Holding his body, I slid him down to the floor without a clatter, then scooped up the headpiece and slipped it on. Just in case Sean decided to change things up.

Hurrying, I raced to the other side of the blasted-out hotel. The few remaining walls provided perfect cover. Headlights appeared and the soldier on my headset confirmed her arrival.

"I see a car, sir."

"Excellent. She's on time," Sean said. "Well trained, I will give her that. Keep an eye out, I expect her vamp to tail her in." The men laughed in chorus.

Interesting. His words only confirmed what I'd guessed. They were baiting me. But why? Just to protect the vampires? Or was there something more as per Caine's hints at my blood being pure? Why did I get the feeling it was the latter possibility?

"No one touches a hair on Rachel's head," Sean added, much to my surprise. Perhaps he wasn't as much of a bad guy as I'd thought. I snorted; I was going soft.

I watched from my spot as Rachel slid out of a taxi before it spun and pulled away. She approached the hotel. The solider watching the front entrance was so focused, I didn't have to use any sort of distraction. Just snuck up behind him and cracked his neck like I'd done to his buddy.

No biting, though. The last thing I wanted was for Sean and whomever the f.u.c.k he worked for to get more of my DNA. As he slid to the floor, a piece of paper waved at me from his back pocket. I pulled it out, my eyes going wide. This would be the final nail in Sean's coffin, but I had to play it carefully. I tucked the paper into my vest.

I raced to find a stairwell, searching the rubble for a good three minutes before I found something that would work. An old elevator shaft.

"Good enough," I whispered, forgetting all about the headpiece. One of the remaining soldiers snorted.

"What are you talking about?"

"Quiet," I growled, hoping to h.e.l.l I sounded manly enough. Apparently it worked, as the others went silent. I s.h.i.+mmied down the shaft, using the old cables as ropes. The elevator doors hung open down below. I peered out to see one of the soldiers was right in front of me. Too d.a.m.n easy.

I slid out one of my knives and worked my way back up the cable so I was suspended at the height of his head. Slamming the knife forward, I drove it through the back of his skull and held it there while he twitched and jumped like a fish on a line. There was a sharp clatter of his gun hitting the floor, but that was it.

"What the f.u.c.k are you doing? Sean's going to have our a.s.ses if you blow our f.u.c.king cover."

I didn't answer the last solider. He was the lucky one. He was the one I was going to catch and hold for that perfect moment.

The moment I'd show Rachel what a complete and total traitor Sean was.

I couldn't help the grin that slid across my face.

CHAPTER 24.

RACHEL.

The taxi's taillights faded as I eyed the run-down, abandoned hotel. This was a setup and I needed to be prepared. The papers were tucked in my bag. My gun was loaded and in a holster strapped to my chest, hidden under my jacket. But he'd be ready for that.

G.o.d, I was such a fool.

But he wouldn't expect the knife strapped to my leg under my jeans and the one up my jacket sleeve.

I opened the car door and stepped out, taking in the black SUV parked in front of the entrance and a garbage truck to the side. I didn't see any of Sean's men lurking around, but then, he'd never been sloppy.

The heels of my boots clanked against the pavement as I made my way to the broken front door. I pulled out my gun and held it up in front of me. After the ambush at the bakery shop, Sean would expect me to come prepared.

The gla.s.s was busted out of the front door. I eased through, keeping an eye out so I wouldn't be blindsided. The place looked ransacked, and there were pieces of tile and chunks of drywall everywhere. I turned a corner and saw Sean leaning against a pole, holding a flashlight.

"Rachel." Relief filled his eyes. "I was so worried." He reached for me and I resisted the urge to stiffen as I lowered the gun. He pulled me into a hug.

"Why are we meeting here?"

"It's best we lie low. You can put your gun away. We're alone. Did you bring Derrick's research?"

I stuffed my gun into my holster, thankful that it bought me some time. Should I play stupid or ask questions? He knew I wasn't a fool. Asking questions was built into my DNA. "How did you get involved in this?" I asked.

His shoulders relaxed slightly. "There are reports of terrorists in Ohio. But we think they're running trials here in the city. I'm here to investigate."

"You said they were trying them out in the wild. Do the terrorists want to kill or infect?" He gave me a surprised look. "Bioterrorism lends itself to infection. But what is their particular focus? Death or infection?"

"Both."

"I saw some. When I escaped. The terrorists must have brought them when they were tracking us."

He looked alarmed. "They didn't bite or scratch you, did they?"

"No. Is that how they infect?"

He studied me for a second. "We don't know."

"So we need to capture one."

"We?" he asked in surprise. "You're not capturing anything."

"Then what am I doing here? I want to help put a stop to this."

