by Parker Blue
Probably. He still wasn’t convinced there was such a thing as a good vampire, except maybe for his sister Gwen who’d been turned into one against her will.
“Maybe you could provide the info to Micah?” I suggested, not wanting to see them get into a pissing contest. “He can combine it with the Underground’s data and see if we can find a concentration of any attacks in any one area.” Micah had watchers all over the city, collecting data and keeping an eye on the vamps. He was skilled at analysis, too.
“Yes,” Ramirez said, staring sternly at Dan. “We can do that.”
“And we’ll continue to question any rogues we capture,” Austin said.
“I just remembered something,” Ivy said. She glanced at me as if for permission to speak, and when I nodded, she added, “Alexander—the vamp recruiter—said something about Mike and Ike being in a different cell. What do you know about that?”
That’s right—he had. I’d forgotten that.
Ramirez scowled. “It’s a type of organization, used by people like terrorists and insurgents. Usually, you only know the people who are in your cell, so that if you’re captured, you can only reveal the identities of a few people. They’d know their higher-ups but wouldn’t necessarily be aware of other personnel on their same level.” I didn’t think Ivy needed the explanation, but she let it slide. Ramirez added thoughtfully, “I didn’t realize they were that organized.”
Crap. That just made this all the harder.
Austin nodded. “And for those who do know more information, the rogues now have a strategy in effect to ensure they don’t reveal important information—a false tooth with demon blood inside it.”
Dan nodded. “Demon blood sends them batcrap crazy.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Essentially, suicide by demon blood. It will also make them unpredictable and harder to kill.” I glanced at Ramirez. “You might want to warn the rest of the scuzzies. Don’t ask the rogues questions unless you want them to go berserk.”
“Yes,” Austin added. “Now that we know the tooth is there, we can remove it before they can use it. If you capture any, call us.”
Ramirez nodded grimly. “I will.” He glanced at Austin. “Who’s in charge while Alejandro is . . . missing?”
“No one,” Austin said, his tone curt.
Ramirez raised an eyebrow. “I meant, who do I contact if we learn something?”
“All three lieutenants—Rosa, Luis, and Austin—are doing the jobs they normally do,” I explained, to head off unnecessary explanations. “But for the purposes of this investigation, you can contact Austin.”
Austin nodded, willing to accept that hierarchy. He stood and offered his hand to Ramirez. “Thank you. With your assistance, I hope we can not only find Alejandro, but shut down the rogues’ operation for good.”
As we headed for the exit, I said, “I’m sorry. I thought they could help.”
“They still might,” he conceded. “But I just wish we could catch a break.”
Me, too. We were due for one—and soon.
Chapter Seventeen
Val
ONE MORE DAY had passed without getting any closer to finding Alejandro and Vincent. Frustrating. After I bought some gift cards at the mall, Ivy, Fang, and I headed to Club Gothick to stake it out before night fell. Austin had let us borrow a vampmobile so we wouldn’t look so conspicuous, and we hung out for hours waiting for the candy twins to show up.
No luck in that arena so far, but I had learned a lot more about Ivy—and I liked what I learned. She was about a year older than I was but had a lot more self-confidence than I’d ever had. I envied her that, and she envied my strength and speed. We both liked each other’s sense of humor. Fang fit right in, too.
YOU TWO ARE LIKE A REGULAR LOVE FEST, Fang snarked. DON’T TELL ANY GUYS, OR THEY’LL WANT TO WATCH YOU MAKE OUT OR SOMETHING.
“Really?” I shook my head. “Guys are so strange sometimes. You’d think they’d want to be in the middle of all the making out.” At least, that was true from Lola’s experience.
TRUST ME, Fang said. I WATCH TELEVISION.
Ivy shrugged. “I don’t understand it either, but he’s right.” She glanced at me. “Not that I want to try it. I mean, I like you and all, but I’m totally into guys.”
I laughed. “Me, too.”
