Undead Or Alive (Bad Things #3)(13)

“Don’t sneak up on people!” the drunk vamp said—only his words came out in a too fast tumble.

Leo lifted a brow. “I want to hear more about your story.” He waved his hand toward the human. “Tell me everything you remember about the man in the hood.”

The human blinked, once, twice, then he started speaking because he had to follow Leo’s command. “He was about six foot two, maybe three. He wore a gray hoodie over his head, but I saw his eyes. They were bright blue. He had on gloves—black gloves. Looked like leather, but I don’t know if they were.”

“They weren’t.” They were made of something far more valuable. “Keep going.”

“He went to see the bartender. Only had eyes for Amber.”

“Because she’s his prey.” But he won’t keep her. He’ll just deliver her to Luke.

“She tased him and ran. I don’t think she liked him.”

She might not like him, but she’d sought the Reaper’s protection when she could have gone with Leo. She still hates me that much. His chest ached, and Leo rubbed the area over his heart. Few would believe he had a heart.

He did. And Amber owned a very large piece of it.

“Do you know anything else useful?” Leo’s head cocked. “Do you happen to know where Amber lived?”

“Near Jackson Square. In the apartment over the bookstore. I…saw her there one day, when I was out for a jog. A woman like her is hard to miss.”

“Yes. She is.” He stared at the human. “But you’re going to forget her. You’ll forget Amber. You’ll forget the man in the hood. You will walk your ass home and sleep off the booze.”

The vampire nodded. Then he turned away and began walking down the street. Leo waited until the human was out of sight, and then he took to the sky, shooting high up and rushing away. Leo didn’t look back. He didn’t look down…

His thoughts were focused completely on Amber. He had to find her. Had to get to her…before the Reaper delivered Amber back to his brother.

Amber had almost died because of Luke once before. He would not let Luke hurt her again.

***

A weakness.

Gregory Cethin watched from the rooftop as the Lord of the Light flew away. It had been pure chance that he’d been in New Orleans when Leo had come calling. When he’d seen the SUV barreling down the road, when he’d seen the mighty Leo go flying after impact…

Priceless. So he’d just had to hang around. Just had to see what wonders waited for him.

And now, Gregory had a most precious prize. Leo was gone now, vanishing into the sky, but the human was still close by. He jumped from the building and his knees barely buckled when he touched down on the street below. Whistling, he closed in on his prey.

“I like the cape,” he called out to the human.

The guy spun toward him.

“Ah…the fangs are a nice touch, too,” Gregory said. “Gives that realistic edge that vamps need.” He tapped his own fangs. “I mean, how can you bite, without the fangs?”

The human frowned at him. “Do I know you?”

He stalked forward, closing the distance between them and clamping his hand over the human’s shoulder. “You and I…we’re going to be very close.”

“I need to get home—I’m supposed to sleep—”

“You’re going to tell me all about the woman named Amber. You’re going to tell me why Leo was after her…and then you’re going to tell me where I can find her.”

But the human yanked out his fake fangs. “Look, buddy, I don’t know anything—”

No, he probably didn’t, if Leo’s compulsion had wiggled into his brain. It was a good thing that Gregory knew how to work around that pesky compulsion. “Wrong answer.” Gregory jerked the human forward and sank his teeth into the fellow’s throat. Unlike the frat boy, he didn’t have fake fangs. His razor sharp teeth sliced deep. The human tried to scream, but Gregory just clamped his hand over the guy’s mouth. He drank deep, taking plenty of that sweet blood. And then, when he was sure his victim was too weak to fight, he pulled his teeth out of the guy’s throat.

“Now let’s try that again,” Gregory murmured. His hand rose from the human’s mouth as he gazed at the fool. He’d just made a blood bond between them. A bond that would shatter Leo’s compulsion. “You will tell me what I want to know…”

Because he’d spent years searching for a tool that he could use against Leo and his * brother Luke. And if he’d finally found a weapon in his battle…

I will use her until there is nothing left. I will use her, and the twins will be destroyed.

Leo had applied his mind control magic on the human, but Gregory had just created a blood bond between them. He would get the truth from the human…and if the guy resisted too hard, then Gregory would just f*cking kill him.

Why would he care if another human died?

If he had his way…Leo would die, too. Leo…Luke…everyone in his way.

Because Gregory had plans. Big, f*cking plans…and it was time for him to take the power that had always been destined to be his.





Chapter Five


Staring was rude. She shouldn’t stare. Amber knew that.