Time crept forward at the same pace as a sloth crossing the road. She had no idea how much of it passed before a creak sounded and the gate started to swing outward. As it opened, she saw the hunters pushing it. They must not have had the chance to repair it yet.
When the gate finished opening, Juan stepped out of the compound and strode over to her. He walked with his shoulders back and his chin held high, but his hand rested on the butt of his gun.
Juan stopped across from her, and his caramel-colored eyes surveyed her. His dark brown hair stood on end, and the puffiness of his eyes revealed he had been sleeping.
“Elena,” he greeted.
“Juan,” she replied and continued in English. “Where’s my mom?”
“She’s inside.”
“Is she safe?”
He frowned at her. “Why wouldn’t she be?”
“Many,manyreasons.”
Juan’s gaze shifted to Logan and Asher. “Did you kidnap them and bring them back?”
“No. They’re not our enemies.”
“You didn’t look too willing when they carried you out of here.”
“Things have changed,” she said. “I know it makes no sense, but you can trust them.”
Juan studied them for a minute before his gaze shifted toward the wall. “There are fifty armed hunters up there who will open fire on them at their first threatening move.”
“No threatening moves,” Asher promised.
“What is going on?” Juan asked.
“We know who killed my father,” Elena said.
Juan looked from her to Logan and Asher. “You don’t believe it was these two.”
“In the beginning, I was sure it was them, but I’ve learned alotsince then.”
Juan switched over to Spanish when he asked his next question. “Are you safe? Have these two hurt you? And are you here of your own free will?”
“Yes. No. Yes. And as you know, a vampire’s powers of persuasion don’t work on hunters, so I’m also here undermycontrol. It’s not them we have to fear… it’s ourown,” she assured him in Spanish.
Juan’s eyebrows shot up. “Our own?”
“Yes.”
Logan studied the two of them as they spoke. Juan didn’t seem upset, and Elena’s face remained passive, but he hated not knowing what was happening.
“I have something to show you,” Elena said in English.
“And what is that?” Juan asked.
“This way.”
She turned and walked over to the SUV, where she pressed the button to open the hatchback. Juan didn’t follow her as his attention remained on Logan and Asher.
“Your men have guns trained on us, and I’m not in a rush to die,” Logan said. “We’re not going to do anything to you.”
“Then you won’t mind staying here while I go look,” Juan said.
