Page 124 of Burn Falls

“Calla, get in the car,” I ordered.

“I’m not getting in the car, Draven.”

“Please?”

“No.”

Renzo laughed. “Fiery one. I like her, though she smells like a Fledgling. She your lover?”

I stared him down, not answering his question. “Why are you here?”

“I came for my grandson.”

“Your grandson is dead,” Athan stated.

“And why should I take your word,Athan?” Renzo hissed Athan’s name in disdain.

“Fine. Don’t,” Athan clipped. “But what about Donovan? That’s why you’re here, right?”

Renzo blinked. “Don’t tell me why I’m here!”

Athan laughed, but before he could say anything further, I said, “Renzo, just take me. Forget about the O’Bannion’s and take me. I’ll go back and do whatever you want.”

“No!” Calla shouted.

Renzo grinned. “The past always catches up to you, doesn’t it? I knew I’d find you eventually.”

“Have you been looking?” Athan asked.

Renzo tsked. “Doesn’t matter if I was or wasn’t. The fact is, you’re standing in front of me now. It also appears as though one of you turned this girl.” He cocked his head slightly as though he was listening for something and then he said, “And she’s pregnant.”

“She doesn’t concern you,” I snapped. Fear coursed through my body at his realization that Calla was pregnant.

“But she does. My grandson lives in this house, and since she called the lady, who opened the door, Mom, I’m going to assume she’s my great-granddaughter, and therefore, I’m taking her and her baby.”

“Over my dead body,” I growled.

“Don’t tempt me, Draven.”

“The one you came for is dead, Renzo. Your boy Donovan killed him and fled,” Athan interjected.

“I’m not taking your word for it. I’m not naïve, Athan.”

Athan chuckled. “Okay, but you’re not getting Calla.”

“Exactly,” I muttered.

Renzo laughed, throwing his head back. “I do whatever the fuck I want to do.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

When Selene came to visit me, I felt as though I was dreaming. I felt that same way now, and at any moment I would wake up in Draven’s bed, but nothing was glowing. It was also weird to be staring at my great-grandfather who was almost one-hundred and forty-four years old.

Renzo laughed and threw his head back. “I do whatever the fuck I want.” Then, with a nod, everything happened so quickly.

His mob moved in, going straight for Draven and Athan. I didn’t know what to do as I stood there, watching Draven and Athan tussle, groan, and snap necks. I wasn’t even sure if that would kill a vampire. For what I knew—from TV—the only way for a vampire to die at someone’s hands would be to rip their hearts from their chest even though it wasn’t their heart that kept them alive.

As I watched them go down one by one at the hands of Draven and Athan, there was a little flutter in my belly. I knew that it, too, was worried this could all go wrong. Could Draven and Athan be strong enough to kill Renzo? Was I? What if Selene was wrong? After all, I was only a Fledgling—a very young one at that.