Page 94 of Dead & Breakfast

“Oh, not much,” Arthur said. “It’s just we’ve got company.”

Trip snapped his head up, eyes finding what Arthur had seen in the reflection of the elevator door.

Despite his circumstances, Arthur grinned wickedly. “My husband has always known how to make a dramatic entrance.”

Chapter 25

As it turnedout, Trip needn’t have worried about Salvatore at all. The moment he turned around, Rumble yowled and threw herself at Trip’s face, claws out. A ferocity Arthur hadn’t known resided inside her escaped in bursts as Trip rolled off Arthur and tried to extricate himself from the flurry of feline fury. Eventually, he threw Rumble off, and she slid rather unceremoniously toward the elevator doors.

“Get off of me, you stupid cat,” Trip growled, then turned toward Arthur once more.

“I wouldn’t say that if I were you,” Arthur said, getting to his feet.

“Why’s that?” Trip panted and scrambled for the stake.

“Because that cat is my precious daughter, and this man is my splendid husband, and you just tried to kill them both.” Salvatore stood regally above them, pine needles in his hair, dirt smudged along his cheek. “It’s okay, Rumble. Daddy will get the bad man.”

Arthur groaned. “I have asked you not to refer to yourself asDaddy.”

“What, noThank you for saving my life, Salvatore? NoI’m soglad to see you, my love? Perhaps aNothing has ever been so sexy as this rescue?”

Arthur rolled his eyes, though his heart was metaphorically fluttering in his chest, and not out of fear. Sal had come back for him. “No time for that. It’s not over yet.”

“I knew it would be him,” Salvatore grumbled, gesturing toward Trip.

“Really?” Arthur stared at him. “How did you figure it out?”

Salvatore shrugged. “All dentists are evil. Makes sense.”

Arthur couldn’t help but smile. For all the logic in the world, he wouldn’t trade Salvatore’s instincts. Chaotic though his husband was, Arthur had never been gladder to see him in his undeath. He turned to face the dentist, who had clambered to his feet, stake in hand. “It’s over, Dr.Young. You’ve been caught. Put the stake down and come quietly,” Arthur said with as much confidence as he could muster.

“No.” Trip gave him a disbelieving look. “I’m not a quitter.”

“You’re outnumbered, dentist-man!” Salvatore shouted.

“Even better.” Trip adjusted his grip on the stake and bent his knees, ready to sprint. “Now I can blame both of you.”

“Well, I tried.” Arthur sighed.

“Do you think that sort of thing ever works?” Sal cracked his neck, readying himself for the fight to come.

“Only on reasonable people.”

They’d have to do this the old-fashioned way.

“On three?” Arthur asked.

Sal nodded.

They really did work better together.

“Not very smart, are you?” Trip smirked. “See, now I know you’re going to do something when you count to three. You really ought to stop saying your plans out loud.”

“Three!” Sal shouted without preamble.

Arthur darted forward and grabbed Trip’s wrist, then twisted it behind his back, fumbling for the stake.

“What the hell?” Trip shouted, shoving at Arthur with his free hand.