“You can’t fight us all,” said the only female in the bunch.
“You think not?” Ronan didn’t move, but a wave of preternatural power rolled through the air like an invisible scythe.
Travis moved closer to his sire as, one by one, the vampires surrounding them were driven to their knees. And held there.
“I want to know what’s going on in this town,” Ronan said. “And I want to know now.”
“I’m in charge here,” Jason said, grimacing with pain. “But I answer to someone else.”
“His name. I want it.”
“Jarick.”
“He’s still alive?” Ronan grunted. “I’m surprised no one’s destroyed him yet.”
“I don’t think anyone can,” Jason muttered. “Can I get up now?”
“Are you keeping any people here, now, against their will?”
“A few.”
“What are you supposed to do with them?”
“A truck will be by in a few hours to pick them up.”
“Where are they?”
“In the cellar beneath the police department.”
“As of right now, you’re out of business,” Ronan said. “What you’re doing is dangerous. Sooner or later, a hunter will get word of this and Susandale will be covered in blood. Vampire blood. You understand me?”
“What do I tell Jarick?”
“Tell him to come and find me if he’s got a problem,” Ronan said, “and I’ll explain it to him.” Releasing his hold on the other vampire, he stood.
Jason scrambled to his feet, one hand at his throat. “Can we go now?”
With a nod, Ronan released the other vampires from his thrall.
They eyed him warily as they stood and gathered around Bowman.
Travis wondered how long it would take for Jarick to get word of what had happened here and come to town.
And what would happen when the two master vampires confronted each other.
“Nothing good,” he muttered, as he followed Ronan down the dark street to the police department. “That’s for damn sure.”
Chapter 19
There were no lights showing inside the police department and no one on duty. Travis didn’t recall ever seeing anyone patrolling the town. They found a narrow set of stairs in the back of a broom closet. The door, made of heavy steel, was locked but it was no match for Ronan, who simply kicked it in.
Travis followed him down the stairs to another door. This one was warded against human intrusion, but not against vampires.
Ronan broke the lock and pushed it open, revealing a rectangular room lit by a couple of wax candles. The air smelled of old sweat and fear. A noxious odor emanated from a bucket in the far corner. Two dozen sleeping bags lined the floor. Nine of them were occupied. Three men. Four women. And two children, who huddled against one of the women. They all cringed when they saw Ronan and Travis standing in the doorway.
Ronan glanced around the basement, his expression filled with disgust, then jerked his thumb toward the door. “Let’s go.”
They didn’t argue. One by one, they rose and shuffled toward the door and climbed the stairs, like sheep on their way to the slaughterhouse.
Travis looked at Ronan. “What are you going to do with them?’ he asked, his voice pitched low.
“I’m going to take them home and then wipe the memory of everything that happened from their minds.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Stay here. I can’t take them all at once.”
Travis nodded as Ronan put his arms around the woman and her children. There was a ripple in the air as the vampire transported them out of the office.
An audible gasp rose from the throats of the remaining people. They stared at Travis, their fear a palpable thing. “Relax,” he said quietly. “You’re safe now.”
As one, they all looked at him, hope in their eyes.
“Trust me,” he said. “No one’s going to hurt you.”
Ronan made three more trips.
“Come on,” he said when all the prisoners had been taken home. “Let’s get out of here.”
Sara couldn’t help flinching when Travis and Ronan suddenly appeared in the living room. Overstreet snored softly in his chair.
Shannah smiled at her husband. “How did it go?”
“We found out who’s behind the kidnappings.”
“Anyone you know?” she asked. Ronan had been a vampire for over five hundred years. He had undoubtedly crossed paths with any number of other vampires.
“His name’s Jarick. I’ve never met him, but I’ve heard of him. He’s known to be totally ruthless.”
“Do you think he’ll come here?” Sara asked.
“Sooner or later,” Ronan said. “Once he realizes exports from Susandale have dried up, I imagine he’ll come around.”
“Dried up?” Shannah asked. “What do you mean?”
“I told the guy in charge at this end that he was out of business as of tonight.”
“And you think he’ll listen?”
“If he’s smart.” Reaching for Shannah’s hand, Ronan pulled her to her feet. “Let’s go, darlin’.” He nodded to Travis and Sara. “We’ll be in touch.”
Sara blinked as both vampires simply disappeared.
“What did the two of you do tonight?”
“I didn’t do much. Ronan persuaded Bowman to tell him where the prisoners were being kept. We went there and Ronan took them all home.”
“Bowman!” Sara thought of Olivia and her children. “How did Ronan get them home?”
“He asked the people where they lived, transported them there, and wiped the memory of everything that happened here from their minds.”
“That’s … unbelievable.”
“I know. But he did it. Are you all right?” Travis asked, taking the seat beside her.
“I guess so.” She glanced at Overstreet as Travis slid his arm around her.
“Don’t worry about him,” Travis said. “I think he’s out for the night.”
With a sigh, Sara snuggled against him. “Do you think things will be better now? Or worse?”
“No way to tell.” His gaze met hers, and then he kissed her lightly. A kiss that quickly grew deeper, longer, and more intimate.
Sara melted into him. It was hard to think about anything else when she was with Travis, when he was holding her, kissing her … unbidden came her earlier conversation with Shannah.
“What’s
