Baited Blood by Sue Ann Jaffarian Page A

it.”
    “I can afford a new car if I want one, Samuel. You guys pay me very well, and the Dedhams refuse to let me pay room and board.”
    “The council will still pay for the car, and you can continue squirreling your money away.” Samuel turned serious. “As I’ve told you before, Madison, vampires never know when they must disappear. If that happens, you need to be prepared to start over.” His demeanor changed back to playful. “I do hope you’re not still keeping your money in a tampon box.”
    Madison shook her head, remembering how she used to do that before coming to the Dedhams’ home. Hiding money was a habit she’d developed from years of foster care, when she didn’t know when or where she would be moved. Years of distrust had been layered one on top of the other like a lopsided cake.
    “No. Doug has invested the money I had left from my great aunt Eleanor, and I’m building a healthy bank account thanks to my job with the council. Though I still keep ready cash, just as I’m sure you do.” She fixed him with a knowing eye.
    He smiled at her accurate assumption. He did have a sizeable stash ready to move with him at a moment’s notice. All smart vampires did.
    “Samuel,” Madison began just before she pulled out her door keys, “is Keleta going to make it? I mean, will he be able to live as a vampire, or will he be … you know … terminated?”
    Under the outside light, Samuel took her left hand, bent over it, and kissed her knuckles. “You have such a tender heart, Madison Rose. Tough and tender, that’s you.” Continuing to hold on to her hand, he said, “It’s still early, but both Byron and Ricky seem to think the boy is salvageable and could have a lot to offer the vampire community in time.”
    Madison gave a noticeable sigh of relief. “I’m glad.”
    Samuel turned her hand over and studied the palm, running an index finger over her plain and solitary lifeline. When he looked up at her, a wide grin spread across his face like freshly hung laundry.
    “Too bad you don’t have a bloodline, Madison. You’d make an excellent vampire.”

TEN
    M ike Notchey picked Madison up at six forty-five for their run. Madison had crawled out of bed at six thirty.
    “Long night?” he asked as soon as they were on their way.
    “Yeah.” Madison buckled her seat belt and slouched in the seat. “Got home around one. Bed by one thirty. An early night by council standards.”
    “We could have skipped the run. I could have met up with you later to get the scoop.”
    “The run energizes me, and I do okay on five hours of sleep.”
    Notchey half laughed. “Tell me that in another ten years—even in five.”
    On the way to the trail, Madison got him up to speed about Keleta.
    “You have any ideas about this ‘castle’?” Madison asked just as they were getting out of the car and warming up.
    “Not off the top of my head, but I’ll look into it. I do know of a place up in Glendora that looks like a castle, but I doubt that’s it.”
    “And,” she added, “Samuel wants to get me a new car. Any idea what model I should get? I’m thinking a hybrid of some kind.”
    Notchey grunted.
    They ran in silence, with Notchey keeping a better pace with her than before. He was quickly getting used to the hilly trail. When they returned to the parking lot, Madison didn’t have to wait for him. He’d arrived with her, though puffing harder and sweating more.
    “Nice work, Notchey. I didn’t have to leave you in the dust today.”
    He produced a water bottle, twisted the top off, and handed it to her. “Pretty soon, I’ll be waiting on you.”
    She took a drink. “I doubt it, old man.” She giggled and shook her water at him, splashing it in his face.
    “ ‘Old man’ ?”
    Notchey grabbed for the bottle, but Madison quickly twisted it out of his reach. She followed the movement back around, hitting his head with another spray of water.
    “So that’s how it is,” he said with a