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“You did?”

A cash register’s ding told Alessandra what she’d already suspected. Toni was back at work.

“Yep.”

“And?”

“And nothing. Kenton assured me you were fine, I believed him, and I came to work. Good times.”

“You saw Kenton?”

“Hold on.”

While Toni tended to a customer, an early one considering it was a weekday, Alessandra helped herself to another bite of muffin, vowing to get in a run later in the day.

“OK, so yeah, I saw him. Didn’t you?”

She finished chewing. “No, he was gone when I woke up.”

“Gone where?”

Good question, though Alessandra had a feeling he wasn’t the kind of guy who was used to checking in.

“I have no idea.”

Silence.

“I’m heading home in a bit. Hey, did you eat breakfast? Because if not, I’ve got a real treat for you.”

“Hold on a sec—”

“No, you go ahead. I’ll stop by.”

She hung up, saving Toni from having to talk to her with a customer at her counter. If she could just find something to carry some of this food in—

Something was happening.

Alessandra didn’t know what, or even where yet, but she could sense . . . something.

Danger?

No. This awareness was entirely different than anything she’d felt up until now. This wasn’t the presence of a vampire or, thank goodness, someone wishing to do her harm. This felt almost like she’d just stepped into the spa, the calm of running water and soothing tones slowing her heartbeat. The draw was absolutely undeniable.

The doggie bag forgotten, she ran to the door and let herself out onto the front patio. Alessandra closed her eyes, letting her senses guide her, and then opened them again. She almost gasped when she found herself staring at Lawrence’s house. It was over there. Whatever was happening was over there.

She didn’t think twice. Acting on instinct, she ran down the stairs and across the short distance between what had once been the path between father and daughter.

She knocked on the door, but when no one answered, she did not hesitate to consider the consequences of breaking and entering into the home of two of the oldest vampires in existence. Whatever was happening was in the back of the house, on this floor, and Alessandra didn’t stop until she reached the entranceway of an even more ornate parlor than the one she’d just left.

Alessandra froze, gasping at the sight before her.

It couldn’t be.