Reborn (Shadow Falls: After Dark #1)(71)

“I … I just felt it,” Kylie said. “I knew Lucas was the one. But … if you are questioning it, I would say you aren’t sure.”

“That’s not what I wanted to hear.” Miranda dropped back on the bed.

“I’m sorry,” Della said. “I probably should have kept my mouth shut.”

“No, you’re being honest,” Miranda said.

Della sighed. “Sometimes the truth sucks.” And she wasn’t just thinking about Lee, but about the ghost being her uncle or her aunt. And about not having a clue how to find Chan.

“Yeah,” Kylie said. “That’s why we have each other.”

The slight buzzing noise sent Della on full alert. She hadn’t slept yet, going back and forth over the pros and cons of going out looking for a gang.

Carefully, she slipped out of bed, snatched the phone, and headed to the bathroom. As she closed the door, she saw it was two a.m.

She checked the number. Her first choice was for it to be Chan. Her second was … Kevin Miller. Kevin it was.

“Hello,” she answered, hopeful.

“Della?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s Kevin.”

“I know, did you find Chan?”

“Where are you?”

“I told you in the message, I’m in Houston.” No way would she tell him Kylie’s address. Della would bet one vampire under Ms. Galen’s roof at a time was all the woman could handle.

“Houston’s big. What part?”

“Why?”

“I’m here myself. And I … sort of have news.”

“What?”

“I think we should meet.”

“Why?”

“Do you want the info or not?” he snapped.

Decision time. Shit. Shit. Shit. She remembered Chan taking care of her when she turned, wiping her brow with a wet washcloth, telling her she couldn’t die. She had to do it.

“Where do you want to meet?”

Della landed in the park in northwest Houston where Kevin had suggested. It was only about ten miles from Kylie’s home, but she was already late. Miranda had stirred when she went in to change clothes, so she’d waited a few minutes to let the witch fall back into slumber.

It was dark in the park. Lots of pine trees hid the sliver of the moon. She inhaled deeply, seeing if he was here. She didn’t catch a scent. Looking around, she reconfirmed her goal: Get information about Chan and get the hell out. Hopefully, without Kylie or Miranda even knowing she’d left—especially without Holiday or Burnett learning about her little trip.

She pulled out her phone and checked the time. Had he already shown up and left? She listened to the night. Silence. Too silent.

She was giving him five minutes to show and then she was out of here.

“It took you a while.” The voice came from behind her and echoed in the night’s darkness.

Her breath caught. Damn it! Her senses were off again. She’d considered circling the park to see if she could see anyone. But because she’d been late, she’d ended up trusting her senses. A mistake.

What was it going to cost her?

Wiping all shock from her expression, she turned, the heels of her boots cutting grooves into the wet dirt beneath a layer of pine straw. She stared in the direction she’d heard the voice. She saw nothing but a clump of pine trees standing tall, looming over the earth as if keeping watch.

From now on she had to be extra careful. She could have walked right into an ambush. Or maybe she did. With at least eight pines in the brush, and more surrounding her, rogues could be hiding. She took in another breath, checking the night air for scents.

Just one. Or so her senses told her. But could she trust them?

Hell, no. She tensed, ready to fight if needed.

A sudden snap of a twig filled the darkness. A cloud must have shifted, because the moon’s glow came out to play and touched the straw-covered ground.

Another, almost silent footfall came from the same direction.

Thankfully, only one guy walked out from behind a tree. And with the moon’s glow she made him out. Blond, light eyes. He reminded her of Chris at Shadow Falls. On the small side. Probably only five-eight, and sort of slim. She could take him if she had to.

Just as she checked him out, she noticed him doing the same. Chances were, however, he underestimated her. She was stronger than she looked.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” he asked.

Della took another deep noseful of air, and this time she recognized his scent. “Vaguely. It must have been right after I was turned.”

He continued to stare. “Chan brought you by. You were still pretty out of it.” His gaze shifted down her, this time checking her out in a different way. A male kind of way.

Had she acted inappropriately when she’d first met him? God, she hoped not.

He took a couple of steps closer.

She lifted her chin a notch. “I’m not out of it anymore.”

“You can relax, I’m not here to cause trouble.”

“Right,” she said, as if she’d take his word. “You’re here to give me information on Chan. Where is he?”

He glanced down at the ground and kicked at some clump of pine straw. The green earthy smell rose up into her nose. In the distance she heard a bird call. The lonely sound seemed to bounce against the trees, and Della felt the cold October air seep beneath her long black T-shirt.