"I'm trying to keep you safe." He put a hand on my shoulder. "In addition to the terrorists, I think the vampire is targeting you next."

"Me?" My shock was genuine. "Why?"

"Our sources say she knows you're getting close and she wants you out of the way."

"She?"

"Yes, she's a very old, very powerful vampire. She likes to play with her victims, pretend she wants to work with them. It's her MO. You can't go against her alone. I'd like to put you under my protection." He paused. "But you can also help us."

"How?"

"We know she's coming for you. We'd like to use you as bait."

"To kill her?"

"No, to use her."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"We've found the location of the lab and we're about to raid it. We can't just shut it down, so we think we can use her blood as an antidote, if you will."

His excuse was such bulls.h.i.+t. Did he really expect me to believe him?

"And if I don't agree to your plan?"

"Rachel, don't be stupid. Not only will you be getting protection, but you'll be helping us get a monster off the streets. How can you even consider not going along with this?"

"Because I don't trust you."

I heard a soft bird's cry. Lea was here.

I took a step back. "I think you're a liar."

He looked shocked. "How can you say that?"

"Perhaps because your men had her surrounded," Lea said as she stepped out of the darkness, holding a knife to a soldier's throat.

Sean lost his composure and stepped away from the pole. He made a move to grab me, but I pulled the knife from my jacket sleeve, holding it in a defensive stance.

He glanced down at the knife, then up into my face. "That's a new trick."

"Just keeping you on your toes." I took several steps back toward Lea.

"So you're working together?"

"That's none of your d.a.m.n business, Sean."

"She's using you, Rachel. I'm telling you she's done this before. She is not your friend."

"Using me? The only person I see using me is you."

The man in Lea's grip made a move. She gave him a sharp jerk and pressed the knife into his throat, drawing a trickle of blood. "I have no qualms about slitting his throat."

Sean looked like he wanted to rip her head off. "Keep your b.i.t.c.h on a short leash, Rachel."

My pulse throbbed in my temple. "On a leash? She's not an animal."

"Rachel. Open your eyes. She hunts and kills. That's pretty much the definition of an animal. You've picked the wrong side."

Lea released a low grunt, presumably in response to his insult.

"You don't have all the facts," Sean said, holding out his hand and advancing toward me. "You think I've betrayed you, but she's the one who will kill you before this is all over. I love you, Rachel. I only want to make sure you're safe."

I cast a quick glance to Lea, whose expression was hard, her eyes cold. I turned back toward Sean, lowering the knife slightly. "You're exactly right, Sean. I'd be insane to choose the side of an animal."

A grin lifted the corners of his mouth.

I could feel the anger radiating from Lea.

I c.o.c.ked my head and sneered. "And the only animal I see in this room is you. I'm pa.s.sing on your offer."

He clenched his fists at his side. "You'll regret that decision."

"The only decision I regret today was kissing you earlier. I think I need to be tested for STDs."

"Enough," Lea barked, moving a few steps forward. "We need to decide what to do with him."

I had a few ideas, but Sean wasn't going to like any of them.

CHAPTER 25.

LEA.

I held the soldier tight against me, his heartbeat echoing in my ears. His vain attempts at struggle only made my fangs drop. "Don't force me to kill you," I whispered into his ear.

Rachel glanced at me. "Just talking to my friend here," I explained.

Her eyes widened as she took him in. "I know him. He and Ben worked with Sean in Iraq. Justin, what are you doing helping this a.s.shole?"

Justin tensed. "We're saving the world, Rach."

Rachel looked over his shoulder at me. I shrugged. "They'll tell them anything to get them to do the dirty work. Saving the world, stopping terrorists, whatever it takes."

His whole body shook under my hands. "f.u.c.k you, bloodsucker. You're the one causing all the problems."

"What do you mean by that?" Rachel stepped closer, her tone softening. Cajoling. d.a.m.n, it was no wonder she was such a good journalist. I could feel Justin softening. He opened his mouth, but all it took to silence him was a swift look from Sean. A look of sadness flickered across Rachel's face. I couldn't help the sigh that slipped out of me. I had no doubt she'd ask me not to kill Justin.

"Don't kill him. Just knock him out," she said.

I rolled my eyes as I wrapped an arm around his neck and tightened it over his carotid artery. He gurgled and gave one last violent struggle before the fight slipped out of him, and with it, his control over his bladder. The hot scent of p.i.s.s filled the air. I curled my lips and stepped away from him. Slowly, I smiled at Sean. "So are you going to do this the easy way, or the hard way?"

Rachel laughed. "Oh G.o.d, he only knows the hard way."

"Excellent, that's my favorite choice."