Read Dreams for the Dead for Free Online

pissed.”
    “Isn’t he always?” Tristan sounded bored.
    “Well, yes. But he wants you to go get him.”
    Tristan made a small sound of annoyance. “He wants me to go on a fucking road trip.”
    “Yes, Tristan, I do.”
    Everyone turned to the cold voice speaking from the entrance. It was the silver-haired man, Loftus. He walked into the room, fixing each of them with an icy stare. If he noticed the dead people, he didn’t mention it.
    “It’s the least you can do,” he said. “If you have no other e ngagements, that is.”
    “Actually—”
    “You can bring your toy,” Loftus interrupted, gesturing vaguely at Dawn. “Or leave her with us, if you like.”
    Tristan looked over at her, dispassionate, considering his options. “I’ll bring her,” he said, but his tone sounded like he wouldn’t care one way or another.
    “You can always leave her in a roadside ditch if you get tired of her,” Branek suggested.
    “We’ll see. Where am I going?”
    Loftus shrugged, unconcerned. “You were always closest to Fallon out of everyone. I thought you’d simply figure out where he’s gone.”
    “Great,” Tristan deadpanned, obviously not pleased about the situation. “I’ll leave now.”
    “Excellent.”
    He stood up to leave the room, taking Dawn with him. She was glad he didn’t mean to leave her at the mercy of those crazy people, but she was tired of him dragging her around. She didn’t exactly e njoy being a prisoner. Besides that, now Leila would be alone, screaming in the night with no one to hear her. That was the worst thing of all.
    I’ll figure this out , Dawn promised herself. I’ll escape and get the police and they’ll arrest all these fuckers.
    Outside, the morning sun blazed. Tristan whipped out a pair of black sunglasses and inhaled a shaky breath. He was so very pale.
    “Take me home,” Dawn begged as he opened the door of a white Nova riddled with dents and rust stains for her.
    “No.”
    “But I can’t just go on a road trip with you. I have a job.”
    “That’s too bad. If you please me, I might let you come back alive.”
    “Please you,” she said. “You mean …” Sexually , she finished silently. She didn’t want to say it aloud.
    “However you wish,” he said vaguely.
    Dawn didn’t want to think about it. “At least let me get supplies.” Maybe she could buy some time and think up a plan for escape.
    “Supplies,” he echoed, skeptical.
    “Yeah, like a toothbrush and stuff. And clothes.”
    “I’m not taking you shopping.”
    “We can just go to my apartment,” she rushed to say. “I can get everything I need there.”
    He jerked his hand to indicate she should get in the car. “Fine. I don’t care. But it needs to be quick.”
    She gave him quiet directions and by the time they’d reached the apartment on the east side of town, Dawn realized she didn’t have her keys. Then Tristan magically produced them. He’d probably gotten them from Branek.
    The wind was strong and hot, shaking the giant, overgrown oleander bushes outside the apar tment with noisy rustles of spear-like leaves. Small white blossoms fell at Dawn’s feet, carpeting the patio outside the door. Tristan stood casually beside her as she opened it, but he didn’t follow her inside. She tossed the keys on the kitchen counter and paused to glance back over her shoulder at him.
    “Invite me in,” he said.
    Dawn immediately recognized a possible advantage and tried to figure out how to use it. She had no phone to call the police. Maybe she could escape out a window, but there were only three to choose from and Tristan would probably intercept her before she got too far.
    He watched her from behind his su nglasses, his mouth a grim, unimpressed line, and she knew he would wait there all day if he had to. Besides, he would come in whether or not she invited him.
    “Fine,” she said sarcastically. “Come in.”
    Stepping across the threshold, he nudged the door shut with his foot. He