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Lawrence regarded him with shock. “You’re dead.”
Jackson shrugged his good shoulder. “Nearly dead isn’t really dead, asshole.”
Then he pulled the trigger again, but the chamber rang empty.
Despite his fresh injuries, Lawrence rose quickly and easily to his feet. “Regular bullets don’t kill vampires, you idiot. As an accomplished hunter, you should know that by now.”
“You’re right, they don’t kill vampires,” Jackson agreed. “But bullets do distract monsters like you well enough.”
I watched through half-closed eyes as Declan rose up behind Lawrence, his silver stake back in his possession. As the vampire turned, Declan sliced the weapon into Lawrence’s heart.
Lawrence staggered back, staring down at the shiny stake sticking out of his chest, his wide-eyed gaze meeting Declan’s.
“See?” Declan said. “I told you I’d kill you. I was right.”
And then Lawrence was gone, his fiery ashes scattered in a horrible cloud, some drifting down to land on my face.
Declan crashed down to his knees next to me and grabbed my hands. “Don’t be dead. Goddammit, Jill, don’t you dare die on me.”
I almost smiled, but the expression wasn’t possible for me at the moment.
“Not quite dead,” I managed to rasp out. “But...almost.”
Declan let out a shuddery sigh of relief. “Damn it, Jill. You scared the shit out of me.”
I had to snort softly at that. “Declan Reyes scared? I don’t believe it.”
“Believe it.”
“Vampires, am I right?” Jackson shook his head. “I fucking hate vampires. I mean, just look at my arm. I seriously need an ambulance.”
Declan shot him a dark look. “How the hell did you escape? Lawrence said that four vampires were feeding on you.”
“Never underestimate the power of positive thinking.” Jackson finally noticed Jennifer, who was beginning to rise, her hands braced against the cement floor. He closed the distance between them in a heartbeat.
“Jen,” he said, his voice shaky. “You’re alive.”
“Jackson...” Her eyes were wide as she touched his face. “He said you were dead.”
“He was wrong. Damn it, Jen, I was so worried about you. Reynolds wouldn’t let me see you.”
“And you took no for an answer?”
“First time in my whole damn life I did. I shouldn’t have.”
Declan pushed up to his feet to face the other hunter. “Lawrence said you didn’t sell me out when you had the chance.”
Jackson glanced toward him. “Didn’t make any difference. He knew what you did anyway, didn’t he?”
Declan nodded. “He sure did. For the record, his wife was a monster.”
“To doing what has to be done...” Jackson began.
“And spilling the blood that needs to be spilled.” Declan finished.
The toast from the other night, shared between hunters. Or maybe just between Declan and Jackson.
“Still,” Declan continued. “You could have warned me, you asshole.”
