Page 94 of Burn Falls

I pulled my car into my garage and cut the engine. “I may be one-hundred and fourteen, but I’ve never had a girl spend the night before.”

Her emerald eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Back when I was dating Mary, it was before people really had sex before marriage or even left home before they were married. We were both still living at home with our parents and only had sex in my car—or in the back of a club a few times.”

“So you were an exhibitionist?”

“Not by choice. I was a horny guy who only had two things on his mind: money and getting laid.”

“Tonight’s your lucky night then, Dr. Delano.”

It was weird hearing my real name with doctor in front of it. I’d never gone as Dr. Delano because I didn’t want to chance Renzo finding me. I liked it though.

“You have money,andyou’re going to get laid.” She smirked and opened the passenger door to get out.

The moment I stepped foot out of my car, my senses were on high alert. My body went rigid, and I snapped before moving, “Get in the house, Calla.”

“I’m go—”

“No!” I moved to the door that led to the kitchen and swung it open. “Now.”

Calla hesitated for a moment.

“Get in the fucking house!” Without another word, she walked inside, and I slammed the door behind her and spun around to face my driveway. “I can fucking smell you, you know?” I said, walking toward where I could sense and smell the vampire I didn’t know. If vampires didn’t have the ability to sense each other or smell each other in the same location, I’d think he was here to attack me thinking I was human. If he didn’t know, then he knew now but was still standing in the shadows.

“I come in peace.”

“Who are you?”

He stepped around the bush that was adjacent to my driveway. “Will you let me explain before you rip my head off?”

“Why do you think I’ll rip your head off?”

“Because of what I need to tell you.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and stared him down as he stood at least five feet from me. “Okay. Spit it out. You have thirty seconds.”

“Renzo sent—”

I was on him in a blink of an eye, pushing him against a tree and holding him by the throat. “Don’t utter his fucking name,” I growled, bearing my teeth.

“You need to hear me out,” he croaked, not showing any emotion. “It’s important.”

We stared at each other, and my eyes narrowed. “Where is he?”

“Chicago.” My grip loosened and he fell to the ground on his feet. “Please let me tell you everything before you kill me.”

“Why would I kill you?”

“Just—please. I could have never come here.”

I crossed my arms over my chest again and narrowed my eyes at his muscular form. I could tell he was younger than I was—in the vampire sense—so even though we had the same build, it wouldn’t be a fair fight, and I would, in fact, rip his head off. “You probably shouldn’t have come if you think I’d kill you. How do you even know me or where I live?”

“Again, let me explain.”

“Fine. Spit it out.”

“Remember you said you’d let me finish?”