“Speaking of guys,” Ivy said. “There’s yours now.” She nodded to a spot behind me, and I saw that Austin had arrived, along with a retinue of his followers, in a couple of vampmobiles.
I rolled down the window, and Austin sauntered over to our car. He leaned down into the driver’s side window and gave me a smile as if I were the only person in the world. “Hello, darlin’.”
And didn’t that make my heart go pitty-pat? “Hi,” I replied with a goofy smile.
YOU’VE GOT IT BAD, Fang said.
Oh, shut up. Do I have to remind you of how you were around Princess?
THAT WAS SURVIVAL OF THE SPECIES—YOU AIN’T GONNA PROCREATE WITH HIM.
I hadn’t planned on “procreating” with anyone. And as for his excuse for dallying with Princess. . . . Liar, liar, pants on fire.
Fang turned his head away from me and didn’t respond. Ha. Got him that time.
“I take it you haven’t seen Mike or Ike?” Austin asked.
“Nope,” Ivy responded. “No sign of them.”
Austin nodded. “Lieutenant Ramirez called. Suggested we check out the area near New Braunfels.”
“Really?” I asked in disbelief. Turning to Ivy, I explained, “It’s a small town about forty minutes north of here—settled by Germans in the eighteen hundreds. Great food and a cool historical district. It always seemed so safe to me.”
“It is,” Austin confirmed. “But they’ve called in the SCU several times lately on some problems that sound like our guys. That’s why it seems so unusual. Shall we check it out?”
“Sure.”
“Okay, hold on a minute.” He conferred with people in the two vampmobiles and came back to me. “Okay, I’ve given them a description of Mike and Ike. One vehicle will stay here to watch for them, and the other will follow us to New Braunfels. I’ll drive.”
I opened my mouth to protest, then realized not only was it his car, but he knew where we were going, and I didn’t. I shrugged and got out of the car to move to the passenger seat while Fang got in the back. Ivy decided to pass, and since she’d left her bumblebee a couple of blocks over, we dropped her off so she could avoid the possible coming confrontation.
The drive didn’t seem to take very long, but, just before we got there, Austin pulled over into a rest area with a gas station and parked.
“Potty break?” I asked, though I would have thought I’d have more need of that than he did.
“No,” he said, “we’re being followed.”
“Followed?” I repeated and glanced over to stare at the entrance to the rest area where three other cars pulled in and parked, the windows tinted dark as the law would allow. That was a little suspicious this time of night when many people weren’t around. “What do they want?”
“I don’t know,” Austin said. “Let’s find out.”
The other vampmobile pulled up beside us, and Austin rolled down his window. The others did the same. “How long have those cars been following us?” he asked.
“Since we left San Antonio,” the vamp in the other car replied. “You want we should take ’em out?”
“No, let’s wait and see what they do.”
NOT DEMONS, Fang said. OR I’D BE ABLE TO READ THEM.
I passed on what he said, then added, “I’ll get out, pretend we stopped here so I can use the facilities, and see what they do.”
I COULD STAND TO TAKE A LEAK, Fang said.
I headed for the restrooms, and
Austin got out of the car as if to guard me and stood gazing around at the beautiful, tree-lined area. And, incidentally, trying to get a look at what was going on with those three cars who’d followed us. All were identical, bland midsize sedans. Nothing that would stand out in any traffic.
Let us know if anything happens, I told Fang as I entered the restroom and left him watering the bushes outside.
WILL DO.
Since I was here, I went ahead and used the facilities. As I washed my hands, I asked Fang, What’s going on out there? Do we need to delay more?
I DON’T THINK SO. NOTHING’S HAPPENING.
I opened the door and strolled outside. Austin stood there as if casually waiting for me, but I could sense the tension in every line of his body. “Let me have your keys,” I said softly.
He gave them to me, and I went over to open the trunk of his car. I had stakes in my waistband like always but figured a crossbow might come in handy right about now, and I’d stashed a couple of them in the trunk before I left.
