Pretty When She Kills (Pretty When She Dies #2)(65)

The drive had been uncomfortable since they left Austin. Listening to music had only set their nerves on edge and conversation had drifted off into silence. Samantha sighed. She didn’t really want to talk about how her intestines were cramping uncomfortably anyway. She had already thrown up when they made a restroom stop at a small convenience store. Every instinct, supernatural and otherwise, was screaming inside her head that something was terribly wrong. The further the Jeep traveled down the empty country road, the more unnerved she became.

It wasn’t that long ago that she had nearly died after traveling this exact same road to rescue Cian from The Summoner. She had been fearless in her determination, but after nearly dying and all that had ensued, she had a healthy appreciation for the supernatural world and all the dangers it contained.

Continuing to spin the ring around her finger, she pressed her lips tightly together as the edge of the ghost town was caught in the headlights of the vehicle. A familiar faded and rotting sign that read “Fenton, TX. Best Homemade Peach Cobbler in Texas!” flashed past her window, then the rotting facades of long abandoned buildings loomed in dark shapes near the narrow road. Ahead was the “Y” in the road that cradled the dilapidated hotel where The Summoner had taken refuge and the gas station where Amaliya had fought constructs made out of her victims’ bodies. Samantha was grateful she hadn’t seen those things. Amaliya’s description alone had grossed her out.

The Jeep slowed. A big black truck attached to a camper was parked in front of the hotel. Jeff tapped his fingers on the steering wheel nervously. “They’re definitely here.” Jeff snagged his cellphone off the dashboard and checked for bars. “And we have no service.”

A hard lump formed in Samantha’s throat and threatened to choke her as a familiar figure stepped into the headlights and waved them down.

“So we’re in the same boat they are. No service. Out in the middle of no-”

“Stop!” Samantha screamed, finding her voice.

Jeff pounded down on the brakes and they were both pitched forward as the tires squealed. The seatbelt snapped taunt against Samantha’s torso in a painful vise. She gasped, clutching the buckle tightly.

Roberto stood in the headlights, arms folded across his chest, his head tilted to one side. His raven black hair and dark fringed green eyes were exactly as she remembered him. So was the condescending smile on his face.

“What the hell, Sam?” Jeff asked, twisting around in his seat trying to figure out what was wrong.

“It’s Roberto,” Samantha gasped.

“Cian’s dead minion?” Jeff lifted his eyebrows. “Seriously?”

Roberto’s smile grew as he casually walked over to the passenger door. His black suit and white shirt were immaculate. Gesturing for her to lower the window, he rested one hand on the roof of the car. Samantha stared at him through the glass, her hands trembling.

“Lower the window, Sam,” Roberto said, sounding slightly annoyed.

“You’re dead,” Sam informed him.

“I am aware of that,” Roberto said, his smile tightening. “Now, lower the window.”

“You’re talking to him?” Jeff asked, staring past her. “He’s there?”

“Yeah,” Samantha grumbled, lowering the window. “And being a bossy ass as usual.” She had never gotten along particularly well with Cian’s long time mortal companion. Roberto and Cian had met in Mexico over a hundred years before and had forged a strong friendship that had been destroyed by Roberto’s betrayal. Roberto had chosen to become a vampire and serve The Summoner instead of standing at Cian’s side. Samantha was sure Amaliya had pushed Roberto over the edge, but that didn’t take away from the fact that Roberto was a Class-A *.

Once the window lowered, Roberto leaned his elbows on the window sill and stared at her for a long moment. “So you’re finally useful.”

“Fuck you.”

“And still charming.”

Samantha swallowed hard, leaning away from him. She remembered too vividly what happened when she had touched Cassidy. The last thing she wanted was Roberto gaining the ability to hurt them. “What do you want, Roberto?”

“Death does something to you...” Roberto mused, his fingers playing along the edge of the open window. “Not being able to affect the world around you and wandering in circles, trapped. It’s not the most pleasant of experiences.”

“Why didn’t you move on? You know, go into the light? Or was that light all flamey and fiery?” Samantha arched her brows.

Only Jeff’s steady breathing indicated he was leaning toward her. He was utterly still, waiting to see what would happen. She appreciated him letting her deal with the testy ghost.

Roberto grinned, laughed, and shook his head. “There was nothing. Just darkness and the knowledge that I am tethered here.” Casting a sorrowful look at the hotel, he said, “I’m stuck in this hell hole.”

“Why?” Samantha tried to stealthily unbuckle her seatbelt, but the click gave her away.

The ghost’s intense green eyes flicked toward her, his hand flexing slightly on the window sill. “I’m not sure, honestly. The night The Summoner died there were many of us here, trapped by his power. When he died, I fled. I ran down the road. I’m not sure if I even realized I was dead, I just wanted to escape. I got as far as the city limits and was tossed all the way back to the hotel.” Roberto cast a wary look at the structure.