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“I’ve tried calling both of them after you told me what’s up. No answer. I tried finding out Ethan’s cell number by calling his ‘work number’, but his answering service just took a message. ” Benchley stood with his arms folded across his wide chest. His dour expression spoke loudly.

“You think he’ll do something to them?” Samantha asked.

“Ethan’s a dick,” Alexia said grumpily. “He’ll fuck over anyone to get his job done. ”

“So you’ve met him?” Samantha tilted her head to study Jeff’s tense face. “Jeff?”

He shook his head. “No. We’ve only heard stories. He’s a bit of a legend. ”

“He’s ruthless. And he has money to back him up. ” Benchley climbed into the van and sat on one of the chairs bolted to the floor next to the console. “Word is he killed some cops in Chicago. They arrested him, but he was out the next morning with no charges. Some other guy ended up going to trial and got convicted. They even kept Ethan’s name out of the news. That’s what kind of clout he has. ”

The mildew smell of the creek that ran behind the store mingled with the fresh aroma of cupcakes emanating from the bakery on the other side of Jeff’s store. The fresh breeze was warm against her skin and the heat coming off the van burned her arm as she leaned against it. With a sigh, Samantha lifted her eyes to gaze at the blue sky through the canopy of the pecan tree.

“We should go,” she said at last.

“We’ve got to cover Amaliya and Cian tonight,” Benchley pointed out.

“No, me and Jeff should go. It’s a graveyard, right? Ghosts will be there. I can do my ghost magic if we run into trouble. ”

“You really think you can use it?” Alexia said, looking impressed. “Already?”

Samantha shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

Jeff scrutinized her, and she met his gaze steadily.

“We can leave Shark Boy, Alexia, and Eduardo to help Amaliya and Cian. We can go check out this Ethan guy,” Samantha insisted, ready for a fight. There was no way in hell Jeff was going alone.

“Okay,” Jeff said.

“Okay?” Samantha was ready for an argument, so her surprise made her voice squeak.

“Yep. Okay. Let’s go. Benchley and Alexia know what they’re doing. So does Eduardo. We’ll haul ass out of town and get to the graveyard. ” Jeff climbed into the van and leaned over the weapons in the bench.

“We can handle Rachon and Prosper,” Benchley said confidently. “Two vampires, a shifter, and me and my mean sister are more than enough to handle those two. ”

Alexia rolled her eyes. “Take silver and blessed bullets just in case, Jeff. ”

“We’re going to shoot Ethan?” Samantha asked incredulously.

“Not if we can help it,” Jeff answered. He tucked a pistol into a holster and handed it to Sam. “Not quite your pretty pink Glock, but this will do. ”

Samantha gave him a small smile as she started to fasten the holster to her belt. “I can shoot the wings off flies. ”

“Really?” Benchley asked, impressed.

“She’s a fierce shot,” Jeff admitted.

“A woman of many talents,” Benchley mused.

Alexia made gagging noises.

On more than one o

ccasion, Jeff had joined her and her family at the firing range. Samantha prided herself on her ability to outshoot everyone in her family except her mother. Jeff had been startled by her accuracy.

Finishing with the holster, Samantha tugged her shirt down over it. The gun felt good and solid against her back. Jeff crammed extra ammunition into his shorts before sliding out of the van. His gun had disappeared under the hem of his shirt.

“Alexia, can we take the Little Bitch?” Jeff asked. “The Land Rover has been temperamental. ”