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"Think about it. What would happen if you called Lucas and said you have his dad? If you can prove you have his dad? The kid puts his life on the line for total strangers. You think he's not going to come running to save his father?"
"Good," Lucas whispered. "Thank you, Jaime."
I nodded. This was, of course, the perfect plan. Edward wouldn't kill Benicio until he had Lucas, and Jaime knew that when Lucas received that call, he would indeed come running--backed by a small army of supernaturals.
"My phone's gone, but you can use his," Jaime said. "I'm sure he has Lucas on speed-dial. Probably right at the top."
Lucas tensed, ready to dash back toward the cafe so he could answer his phone without being heard.
"In a minute," Edward said. "First, I need to wake this one up...at least long enough to make that call for me. After that, though, I think I'll test your word. Better hope you don't fail."
"W--what?"
"All I need him for is to phone Lucas. Once that's done, he'll have outlived his usefulness. And, if his blood does reopen the portal, you'll have outlived yours. Believe me, if you are lying about that, I'll take you with me to the other side. And if you aren't? Well, then, the boy is in for a double surprise when he comes around that corner, though he won't have long to grieve before he's reunited with his old man."
Lucas and I looked at one another. I cast a privacy spell, so I could speak without whispering.
"D--don't answer the phone," I said. "Just don't answer it."
He cast his own spell. "I wasn't going to. If he can't get through, it'll buy us some time. But not long enough to wait for the others. We'll have to handle this ourselves." He laid his fingers on my arm. They trembled against my skin. He squeezed his eyes shut, pushing past the fear. "We can handle it. We have spells, and we have the element of surprise."
"But we don't know what spells work on vampires. We--" I took a deep breath and fought my own panic down. "A binding spell will work. But I need a way to get close enough to cast it without his seeing me. Maybe a distraction. But I don't know what--"
"I might," whispered a voice to our left.
Jeremy appeared beside us. He motioned for us to follow him to the other end of the alley, where Savannah waited.
"Aaron called the hotel for Elena's number," Jeremy whispered. "I thought you could use help, and we were closer than the others. Now what's happened?"
We told him, as quickly as possible.
"Paige was right," he said. "Distraction followed by attack is our best bet. I can provide the first, and assist you with the second."
"Me, too," Savannah said. "I can help."
"Uh-uh," I said. "You're staying--"
"No, Savannah's right," Jeremy said. "She can help me with the distraction."
He told us his idea, then turned to Savannah. "Now, you'll wait with Paige and Lucas. As soon as you see me, you can start, but not until you see me."
She nodded, and Jeremy headed down the side alley to loop around the north building. We returned to our hiding place at the head of the portal alley.
Nice Doggie
WE ARRIVED BACK AT THE CORNER JUST AS EDWARD finished telling a now-conscious Benicio that he needed to make a phone call. As we waited for Jeremy, I slid off my heels, in case we needed to dash down that alley.
"And if I refuse?" Benicio said.
A slap resounded through the silence. Benicio didn't so much as gasp.
"This isn't some business deal you can negotiate your way out of," Edward hissed. "What do you think happens to you if you refuse?"
"You'll kill me," Benicio said calmly. "And if I do call Lucas, and he comes, you'll kill him. Do you honestly think I would exchange my life for my son's?"
Edward gave a short laugh. "So you're offering to sacrifice yourself to save him. Very noble, but it won't work. I'll still find him and kill him."
"But you wouldn't need to. Kill me, use my blood on that portal, and it will reopen."
