Page 11 of Twilight Destiny

She hesitated a moment, then said, “I don’t know. I’m still thinking about it. You said it’s best to be turned by an old vampire.”

Saintcrow nodded, afraid he knew what was coming.

She took a deep breath, then said, “Jake Kincaid is old.”

“Don’t even think about it.”

“Why not? You said I need someone old. And you won’t do it.”

“Damn right, I won’t.”

“I thought he was your friend.”

“Friendship has nothing to do with it. If he turns you, I’ll have his head.”

“What?” Rosa clapped a hand over her mouth as the people at the next table turned to stare at her. “What do you mean?” she whispered.

“Just what I said. And he knows it.”

Rosa stared at Saintcrow as if seeing him for the first time. Did he mean it?

“Don’t doubt it for a minute.”

The most frightening thing was, she didn’t doubt it at all.

Rosa tossed and turned for hours before finally falling asleep, only to dream that Kincaid turned her and when Saintcrow found out, he carried out his threat. She saw the whole ghastly thing in living color and woke bathed in a cold sweat.

Sitting up, she clutched her pillow to her chest. What was she worrying about? She had only seen Jake Kincaid twice. He had never called. It was obvious that Saintcrow had warned him away. She couldn’t help thinking that Kincaid had been smart to listen. Saintcrow appeared to be a far more formidable enemy than she had supposed. Apparently Kincaid knew it, too.

Unable to get back to sleep, Rosa shuffled into the bathroom and showered, pulled on a pair of sweats and a long-sleeved tee shirt, and made her way downstairs.

Tired of eating out all the time, she had gone shopping for a few things the other afternoon—bread, eggs, bacon, milk, orange juice—mostly stuff for breakfast.

She had just finished eating and was loading the dishwasher when her cell phone rang. She frowned at the unfamiliar number, followed by a flutter of excitement. What if it was Kincaid?

She let the phone ring several times before answering. “Hello?”

“Hey.”

She closed her eyes at the sound of his voice. Low and intimate, it wrapped around her like a warm blanket on a chilly day.

“Rosa? You there?”

“Yes. I … I’m just surprised to hear from you.” Was he crazy? Why was he calling her when Saintcrow had threatened to take his head?

Kincaid grunted softly. “Been talking to Saintcrow, have you?”

“Yes.”

“Any chance I can take you out tonight?”

“Do you think that’s wise? He said … ”

“I know what he said. I’m not planning to hurt you or drink from you, or turn you into a nightwalker. I’m just looking to spend a little time with a lovely lady.”

Her cheeks warmed at the compliment. “What did you have in mind?”

“I hadn’t thought that far ahead,” he admitted. “We can decide when I get there.”