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“He didn’t say, exactly. Only that they were out of danger and would explain everything later. I guess they’re both on their way back here.”

She and Alessandra stared at each other for a beat, neither of them speaking.

“Holy—”

“Shit,” her friend finished. “I know. Kenton is doing his best to calm Lawrence down, but he’s ready to throttle his sister for being so evasive. And for nearly getting killed.”

“Lovely.” She shook her head. “I just don’t get it. How could this have happened?”

“I don’t know, but I think we can agree that it’s not good.”

Toni’s phone buzzed. She almost dropped it in her haste to pick it up from the table.

“Lawrence.” Her heart raced at the simple two-word text. Need you.

She hated texting at the table, but this seemed to be a reasonable exception. Where and when? She put her phone down, prepared to wait for a response, when one popped up quickly.

Roberto’s? Pick you up at 7:00?

It’s a date.

“How’s he doing?” Alessandra asked.

“Didn’t say. I’m going to see him tonight.”

She put the phone down and picked up her chicken salad croissant and took a big bite.

Her friend smirked at her from around a french fry. “I guess things really are going well between you two . . .”

Toni shrugged. “Too early to tell. And then there’s the whole . . .” She looked around. No one was paying them any attention, but they were too exposed for them to speak openly. “You know. What Birdie said.”

She thought her friend would reassure her, tell her it didn’t matter that he was a vampire, but instead she said, “We have lots to talk about. Privately.”

Toni nodded. “Do we ever.” She started to pick her croissant back up when something caught her eye across the street. “Oh my God, look. I mean, don’t look.”

Too late. Alessandra followed her gaze, and sure enough, the man who’d broken into Ye Old Curiosities was standing directly in front of Lawrence’s bank.

Staring at them.

She quickly looked away, but it was too late. He’d seen them.

“He’s out already?” Alessandra hissed.

Toni focused her energy on not looking again, but it was difficult. She could feel him watching them. She’d have to be sure to mention it to Lawrence tonight.

Because this guy was creeping her right the hell out.