hindsight, I realize I should have let Micah know of my plans first, to smooth the way."
Yeah, Alejandro's love of the dramatic had put him in trouble this time. “Well, you might want to work on calming some of them down unless you want a war on your hands."
He nodded wearily. “There is only one you have not yet tested. Myself."
I didn't need to. The vamp leader had been within my sight the entire time. “That won't be necessary,” I said, hoping he'd think it was because I trusted him.
He raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. Instead, he surprised me by asking, “How would you like to come work for the New Blood Movement?"
"Huh?” I responded stupidly.
He leaned forward. “Thanks to you, I have an opening for a new lieutenant in my organization. Your ability would come in very handy to smoke out any other traitors, ensure everyone who joins the movement is genuine, protect our interests among the demons and with the humans in the SCU."
Okay, I still felt stupid, ‘cause I sure couldn't figure out why he was asking me. “You do realize that I work for the SCU, right? That I'm called the Slayer because I kill people like you?"
"Not people like me,” he said with a smile. “People like those vampires who are not in my organization. And the fact that you called us people is very telling."
It was? I didn't know how to respond to that, so I said nothing.
"I'll double whatever the SCU is paying you."
"I don't do it for the money,” I protested.
"I know, but having some extra cash doesn't hurt. What do you say?"
I wanted to blurt out an instant “no,” but his offer was a little tempting. Not have to work with Dan, or be treated like a freak anymore by the normal humans . . . ?
No, if I went to work for Alejandro I'd be shunned as a murderer by his vamps and as a traitor by the demons and the San Antonio police department. How was that any better?
But before I could respond either way, he added, “Why don't you think about it and get back to me?"
I couldn't see myself working for him in any future I could envision, but there was no sense in turning him down right away. It wouldn't hurt to let him think I was considering it. “Okay. And thank you very much for letting me question your people about the . . . missing item,” I said, trying to be diplomatic for a change. Micah would be proud of me.
The leader of the New Blood Movement inclined his head. “This was but a small favor. I am still in your debt."
Okay. Not sure how he kept score, but I wasn't going to argue when the outcome was to my advantage. He rose to walk me to the front door. At first I wondered if it was to ensure I didn't wander places I shouldn't, but no, he was probably just doing the gentlemanly thing.
He opened the door to escort me out, but halted as Austin hurried into the hallway waving a cell phone. “There's something wrong at the Fort Sam blood bank."
Oh, crap. Another blood bank, another vamp gone mad? “What kind of trouble?” I asked.
But Alejandro said, “Let's go,” and practically flew to the limo parked in the driveway. Austin jumped in the driver's seat and they took off.
Worried about who might get hurt, I jumped on the back of my motorcycle and zoomed after them. The blood bank was just outside Fort Sam Houston, in another of San Antonio's old hotels that had been converted to a new purpose. On my bike, I might be able to get there faster than Alejandro.
I did get there first, but a teenaged preppy type was guarding the door, holding her arms outstretched in front of it. “I'm sorry, the blood bank is closed tonight,” she told a man who was trying to get in. She looked a bit freaked out. Whatever was going on in there, a human volunteer like her shouldn't have to deal with it. Look what had happened to Brittany . . .
The man tried to push his way past, but she was determined to stop him. Before he could get too physical, I let Lola loose and she wrapped her wiles around him. Just like that, he was
Yeah, Alejandro's love of the dramatic had put him in trouble this time. “Well, you might want to work on calming some of them down unless you want a war on your hands."
He nodded wearily. “There is only one you have not yet tested. Myself."
I didn't need to. The vamp leader had been within my sight the entire time. “That won't be necessary,” I said, hoping he'd think it was because I trusted him.
He raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. Instead, he surprised me by asking, “How would you like to come work for the New Blood Movement?"
"Huh?” I responded stupidly.
He leaned forward. “Thanks to you, I have an opening for a new lieutenant in my organization. Your ability would come in very handy to smoke out any other traitors, ensure everyone who joins the movement is genuine, protect our interests among the demons and with the humans in the SCU."
Okay, I still felt stupid, ‘cause I sure couldn't figure out why he was asking me. “You do realize that I work for the SCU, right? That I'm called the Slayer because I kill people like you?"
"Not people like me,” he said with a smile. “People like those vampires who are not in my organization. And the fact that you called us people is very telling."
It was? I didn't know how to respond to that, so I said nothing.
"I'll double whatever the SCU is paying you."
"I don't do it for the money,” I protested.
"I know, but having some extra cash doesn't hurt. What do you say?"
I wanted to blurt out an instant “no,” but his offer was a little tempting. Not have to work with Dan, or be treated like a freak anymore by the normal humans . . . ?
No, if I went to work for Alejandro I'd be shunned as a murderer by his vamps and as a traitor by the demons and the San Antonio police department. How was that any better?
But before I could respond either way, he added, “Why don't you think about it and get back to me?"
I couldn't see myself working for him in any future I could envision, but there was no sense in turning him down right away. It wouldn't hurt to let him think I was considering it. “Okay. And thank you very much for letting me question your people about the . . . missing item,” I said, trying to be diplomatic for a change. Micah would be proud of me.
The leader of the New Blood Movement inclined his head. “This was but a small favor. I am still in your debt."
Okay. Not sure how he kept score, but I wasn't going to argue when the outcome was to my advantage. He rose to walk me to the front door. At first I wondered if it was to ensure I didn't wander places I shouldn't, but no, he was probably just doing the gentlemanly thing.
He opened the door to escort me out, but halted as Austin hurried into the hallway waving a cell phone. “There's something wrong at the Fort Sam blood bank."
Oh, crap. Another blood bank, another vamp gone mad? “What kind of trouble?” I asked.
But Alejandro said, “Let's go,” and practically flew to the limo parked in the driveway. Austin jumped in the driver's seat and they took off.
Worried about who might get hurt, I jumped on the back of my motorcycle and zoomed after them. The blood bank was just outside Fort Sam Houston, in another of San Antonio's old hotels that had been converted to a new purpose. On my bike, I might be able to get there faster than Alejandro.
I did get there first, but a teenaged preppy type was guarding the door, holding her arms outstretched in front of it. “I'm sorry, the blood bank is closed tonight,” she told a man who was trying to get in. She looked a bit freaked out. Whatever was going on in there, a human volunteer like her shouldn't have to deal with it. Look what had happened to Brittany . . .
The man tried to push his way past, but she was determined to stop him. Before he could get too physical, I let Lola loose and she wrapped her wiles around him. Just like that, he was
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