His smile vanished. "Sad and pathetic, am I?"
"Very much so."
"Quinn is the one who is sad and pathetic."
"That's debatable. However, he isn't quite as crazy as you, at least not yet. Also, he's also a great deal hotter."
"I see. Then I retract my offer."
"Yeah, good idea."
"I will have to dispose of you, then."
She smiled brightly at that. "You can try, sweetie. You'll be the fifth vamp I've taken down in the past year and by far the one I'll enjoy the most."
She placed the Eye down on top of the vanity table and approached him with the confidence she'd earned over the last few years. Her job wasn't pleasant, and it was a rare occasion that she really felt right about what she was doing on her assignments. This was one of those rare occasions. He'd threatened her. He was scum.
He was going to die.
She grabbed the front of his shirt and found it a little surprising when he didn't resist.
"I thought you wanted to fight."
He smiled at her. "You're the one who likes to fight. I prefer to take care of things in a more civilized manner."
He lifted his left hand, which, she realized too late, held her stun gun. She felt 200,000 volts of electricity rip into her. Her muscles convulsed, and she crashed to the floor in a boneless heap. She blinked up at the old man stupidly, still twitching, but unable to move or speak.
He nodded at her. "Brains over brawn, my dear. You might want to consider it sometime."
He threw the stun gun onto the bed, stepped over her prone body, and snatched up the Eye. Just before he reached the door, he paused.
"Rude of me, isn't it?" A strange smile twisted his mouth. "Presented with such a lovely treat and I turn my back?"
He retraced his steps until he was over her. Then he grabbed the front of her dress with both hands, hauling her to her feet, and roughly threw her onto the bed.
She felt his weight press down on top of her, and couldn't stop him as he wrenched her head to the side and tore his fangs into her neck.
What was taking her so long?
Quinn paced back and forth in the suite and glanced at his watch again. It had been almost ten minutes since Janie left to get the Eye. Her room was only four doors down the hall.
A couple phone calls and get the Eye. That's what she said. And then she'd be back.
Women.
He looked at his watch again. Surprisingly enough, it hadn't changed since the last time he checked.
He walked over to the ridiculous, round, red-draped bed and threw himself on it and stared up at the ceiling for all of five seconds.
Then he slammed the backs of his arms into the mattress, growled, and got up again. He couldn't relax.
There was too much to think about, too much to do.
And not enough time to wait around while she powdered her nose or whatever seemed to be taking so long.
He felt in his pocket where he'd put the stone for safekeeping, and then he left his room and walked briskly down the hall, pausing in front of her door, and placed his palm against its cool surface.
He knocked.
"Janie? Any time now. That would be great."
There was no answer.
Just as he was about to try the door to see if it was unlocked, it opened and he looked up, completely stunned to come face to face with Malcolm. Quinn's eyes widened.
"What the hell—?"
Malcolm glanced at him with dark, dark eyes, and then a slow smile spread across his features to show off his longer-than-average fangs.
"Janie and I had a little talk, and we've finally come to an understanding about this whole situation. She's sweet, that girl. Very, very sweet." His tongue slithered along his bottom lip.
"Where is she?" Quinn managed.
He shrugged. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
As he brushed past Quinn, he noticed that the old man held the Eye in his right hand. Quinn grabbed his shirt and pushed him against the wall hard.
"What are you doing here?" he growled.
Malcolm shrugged. "Just some business, my boy."
Quinn gritted his teeth.
"Where's Janie?" Hot fury raced through his veins just as he heard a small sound.
A whimper?
Tearing his gaze away from the white-haired vampire, he nudged the door open to look inside.
Janie was sprawled on the bed on her back, her limbs askew.
Malcolm shoved him then, and began moving quickly down the hallway. Quinn was about to pursue, but he turned back to the room.
Janie wasn't moving. The red of her dress seemed to have spread to the white sheets of the bed.
No. No it wasn't the dress. It was blood.She was bleeding .