superstitious,” Jeff answered shortly.

“I am,” Benchley said, holding up his hand.

“Me, too,” Alexia said, holding up hers.

“You fucked us,” Eduardo agreed.

“Yeah, honey, you kinda did,” Samantha said, joining the traitorous crew.

“I agree with Jeff,” Cian said firmly.

“Well, thanks,” Jeff grumbled.

Considering what they were facing, at least he had the support of the master vampire.

“Meeting adjourned,” Cian said.

“Yeah,” Jeff said, feeling a little swept aside as the chairs were shoved back and people rose to their feet.

Samantha leaned toward him, her fingers brushing his hand. “It’s okay, Jeff. If we all die, we know it’s not your fault. ”

“Gee, thanks. ”

She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, then joined the others in gathering around the donuts and coffee maker.

Jeff stared at the open book in front of him, dread filling his heart. Nothing felt right. Nothing was really making sense. They were missing something vital, but he was hard pressed to figure out what it was.

Part Four

Sunday

Chapter 14

The heat shimmered over the highway edging the gas station as Pete climbed out of Ethan’s truck and stretched his long legs. Tucking his cowboy hat on his head, he glanced toward the bigger man. Ethan was already messing with the gas pumps, preparing to fill up after their long haul from East Texas to just inside Eastland County.

It was almost six hours since they’d left in the very early morning and the sun was still trekking upward in the cloudless pale blue sky. The hot summer air was scorching as it brushed over his face and tugged at his clothes.

Holding his cowboy hat in place, he stared off down the road that would lead to the home of Amaliya’s grandmother. His head was still throbbing from his hangover, but his stomach had finally settled down. He was starting to feel hungry. It was nearly ten in the morning, but he was hoping he might be able to snag a leftover breakfast taco. Amaliya’s grandmother was an awesome cook.

“I should call them and see if they went to church,” Pete called out.

Ethan glanced over his burly shoulder and gave him a brief nod. The other man’s long duster danced and snapped around his tall form. Somehow his cowboy hat remained firmly on his head in defiance of the hot gusts of wind. “Go ahead, but don’t tell them too much. Keep it simple. ”

Pete dug his cellphone out of his pocket. His brain still felt a little mushy and his eyes grainy from what little sleep he had snagged during the trip. Ethan wasn’t much for talking as he drove, so Pete had found himself trying to start up a conversation with unsuccessful results. He’d finally fallen given up and dozed off to sleep away his beer haze. Yawning, he quickly scanned his contact list and found the number for Innocente.

The phone rang three times, then a small voice said, “Hello? Ottmer-Guerra residence. ”