Page 173 of Vameer

How’s this for catching you off guard, asshole.

I cling to my indignation as I push open the door and step out of the car.

The driver stays where he is, but the two men in the vehicle behind mine get out.

They flank me, guns drawn, but there’s no one else here. No vehicles. Nothing to hide behind.

I don’t know how he found my name. Or my connection to Haystack. But when I got the call on my private line, I was too intrigued not to take it.

I look at my watch.

“Where—”

The ground vibrates.

My men shift to cover both sides. But I don’t see…

Slowly, I lift my gaze. To the top of the carved rock wall in front of me.

The vibration comes again. More consistent.

Footsteps.

And then he appears.

Even from this far away, I recognize him from the video call.

He pauses at the edge.

And then more vampires step into view. Guards. Four. Six. Ten. More.

They stare down at us, with those fucking black eyes. Then he, the big one in the middle, steps forward. Off the ledge.

He drops fast.

My eyes track the movement as my body threatens to turn and run.

I set my jaw.

One does not run away from an apex predator.

The vampire slams to the ground, forming a crack in the granite we’re standing on.

I swallow down my fear and push my shoulders back.

I’m an apex predator too.

The crack widens when the other vampires drop to the ground.

I stare into his black eyes before dipping my chin. “King Tosa. It’s nice to meet you.”

He might not be as tall as Vameer. But he’s wide. Formidable. Dressed in a black suit.

And he came with a dozen vampires.

The old King turns his head toward one of my men. “Are those bullets made from cobalt?”

My man doesn’t respond. Either out of fear or duty, the reason doesn’t matter. But the answer is no. I was unaware that cobalt was a weakness for vampires.