I pulled one out, along with a quiver of bolts, and walked toward the three cars parked at the other end of the lot. There was one other vehicle in the rest area, but when the humans saw my weapon, they got the hell out of there, fast.
“What are you going to do with that?” Austin asked.
“Whatever needs to be done.”
“Val?” Austin asked, a hint of warning in his tone, but didn’t try to stop me. He and Fang followed me and so did Austin’s five followers in the next car.
Still no reaction from the three cars? Interesting.
When I got close enough to the nearest car, I took aim and shot bolts into two of the tires. There. They weren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
I started to move around to do the same to the other two cars, but vamps came boiling out of the first car.
“Luis,” Austin gritted out.
“What the hell did you do that for?” Luis demanded, glaring at me.
“Why are you following us?” Austin countered, stopping a few feet away from Luis.
Casually, I shot bolts into both front tires of the next car. Everyone emptied out of the remaining two vehicles then, and they all charged menacingly toward me. Pissed now, I shoved Lola at them and yelled, “Stop.”
Everyone stopped except for the one woman in the group. I jerked up the crossbow and sighted it at her heart. “You, too, or I’ll kill you now.”
She halted, fuming.
“Enough, Catalina,” Austin said. “We just want to know why you’re following us.”
Her lips thinned, but she jerked her chin up and refused to answer.
“Could you release Luis, please?” Austin asked me.
I frowned but did as he asked. If it were up to me, I’d force him to tell us what we wanted to know.
NAW, Fang said. AUSTIN’S RIGHT. YOU DON’T HUMILIATE YOUR PEERS . . . UNLESS YOU WANT TO TURN THEM INTO ENEMIES.
Well, that made sense. Sorta. I carefully released Luis while keeping the others enthralled and kept an eye on Catalina.
“Call her off,” I told Luis.
Luis glared at me, unnecessarily straightened his jacket, and brushed invisible lint off his sleeves . . . as if I’d contaminated him or something. But he jerked his head toward Catalina, and she backed off, sending killing looks my way. I lowered the crossbow but kept it cocked . . . just in case.
“Why are you following us?” Austin asked Luis.
“When you left town, I knew you were up to something. You have Alejandro hidden out here somewhere, don’t you?”
Sheesh—that again. The guy was like a broken record.
I THINK HIS BRAIN OSSIFIED SOMETIME IN THE LAST CENTURY, Fang drawled. HARD TO GET NEW THOUGHTS THROUGH ALL THAT ROCK.
Had to agree with him there.
“No,” Austin said curtly. “We’re following up on leads from the SCU—we believe the rogues might have a training camp out this way.”
“Likely story,” Luis said with a sneer.
“Very likely,” I put in. “Because it’s the truth.”
“And that’s why you need so much backup?” Luis countered.
“No, he needs it for the same reason you do—because the rogues attacked him last night, too. Only this time, they came in more force and did a lot more damage.”
Luis shot a look at Austin, as if wondering if I were telling the truth.
“She’s right,” Austin said. “Just ask your flunky Christoph. He was there spying on us.”
A flash of annoyance crossed Luis’s face. Guess he didn’t realize his spy had been discovered. I wondered which one had been Christoph and why Austin hadn’t pointed him out to me.
PROBABLY WANTED THE GUY TO THINK HE HADN’T BEEN MADE, Fang suggested.
Luis snapped his fingers at Catalina. “Contact Christoph,” he ordered, obviously more comfortable commanding the peasants than actually using something manufactured in this century.
She jumped to do his bidding, and her fingers flew over the screen on her phone. Texting, I guess. In a very short time, she said, “He confirms—rogues attacked Austin last night, too.”
Luis glanced suspiciously at Austin. “How do I know you’re not in league with the rogues? That you didn’t stage the attack?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Austin spat out. “Do you really think I’d risk my people to stage an assault? I have way too many dead or injured.”
