Page 116 of Let Sleeping Vampires Lie

Con tensed. “They are following.”

“No surprise,” Marcus said. “They will want their property back.”

I tightened my grip on Con and pushed us faster.

Each step jarred him. His breath came in shorter bursts now. Sweat stood out along his hairline.

“We should stop,” I said.

“If we stop, they catch us,” he replied. “I am not in the mood to be dissected.”

The loading bay door loomed ahead. Marcus reached it first and yanked it open.

Cold night air rushed in.

Outside, the rear of the warehouse opened onto a narrow alley lined with dumpsters and a single service road.

No limo.

Of course.

The driver had likely been killed before the attack inside.

“We go on foot,” Marcus said.

“You are joking,” Con muttered.

“Do you see another option?” Marcus snapped.

I glanced back down the corridor.

Shadows moved behind the curtain, voices shouting.

No time.

“Move,” I said.

Marcus slipped through the door first, case still tight at his side. I followed, half hauling Con with me.

We hit the alley.

The door slammed shut behind us.

For one breath, there was only the sound of our feet on asphalt and Con’s rough breathing.

Then the door behind us exploded inward.

The enhanced soldier who stepped through was not like the others.

Bigger. Heavier armor. Face partially masked by a reinforced plate that covered his lower jaw. His eyes locked onto the case at Marcus’ side. Then onto me.

Then onto Con.

He raised a weapon.

Not a gun.

Something uglier. Barrel thicker, glowing at the core.