Holiday with a Vampire 4 by Susan Krinard, Theresa Meyers, Linda Thomas-Sundstrom Read Free Book Online Page B

rank for this.”
    If Kane’s instincts about Goodman were right, the human deserved much worse. “Do these talks concern a truce?” he asked.
    “If he didn’t give you the details, I can’t.” She let out her breath. “I’m sorry, Kane. More than I can say.”
    “As long as you’re safe, it doesn’t matter.”
    She met his gaze with a frown. “Safe? Why shouldn’t I be?”
    “Goodman didn’t want ya to tell us ’bout this ‘new weapon’ o’ yours,” Alfie said. “And he weren’t too gentle about it, neither.”
    “In that one thing he was right,” Fiona said, flushing a little. “But now you’ve seen it.”
    “I’m under the impression that it kills Opiri,” Kane said. “Permanently, and without the need to hit the heart or brain. Evidently Goodman felt that particular method would induce us to tell him what we don’t know.”
    Fiona swept her hand over her hair. “I’ll take care of him and make sure you get what you need.”
    “What in God’s name is going on here?” an unfamiliar masculine voice said from the doorway.

Chapter 4
    “S enator Sandoval!” Fiona said, rising too quickly. She steadied herself, taking great care not to wobble.
    The ambassador surveyed the room, his eyes couched in deep hollows of exhaustion. “Why are these men still here? I thought you said they were free to go?”
    Fiona considered how much to tell him. She couldn’t forgive what her men had done to Kane and Alfie, but she still needed Goodman and the others to get to Sacramento. In spite of her very personal anger, she had great difficulty believing the commander’s behavior hadn’t been based on concern for her and the mission rather than his hatred for Nightsiders. He and his accomplices would be subject to disciplinary action, likely severe, when they returned to the Enclave, but before then she had to remind them who was in command in no uncertain terms.
    And find out what the hell Joel had been thinking, telling the Opiri about the talks and letting them see the new weapon.
    “Unlike you,” she said to Sandoval, “some of my men didn’t believe my story. They took it upon themselves to find out if Kane and his friend were lying about saving me or whether they’d been sent to lead us into a trap.”
    The senator raised a quizzical brow. “Is there a problem I should know about, Captain?”
    “I’ll inform you if there is, sir.”
    Sandoval seemed satisfied. “Are you hurt?” he asked, looking from Kane to Alfie. His gaze lingered on the holes in Kane’s uniform. “Do you require a medic?”
    “As I told Captain Donnelly,” Kane said, probing his knee with a barely perceptible wince, “it will heal soon enough.” He smiled crookedly. “I can hardly blame them for suspecting us, if your mission is so important.”
    “What do you know of our mission?”
    “Very little.”
    The senator glanced at Fiona, then turned back to the Opiri. “Captain Donnelly says you were bringing her here before her troops apprehended you, and that you never attempted to take her blood. If she trusts you, I’m inclined to do so, as well.”
    “Right generous o’ ya, guv,” Alfie said.
    Fiona’s legs chose that moment to go wobbly again, and she staggered. Bracing his arm against the wall behind him, Kane pushed himself to his feet, favoring his injured leg.
    “Senator,” he said to Sandoval, “I think Captain Donnelly still requires treatment.”
    “Indeed she does,” Sandoval said. “Captain, I believe the medic is waiting for you.”
    “I’m all right,” she insisted.
    “Fiona...” Kane said.
    “I’m fine,” she said. “Senator—”
    “Go,” Sandoval said. “That’s an order. I’ll see that these men are given what they need.”
    Fiona hesitated, retrieved the prototype weapon and then reluctantly walked toward the door. Lefevre and D’Agostino, who had been waiting outside, looked at her inquiringly.
    “The senator will be all right,” she said, handing the gun to