Catalina texted again, then nodded at Luis. “Confirmed.”
Luis scowled. “Then why didn’t you contact me to help?”
I choked out a laugh. “Because you’ve been sooo helpful before?”
Austin shook his head at me, silently asking me to keep my mouth shut. Okay, I could take a hint.
“I wasn’t sure how you’d react,” Austin said.
“So, instead, you went off like a glory hound to rescue Alejandro on your own?”
Austin’s jaw tightened, but he somehow managed to keep his tone level. “No, I’m following up on a lead that may or may not pan out. And you made it very clear that you don’t want to work with me.”
“No, I don’t want to work for you,” Luis said with a sneer. “But that’s what you want, isn’t it? Rescue Alejandro on your own, show yourself as his savior, and take over?”
“No, that’s your agenda,” Austin shot back. “You do your job, let me do mine, and we’ll be fine.”
Luis shook his head. “That won’t work for long, and you know it. You won’t yield to me, and I sure as hell won’t yield to you. And our followers will fight amongst themselves unless the issue is decided. So, let’s deal with this once and for all,” Luis said, shoving his pointy goatee in Austin’s face. “Duel with me—let’s settle the issue of who’s in charge.”
“As I’ve told you before, Alejandro is in charge,” Austin said. “And I’m not willing to give up on finding him so soon. Are you?”
“And what if we don’t find him?” Luis asked insistently. “What then? We can’t leave the Movement leaderless.”
“What about Rosa?” Austin asked. “She’s a lieutenant, too.”
I wondered if anyone would remember that, and I was absolutely fascinated to hear Luis’s response.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT, Fang drawled.
No need—Luis laid it out for us. “She’s no leader—nothing but a housekeeper and a bed-warmer,” he mocked. “She’s smart enough to know that, and she doesn’t want the job.”
Chauvinist much?
“If we don’t find Alejandro soon, I will consider ‘settling’ the matter,” Austin said, his voice tight.
“When?” Luis demanded. “He’s been missing for days now. When do you think it’s ‘appropriate’ to ensure the Movement has a united leadership?”
Austin looked cornered—and pissed. “A couple more days at least.”
“All right,” Luis said. “If we don’t find him in two days’ time, we will meet in combat to decide leadership as set out in our ancient rules. But if you don’t meet me on the field of honor then or, failing that, cede leadership to me, I will take it—and damn the consequences.”
Total silence reigned as we all tried to absorb the impact of what that would mean for the Movement.
NOTHING GOOD.
That was for sure.
Austin broke the silence, giving Luis a hard stare. “I will agree to meet you only if you agree to work with me instead of against me until then.”
Oh, crap. I couldn’t believe Austin had just agreed to fight Luis for leadership of the Movement.
HE HAS NO CHOICE, Fang said.
Unfortunately, Fang was right. I worried my lip between my teeth. What did a duel involve? Pistols at high noon? Fangs at midnight? And how did they decide who won? Was the fight to the death? Mano a mano? Or a skirmish between the two factions?
Even more important, who would win in such a battle? I’d bet on Austin but didn’t underestimate Luis’s cunning and sneakiness.
Gulping, I realized we had to find Alejandro right away, before Austin and Luis took each other on.
Chapter Eighteen
Val
“WHY SHOULD I work with you?” Luis asked Austin.
“We both have the same goal—to find Alejandro, right?” Austin said that as if he wasn’t sure Luis did, and I was beginning to wonder about that myself.
I was getting really tired of Luis’s sneers, but he seemed to have an unending supply of them. “How are we to help you?” he demanded. “We have two vehicles out of commission.”
“It’s not like I blew them up,” I reminded him. “Have you ever heard of spare tires? Between the three of those cars, I bet you’ll have enough to fix one of them at least.”
Luis scowled but snapped his fingers at one of his flunkies to get it done. “Call the auto club,” he snapped at another.
