Page 69

Nothing.

“You are not a threat to me,” she said finally, opening her eyes once again.

“No. I am not.”

She didn’t elaborate, although Alessandra waited several moments for her to speak. “You came here to warn me.”

Again, nothing.

“I came because Lawrence told me all about you and . . . I was curious.”

Interesting. Why would a centuries-old vampire be on the defensive?

She would play along. “And?”

Her smile appeared genuine, but then again, her own experience with people, mere mortals, could not compare to this woman’s many lifetimes of knowledge.

“Having met you, I’m less surprised at Kenton’s behavior.”

Her heart skipped a beat at his name.

She would not ask.

“You know of . . . us?”

Dammit. She’d asked.

“I do.”

What she noticed most about Laria was her lack of movement, as if every gesture were deliberate. Refusing to fidget under her watchful gaze, Alessandra simply waited.

“I don’t know what to make of it, frankly.”

The “it,” she presumed, meant the two of them. But she never got to ask.

“There you are.”

Toni found them squaring off in the back room, silent and staring.

Alessandra broke first.

“Laria, this is my friend Toni. She works here.”

“Laria.” Toni let the word roll from her tongue. “You look familiar.”

“She is Lawrence’s sister,” Alessandra cut in. And just like that, Toni’s mouth dropped open, her eyes combing Laria from head to toe. Poor girl could never be a poker player.

“Nice to meet you,” Toni finally said, although it was obvious she would have liked to interrogate her. She gave her head a little shake and turned to Alessandra. “So Birdie is here. She’s actually looking for you.” With a quick nod to Laria, she returned to the register.

“Excuse me,” Alessandra said, happy to have an excuse to leave the tense nonconversation.

“Of course.”

Although it seemed Laria had come specifically to speak to her, she didn’t follow Alessandra through the store. No matter, she had a feeling this wasn’t the last she’d see of the vampire.

“Morning,” she said as she rounded a corner, feigning a cheeriness she didn’t feel.

“Hi, sweetie.” If Birdie’s chipper greeting had not announced her presence, her bright orange top and flowing purple skirt certainly would have. “I’m glad I found you here. I spoke with someone who knew of your—”