“How do you like Rita?” Rafael hollered.
The pony pulled against the reins, fighting Lalo’s control at every instant.
“She’s great,” he said as calmly as he could muster. “Rita and I are getting on just fine.”
Señor Fuentes’s eyes darkened. He turned to Rafael. “Did you give him that mount? We have dozens of horses, and you wasted our time by offering this one? We have a reasonable lead, I left the tradesmen before they have even signed their contracts, and you think to do this?”
The smile on Rafael’s face wilted.
“My men were killed, Rafael. Taken from their familias, yet you play pranks?”
“I…It was only…”
“Switch horses,” Señor Fuentes ordered.
“¿Qué?” Rafael questioned. “Pero…”
“You made a mockery of this hunt. Now I shall make one of you. Switch horses.”
“Señor, it is fine,” Lalo intervened. “I’m sure Rita and I can keep up.”
“No, you won’t. That pony was Carolina’s when she was a child. It isn’t meant for such things. Besides, my daughter would kill us if she learned we’d taken Rita out here.” He glared at Rafael. “You knew that.”
Slowly, the two men dismounted and traded reins. Lalo could smell the animosity steaming from Rafael’s skin. He really and deeply loathed Lalo. He supposed he’d hate himself too, if theroles were reversed. Carolina was a desirable woman. And she had clearly chosen Lalo over Rafael.
“I know who you are,” Rafael whispered as they passed each other.
Lalo’s footing faltered, but he forced himself forward.
“I will expose you this night. I’ll tell señor your name isn’t—”
“Take Rita back to the stables,” Señor Fuentes ordered him. “If you wish to join us, we will be heading west. If not, I will not hold it against you.”
“But, señor…”
“You made a poor judgment call, Rafa. You must make it right.”
“But…”
“You’ve squandered enough time. I will tell your father of this. Go.”
Rafael’s chin fell to his chest. “Sí, señor.”
“¡Ándale!” Señor Fuentes tightened his heels on his stallion, and the pair took off at a startling speed. Jorge and his father followed suit. Lalo was the last to urge his horse on, holding tight to the leather straps as he raced after the Fuenteses.
He fixed his eyes forward. The men in his company hadn’t exactly laid out what they were off to do, but it didn’t take much to put the pieces together. Señor Fuentes had gotten word there were fresh tracks. And now they were hunting for whoever had killed the guards.
A shiver ran up Lalo’s spine. Carolina had taken out two vampiros in the town square. And he’d killed the sediento near the schoolhouse. He had hoped they’d found and ended the guilty party. But after discovering these new tracks, Lalo wasn’t so sure. Maricela, or another one of her children, could be the beast they needed to slay.
A scream tore through the night. Roosting birds took flight from within the woods.
“¡Vámonos!” Señor Fuentes called, and they rode as if the devil were nipping at their heels.
The horses’ hooves pounded over nettle and dirt. The smell of fear and spilled blood filled Lalo’s senses. He gripped the reins harder, fighting against his unnatural urges. His fangs pierced through his bottom lip and his mouth watered, the hunger inside him surging.Saints above,he was starved for human blood, its essence. If he could have one taste. A single drop.
“There!” Jorge yelled. The three men riding ahead of Lalo pulled their pistols out in unison. He remembered Carolina saying in the duel not to worry because the bullets weren’t made of wood. But the bullets in these pistols must be.
Lalo couldn’t see past their bodies, but he didn’t need to see to know what stood before them. He could taste it in the air. Flesh and death and blood. So much blood.
