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“Like bringing back the asshole?” Samantha lifted her eyebrows.
“Exactly,” Jeff shifted in the passenger seat. “Can we trust Roberto?”
“He’s a dick, but he was really seriously scared. And mad. And lost. I think he got stuck here because something went wrong that night. He probably wants to move on. Though I totally think he’s going to the burning place. ”
“If it exists. ”
Samantha rolled her eyes. “So we just drive out there and go, ‘Oh, hi! Just passing through?’ and act like nothing is up?”
“I think we should totally go out there and say the truth, but avoid talking about Roberto or bringing back The Summoner. Talk about the whole bringing Amaliya back to mortal status thing. ”
“She’d never do that, you know,” Samantha said confidently. “She likes being a vampire. ”
“We can’t - and shouldn’t - speak for her though. So we’ll just go out there and be all friendly. Think you can do that?”
Samantha flashed her widest, most sarcastic grin.
“Well, that’s not comforting. ”
“Because you’re wrong,” Samantha answered. “If we go out there after Roberto warned us, we’re as stupid as people in horror movies. ”
Jeff let out an explosive breath, then his shoulders sagged. “Fine. So what do we do?”
“I think we should park the car and sneak around. Sneaking seriously appeals to me. I don’t want to just pop up and get my ass shot or something. I think we should do the sneaking thing, like Buffy. ”
Jeff chuckled. “The Buffy approach, huh?”
“Sneaking is totally a good idea and you know it. ” Samantha shifted the gears and the Jeep rolled forward before she looped it around.
“Okay, we’ll sneak around. I’ll trust you on this. ”
“Good, because I’m not a total ditz,” Samantha assured him.
Jeff touched her cheek affectionately. “I’ve never thought that. ”
Samantha parked the Jeep behind the gas station, lodging it between the building and a dense thicket of overgrown bushes and grass. Popping out of the driver’s side, she checked to make sure she had the ammunition she had brought along tucked into one pocket. Her hands had stopped shaking now that she had decided how to deal with the situation. Jeff rummaged around under his seat before yanking out a small bag. Opening it, he pulled out two sheathed daggers. He handed Samantha one, then strapped the other onto his belt.
“Silver?” Samantha asked.
“Yep. Aim for eyes and throats. . . if it comes to that. ” Jeff shut his door and Samantha locked the vehicle.
“Ready to go kick some ass. . . if we have to?” Samantha tried to put on her best tough girl pose.
Jeff leaned over and kissed her on the lips. “Be careful. You’re not Buffy. ”
Rubbing her fingertips lightly across his chin, she said, “Good, because then I’d be totally doing my Giles. ”
Hand in hand, they headed toward the cemetery behind the old farm house.
* * *
Rachon was annoyed. Prosper’s pop star crush was singing about the joys of S & M, the music blasting out of the car speakers as his Cadillac sailed along the highway. No matter how many times Rachon told him to turn down the noise, it seemed to creep steadily back up. Sitting in the back seat, she glowered at the back of his bald head. He ignored her, his fingers tapping on the steering wheel.
They had spent the day in a hotel in San Marcos, south of Austin, watched over by their human minions while they slept. Rachon hated being out of her state and had slept clutching a dagger. She had kept Bianca at her side, her other hand holding the girl’s wrist. She was paranoid, but with good reason. She was so close to fulfilling her duty to The Summoner she couldn’t allow any possibility of failure to creep into her dealings.
Upon awakening, the vampires had feasted on a few students from the nearby university. Prosper had left their human minions behind to clean up the mess. The vampires had overindulged in anticipation of the night’s events. Rachon still felt her body transforming the blood she had consumed into power and life.
Rachon was in high spirits, but that didn’t mean her temper was in check. She was anxious to deal with the situation and move on to her greater plans. Lounging comfortably in the backseat of the Cadillac, she busily texted on her phone.
