Page 59 of Vampire so Virtuous

The leather jacket couldn’t be a coincidence. Could it?

Was this Anthony Du Pont a vampire? A different one? The same one?Antoine?

She must be losing it. The whole thing sounded insane.

Maybe Joon was right. Maybe she was long overdue a visit to a therapist. Had she imagined it all?

No. She couldn’t forget the paralysis. That had been real. So had the red eyes. The glimpse of fangs. The strange words they’d used, and their unnatural speed.

Maybe the real name of her smooth, exotic savior was Anthony Du Pont.

Was it a coincidence his name had come up as she was released? Had he pulled some strings?

If so, why?

Maybe she owed him both her lifeandher freedom. Or maybe he was in this up to his neck. Like he’d sunk his teeth into hers.

She needed to do some digging. It was a distinctive name; there had to be something to find.

From across the street, a swish of movement caught her eye. A man, striding toward the parking lot, his long leather coat trailing behind him.

Tempting to follow.

He was only a hundred yards away.

Too tempting.

He could be anyone, of course. Plenty of people still went for that grungy, post-punk look.

He reached the parked cars, the fading light glinting off the windshields. It wasn’t quite dusk yet. Didn’t vampires spontaneously combust in daylight?

Cally quickened her pace, wondering what she’d even say when she caught up with him. ‘Hey, I know you’re a vampire, thanks for getting me out of jail?’ Stellar conversation starter.

But he was gone.

A sleek sports car pulled out of a space, its heavily tinted windows flashing briefly in the setting sun. The engine gunned, tires gripping the asphalt as the driver flicked the vehicle around a tight corner and sped off too fast toward the exit. In seconds, it vanished into traffic.

Cally stared after it, shifting her backpack on her shoulder.

Had he been watching her? Waiting for her to leave?

If so, why not talk to her?

He must’ve seen her walk out, so why disappear right after?

It didn’t add up. Unless his only interest was seeing her walk free. But why would he even care?

I’ll find this guy. And when I do…

Cally gripped the strap of her bag, her knuckles whitening.

She didn’t yet know what she would do.

But it was going be fucking spectacular.

*

Cally had barely made it home when her phone rang, Eve’s name flashing on the screen.