She ran to the window, peering down, and, sure enough, his body was a crumpled, bloody mess below. He’d hit the big statue that sat on the middle of the fountain near the hotel’s entrance, and he looked…Amber swallowed. “I’m guessing that’s a broken neck and back.”
“And Gregory won’t be down for long, so come on.” He reached for her hand, but stopped when he saw she clutched a jagged chunk of glass. “Planning to use that on me?”
“When a vampire flies in a fourteenth floor window, a smart woman holds tight to any weapon she can find.”
He shook his head. “Glass doesn’t work so well against a vamp.”
“It does if you use the glass to cut off a vamp’s head.” She gave him a grim smile. “Works great then.”
“And you’ve cut off a vamp’s head before?” Cass seemed doubting.
“Yes.” He shouldn’t doubt.
Surprise flashed on his face. Then Cass glanced back out the window. “He’s starting to move. We have to go.” He reached out for the glass.
She yanked her hand back. “Your gloves!”
He immediately froze. “Fuck. Fuck. I didn’t think—I could have—”
Could have killed me.
He spun and marched to retrieve the gloves he’d dropped on the floor. He also grabbed for her suitcase again. Good of him. She had a special prize in that bag that she’d truly hate to lose.
“Amber, let’s get the hell out of here.”
She glanced below. The wind rushed through that gaping window. The vampire was moving. Definitely time to get the hell out of here. She kept her glass and she followed the Reaper.
***
Humans were swarming around him.
“Suicide…can you believe it?”
“I saw the guy jump right out of the window…”
“Oh, God, I think he’s still alive…”
Gregory’s eyes opened. He couldn’t move his legs, not yet, mostly because he was sure his spine was severed. Dammit. Cass could be such a bastard. A selfish bastard who wanted to keep all the glory to himself.
Too bad, asshole. Time for a new lead hunter. I’ve got plans for Amber…and for Luke. Plans that have been in the works for a very, very long time.
A woman scrambled toward him. Her eyes were wide and worried and the faintest odor of alcohol clung to her. “We’re going to help you!”
Because he was still half-in the fountain, she had to slosh her way to his side. Gregory turned his head and realized the water around him had turned red.
Such a waste of blood.
“I’m a nurse,” she said quickly. “I need you to lie still. You’ve got some serious wounds so please, don’t try to make any sudden movements—”
His hand flew out and he grabbed her wrist. In the next breath, he’d yanked her against him and shoved his teeth in her throat.
That sudden enough for you, baby?
“What’s he doing?” A man’s voice barked out.
Getting my ass stronger, that’s what.
Her hands fluttered against his chest. He kept drinking and the humans around him—they didn’t even try to stop him.
That was the thing with humans. Emotions controlled them too much. Shock, fear. Horror. They didn’t want to believe what they were seeing. And when they finally did believe…it was too late.
Chapter Seven
The ding-ding-ding of a winning slot machine filled the air. Their hotel lobby connected with the nearby casino, and Cass was using that connection to his advantage. He raced through the maze of slot machines and then cleared the blackjack tables. Gregory would need time to heal. The vamp would probably have to find a blood donor, too, so that gave Cass and Amber the lead they needed.
“Wait, dammit, just wait!” Amber dug in her heels.
Growling, he turned back toward her.
“Who was that guy?”
“Gregory.”
She gave a quick little eye roll and muttered, “I got that part. I also got the vamp part.”
“Then you know everything that’s important. And we’ve wasted enough time.” He pulled her forward and they rushed out of the emergency exit. They were in an alley, a dimly lit one, and he saw a motorcycle just waiting a few feet away. He pulled her toward the bike.
“Are you stealing that motorcycle?” Her voice was scandalized—and far too loud.
He looked down at the suitcase he’d lugged all the way from New Orleans. “That item you took from Luke…is it in here?”
Her lips clamped together.
Hell, maybe that was a yes. It was probably a yes. He took out the contents and shoved them into the saddle bags.
“Hey, be careful with that! That’s everything I own!”
Then she didn’t own much. And the thought pissed him off. He tossed away the suitcase and hopped on the motorcycle. Cass tried to figure out exactly how to hotwire it. It had been at least five years since he’d had to hotwire a Harley.
Amber didn’t climb onto the bike with him. She just kept standing there, looking all scandalized. Given their current situation, he didn’t think there was really a need for scandal.
Hello, I’m Death. And you’re surprised that I steal because…? Cass sighed. “Newsflash, sweets. The other ride we were in happened to be stolen, too.”
Her lips formed a little O.
“Now, we need to get our asses out of here. Gregory doesn’t give up easily, and if the guy thinks he can take you, he is sure going to try.”
She pushed his hands out of her way. “Let a professional work.”