Charlie fumbled with the bag, pulling out a shirt and a set of pants, both of which would be too big on him, but it was better than nothing. He dressed awkwardly, contorting in his seat.
"What happened after I left?" he asked, pulling the shirt over his head. "What did they do to Simon?"
Viktor's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "He took out three of the other hunters before they hit him with enough tranquilizers to drop an elephant."
Charlie's heart sank. "What happened to the other vampires? Maya, Connor, Thomas?"
"Not our problem right now." Viktor checked the rearview mirror. "The elders scattered. The younger ones..." He shrugged. "They'll be questioned. Maybe recruited if they're useful."
Charlie finished dressing, then pressed his hand to his chest. The bond still felt muffled, but he could sense Simon's presence.
He was still alive.
"They'll take him to the Organization's headquarters," Viktor said, answering Charlie's unspoken question. "They'll want to reclaim their asset."
"Reclaim?" The word sent a chill down Charlie's spine. "What does that mean?"
"They'll try to brainwash him." Viktor's jaw tightened. "I've seen it once. It's not pretty."
Charlie's stomach twisted with dread. "We have to get him back."
"Yes, we do." Viktor took the car onto a main road, blending with normal morning traffic. "But we need help. And a better plan than 'charge in and get shot.'"
"Brent," Charlie said suddenly. "My friend. We should warn him."
Viktor glanced at him. "Your friend?"
"He's the one the Organization actually wanted turned instead of me," Charlie explained. "And maybe we can contact whoever Simon talked to at that library. He knew things about the Organization."
Viktor nodded. "Good. We'll contact them." Viktor merged onto the highway, putting more distance between them and the retreat. "And Charlie?"
"Yeah?"
"That was some impressive rabbit warfare back there."
Despite everything—the fear, the rage, the hollow feeling where Simon's presence should be—Charlie felt a small smile tug at his lips.
"Thanks, I guess?"
"It was fun. No one has ever made those hunters look so ridiculous. They don't know what to do when Dracula starts nibbling carrots."
Charlie wanted to laugh but found that he couldn't. This wasn't the time for it. "I'm going to get Simon back. Whatever it takes."
"Yes," Viktor agreed, his voice taking on a dangerous edge Charlie hadn't heard before. "We'll get him back."
Chapter
Thirty-Two
Charlie stood outside Brent's apartment door, his too large clothes hanging loose on his frame, his hand raised but not quite connecting with the wood.
"You going to knock or just admire his door all day?" Viktor leaned against the wall, arms crossed. The former hunter looked almost casual, but Charlie noticed how his gaze constantly swept the hallway, how he positioned himself to see both the stairwell and the elevator.
"What if he's not home? What if they already got to him?" Charlie's hand remained suspended.
"Then we'll deal with that. But standing here isn't helping your friend."
Right. Charlie swallowed and knocked.
