The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer Read Free Book Online Page B

a while to clean up your stupid mess,” Diego told Kevin. “It was almost dawn by the time I got to what was left of
     the house. Had to sit in a cave filled with water all day.”
    “Go tattle to Riley. Whatever.”
    “I see the little girl made it, too,” said a new voice, and I shuddered because it was Raoul. I felt a little bit of relief
     that he didn’t know my name, but mostly I just felt horrified that he’d noticed me at all.
    “Yeah, she followed me.” I couldn’t see Diego, but I knew he was shrugging.
    “Aren’t you the savior of the hour?” Raoul said snidely.
    “We don’t get extra points for being morons.”
    I wished Diego wouldn’t taunt Raoul. I hoped Riley would come back soon. Only Riley could curb Raoul even the littlest bit.
    But Riley was probably out hunting dregs kids to bring to
her
. Or doing whatever else he did while he was away.
    “Interesting attitude you got, Diego. You think that Riley likes you so much he’s gonna care if I kill you. I think you’re
     wrong. But either way, for tonight, he already thinks you’re dead.”
    I could hear the others moving. Some probably to back Raoul up, others just getting out of the way. I hesitated in my hiding
     spot, knowing I wasn’t going to let Diego fight them alone, but worried about blowing our cover if it didn’t come to that.
     I hoped Diego had survived this long because he had some crazy combat skills. I wasn’t going to have much to offer in that
     department. There were three members of Raoul’s gang here, and some others that might help out just to get on his good side.
     Would Riley get home before they had time to burn us?
    Diego’s voice was calm when he answered. “You’re really that afraid to take me on alone? Typical.”
    Raoul snorted. “Does that ever work? I mean, besides in movies. Why should I take you on alone? I don’t care about
beating
you. I just want to
end
you.”
    I rolled into a crouch, tensed to spring.
    Raoul kept talking. He liked the sound of his own voice a lot.
    “But it’s not gonna take all of us to deal with you. These two will take care of the other evidence of your unfortunate survival.
     Little what’s-her-name.”
    My body felt icy, frozen solid. I tried to shake it off so I could fight my best. Not that it would have made a difference.
    And then I felt something else, something totally unexpected—a wave of revulsion so overpowering that I couldn’t hold my crouch.
     I crumpled to the floor, gasping with horror.
    I was not the only one to react. I heard disgusted snarls and retching sounds from every corner of the basement. A few people
     retreated to the edges of the room, where I could see them. They strained against the wall, stretching their necks away as
     if they could escape the horrible feeling. At least one of these was a member of Raoul’s gang.
    I heard Raoul’s distinctive growl, and then heard it fade as he took off up the stairs. He wasn’t the only one to make a break
     for it. About half of the vampires in the basement cleared out.
    I didn’t have that choice. I could barely move. And then I realized this had to be because I was so close to Freaky Fred.
     He was responsible for what was happening. And as horrible as I felt, I was still able to realize that he’d probably just
     saved my life.
    Why?
    The sensation of disgust faded slowly. As soon as I could, I crept to the edge of the couch and took in the aftermath. All
     of Raoul’s gang was gone, butDiego was still there, on the far end of the big room by the TVs. The vampires who remained were slowly relaxing, though
     everybody looked a little shaken. Most of them were shooting cautious glances in Fred’s direction. I peeked at the back of
     his head, too, though I couldn’t see anything. I looked away quickly. Looking at Fred brought back some of the nausea.
    “Keep it down.”
    The deep voice came from Fred. I’d never heard him speak before. Everyone stared and then looked away immediately as