Hunting Tess by Kathryn Summers (best novels to read in english .TXT) 📗

I utter, knowing I would need to broach the topic sometime. I still need to finish school. I have one semester left and I’m going to finish. “Today I don’t want to do anything. I’ll worry about it tomorrow.”

Ben, Eliza, and Leo look content with the answer, but Parker’s expression stays the same. His gray eyes are hard and his mouth is turned down. I fold my arms, leaning back in the chair. There would be no reason for Ben or Eliza to call Leo and his brothers, meaning they came on their own. But I have no idea how they found out who I actually am.

“Leo and I are going to take a look around town. Those vampires have to be staying somewhere. And then tonight we’ll go hunting.”

His gaze doesn’t leave mine but before I can ask him about his visit there is a knock at the door. Ben’s chair scrapes the floor when he stands up, having a reason to escape the somewhat stilted conversation.

“I’m Head Detective Davenport and this is Detective Rossi; we’re with the Logan Police Department. Do you mind if we ask you a few questions about an incident which occurred last night?”

I feel my eyes go wide in apprehension since I’m supposed to be dead.

“Of course, please come in.”

If Ben keeps them in the sitting room then it doesn’t matter. Hopefully they’ll be satisfied staying there.

The shuffling and rustle of fabric has everyone getting comfortable in the front room where Marilyn likes to hold her weekly book club.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Ben asks after introducing himself.

“No, thank you. Do you live here with your family?”

“I’m a student at USU and live off campus.”

“Feel like taking a trip home?” Detective Rossi questions, her voice sounding like she hasn’t been out of the academy all that long.

“It’s not that far and it makes my mom happy,” Ben explains, probably sensing the accusation in Rossi’s voice.

“Is your mother here?”

“She left for work a little while ago.”

“Did you see or hear anything abnormal last night?” Detective Davenport asks. “A car you haven’t seen before, loud noises you thought odd?”

“No,” Ben replies slowly. “Did something happen?”

A tear slides down my face and I bite the inside of my cheek to keep more from falling.

“Unfortunately, yes, but we are not able to disclose any information at this time.” The words sound so rehearsed, so detached that I wonder how many times he has had to say them. “If you think of anything, please let us know.”

Shifting fabric and the thud of heavy footsteps suggest the short interview is over. Leo and Parker leave abruptly after to do who knows what, but I’m fine doing nothing. For today, anyway.

“Why are Leo and Parker here?” I ask Eliza that night as we’re getting ready for bed, not wanting to ask during our movie marathon and ruin the artistic storytelling. “And how did they find out where Ben lives?”

She squeezes a glob of toothpaste on a toothbrush we got from Marilyn. After learning she would have a few more guests than she reckoned, she picked up a couple necessary items from the store.

Eliza squirms in the mirror, her eyes going back and forth between my face and every other object she can possibly look at. “Eliza.”

Setting down the toothbrush she was about to start using to avoid answering, her eyes stay glued to the smooth counter and I wonder if she’s going to say anything. “Parker said that some guy delivered a computer . . .” Finally look up, her eyes hold a fine sheen of tears. “The computer was showing a live recording of your parents living room. He said it was supposed to be some kind of warning about minding their own business. He had a way of tracking Ben’s license plate and they showed up early this morning.”

Leo and Parker saw? They all saw what happened?

I don’t know whether to feel embarrassed, sad, or furious.

“They wanted to help however they could,” Eliza says softly, her toothbrush long forgotten.

“It’s fine,” I say, though nothing could be farther from the truth. My head spins from trying to pick an emotion. “Oh goodness, you’re missing school!”

“As are you,” she reminds me. “And I have to miss a few classes? Gee, darn.” Back to her chipper self she pops in the toothbrush. I leave her to her thoughts so I can sort out mine. We’ll find out tomorrow if Leo and Parker found anything. If not, I’ll need to hunt a few more vampires while I’m here.

CHAPTER 4

HIM

“She’ll be safe with us.” I don’t know where those words come from since it couldn’t have seriously been me who said it.

Leo and I cleared out a small nest of vampires hiding in the foothills just a few hours ago, leaving the bodies outside to turn to ash in the sun. It took several days to find the nest, giving Tess time to mourn the death of her parents. It didn’t help that her childhood home was a crime scene investigation with cops trailing in and out all day every day.

Vampires took care of their cleanup, leaving only the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Addams.

Now we’re debating Tess’s next step. It’s too dangerous for her to return to the University of Colorado Boulder, especially because the creeps looking for her know where she lives. But an angry flush rose in her cheeks when I suggested staying with her friends here. If she’s determined to return to Boulder, and the way her lips curl in tells me she is, the safest place she’ll be is with a few wolves.

“What are you going to do? Stand guard outside my apartment?” she asks skeptically. Smudges under her eyes tell me she didn’t sleep well. I hope she’s not having nightmares.

“I was thinking something easier. Stay at our house. You and Leo can carpool to and from campus.” My brain is shouting about the moronic words coming out of my mouth while the rest