Vampire Assassin League Bundle 4 - Eternity by Jackie Ivie

slamming through the trusses with his shoulders. That move dislodged the roof sniper and sent debris raining down onto what was left of Anton.
    The sniper fell heavily, taking one of the shrubs with him. A grunt of pain shoved from him as he landed. Dev sent a glance there. The fellow might have broken a limb, but he’d live. Bullets and shouts were riddling the porch area now, as the guards assaulted it, adding chaos to the aftermath. A wall fell. Another groan came as more of the structure joined it.
    And then he was back.
    With her.
    “One head. As requested.”
    He lifted it, and did his best to ignore where it dripped already coagulating blood down his forearm.
    “They have alligators here, don’t they?”
    “Crocs. The tributaries here are salt water.”
    “Fine. Whatever. They’ll still eat... uh... severed heads. Yes?”
    Devereux smiled. She returned it.
    “Didn’t you have something to tell me?” he asked.
    “Yeah. I do. But I’m not telling you I love you while standing here with a dead guy’s head. I refuse.”
    There went the rocket fuses again. Devereaux jerked with holding it back. Anton’s head went flying. He didn’t even care where.
    “You hear me, Mister Perfect?”
    “Uh. Sydney. Love?”
    He was failing. And then she was at his side, holding to him, while he wrapped his arms about her. And just stood there. Shaking.
    “So. You planning to let me speak it? Or are we just going to stay here?”
    “Speak?”
    Damn. The word was garbled. His lips were even shaking.
    “Just get a move on, Handsome. Or I will. How do we fly again?”
    Devereaux didn’t bother with any explanation. He demonstrated.
    -o0o-

 
    Now or Forever
    by Jackie Ivie
    A Vampire Assassin League Novella
    “We Kill for Profit”
    14th in series
     

 
    CHAPTER ONE
    “What f -stop you using again, Griggins?”
    “It won’t matter what f -stop, what shutter speed, or even what lens, if we don’t get set up before zero dark thirty. Get a move on. We’re being paid for shots of Ta Prohm Temple. At dusk. They specifically want atmospheric and eerie. Looks like we got both. And by-the-way, it’s Len.”
    “Right. Len.”
    “It’s short for Leonard.”
    “Oh. Well, you better call me Stan, then.”
    “I thought your name was Roger.”
    “It is. Roger Stanislaw.”
    “Cute. And not expected. If you don’t mind my asking, who came up with that?”
    “You spend a lifetime in an eastern bloc army...you answer to what they call you.”
    “Stan works.” Len smacked at his thigh. “Bastard mosquitoes. Worse than any vampire can possibly be.”
    “I brought spray. 100% DEET. Here.”
    Stan tossed a can. Len tossed it right back. “Keep it.”
    “Why?”
    “Smell. It’s like a beacon. Besides, I think the bugs out here got weaned on the stuff. I’m seeing... eight o’clock. Second tier. I suppose you brought your tripod set-up?”
    “Eight o’clock. Got it. And I already told you, I never go anywhere without the tripod. Fits my new SLX with the f /4.0 lens. That way shutter speed isn’t an issue.”
    “Shutter speed is not going to be a problem, Stan. We’re filming an ancient, overgrown temple, not a sports event.”
    “Well. You never know. Action and movement might just happen. And I’ll be ready for it.” The man took a deep breath and coughed. “Shit. You were right about the DEET. Down and dirty.”
    “Exactly. And...look. There’s another great shot at two. Eagle.”
    Len watched Stan drop his duffle bag containing not only his tripod, but two long range rifles, assorted handguns, and ammo. Stan unzipped a section, got out a lens, and started scoping, supposedly for the best shot of the Ta Prohm Temple, one of the most unique temples in the Angkor Wat complex. And then a light rain began to fall, just to make things interesting.
    Angkor Wat. Cambodia. Fantastic place. According to the pamphlets, it was built in the twelfth century. Looked it. Supposedly the entire place was a map in stone of