Hank snorted. “We’ll see about that.”
That easily and quickly, the tension broke and the crisis passed. All the others came over to hug him and shake hands or nod at Evie. She wasn’t totally accepted yet, but Craig knew that would come in time.
They all sat and Craig did his best to answer all their questions, with Evie filling in the blanks whenever she could.
This was what he wanted, his woman by his side and his family around him. Life was good.
Damek walked up behind one of the humans watching the house. Really, this vampire hunter was most unaware of his surroundings, which wasn’t a good thing in his line of work. At the last second, Damek purposely made a sound with his foot. The hunter spun around, his eyes widening in fear. Before he could draw a weapon, Damek took control of his mind.
“What is your name?” He could easily get it, but it was always easier when it was volunteered. Damek couldn’t afford to waste too much of his energy on the human hunter.
“Evan.”
“Hmm.” Damek walked closer and the man’s pupils dilated. He estimated the male to be around thirty with short brown hair and brown eyes. He was tall, taller than Damek, but size wasn’t everything. “And why are you here, Evan?”
Even though his tone was even, Evan’s fear grew. The hunter was obviously new and untested. He’d probably staked a few newly made vampires and thought himself a great hunter. They all did at first until they finally met a vampire who either taught them the true meaning of fear and respect or killed them.
“All the killings. We knew there was a vampire in the city. We saw one of his minions getting rid of a body and followed him back here.”
That made sense. The older vampire was sloppy when he fed, but he wasn’t stupid. He had to know he had to clean up his mess behind him or it would bring hunters after him. A vampire didn’t live as long as Vladimir Drake without learning to deal with hunters. Too bad he hadn’t cleaned up his messes sooner, before attracting the attention of the hunters.
“How many hunters are there?”
Evan swallowed. “Two of us. Me and Leroy.”
Damek slowly circled the hunter, intentionally breathing on the back of his neck. “And where is Leroy?”
Evan shook his head, but Damek ruthlessly punched into his brain and drew out the information he needed.
“Leroy is on the other side of the building.” Damek sifted through the hunter’s memories. “Now, you will go back to your hotel and you will stay there until I come for you.” It would be easier to simply kill the hunter, but Sonia frowned on such things if it wasn’t a life-and-death situation. “Leroy will be joining you.”
He couldn’t take the time to deal with the hunters now. He had a vampire to catch.
Evan nodded. “I need to wait at the hotel.”
“That’s right.” Damek disappeared in the shadows and reemerged next to Leroy. In seconds, he had control of the large man’s mind and gave him the same instructions he’d given Evan.
When the hunters were well on their way, Damek strode up to the front door and knocked. The minion opened the door, looking totally confused. The male appeared to be in his mid-thirties but already his dark hairline was receding.
“Is your master at home?” Damek politely inquired.
The minion shook his head, but said nothing. That was the problem with minions, especially when they were chosen from those less intelligent. They would follow orders to the letter, but they couldn’t think for themselves at all.
Damek had never had any minions, found the entire idea repulsive.
“When will he be back?”
The minion opened his mouth but then closed it. Damek sighed and reached into the minion’s mind. It was total chaos. Screams lay beneath the outward calm. The human he’d once been was horrified by what he’d become. Damek picked through the layers and found what he was searching for. The information turned his blood cold.
He released the minion and caught the man when he slumped. This man wasn’t a particularly smart one, but he hadn’t been a bad one. Damek looked him in the eye. “I am going to kill Vladimir Drake. When I do, you will be free.”
The minion shook his head, panic in his blue eyes. For a brief second, he fought the compulsion of the other vampire. “Kill. Me.”
Damek thought about it, but denied the man. “No. I’ll find you and take your memories. You won’t remember any of this.” He’d probably have nightmares for the rest of his life, but at least he’d be alive.
As he turned away from the minion, he pulled out his phone, praying he wasn’t too late.
Vladimir Drake stared down at the lifeless body of the prostitute he’d just fed from. Her legs were splayed open and her pretty green eyes were wide and unseeing. She had black hair, like Evie’s, but it was curly, not straight. A poor substitute for what he really wanted. Still, she’d satisfied a basic craving.
He licked his lips, savoring the last drops of her blood from his mouth.
Waste not, want not. Her blood was tainted with alcohol and drugs, but that only heightened the high he got. It was also laced with fear, which he particularly enjoyed and gave him a bigger buzz.
He turned, straightened his coat and walked away, sparing the dead woman not another thought or glance. Vladimir pulled out his phone and checked his messages. One of his minions had called him several times.
The voice message made him smile.
Finally, things were happening the way they were supposed to. His lost Evie had been found. Now all he had to do was claim her. And if anyone got in his way… Well, he was still feeling a little hungry.
Craig felt his phone vibrating in his back pocket. He pulled it out and his heart jumped when he saw the caller display. “Hey, Damek.” The others chatting around the table fell silent.
“Are you at home?” Damek demanded.
“No, we’re at Haven. We came to talk to everyone.” He didn’t say they came to make peace, but that’s what it amounted to.
Damek swore. “Vladimir Drake is on his way. His minions have been watching the place, so if you’re there it’s only a matter of time until he is.”
“You’re sure.” Craig stood, his gaze going to the front door. All around him, the male werewolves leapt to their feet.
“We’ll leave.” No way did he want to bring danger to his friends.
“It’s too late for that. Even if you leave, Vladimir will question everyone there.”
Damek didn’t need to spell out exactly how that questioning would go down. Vladimir would torture them all to death to get the information he wanted.
“I’m on my way. I’ll be there soon.”
The call ended and Craig turned to face his family and friends. He knew they’d all heard what Damek had said.
Evie drew her knife and gazed at the entrance.
“I’m sorry. I brought this to your door. I never meant for this to happen.”
He should have thought of this, should have realized it was possible. The vampire could have minions everywhere, watching, and he and Evie had been out at night before. Had come here. Maybe it was good searching on the other vampire’s part. Maybe it was simply luck, bad for them and good for Drake. Either way, what was done was done.
“Take the women and go. This is my fight.”
“This is our fight,” Evie said.
“Actually, it’s my fight. You need to leave with your friends. I’ll kill Vladimir.”
“I’m not leaving you.” Quinn stood beside his brother and allowed his hands to morph into claw-tipped paws. “I can rip out a vampire’s heart with these.”
“Go for the throat,” Craig automatically corrected. “A vampire this old needs to be beheaded.” He frowned at his brother. “But you’re not staying.”