Innocence and Evil (The Arcadia Falls Chronicles #6) by Jennifer Malone Wright Read Free Book Online Page B

the
chance because Luke shuffled into the kitchen right then. “All
right, kids, it’s time to start the plans to stake out where we are
going to find these vampires.”
    I had the distinct feeling that Luke had
been watching us on the cameras, since he didn’t want to discuss
the guys in the basement.
    Drew cleared his throat. “From what Oscar
got out of one of our guys, they are based at the old library. He
says there are two leaders, Edgar and Tristan.”
    “And about twenty vampires total,” I added.
“I think we can take all of them with just our group.”
    Luke wrinkled his brow. “I don’t know, I’d
feel better about bringing in another team, just to be safe.”
    “He’s right.” Chloe leaned back in her seat.
“We do have the Dragons to consider. We don’t know how many of them
there are and they will fight for their vampires.”
    True enough. “Do you think that if we take
out these vamps it will finally end this problem we have with
them?”
    Chloe shook her head. “We couldn’t kill
Anthony because of me, but there is also Pavlos to consider. We
can’t concentrate on him right now, but it’s something we are going
to have take care of eventually.”
    Most everyone in the group nodded. We all
knew that trying to find Pavlos wasn’t going to be an easy task.
“Well,” Luke clapped his hands together, “First things first. We
have to protect our own city, so we need to take care of this
particular problem. To do that, you all need to try and get some
sleep. We head out at noon.”
    Drew stood, grabbing his shoulder holster
from the back of the chair. “Do you want me to go to Arcadia Falls
and get the team ready?”
    “No,” Luke shook his head. “I’ll take care
of that. You go get some rest.”
    “Yes sir.” Drew nodded and left the room.
Chloe hurried to catch up with him and everyone else slowly
followed.
    I stayed in my chair, watching them leave
and thinking about the people who had become my family. Drew was a
natural leader, also the strong silent type who didn’t like taking
orders from anyone. But, when it came to Luke he was all, ‘yes sir,
no sir.’ Aside from Chloe, no one else could talk that guy down
when he set his mind to something.
    My mom was the only one who had that effect
on me. Now, Christina might be the only one who even came close to
being that person who could get into my head. I looked up and saw
that she was waiting for me.
    “Are you coming?” she asked.
    “You know I’m not going to sleep,” I told
her.
    She flashed me a sexy smile. “I didn’t think
you would. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t still go to bed.” With
that, she glided out of the kitchen.
    ***
    The early light of dawn streamed through the
curtains of my bedroom window. I’d told Christina the truth, I
hadn’t slept. I guess that part would come later. Or maybe, not
sleeping was part of what I’d become, maybe I would never sleep
like a normal person again. Not for the first time, I wondered if
I’d been given a gift or if it was a curse.
    After slipping quietly out of bed, I took a
long, hot shower. When I got back to the bedroom, wearing fresh
jeans and a tee shirt, Christina was laying against the pillows
with her eyes open.
    “Hey,” I greeted her.
    “Hey,” she said back.
    I flopped down onto the bed beside her. “So,
are we going to talk about what’s bothering you?”
    She shook her head, feigning an innocent
expression. “Nothing is bothering me.”
    I turned onto my side and kissed her
shoulder. “Come on, this is me. I know something has been going on
with you for a few days.”
    “It’s nothing,” she insisted.
    “Look, I know I’ve had a lot going on, but
I’m not the selfish bastard everyone wants to believe I am, now
spill it.”
    She closed her eyes and then opened them
again, as if she had to pause and think of what she wanted to say.
“I don’t like to complain about stuff.”
    I smiled at that because it was true. “I
know you’re a tough