Blood and Sand
Page 35

Her constant questioning may have been irritating at times, but Natalie Ellis asked good questions. He supposed that’s what made her so successful at her job.
“Human drugs don’t do anything to us,” Tulio said. “It’s something else.”
“And it’s definitely more than one,” Baojia said. “The bite marks were different sizes and widths. This isn’t a single vampire. It’s more like a pack.”
“Is that normal?” Natalie asked. “To… hunt that way?”
“Depends on the vampire,” Tulio said. “Most earth vampires like me are more social. So sometimes those who hunt animals hunt in packs for fun. But humans? I would say no. Not for ages. It takes a depraved sort to hunt humans like that. I’m not saying it never happens, but I wouldn’t call it normal. Not these days, anyway.”
Baojia could see Natalie shudder and knew she was imagining it. Perhaps bringing her to Tulio’s wasn’t the best idea after all. The man could be overly blunt. Still, she gathered her resolve and continued to question him.
“But you said they were brought in by humans, so there had to be someone organized enough to arrange it. And how would they even—”
“Trucks.” Tulio was looking at him again. “I’ve noticed there are tracks near a lot of the dump sites. Big rigs. Could be a container truck or something like that.”
Baojia hummed. “There’s certainly no lack of those out here. A container truck would blend in more than an out-of-place pickup.”
Their host nodded and Baojia sipped the water Cirilda had placed in front of him. It refreshed him but also reminded him they were running short on time. “I don’t want to cut our visit short, Tulio—”
“You’re not going to make it back to the casino by dawn,” he said, as if reading Baojia’s thoughts. “You’ll have to stay here. I have secure rooms that lock from the inside. You’ll be safe.”
“Thank you.” It was probably the best they could do. He wondered where Natalie was going to sleep.
“You share a day chamber with your woman?”
Natalie’s face colored with that damn blush again. “You know, I’m not his—”
“No, I don’t. Is there someplace for her to rest, as well?” He’d have to make sure to keep the keys with him so she didn’t escape during the day. As for safety while he was sleeping, there was a shotgun hanging over the door and he knew for a fact Cirilda knew how to use it. It was all the guarantee he’d get. Luckily, they were out in the middle of nowhere, and all the truly dangerous things would be sleeping while the sun was up. Baojia doubted anyone could find this place, even if they were looking.
“Wait.” Natalie was already protesting. “I’m just gonna be stuck out here all day while you guys… hibernate, or whatever you do?”
He heard Cirilda laugh.
Baojia said, “I’m sure Tulio has a library.”
“Forget it! I’m not staying out in the middle of nowhere all day!”
“Fine.” Baojia nodded toward the door, knowing she wasn’t stupid enough to actually leave. “Good luck finding your way back. Hopefully, I’ll be able to find you at nightfall. Try to watch out for the roaming packs of vampires.”
“Jerk,” she muttered, grabbing her purse and standing. “Do I at least get a room with a lock? Is there a bathroom?”
Cirilda walked over and patted Natalie’s cheek, muttering something in her native tongue that made Tulio laugh. Baojia didn’t speak Tarahumara, but he smiled anyway. “Sleep as much as you can. You might be surprised how late you rest with no sun to wake you.”
Angry eyes met his. He was sure she’d try to get him back in some way before this was all over. Oddly enough, he was amused by the thought. He wondered just what tortures Natalie Ellis could dream up in her busy little brain. Then his thoughts wandered off into other, more dangerous, territory as he watched her follow Tulio’s woman down a passageway. Her rounded hips swayed as she walked, and she tossed him one last furious glance over her shoulder.
Yes, that kind of revenge was certainly worth imagining.
“You’ll have your hands full with that one,” Tulio said quietly. “You’ve bitten her, but she’s not yours.”
“Yet.”
“Looking for a challenge?”
Baojia shrugged. “I hate being bored.”
The earth vampire just laughed.
When he woke the following night, the first thing he heard was her voice.
“Nobody knoooooows… the trouble I’ve seen…”
He frowned for a moment until he placed the song. Then Baojia had to bite his lip to keep from laughing.
“Nobody knows my sorrowwww…”
He rose from the small pallet in the narrow room with multiple locks and stood, arms crossed, listening to her sing the jailhouse ballad. Despite everything going on and the mess they’d both landed in, she made him smile.
“Nobooody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Glooory, hallelujah.”
He slipped down the hall to see her lying on a sofa, swinging one leg over the edge as she stared at the earthen ceiling. Her eyes lifted to his.
“Good evening, Natalie.”
“Evening, jailer. If’n I had a metal cup and bars, I’d be rattling my cage, but sadly, I do not.”
Baojia couldn’t help it, he burst out laughing. She rolled her eyes, then stared back at the ceiling. He approached, eyeing her stretched out on the couch, the pale sliver of her stomach peeking out from the edge of her T-shirt and her red curls spread around her face. Her fury from the night before had fled. She looked relaxed and decidedly more well-rested. Even more, there was no hint of fear in her expression.