Page 94 of Dark Obsession

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

They decided to split into two groups, and the sheriff insisted on inserting himself into the plan. Lucia and Gayle both tried to convince him to stay back and protect the rest of the group, but the sheriff ordered it. Demetrius exchanged a glance with Cody, both of them shaking their heads.

Harriettville’s fire chief arrived, a thin and wiry man who introduced himself as Chief Henry Booth. Chief Armstrong approached Booth and, after a quick conversation, both men put on helmets and headed toward the front line. Lucia called in the remaining deputies, and Demetrius nodded to Alberti when he arrived. The deputy straightened his spine and rested his hands on his duty belt.

“Got past me, I see,” Alberti said.

“Sorry about that.”

“Uh huh.”

Alberti lifted his chin in greeting as a female deputy arrived. Demetrius recognized her from around town, and her name tag read Deputy P. Rockford. She returned Alberti’s greeting and glanced at Demetrius before listening to Lucia explain the plan. When Lucia described Bastian, Demetrius heard Rockford whisper to Alberti, “Did she say vampires?”

“Yep,” Alberti said. “I’ve seen it. Took Harvey right off the street ten yards away from me.”

“Jesus.” Rockford blinked, and she cast a nervous glance over her shoulder.

“We’re going to split into two teams,” Lucia said. “Sheriff Grubbs and I will take Demetrius, Oliver, and Dave along the back alley to Margie’s Diner. We believe that’s where Bastian and his group have taken Dr. Zenona Baldwin. Other hostages we’re not aware of may also be there.”

“Why are they coming?” Alberti asked, tipping his head toward Demetrius and the others.

“They’ve done this kind of fight a lot more than either of you, that’s why,” Gayle said.

Alberti gave Demetrius an up-and-down look. Demetrius couldn’t tell from the deputy’s expression whether or not he believed it.

Lucia continued: “Deputy Walsh will take Alberti, Rockford, and Cody along Main Street. We’ll all converge on Margie’s and, once we’re in position, we’ll move in at the same time. Questions?”

“Just a million,” Rockford said in a shaky voice.

“Anything more specific?” Lucia asked.

Rockford and Alberti shook their heads. Sheriff Grubbs stepped in front of Lucia and looked them all over.

“All right,” Grubbs said. “We have a plan. Those of you with firearms, see Deputy Durant for appropriate ammunition. We move out in five minutes.”

As Lucia distributed the last of her silver bullets, Demetrius took Cody’s hand. Through the smoke and harsh smell of burning plastic and treated wood, he could still pick up Cody’s sweat, and it helped slow his racing heart.

“I don’t like us being split up,” Demetrius said.

“I don’t either. But it’s probably for the best.”

“I’m not sure which of us has it worse,” Demetrius said in a low voice. “Me with the sheriff, or you with the green deputies.”

Cody’s smile flicked across his face, there and gone. He leaned down to give him a firm kiss. It sent heat through him that curled into a tight ball in the center of his chest. When Cody pulled back, his pupils were wide. Demetrius could feel the warm brush of Cody's breath, coming fast and quiet, against his face.

“Damn, this stuff is intense,” Cody whispered.

“It is.” Demetrius kissed him again, the heat inside him building until Dave cleared his throat. Blushing, Demetrius pulled away, but he kept hold of Cody’s hand. They stared at each other a moment, then shared a small smile.

“Be careful,” Cody said.

“You, too.”

They uncoupled their hands, and Demetrius turned to Dave with a bashful grin. “Sorry.”

Dave eyed him a moment. “Uh huh. Your head in the game?”

“It is.” Demetrius primed his water rifle. “Let’s finish this.”