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Olivia tilted her head. Something seemed different about Dmitri’s brother. He was buff and muscular like a warrior and a shimmering white glow surrounded him, like those around Marek and other vampires.
Marek had explained the Hunters were biologically enhanced with VB. Yet, no one else around them gave off the same aura. Scratch that. One other lethal-looking Hunter a few cars away glowered at her.
But only those two.
Her attention returned to Dmitri when he spoke with a scowl, “Is everything ready?”
“You worry too much. We’re ready to move out as soon as you are.” To Olivia, the man gave a wide smile. “I’m Alessandro, Dmitri’s brother.”
“Hello.” Olivia studied the surrounding chaos and then at the weapons strapped to Alessandro’s body. “Are we going into a gunfight?”
“Nothing you need to concern yourself with. The locals aren’t too happy with our presence here.”
Olivia’s heart stuttered and she looked at Dmitri. “What does he mean? How far are we from the Ruins?”
Dmitri’s eyes turned into thin slits. “How do you know we’re going to the Ruins?”
“You said it yourself. I’m smart.” When Alessandro threw an arm over her shoulder, she pushed him off. “Don’t touch me.”
He dropped his friendly demeanor. “Hey, I’m the one protecting your ass. Drop the bitchy attitude or—”
“Or what?” Olivia snapped. “You’ll kill me?”
“You—”
“Stop,” Dmitri said with a curt tone. “Get in the car.”
Alessandro huffed and stomped off. Olivia took a deep breath. The heat of the rainforest didn’t help her misery. As she followed Dmitri to the jeep, she felt eyes on her that sent shivers down her spine. She turned to her right and caught someone’s shadow in the darkness. Red eyes full of bloodlust blinked once before they disappeared.
A vampire?
Her pulse racing, Olivia climbed into the back seat of a jeep and strapped herself in. The line of vehicles moved out with a loud rumble. Soldiers stood on the edges of the trucks as lookout.
As they exited the main airfield onto a dirt track, Olivia stared into the forest’s shadowy undergrowth. She swore she detected more eyes tracking her. Calling on her magic, she stared harder and caught the tell-tale glow around vampires. They sprinted in the darkness, following them.
Marek?When she reached out this time, it was easier than before. Not as easy as breathing, more like a short jog. When he responded, she told him about the vampires. He was quiet for a moment as they mulled this over. Finally, he said,Got it. Stay safe. Don’t antagonize them. I’m almost there.
Olivia ducked when a branch swung too close. The rattling of the engines drowned out any other noises. The only lights came from the headlights. When her jeep jolted, sending her an inch off her seat, Olivia grabbed the handle.
No one spoke. Alessandro scanned the forest, fully alert. Something was out there. The locals, he’d called them. Did he mean the vampires? Whoever lived in this area didn’t appreciate the Organization dropping into their territory.
After a while, everything began looking the same. Thick tree trunks and underbrush hiding whatever dangers might lurk behind them.
Suddenly, Alessandro shot up straight in his seat and swung his rifle in a firing position. Olivia’s mouth dried and she shouted, “What is it?”
Alessandro fired into the night, the sound a booming explosion in the quiet. Others followed until the night was lit up with gunfire.
Screams and roars of rage from the forest.
“What’s happening?” Olivia screamed but nobody answered her. Even Dmitri had his gun out.
Black forms, long, lithe, and larger than anything she’d seen (not a vampire), shot out of the forest, and rammed into the car in front of hers.
The vehicle flipped over and rolled until it crashed into a tree.
Olivia’s hands snapped to her mouth in a horrified scream. She had to get out of here. More massive shapes pounced into the light. Screams, this time distinctively human, rent into the night.
Marek!she shrieked.
