Pretty When She Kills (Pretty When She Dies #2)(51)

“Oh, I’m more than certain,” Ethan responded with confidence.

As the man launched into a detailed explanation of his investigation into Amaliya’s death and her body’s disappearance, Innocente gripped Sergio’s hand tightly. Even though she was still angry at Pete, she could see that the young man was desperate to believe Ethan, too. His expression was almost heartbreaking. Maybe he was an idiot, but Innocente realized he was an idiot who loved her granddaughter.

“So if we can go to where this vampire died and I can find a piece of him, even a fragment of bone, I can perform a ritual that will make her human again,” Ethan finished.

“We need to tell Amaliya,” Cynthia said in an awestruck, but elated voice. “We have to tell her!”

“She’s asleep right now,” Sergio reminded his wife.

“Where is Amaliya?” Pete asked.

Innocente gave both Sergio and Cynthia a warning look, but they had both already clamped their mouths shut.

“Well?” Ethan asked.

“Somewhere safe,” Innocente finally said. “We will help you get what you need for the ritual, but I’m not going to tell you where Amaliya is yet.”

Ethan raised his eyebrows, then nodded. “Fair enough. You don’t know me. I get that. But I am your best shot at getting your granddaughter back.”

“If there is any chance she can come back to us, you have to help him,” Pete urged.

“I agree,” Innocente said shortly. “But she’s my granddaughter and I won’t do anything until I can talk to her. And that won’t be until tonight.”

“But we can go out to the graveyard now,” Sergio suggested. “We can drive down there during the day and get this rolling, right?”

“That we can,” Ethan agreed.

Cynthia nodded her head. “I’ll watch the kids. You can go with them Sergio.”

“It will take us a few hours to get there,” Innocente said thoughtfully.

“You should stay here, Grandmama,” Sergio suggested.

“No,” Innocente snapped, “I shouldn’t.”

“Okay, okay.” Sergio surrendered immediately, knowing better than to rile her up again.

“I know I hurt Amaliya, Innocente, but I promise I just want to save her and make it up to her now,” Pete promised.

The sweetness on his face almost made her feel bad for him, but Innocente shoved the thought away. There was much to think about and the long drive would give her time to do so. With Bianca calling for help, she wasn’t too sure now was the best time to restore Amaliya. But then again, maybe if she was just human again the forces conspiring against her would leave her be.

“I’m going to eat, then get ready,” Innocente announced.

“We should leave soon,” Ethan suggested.

“We’ll leave when I’m ready,” Innocente informed him. She wasn’t about to let anyone tell her what to do when it came to her granddaughter.

If only she could call Amaliya...





Chapter 17


Jeff awoke to see Beatrice staring at him from her perch on the headboard of Samantha’s bed. The tabby narrowed her green eyes at him.

“Uh, hi?” he whispered, reaching up slowly, offering to scratch her behind the ears.

The cat deftly avoided his hand, leaped past it, and landed heavily on Jeff’s stomach. He was positive the cat had increased her mass somehow. When she landed she felt like she weighed a ton, not a few pounds. Flicking her tail, Beatrice settled into the curve of Samantha’s back and began to delicately lick one paw.

“Okay, I get it. She’s yours and I’m in your spot,” Jeff grunted.

Beatrice regarded him for a long moment as if to say, ‘Yes, stupid human.’

The bedroom was freezing cold. The air unit in the window was gusting air, making the flimsy curtains holding back the sunlight billow outward like dancing ghosts. Rubbing his face, he slowly sat up and glanced over at Samantha. She was deeply asleep, curled on her side, her hand tucked under her chin, breathing deeply. The sight of her made him smile and he gently touched her naked hip.

Outside the window, the huge oak tree threw dark shadows over the house and the insects were buzzing contentedly. It sounded like a lazy Sunday afternoon and he was tempted to lie back down and continue his nap. Sadly, there was much work to do before night fell.

Snagging his cellphone off the bed stand, he quickly scrolled through his messages. There were numerous ones from Benchley and Alexia. Surrendering to the inevitable, he swung his legs out from the silky rose colored sheets and winced as the frosty air washed over his flesh. He fumbled for his boxers, shimmied into them, then reached for his prosthetic leg.

Looking over his shoulder, he wondered if he could love Samantha any more than he already did. She had been completely undaunted by the fact one of his legs ended in a stump just below the knee. Other women had responded not too well to that revelation, but Samantha had acted as though it was completely natural for someone to have to remove a limb before making love. Tenderly, he trailed his fingers through her blond hair, cherishing the feel of it against his skin.

The phone vibrated in his other hand, summoning his attention. It was yet another message from Benchley. Shivering, Jeff abandoned the bed and made his way to Samantha’s kitchen. The sunlight was hitting this side of the house and it was substantially warmer. Beatrice breezed past him, sauntering forward with a haughty air. It was obvious that his presence was an intrusion as far as Samantha’s cat was concerned.