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you know all this stuff?”
    “I study them. And from killing them.”
    They were silent for a while. He cleared his throat. “Now it’s your turn to answer a question or two. What the hell were you doing there?”
    “Duh. I’m a virgin.” She gave him a look that dared him to say something. For a moment, she feared her vulnerability showed in her face, so she turned away.
    “How’d you get picked up?”
    “I’m not sure what happened. I was out with my best friend, Beth, at a bar. We said good night. I drove home. I remember getting out of the car…” Shaking her head, she shrugged. “After that, nothing. I woke up naked, cold, and up to my neck in vampires.”
    “He must have targeted you. He couldn’t be sure just any woman he grabbed would be a virgin, and that’s what he needed. My guess is he knocked you out.”
    “My head still hurts right here.” She leaned her head forward, and her dark hair tumbled around her face. She longed for those strong hands of his to touch her, rub her neck, pull her close and comfort her. No way. She tossed her hair back and smoothed it down.
    “It’ll go away.” His hands stayed on the wheel, and his eyes focused on the road.
    Fiona stared out the window. This didn't look familiar. At all.
    She sat up and looked around as he pulled up to a large house. The lizard left her shoulder and climbed down to the console.
    “What the hell? Where are we?” Her hand rested on the door handle, ready to bolt.
    “My place.”
    “What do you mean ‘your place.’ I wanted to go to my friend’s house.” Fiona glared at him. She jerked open the car door and got out as she looked around.
    “Look, I’ve been kidnapped once tonight, and I fought my way out of it. I’m not interested in doing it again. But I will if I have to.” Her stare nailed him. She dropped into a defensive stance, hands ready, her body angled toward him.
    He got out and collected his sword and his lizard.
    “Relax. I’m not kidnapping you, just trying to keep you safe.” He sighed.
    “In case you didn’t notice, I don’t need you to keep me safe.” She turned away from him and surveyed the woods and the narrow drive that disappeared around a curve. “How far from town are we, anyway?”
    “Not far.” He headed up the steps of the front porch to the old house.
    “I’m walking.” She slammed the door shut and started off.
    “Look,” he called out. “If he knew enough about you to know you’re a virgin and pick you up at your house, he might know enough to find your friend’s place and pick you up there. If you go back, you could be putting your friend in danger.”
    She stopped and turned back. She chewed on her lip as the wheels in her head spun with everything that had happened this night, trying to decide if she should trust him and how far.
    “You’re right, damn it. Going home is not an option. I can’t put Beth in danger. Okay, I’ll stay. But just until we figure out what to do, all right?” Fiona’s gaze held his.
    “Right.” He walked across the wide porch to the front door as he pulled out his keys. “Come on in, I’ll get us something to eat.”
    “Food? Great. I’m starving.”
    — • —
    Annie opened her eyes and met Ivan’s stare. Smiling, she pulled him to her, and they kissed as they stretched out on the bed.
    “Now,” Ivan said, pulling away from Annie. “What are we going to do about the assassins?”
    “Stay as far away from them as we can?”
    “That may not be possible. They know about us now. If they were intent on wiping us all out, then their work is unfinished.” He sat up and stretched. “We need to get them before they think about getting us.”
    “Let’s get out of town.”
    The muscles on his arms flexed as he brought them over his head. He fell back against the pillows and pulled her close. “Not an option. I waited a long time for this territory to open up. I’m not running away.” Ivan closed his eyes. Not unless there was no other