Jeanne Stein - The Watcher

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Newly-made vampire Anna has become a Watcher-one of the supernatural world's enforcers- even as she fights to control her vampiric rage. When a series of very dangerous events threatens to draw out her unstable powers, her Watcher mentor sends her away for her own safety. But if there's one thing Anna has always been able to find, it's trouble.

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It's clear now, David's sudden change in attitude. Jerry Reese is the bondsman we often work for. It doesn't surprise me that Gloria would suggest David contact him instead of me. What does surprise me is that David actually had the guts to go against her. At least until now.

"That's it, isn't it?" I'm so angry I'm shaking.

I shove open the car door and jump down. "When are you going to see what's going on? Gloria is an asshole. She wants to break up our partnership."

David climbs out and comes around to meet me at the front of the Hummer.

"I've really had it with that bitch. How long are you going to let her pull this crap?"

But David isn't listening. His attention has been drawn to something else. I can tell because his eyes are not focused on me, but over my shoulder. Irritated, I turn to follow his gaze.

There are three men walking on the other side of the road, heading toward the embankment under the bridge. All are dressed in jeans and Western shirts. The one in the middle glances over at us and looks quickly away.

Guzman.

I grab David by the shirt and swing him toward me, raising my voice. "Are you listening? I won't go through this again. You have to make a choice. Gloria or me. You can't have us both."

The men on either side of Guzman are watching us.

David picks up the cue. "I'm sick of your ultimatums. You're crazy if you think I'd choose a junkie like you over that sweet piece of ass."

One of the men laughs and says something to the others in Spanish. Guzman still does not look our way.

Without thinking about it, I reach up and smack David across the face.

He isn't expecting it and he recoils in shock. "What the fuck?"

We have the attention of all three now. Even Guzman is smiling. But they've reached the edge of the bridge and without pausing, they disappear into the brush.

We wait a minute to be sure they're really gone, then David rubs at his cheek with the palm of his hand. "Ouch. That hurt."

I strip off the Windbreaker and the cap. They've seen us. No way will we blend in with the residents of tent city now. No use in trying.

David glares down at me. "I said that hurt."

"I had to make it look good, didn't I?"

He slips out of his Windbreaker, too. His Glock is nestled under his armpit. He draws it from the holster and checks the safety. "Next time," he grumbles, "come up with something that doesn't involve slapping me, okay?"

I have to struggle to keep the smile from my face. I won't tell him how really good it felt to give in to a purely human impulse and whack him. The only thing better would have been if it had been Gloria's face. I force the corners of my mouth into a frown. "So how do we do this? It looks like Guzman has picked up a couple of friends."

David is quiet for a couple of seconds.

A smile tickles my mouth. "Let's continue the farce. They heard you call me a junkie. I'll go down there and try to score."

"Wait a minute," he says. "You can't go down there alone. It's too dangerous."

"I won't be alone for long," I counter. "Will I?"

"No. But—"

I knot the Windbreaker around my waist to cover my gun. "I'll go in the same way they just did. You cross to the other side. I'll give you five minutes to get set."

David looks across the street and then back at me. "Okay. But don't do anything stupid like approach Guzman on your own. Wander around looking sad." He narrows his eyes at me. "After all, you just lost your boyfriend. Let him approach you."

"I know how to handle this," I snap. "You just be ready."

I turn and walk across the street.

David calls out, "You junkie, skank whore. I'm gone, you hear me? I hope your low-life friends take care of you because I'm out of here."

He climbs into the Hummer and screeches away from the curb.

Good job, David. A little too enthusiastic maybe, but they should have heard that all the way to the stadium.

I raise a middle finger to the departing car and plunge into the undergrowth.

I don't have to hide the smile anymore. I've fed and my body hums. True, I fed from someone I never intended to but Max's good, pure, clean blood restored my equilibrium in spite of whatever misgivings I have about us. The adrenaline has kicked in, triggering a purely human sense of excitement. This is why I became a bounty hunter. This is going to be fun.

CHAPTER 14

I HEAR VOICES COMING FROM THE ENCAMPMENT. Spanish, English, male, female. Even the squeals of a couple of kids at play. But it takes a few minutes to push through an overgrown tangle that rips at my jeans and catches at the hem of my Windbreaker. When I finally do break free, I feel as though I've stumbled onto a gypsy camp located like a bad joke in the middle of the city.

There's no one in sight as I walk through a narrow aisle formed by ragged tents and cardboard lean-to’s. Whoever belonged to the voices I heard a moment ago vanished at the sight of a stranger wandering into their camp. The only interest I attract is from some kind of huge winged insect that buzzes relentlessly around my head.

I hate bugs.

The second time I swat at the thing, my ineffectual gesture brings forth a gale of childish giggles. I look around to find I've been followed by two tots, neither older than five or six, both little towheads, wearing dirty jeans and faded Chargers T-shirts. They hide their faces behind their hands when I turn to face them, their narrow shoulders shaking with laughter.

I squat down to their level. "You think that's funny, huh?"

The taller of the two spreads his fingers to peek out at me. "Don't do no good to swat. You're too slow and the bugs are too fast."

I consider that for a minute, looking around to see if we've an audience. It appears we don't. When the swamp creature with the wingspan of a small helicopter comes back at me, I snatch it out of the air and hold it captive in the palm of my hand.

Both kids look at me with wide eyes and open mouths. I hold the bug out to them and they look like they're ready to bolt. With a shrug, I open my hand and the creature takes flight.

"Show me how to do that!" The talkative one squeals, jumping up and down.

I stand, wiping bug dust from my hand by rubbing it against my jeans. "Maybe later. Right now, I'm looking for someone."

He squints up at me. "Who?"

"Don't know his name. But I just saw him come down here a few minutes ago. He was with two friends."

The kid tilts his head. "Why are you looking for him?"

So young to be so suspicious. But maybe that's what comes from living in a dump under a bridge.

When I don't answer right away, he pantomimes taking a hit on a joint, and then slaps the crook of his right arm with his left hand. "Weed or smack?"

The gestures and the question coming from this angel-faced kid remind me that this is not a game. My cavalier attitude undergoes immediate adjustment. I have to get the hell away from these kids and find Guzman.

I stand up abruptly. "You going to show me where the guy is or not?"

The chatty kid's face droops into a sullen mask. "He's in the last tent. Down there."

He and his silent companion start to follow me, but I whirl on them. "Get out of here. Playtime's over."

The glare, the heat in my voice roots them to the spot. But I want them gone. I sense the approach. When they still don't make a move to leave, I flail my arms at them. They turn tail and run.

I keep my back turned. I know someone is right behind me.

"Those kids bothering you?"

The words come from over my shoulder, a soft male voice.

I pretend to be startled, flinch and turn on my heels. One of Guzman's companions from a few minutes ago is now standing right in front of me.

I make a quick mental calculation. David should be around here somewhere by now.

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