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Vampires.

Two bodyguards step out first, then a tall blond in a suit that costs more than most people’s rent. He walks toward me with his hands in his pockets, like time is something that happens to other people.

“There you are.”

“Lex.” I keep my voice even. “You have my number. No need to trap me in an alley.”

“Would you have answered?”

“Of course.” Lie.

“We need to talk.” He tilts his head toward the Range.

“I’m in a hurry. Not really a road trip kind of night.”

“It’s about your Saturday client. Julian.”

“What about him?”

“He disappeared. You were apparently the last person to see him.”

“You sure he’s not just on a bender somewhere?”

“We can’t find him. Marcus can’t find him.” He watches my face. “You know how Marcus is.”

I know exactly how Marcus is. King of the vampires in this city, and not the kind you want to owe anything to. Lex is his right hand, his enforcer. Julian was the new prince Marcus had just turned. His project. And now his project is missing.

“What does that have to do with me?”

“I want to hear what the visit looked like.” A flat stare. “Walk me through it.”

“Like every stardust run. Nothing special.”

Lex steps closer. Runs his tongue along one fang, slow and deliberate.

“Lara. Don’t complicate it.”

Then I hear engines.

Four motorcycles roll in from the street, riders in black helmets, fanning out until they’ve formed a loose circle around us. Wolves.

Piro gets off, removes his helmet and unclips a metal baseball bat from his bike.

“You’re a long way from home, dead man.”

Lex exhales, completely unmoved by the display.

“Lara and I are just talking. Nothing that concerns you, wolf prince.” He looks at Piro the way you look at something unpleasant on the bottom of your shoe.

“This is still our territory.” Piro rolls his neck. “And I don’t appreciate bloodsuckers harassing our clients.”

“How can I politely tell you to fuck off?” Lex responds.

Piro tilts his head, walks to the Range, and takes out the driver-side mirror with the bat. One clean swing. He was always a hothead, but with nightrush it’s even worse.

This is going just great. I would very much like to back out of this alley quietly. This has nothing to do with me. Vampires and wolves have hated each other since the dawn of time. Nothing is going to change that, and I have no interest in standing at the center of it.

While Piro and Lex measure their dicks, I feel it. Someone is staring at me.