He deleted it just as fast as he typed it.There was no point.He was never going to see Lance again.They’d said their goodbyes.Anything he wrote would be for his benefit, not Lance’s.He rubbed the faded tattoo on his hand, wishing he could cut it out and forget it had ever existed.
ChapterThirty-One
“Honestly, I thought you were dead.”The vampire in a smart suit could have fitted beneath Lance’s chin, but underestimating him would’ve been Lance’s last mistake.
Two others made a sweep of the very fancy room.They were all wearing suits while he was in jeans with grass-stained knees and a coat that, even with the collar turned up, didn’t hide the raw bite on his neck.He’d been told to go this resort, and he had dutifully gotten the key from the front desk for the room and waited while the Reid family sent their people.
Garrick Reid didn’t look like the kind of man who got his hands dirty.He looked like the kind of bright mid-twenties up and coming executive or lawyer from the latest must-see TV show.He could’ve been anything from twenty-five to seventy-five.Aging stopped once bitten then returned in a rush.He’d never seen a vampire age out and die.Would it be terrifying to watch decades pile on in months?To change every time he looked in the mirror?
The two other Reid vampires nodded and left Garrick and him alone.
Lance remained sitting on the desk chair, having been well and truly frisked for weapons.He didn’t want to do anything that might startle this man into action.
Garrick smiled.“Why didn’t he kill you?”
“Why would he?”Lance’s cheeks heated even though he tried to be nonchalant.It was none of Garrick’s business, and if he was going to prance around and do nothing but ask awkward questions, Lance would get up and go.
“I see.Nixon Hadley does have a weakness.Pretty blonds he shouldn’t touch.”He leaned against the desk.
Lance nodded.That seemed to be about right.“Will you help?”
“I don’t kill problems.I fix them.”
“This is a problem that needs fixing.”
“Albany is no man’s land.If the Reids go in there, we are making a statement.”
“The Orlans are probably already there.What statement does that make?They’re brushing up against your territory.They’ve already had people slip through and attack others.”Lance leaned forward, and so did Garrick.
Garrick stared into Lance’s eyes.“You aren’t enchanted at all.”
“No.”
“But you’re willing to give up your family for him?TheNixon Hadley?We are talking about the same man.”Garrick’s eyebrows knitted.
“If you stop my family from killing him, you’ll find out.”Lance sighed, well aware he was running out of time.“Look, I know he looks bad on paper.”
Garrick smothered a laugh.“Efficient and ruthless are the words I’d use.But…incredibly fair.”
“I’d have said wounded.He just wants the winery and a chance to be something other than what he was forced to be.”But even Lance didn’t know if that was possible.Nix had been living this life for nearly ten years; it was ingrained in him, damaging every part of him until he was barely held together.
“You would beg for his life?”
Lance slid off the chair and onto his knees.If that’s what it took.
“Oh, get up.What kind of person do you take me for?”He held up his hand.“Don’t answer that I know more than enough about your family, too.Would he do the same for you?”
“He’s gone there, alone, to protect me.”Though, if the Reids didn’t offer him a place, he was as good as dead anyway.The hunter would become the hunted.“If you won’t help, I’ll go.”Lance stood.He didn’t have time to play games with Garrick.
Garrick glanced up at him.“Which winery?”
“What?”
“Which winery does he want?Humor me.Tell me who he wants to be.And then I’ll tell you what we can do.If anything.”
Lance sat back down.He glanced at the clock.Albany was several hours away.Nix was probably already there.For all he knew, he’d handed himself over early just to get it out of the way.
He might already be dead…or wishing he was dead.
