“You know for a family that repeatedly tellsme they want nothing to do with me, you keep calling me every timeone of you steps into a pile of shit,” Brian drawled over the airwaves.
“It’s nice to talk to you too,” Ianmuttered.
“Don’t lie. What did you get yourself caughtup in now?”
Ian informed him about the events of lastnight and what had occurred today. “Have you ever encounteredsomething like this before?”
The lack of a response on the other endwasn’t what he’d been expecting. One thing Brian liked to do wastalk. “No, but I know someone who most likely has.”
It had to be the same vampires Stefan hadbeen talking about. “Will they kill her?”
“Not unless it becomes necessary.”
The same answer everyone had, includinghimself, but they needed to know more. He couldn’t keep her lockedaway for the rest of her life; death would be less cruel. Besides,he would be able to keep her safe. “Can you get a hold ofthem?”
Silence again and then a sigh. “Put Stefanon the phone again.”
Ian handed the phone back to Stefan. “Whatis it?” Stefan inquired.
His brother-in-law walked to the other sideof the room as he listened to whatever Brian said to him. Stefanglanced at him and then Paige. “I don’t think we have a choice. Geta hold of them.”
Stefan hung the phone up. “He’s going tocontact them.”
Ian didn’t like the look on Stefan’s face orthe terseness of his tone. “Who exactly are these vampires?”
“They have better knowledge of the hunters,and far more experience with them than any of us. They’re not to bemessed with, Ian.”
Ian glanced at Paige. Her lips werecompressed into a flat line as she stared back at them. “You couldalways tell us how you became immune to our ability,” Ian told her.“So we don’t have to involve these other vampires.”
She sat on the bed and folded her arms overher chest before resolutely focusing on the wall behind him. Heknew there would be no more getting her to talk, and that was fineby him; he had little left to say to her too right now.
CHAPTER 7
“So what do we do now?” Pulling his cigarette fromhis mouth, Mike leaned back in the rocking chair on the porch.Propping his feet up on the banister, he stared out at thetwilight. The cigarette contradicted Mike’s casual position as Ianknew he only smoked when troubled by something.
“You’re all going back. I doubt the huntersor that vamp know who I am, or would be able to track me if theydid, but I’d feel better if everyone was back at home to helpprotect everyone there. I’d feel alotbetter, if everyoneleft Oregon and found somewhere safer to stay until we know forsure no one is tracking or hunting us,” Ian replied. “They’re toovulnerable there with the young and Isabelle being pregnant.”
Stefan shifted at his words, his eyes burnedin the night. No matter what Ian decided, Stefan wouldn’t continueto stay away from Isabelle. “We can’t leave you here with her,”David protested.
“Yes, you can. No one knows we’re here.There’s no one around for miles and I can handle a human. We’ll befine.”
Mike flicked his cigarette away into thenight before lighting another one. He exhaled a puff of smokebefore speaking, “I’ll stay with you.”
“No. Everyone has to go back home. Everyonethere will need help if they decide to leave, and they’ll need evenmore help, if they decide to stay. All of you, go back.”
Stefan took a step toward him and handed outthe phone. “It’s my satellite phone. I grabbed it from home when Iknew we would be coming here. Your cell phone won’t work here, andthere’s no landline.” Ian had assumed that already. “This phone isfully charged, the battery should last for at least a couple ofweeks if you use it sparingly.”
Ian took the phone from him. He didn’t askStefan why he had a satellite phone; he imagined there were manythings Stefan was prepared for that he never would have thought of.Hell, he was never prepared for anything, and that was the way heliked it, until now. Taking life as it came to him didn’t seem likeas much fun anymore, not with Paige in the other room and her lifeon the line.Allof their lives on the line, he remindedhimself.
“I don’t like the idea of leaving you here,with her,” Ethan said.
“I don’t think she’s much of a threat.”
“And if other vampires or hunters arrivelooking for her?”
“I’ll take care of them too.”
“Ian…”
