“What do you think?” Tye asked in an easy, joking tone.
“Didn’t have bodies on the report.”
“They were on ours.”
“Blood illness,” Meghan said, joining them. “It’s going around and extremely contagious. We’re taking them to be disposed of. Too dangerous to do it on-site.”
A foot stepped right by Reyna’s head.
The bag rustled as he reached down to take a look.
The zipper dragged down, and cold air hit her face. She remained perfectly still and tried to look like death. Her eyes were closed. She could see the light from his flashlight through her eyelids. Her lungs constricted as they demanded air, but she held on longer. They were so close. So damn close.
“Didn’t you hear me?” Meghan asked. The zipper stopped moving, leaving her shoulders exposed. “It’s a blood illness. If you get any closer, you could catch it. Vampires aren’t immune. It’s killing them off, too.”
“Fine,” he spat. The zipper snapped back into place, covering her once more, but still she didn’t dare move. Her blood pounded in her ears, demanding oxygen. “But let me double-check your report. Everything else looks in place.”
“Of course,” Tye said.
A rustling of papers, and then the doors were slammed shut once more. Reyna released a breath at the same time as Jodie. Neither of them said a word, but Reyna was glad that Jodie was with her. Even though she couldn’t see her, she still felt less alone.
It was a few minutes before the truck came to life again.
“All good to go,” someone said from the front.
Xavier put the car in gear, but a voice stopped them in their tracks again.
The gruff vampire said, “Wait!”
Reyna closed her eyes. No. They were so close. So close.
“You forgot to sign for it.”
“Of course,” Xavier said.
A final, interminable pause. A garage opened noisily before them, and then they were out. Reyna couldn’t see it for herself, but she knew. She could tell by the truck’s acceleration and Meghan’s whoop of excitement.
They were finally free.
Chapter Nine
Reyna and Jodie still didn’t move. Not while they waited to see if anyone would follow. Then the front door slid open. A sliver of light shot over the body bags, and Meghan’s voice rang out. “We’re in the clear, ladies. Come out of there.”
They both yanked down the zippers and tossed the bags aside with eager excitement. It was done. It was over. Finally.
“We’re free,” Reyna whispered. Her eyes moved to Jodie’s equally dark ones. “We’re really free.”
“I can’t believe it,” Jodie said. “When y’all said you were getting me out, I thought you were full of shit. But it really worked. We’re really gone.”
“I dreamed of getting out. I even plotted for it. But I never knew if it was really possible.”
“I didn’t even dream,” Jodie whispered.
Reyna frowned at that statement. She wondered how long Jodie had been inside Visage. How long a person had to be held captive before they gave up any hope of being rescued or escaping.
Meghan came forward with a switchblade. “This isn’t going to be pleasant.”
“What…” Meghan snatched up Reyna’s arm without warning and dug into her forearm. Reyna howled and tried to pull her arm away, but Meghan held Reyna steady. Meghan stuck the tip of the knife into the wound she’d created, and out popped a tiny piece of metal.
