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him. It burned him that she'd been hurt while with him. He'd done a piss poor job of protecting her. Not exactly the manly image he'd like to project. He couldn't help worrying that she'd been hurt badly. Head wounds were tricky. That she wasn't beside him could mean several things. He'd stay positive and try to believe these assholes had left her behind.
     
    She had family. She'd said something about a brother before. At least there was someone to keep her safe. Someone who'd grieve if she'd died.
     
    Unlike him. No one would give a damn if he stayed missing. He'd been living with his uncle for as long as he could remember, and he couldn't wait for the day he could leave. Finishing school came first though.
     
    Such was his life.
     
    Even that kind of life was better than dying like this poor guy beside him. He glanced over at the third man who appeared to be out cold or drugged. He was considerably younger than the dead guy. Mid-thirties maybe? And in good shape. Not fat with a beer gut like Jared's uncle. Good thing. When he woke up, this guy could help him get out of here. Although, if their captors were vampires he knew there'd be no fight. They were stronger and meaner…with inherent skills and strengths that humans lacked.
     
    According to what he knew, vampires and humans had coexisted for a long time. That's what he'd been taught in school. Apparently not everyone had been doing that so peacefully.
     
    He'd heard the rumors the same as everyone. The stories were the stuff of legends. Ancient legends. Some of those older vampires had been set to wipe out humans…or keep them as cattle. He vaguely remembered the name Moltere. He was the badass behind that mess, according to his history teacher.
     
    Vampires didn't age like humans and centuries-old tales were the norm for such long-lived creatures. Animals. That's what they were. This just proved it.
     
    As the night cooled, Jared fell into an uneasy sleep, caught between a captive and a corpse.
     

CHAPTER THREE
     
    T essa stepped into the parking lot. Instinct took her between a large black SUV and a fancier white version – an Escalade.
     
    Recognition slammed into her as she studied the two vehicles. That same familiar feeling surrounded the one for sure. The black vehicle – a Nitro, according to the name on the side – had been driven by one of the two men who'd attacked her. She strode to the back of it and committed the license plate to memory. She didn't know what could be done with the information, if anything, but had heard from her friends about running plates and such.
     
    Studying the area around her, she saw small groups of people hashing over the same gossip. Nothing had changed. She tried to peer inside the vehicle on the off chance that Jared might be inside. The smoked windows hid everything. Even her vampire vision only showed the shadowy seats but not the spaces between them. Frustrated, she didn't know what to do.
     
    Surely someone would come back for the vehicles tonight? Then, she could follow them home. Jared had to be stashed close by.
     
    Groaning, she sat on a cement block in front of the Nitro and buried her head in her arms. Approaching footsteps had her hunkering lower down.
     
    "Come on. Time to leave." The first voice cut through the night air cleanly.
     
    "I'm ready. Where to first?" The second guttural voice hung heavy, thick around her.
     
    "Check on our guests then off to hunt." The first man's voice made Tessa's skin crawl.
     
    The two men laughed and Tessa knew she'd never forget their voices – ever. She slid lower behind the block, willing herself invisible.
     
    "What about the female? Do you think we should track her down? Take care of her, too?"
     
    "Nah. Chances are good she was too injured to be of any value. Besides, there was something weird about her, something off. And being female, she's probably ready for Bedlam now." He laughed. "Even if she did see something, who's going to believe her?