ChapterThirty-Two
Nix layon the roof of the building, watching as male Orlan vampires scurried about making the warehouse secure for his arrival.He hadn’t seen his sister or any of the Orlan women yet.Even though he was lying in the shade, the roof was hot, and the heat sank into his bones until he was sure he was melting.As easy as it would be to start picking off the men, he wanted to wait until the women arrived, and the location couldn’t be changed.
Then he’d start making a mess.
And it wouldn’t be his problem to clean up.He figured he might put down three or four before they worked where he was and stopped him.Then it would all be over.They’d drag him into the building, and the unfun part would begin.
Two hours until meeting time.
He wasn’t in a rush.
A shudder of warning raced over his skin.His fingers closed over the gun, but before he could turn, the cold muzzle of a gun pressed against the back of his neck.His stomach balled up, but he knew the man’s scent as well as his own.
“Don’t move and don’t make a sound,” Lance said.
Nix let some of the tension ease but kept the gun in his hand.He had knocked Lance out and borrowed his car, so Lance may not be feeling all that forgiving.“You shouldn’t be here.”
“Yeah, the plan has changed.”
Nix closed his eyes.Of course it had.Had he truly expected Lance to be on his side when the easy thing to do would be to turn him in?“What did they offer you?”
Lance lay down next to him and put his gun in sight but not out of reach.“Everything.”
Nix looked at the gun, then Lance, and knew he couldn’t make the first shot.He frowned.They were still talking, not bleeding.“Wait.Are you talking about your family or the Reids?”
“Reids.”
Nix rolled onto his side so he could look at Lance.“They agreed to help?”
“That might be overstating it.But the new plan is I walk you in and look like I’ve done my part.”
“And then we all die.”Thus absolving the Reids from doing anything.It was a very tidy plan.
Lance pressed his lips together.“You know, I think you need professional help.”
“Probably.But I’m a bit busy today to start looking for a therapist.”He wanted to reach out and touch Lance, kiss him so he remembered the taste of him for later.His fingers curled, but otherwise, he didn’t move.
“We aren’t going to die, okay?But you need to trust me.”
“You can’t tell me the rest of the plan.”And what he did know sounded shit.
Lance considered him for a moment.“You won’t like it.”
“I already don’t like it.Why wouldn’t the Reids take you in?”
“They would’ve, but I asked very nicely that they help you.”
Nix groaned and rolled onto his back.Nothing was ever free.“They didn’t want to help me when I asked.”Not even when he’d had a body at his feet.“What do I owe them?”
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit.”
Lance reached out, then hesitated before letting his hand touch Nix’s face.“Can we just do this and argue later?”
“And when there is no later?The Reids don’t care about you or me or any of this.If I were them, I’d be calling up the cops and having everyone involved arrested.There’ll be enough illegal firearms and conspiracies to commit murder to keep everyone locked up for decades.Not only that, but I’m also sure your family will rat me out and have the evidence to prove it, and I’ll end up serving several life sentences.Assuming I make it to sentencing.”
Lance stared at him.“I’m going to find you a therapist.And you’re going to stop smoking dope.”
