“I don’t trust you,” she admitted.

“You don’t have a choice. You’re intelligent. There’s no cell signal in this area so you can’t call for help.” He touched the bars. “These wouldn’t protect you if I really wanted in. That gun would hurt me but I’d survive. You saw how fast those things heal. I’m stronger.”

She swallowed hard. “I don’t have silver bullets.”

He grinned. “That’s cute.”

“I take it that’s a bullshit TV myth too?”

“Bullets hurt no matter what they’re made of but I have no allergy to metals.” He reached up and gripped a chain around his neck, lifting it from beneath his shirt. A thin silver ring hung from it. “Want to guess what this is made of? It belonged to my grandmother. I wouldn’t keep it against my skin if it burned.”

She stepped closer but kept out of his reach if he put his arm through the bars. “You actually expect me to open this up so nothing’s between us?”

“I’m willing to trust you to keep your silence. You’re going to have to trust that I won’t hurt you. We need to work together if you want to save your father’s friends.”

Jadee studied his eyes, trying to judge if she could believe him. It was a tough call. “This is going to suck if you’re lying to me.”

“I’m not a bloodsucker.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I promise I won’t hurt you.”

“What about Club Threads?”

“Kar takes orders from me.”

“Can I keep the guns?”

He glanced down at her weapons, then back at her. “Fine, but I’ll warn you now that I have no sense of humor when I get shot. Am I clear?”

“Crystal.”

“Just the ones in the holsters.”

She gave him her back and walked to the other wall. Her heart felt as if it wanted to jump out of her chest. She hesitated over the release button—but then pushed it.

Jadee turned, her entire body tense.

The gate slid open.

Lavos didn’t lunge forward, but instead calmly stood there regarding her. “Let me grab this asshole and we’ll go outside. We need to find the last soldier. I’d advise you to stick very close to me in case it attacks.” He backed up. “And I strongly suggest you start calling Kar by his name. He’s been a bit testy tonight. We didn’t expect this mess when we were sent out to bring a message to a family that hadn’t contacted their mother. We thought a storm must have taken out a few telephone poles.”

It was tough to take the first step toward the open doorway. Lavos turned his back on her, opened the bathroom door, and reached inside. He jerked Mitch out and shoved him forward.

“Run and I’ll kill you,” Lavos threatened.

Jadee wasn’t sure if he spoke to her or the dickhead in front of him. She followed anyway.

Chapter Five

Jadee was relieved she didn’t spot Victor’s body when she climbed down from the RV. Lavos kept a tight hold on Mitch about six feet away. His friend stood alone nearby.

Kar jerked his head in her direction. “What are you going to do with her?”

“Nothing. She’s going to help us save more people.” Lavos shook his prisoner. “Where’s the other one you made?”

“I don’t know,” Mitch hissed. “Who did you kill?”

“A woman with long dark hair,” Lavos stated. “Kar? What did yours look like?”

“Dark hair, a man, shitty breath and bat-shit crazy.”

“You’re looking for a blond guy,” Jadee supplied. “Dark shirt and jeans.”

Lavos turned his head, peering at her.

She shrugged. “I said I saw them. One of them was a blond.”

“Where’s the research team?”

“I’m not sure.” She hated to admit that. “I barely found my father’s RV from the directions he gave. They always set up in two locations but never too far apart. It will be on or near a road. The trailer they use is towed by a big rig. No way did they take that on uneven or unpacked ground without risking getting it stuck in softer soil or tipping it over. They travel with two other RVs but they’re smaller, not like my dad’s. Peggy and Mark would have driven those. They used to have a tow car hooked to one, along with this one.” She paused, thinking. “Brent would have driven the big rig that pulls the large trailer.”

Lavos shook Mitch again. “What direction?”

“I’m not telling you.”

“Big mistake,” Kar muttered.

“You’re not a Vampire.” Lavos leaned in, yanking Mitch hard enough to drop the other man to his knees. “You’re a soldier. Do you know what that means?”

“I’m a Vampire.”

“Wrong.” Lavos released him with one hand.

Jadee watched as he opened his free hand and his nails grew, shock coursing through her. She managed to smother a gasp and remain still, regardless of the urge to turn tail and rush back inside the RV to lock herself in.

Lavos gripped Mitch’s shoulder and dug those claws into his skin.

Mitch screamed. Lavos jerked his hand back, wiping his bloodied claws on the back of the soldier’s shirt. He leaned down a little but spoke loud enough for her to hear.

“Every time you’re hurt, your body heals too fast. That’s the difference between a Vampire and a soldier. Your system is feeding off itself to repair any injures. It makes you go insane faster. Between the bullets she put in you and what I’ve done to you so far, you’ll be lucky to remember who you are by tomorrow night. Am I clear? I could keep going until you totally lose the ability to think anything at all, and then I’ll remove your head. You won’t come back from that.”

Mitch looked afraid. “None of that is true.”

“Oh, it is.” Kar nodded. “Have you noticed those tiny veins across your skin and the blood in your eyes? Vampires don’t have those. You’re like a hyped-up version of them, but you weren’t meant to survive as long.”

“Vampires fully heal from injuries but they do it more slowly,” Lavos explained. “You recover too fast to mend properly, causing a permanent breakdown of your body in the process. Your mind goes first.”