His motel didn’t get a lot of business. Too old. Too hidden. But the supernaturals, hell, they loved to stop by his motel.
Maybe because it was hidden. Maybe they thought they’d be safe, nestled in the little rooms that were surrounded by mountains.
They thought wrong.
On the third ring, his call was answered. The person didn’t speak to him, but James knew the drill. “A man and a woman were just at my place, ” he said, “and the guy . . . his eyes were on fire.” The damnedest thing he’d ever seen.
James heard the swift inhalation of air on the other end of the line.
“Why didn’t you keep them there?” Wyatt demanded. “You know what you’re supposed to do when the paranormals come to you.”
James was supposed to do the usual routine. The one that brought him cash, and made the freaks disappear. Normally, he gave them one of the special rooms. When they slept, he pumped the place full of gas—some brew Wyatt had made. The supernaturals didn’t wake up, not even when Wyatt’s men came to haul them away.
And James got a nice bit of money for his trouble.
It was the perfect deal for him. Hell, he hadn’t even needed to install the vents in the rooms. Wyatt’s men had taken care of everything. Set up the ventilation system, got the drugs all in place for him.
All I have to do is give the supernaturals the right room key.
It was a perfect deal for him.
“They wouldn’t take a room.” His mistake. He’d come off too aggressive. At first, he’d thought he was dealing with humans. He’d heard their voices as they argued, though, and he knew . . . “But they’re coming your way. I heard ’em mention Beaumont.”
He didn’t want to know how those two had found out about Beaumont. He sure as hell would never go there. If he did, James knew he’d find too many supernaturals gunning for him.
“Thanks for the tip.” A brief pause. “You’ll be getting your payment soon.”
James smiled. He was getting close to retirement. A few more grand, and he’d kiss these mountains good-bye.
The call ended. James took his rifle and his phone and headed back toward the motel. Dead leaves crunched beneath his feet.
“Bad mistake . . .” The words seemed to drift on the wind.
James spun around. But no one was there.
“I remember you . . .” That voice again. Dark. Angry.
James dropped his phone and clutched his rifle tighter. He started to back up, heading toward the office.
He backed right into something. Someone.
James spun around, lifting his gun.
The gun was snatched from him. Tossed away.
A man stood before him. No, not a man. The bastard before him had fangs. “Do you remember me?” the vampire asked.
Blond hair. Tall. Big. With death in his eyes.
Gulping, shaking, James shook his head.
“Maybe you’ve drugged so many of us that you just can’t remember. . . .”
He couldn’t. He tried not to remember. But sometimes, those faces still slipped into his nightmares. “P-please . . .”
“Please make it quick?” the vampire finished.
No, that hadn’t been—
The blond grabbed James’s throat and yanked him forward. “I will because, you see, I have other business tonight.”
James tried to break free, but the vamp was too strong.
“You sent me to hell,” the vampire told him. “Now guess where you’re going.”
James couldn’t scream. The pressure on his throat was too much. Then the fingers lifted. He sucked in air.
The vampire plunged his teeth into James’s neck. The bite was brutal. A burning pain that ripped and tore and he could hear the vampire gulping and drinking and . . .
James hit the ground. Everything was even darker. He tried to speak, but couldn’t. He could hear the drumming of his heartbeat. So loud, but growing . . . slower.
“Now I’ve got to go.” The vampire’s voice. The guy was walking away. Leaving him to die alone on the dirt. “You know how it is . . . places to go, more people to eat . . .”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Eve hunched down beside Cain as they studied the Beaumont facility. It hadn’t been too hard to find the place. They’d spotted a black SUV as soon as they entered the small town, seen the two men driving, and tagged them for military. Since the rest of the town consisted of boarded-up old buildings, the shiny SUV had instantly caught their attention.
From what she could tell, Beaumont was a ghost town—the perfect place for Wyatt to conduct more of his experiments.
Once they’d spotted the SUV, it had just been a matter of following those guys back to Wyatt and his facility.
Another lab. A tall, chain-link fence surrounded the facility. The fence was topped with barbed wire. Eve counted four guards patrolling near the gate—and there was only one gate. They were armed. Very armed. Rifles in their hands. Two guns strapped to each hip. Overkill.
“Guess they don’t want any visitors,” she said, voice soft. So much for being a big, old voluntary facility.
She couldn’t tell much about the building. It was big, made of heavy stone, and the back of the place seemed to sink into the side of the mountain. Eve was willing to bet that they were looking at the top layer of the lab.
With Wyatt, what you saw wasn’t what you got.
“How many layers?” Eve muttered, frowning. Just how many levels were there in that place? How far down would they have to go?
“No sign of the vampire,” Cain said, his own eyes sweeping over the facility. “Or if he’s been here, he didn’t leave any blood in his wake.”
Eve swallowed. “There are cameras stationed every five feet on the building.” They could take out the guards, but they’d be monitored on-screen. Unless . . . “Think you could raise some fire?” The fire and smoke could block out their image. With that distraction and smoke cover, they could get inside the gate.
Cain gave her a smile with a wicked edge. “Always.” The flames flickered in his eyes. “But I’ll need a charge . . .”
What?
He had her in his arms. Crushed against his chest. His lips took hers. So wild and hot. His hands were in her hair and she found her nails digging into his shoulders.
Heat built between them. She could actually feel the rise of the fire. Burning, burning . . .
Then he was gone. Pulling away from her and moving so fast, he’d already knocked out the four guards before she could even lift her fist. Then a wall of fire and smoke surrounded the building.