Vampires Among Us [Vampires Among Us 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)

Another security guard accidentally hit Alec in the calf, aiming for the drug runner standing about two feet away. Thankfully, Alec covered it up, and the officer never even knew he hit anything. The team would be drawing straws back at the office to see who would get the pleasure of digging the bullet out of his leg. Now that would be fun. Nothing quite like an injured, pissed-off vampire!
    As Kevin glanced around at what had started out as a smooth operation and quickly turned into a clusterfuck. He shook his head in dismay. The entire operation would have been over with in less than five minutes, had the security team not become involved. As it was, it was twenty-five minutes later before everything was wrapped up and under control. Kevin would never understand why humans attempted to handle firearms when they shouldn’t. It wasn’t that he had anything against guns, or humans having guns, as long as they were in the right hands. Unfortunately, it seemed too many humans had guns these days, quite often kids, and had no idea how to handle them. And that was just wrong in his book.
     
    * * * *
     
    Jennifer stopped when they reached a dark corner at the end of a hallway. The hallways were completely deserted. Everyone else seemed to be taking the lockdown seriously. She and Jennifer were standing facing one another, talking about whatever Jennifer could come up with to get Erica’s mind off of what was happening out front. Erica blinked, and found Jennifer had whirled around and had dropped down into a crouched position. Erica looked up, wondering why Jennifer made the hasty move, and spotted Shawn twenty feet away from them. He looked as composed and calm as ever as he leaned up against a wall, arms crossed, as if he had been waiting for them all day. In that deep rich voice of his, the one that had originally turned Erica’s head and now scared her to death, he calmly stated, “Erica, you will come with me.”
    Jennifer immediately half hissed, half snarled, “Oh hell no!” She continued hissing at him, but Erica glanced up into Shawn’s eyes. Even though he looked calm and composed, there was only one word to describe what was in his eyes: death.
    Shawn stayed where he was, staring at Erica with his cold, black, murderous expression on his face. Erica realized they were almost at the back of the building, completely secluded from everyone else. Jennifer had stated that the team was doing a drug sting out front. That meant chances were good that the entire VCTF force was just out the front door. How could they get from where they were to the help that they so desperately needed? How could she notify anyone that she and Jennifer were in trouble? She briefly wondered if Jennifer’s earpiece was still transmitting. Could Jennifer get word to the team? Unfortunately, there was no way of asking without Shawn hearing, so there was no way of knowing if help was on its way.
    Jennifer made certain that Erica stayed behind her. If Shawn wanted Erica, he would have to go through her first. This asshole vampire, now standing up against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, made her nostrils flare! The expression on his face clearly stated that he felt he could take Jennifer on, and once finished with her, Erica would be his. That thought alone made Jennifer livid. She continued hissing in his direction, showing her fangs, followed by the occasional deep-throated growl.
    “My beef is not with you, blondie,” Shawn stated in a lazy voice, as if Jennifer’s warning had little effect on him whatsoever. “Just give her to me, and I’ll consider leaving that pretty little face of yours alone.”
    “Fuck you, asshole, over my ashes!” Jennifer hissed, as a black fury rolled through her. She had had enough of this arrogant asshole!
    “As you wish,” Shawn drawled calmly. He remained motionless, leaning against the wall, looking as if he had all day to wait it out.
    He turned his attention back to Erica. “I am hurt that you would leave me and shack up with someone else, sweetheart. Come with me now, and I’ll consider forgiving you and let your lover live.”
    “I do not belong to you anymore,” Erica found herself replying with a glare. Although her heart was racing, and she knew he was able to hear it, she was happy to note her voice didn’t quiver. “I filed for divorce through the society’s judicial system. I am no longer married to you.”
    “What?” Shawn exclaimed, a shocked expression