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scowled at her and moved on. “Okay, you shoot him, he keeps coming and   then what?”
     
    “This is clever, actually. I rigged up a bow and arrow thing so all he has to do is hit the trip wire and it will shoot him in the back. Assuming that doesn't cook his biscuits —   I'm gonna knee him in the gonads and stab him through the heart!” She kneed an invisible attacker, then smiled at him.
     
    “Well, you scared the hell out of me. Okay, good. Solid. Has contingency options . Do you have the cyanide pill?”
     
      It wasn't really cyanide, but that's what they called it. It was basically a small ball of silver that would disintegrate into sharp pieces on impact. She'd once seen a vampire burst into flame when hit with silver.
     
    It would be a last ditch effort to save herself. If she was counting on that to save her, she was dead. Dread rippled down her body, leaving her cold.
     
    Jack's lips set into a firm line, his whole body suddenly tense. She held up her hand, not wanting him to say anything about her sudden fear—and it’s apparent obviousness.
     
    She needed to keep the conversation light.
     
    He understood, adjusting his stance and scrubbing a lean hand across his face, “Right. Where are you going to keep it?”
     
    “Pocket?” she said hopefully.
     
    “Ooh, sorry, that's a rookie mistake. How are you going to reach into your pocket when a pissed off and hungry vampire is going to rip your throat out?” His tone was playful and she appreciated the effort he was making for her.
     
    “What does your highness suggest?”
     
    He shrugged. “I'd keep it strapped to your wrist. Then you can just smash it against his face.”
     
    That made her heart skip a beat. She could imagine herself being trapped under a vampire and trying to smash this stupid ball into the side of his head before he killed her.
     
    Oh God, she was gonna heave.  
    Jack handed her a little bracelet that had a soft suction like cup for the ball to rest in. She looked at it suspiciously. “Does this work? I don't want to be your test chump.”
     
    “Yeah, it does. I tried it two weeks ago.”
     
    She wanted to ask questions. Had he used it on an actual vampire? Had things gotten that hairy and dangerous that the fight had been hand to hand? But she didn't. He didn't tell her stuff like that and she didn't ask.
     
    “Okay. I'm gonna get ready. Leave before the nudity starts.”
     
    Jack left quickly, giving the door an extra tug to make sure it was closed.
     
    After getting dressed, Val laid on her bed. Nervousness made her feel nauseous, almost like she had two hearts frantically beating in her chest, instead of one.
     
    She wondered if Lucas would be there tonight. No, why would he? She'd only seen him that one time, although it had taken her months to feel like she wasn't being watched. Sometimes, she had the feeling that he was close by. Like if she just turned around fast enough, she’d see him.
     
    If he was there, would he help her again? He'd said he wanted to protect her. How many sleepless nights had that one line caused her?
     
    She looked at the clock. Time to go. At the bottom of the stairs she realized the house was too quiet and that she hadn’t heard her father come home.
     
    “Where's dad?”
     
    Jack flinched. “He can't make it.”
     
    “Well, there will be more vampires another time. Good job security, but shitty benefits in the vampire business.” She turned around, ready to head back upstairs and take off her black attack-wear.
     
    “He wants us to go anyway.”
     
    The air rushed out of her lungs, making her words a little wobbly. “He’s going to send me into this alone?”
     
    Jack walked closer to her. He was dressed in black cargo pants too. A black turtleneck with a few knife sheaths and a gun holster were on him as well. Very black ops. “I'll be there. I won't let anything happen to you.”
     
    She knew Jack would try to save her and that they might both die