Slayed

Slayed by Amanda Marrone Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: Slayed by Amanda Marrone Read Free Book Online
Authors: Amanda Marrone
definitely
not
for amateurs.”
    “Jeez,” she says quietly. “I just wanted to help.” She rubs her backside where she landed on the ground. “And I
don’t
have a drinking problem—not every night, anyway. I would never drink on the job.”
    “Look, the police are going to arrive any second—”
    Her eyes widen. “The police know about vampires too?”
    “Yes,” I say wearily, as my temple starts to throb. “A lot of people know about them, but it’s kept quiet because it would cause mass panic, cripple the restaurant and entertainment industries, and it’s not something thegovernment wants to make common knowledge. Nine out of ten people will never even encounter a vampire.”
    “Wow, this is just like the Area 51 conspiracy, only with vampires. Cool.”
    I’m still having trouble fathoming what she thinks is so cool about this whole thing, but it’s clear she’s completely deranged. “Look, the vampire task force for South Bristol will take you and your driver to the station and negotiate a fee so you can be in on the
conspiracy
while keeping your mouth shut. Cool, right?”
    Kiki nibbles her lip and wobbles a little—the alcohol’s obviously hitting her again. “Does paying people even really work? You’d think the tabloids would be paying bigger bucks than the government ever would.”
    I look her in the eye. “If you don’t take the money, they kind of imply they’ll ruin you. As in you just
disappear
.”
    She shakes her head. “That’s fucked-up. But they don’t need to pay me. The last thing I need is
‘washed-up child star says driver was attacked by an army of vampires

news at eleven.’

    “
Please
stop saying ‘army of vampires,’” I beg.
    “Sorry,” she snaps. “I didn’t grow up hunting vampires so I don’t know everything like you do. I didn’t realize this was such an elitist profession.”
    I squeeze my eyes shut and, for the hundredth time,wonder what planet Kiki Crusher is from. “Killing vampires is not fun, cool, or fashionable. It just honest to God sucks!”
    She looks toward the car at her driver. “Maybe it’s not
fun
or
cool
, but it is important. Without you, Sam and I might be dead—or undead.”
    I hear a noisy muffler come up the alley and I’m relieved to see Mom and Dad pulling up in the van. A white hearselike car follows them and I figure that must be the South Bristol vamp squad.
    Mom and Dad get out and look at Kiki as if she’s some sort of wounded fawn. “Are you okay, Miss?” Dad asks gently.
    “I know this must have been quite a shock,” Mom says, reaching out a hand to pat Kiki’s shoulder. “You’re a very brave girl.”
    Mom’s laying it on thick—anything to keep us from looking bad during the negotiations.
    Two men with buzz cuts get out of the white car and march toward us. They’re wearing dark suits and no-nonsense attitudes. While Mom is trying to butter Kiki up, they’ll use the opposite technique and try to stay completely emotionless and avoid saying anything that might upset her more. Two men in hazmat suits get out of the back—the cleanup crew. I tilt my head toward the Dumpster so they can pick up the body.
    Dad points to me. “Agents, this is our daughter, Daphne. And this courageous young lady here is the one who witnessed the attack.”
    “I’m Special Task Force Agent Sloan,” the tall one says shaking Kiki’s hand. “You’ll need to come down to the station. We have a counselor waiting to help you deal with this …
event
.”
    I roll my eyes. I’ve never heard a member of a vampire task force actually use the word “vampire.”
    Kiki looks back and forth between my parents and Agent Sloan. I wait for her to tell them she’s fine, but then her bottom lip quivers and all of a sudden she’s sobbing uncontrollably. I’m stunned to see actual tears streaming down her cheeks.
    “It was so
horrible
,” she wails. “I thought my driver was going to
die
and then I’d be next.
This will haunt

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