Page 2 of Bullets and Blood (Hunting Hearts #1)

Chapter Two

After numerous false trails and bad tipoffs, months of watching bank accounts and old phone numbers and even old friends—not that Nixon Hadley truly had friends—Lance had finally found him.

Not sighted, but he knew Nixon was in the bustling town of Whispering River, working in a winery like he was a boring human and not the son of a wealthy criminal family.

Success was going to be Lance’s. He’d be blooded on the next full moon and made into a full vampire.

He could almost taste the hot liquid metal of blood on his tongue.

He wanted to feel his fangs grow. He wanted to be seen as worthy.

And this job, while his aunt hadn’t said it, felt like his last chance.

Lance paid for his shopping and picked up the bags.

He wasn’t sure how long he’d be in Whispering River, but he understood why Nixon had fled there.

It was busy enough that new faces didn’t attract attention but small enough that there were no other vampires hiding on the fringe of the Reid territory.

On top of that, there were beaches and wine and plenty of tourists to feed on.

Hadley needed blood, and he was a long way from those who’d offer a vein for money.

Nixon must know he couldn’t escape, no matter where he ran. Not only that, but he’d left his sister, the female heir and only hope for the Hadley bloodline, and that was never done. Someone else was tracking her down, and they’d had as much luck as him. He wanted to be first.

All Lance had to do was sight him and shoot him. Silver bullets didn’t kill, but they stopped a vampire from healing, and Nixon was a full vampire. Once Nixon was mortally wounded, Lance would drag him back to his aunt so Hadley could face the sun.

Job done.

The intelligence he’d been given said Hadley been turned at eighteen. For the men in the Hadley family, it was automatic. Lance wasn’t in the habit of envying his enemy, but in this case, he did just a tiny unflattering bit.

His aunt would disapprove, but he also had a measure of respect for Nixon even though he was the enemy. He’d led Lance on quite the chase. Laid false trails and everything. The man knew how to disappear.

Lance liked to think that he knew his enemy after studying him for so long.

Nixon worked at a winery ensorcelling patrons and drinking their blood.

No doubt he was also stealing from the owner.

Or maybe he’d already set up some illegal gambling.

The Hadley’s loved gambling. Had loved it, that is.

His aunt had taken over those enterprises to add her to empire.

He breathed in, enjoying the sun on his skin, and looked forward to the day it burned. To when he no longer needed to buy food because the thought of eating it would be enough to turn his stomach.

His gaze landed on a man over the road. His shoulder length dark hair was slipping out of its elastic and brushing his cheek. Beneath his worn-out cap the man smiled before getting on his bike and disappearing around the corner, loose shirt fluttering around him.

Lance’s grin widened. Maybe he’d enjoy a little hunting for pleasure…once he’d put a bullet in Nixon.