Hope and Vengeance (Saa Thalarr, book 1): Saa Thalarr, book 1 Read Online Free Page A
Author: Connie Suttle
records everywhere and took notes on a laptop. The Council supplied all Assassins and Enforcers with laptops. I'd taught myself how to use mine, but after meeting Joey, I was much better with it.
Joey was also openly gay, didn't mind that I wasn't and never lacked for companionship. The vampire community, being male almost exclusively, had a much healthier outlook regarding their gay compatriots.
As soon as I sent the message to Xavier, he instant-messaged me back.
What do you mean, she read your mind? I could almost hear the demand in Xavier's nonverbal question.
I said it seemed that she read my mind , I tapped out. I can't say that for certain .
Then I suggest you keep a watch on her, and be sure to let me know of other unusual behavior. Immediately .
Of course, Xavier . I never called him father. Yes, he was my sire, but he wasn't my father. I'd had a very good father, once; his memory remained unclouded in my mind. Xavier would never hear that word from me—not willingly, at least—and I think it angered him at times. I didn't care.
I will send Joey tomorrow. Will advise later on arrival time .
Thank you , I entered. Xavier never acknowledged my thanks. He merely ignored them as unnecessary.
With several hours remaining before sunrise, I chose to contact the only two vampires in the Corpus Christi area, asking them to meet with me at a local, twenty-four-hour coffee shop.
When I arrived, there were only two vehicles in the small parking lot of The Cracked Cup, located not far from the marina. A waitress and one customer were inside as I walked through the door. Choosing a corner booth away from the door, I nodded as the waitress held up the coffeepot.
Grabbing a cup from a shelf behind the counter, the waitress made her way to my table. I imagined that she'd held the same position for years uncounted, and judging by her gray hair and wrinkles, appeared to be in her mid-sixties.
"Can I get anything for you besides coffee?" she asked as she set the cup down and poured coffee efficiently.
"No, thank you," I replied.
"You're British."
"Yes, I am."
"I love British accents."
"So do I."
"I'm guessing you're not here for pleasure, then."
"You are correct."
"Enjoy your coffee. And your stay." She turned to move away.
"Two more will be joining me," I said.
"I'll bring more cups when they get here." She offered a smile, which I didn't return.
Ten minutes later, Jeff Garner and Kyle Williams walked through the door. I recognized them as vampires by scent. They came to sit opposite me while the waitress dutifully brought the coffeepot and two more cups. Kyle nodded and Jeff thanked the waitress politely. She walked away, barely offering me a glance.
"I'm Adam Chessman," I introduced myself after the waitress returned to the counter and resumed her conversation with the human patron.
"Jeff Garner," Jeff held out his hand. I took it out of necessity. Jeff was five-eight with a round face, brown hair, blue eyes and a deferential demeanor. Kyle Williams, slightly taller than Jeff and rail thin with black hair, was more reticent and didn't introduce himself. I'd given him my name over the phone when I called, and he hadn't failed to see my reaction to Jeff's gesture.
"What's this about?" Kyle asked instead, going straight to the purpose of our meeting.
"This." I'd brought the file of photographs with me—the ones depicting the bodies and their bite marks. "The local Pack suspects this is a vampire's work. Know anything about that?"
"Are these the ones on the news—those three who went fishing and didn't come back?" Jeff examined the top photograph carefully before replacing it in the folder.
"Yes."
"The punctures are too far apart." Jeff's blue eyes studied my face, silently asking if I hadn't recognized the same thing.
"I think so, too," I agreed. "Upon what do you base your opinion?"
"A medical one," he replied. "I have two medical degrees, and I've worked in the field for the past seventy years."
"So
Joey was also openly gay, didn't mind that I wasn't and never lacked for companionship. The vampire community, being male almost exclusively, had a much healthier outlook regarding their gay compatriots.
As soon as I sent the message to Xavier, he instant-messaged me back.
What do you mean, she read your mind? I could almost hear the demand in Xavier's nonverbal question.
I said it seemed that she read my mind , I tapped out. I can't say that for certain .
Then I suggest you keep a watch on her, and be sure to let me know of other unusual behavior. Immediately .
Of course, Xavier . I never called him father. Yes, he was my sire, but he wasn't my father. I'd had a very good father, once; his memory remained unclouded in my mind. Xavier would never hear that word from me—not willingly, at least—and I think it angered him at times. I didn't care.
I will send Joey tomorrow. Will advise later on arrival time .
Thank you , I entered. Xavier never acknowledged my thanks. He merely ignored them as unnecessary.
With several hours remaining before sunrise, I chose to contact the only two vampires in the Corpus Christi area, asking them to meet with me at a local, twenty-four-hour coffee shop.
When I arrived, there were only two vehicles in the small parking lot of The Cracked Cup, located not far from the marina. A waitress and one customer were inside as I walked through the door. Choosing a corner booth away from the door, I nodded as the waitress held up the coffeepot.
Grabbing a cup from a shelf behind the counter, the waitress made her way to my table. I imagined that she'd held the same position for years uncounted, and judging by her gray hair and wrinkles, appeared to be in her mid-sixties.
"Can I get anything for you besides coffee?" she asked as she set the cup down and poured coffee efficiently.
"No, thank you," I replied.
"You're British."
"Yes, I am."
"I love British accents."
"So do I."
"I'm guessing you're not here for pleasure, then."
"You are correct."
"Enjoy your coffee. And your stay." She turned to move away.
"Two more will be joining me," I said.
"I'll bring more cups when they get here." She offered a smile, which I didn't return.
Ten minutes later, Jeff Garner and Kyle Williams walked through the door. I recognized them as vampires by scent. They came to sit opposite me while the waitress dutifully brought the coffeepot and two more cups. Kyle nodded and Jeff thanked the waitress politely. She walked away, barely offering me a glance.
"I'm Adam Chessman," I introduced myself after the waitress returned to the counter and resumed her conversation with the human patron.
"Jeff Garner," Jeff held out his hand. I took it out of necessity. Jeff was five-eight with a round face, brown hair, blue eyes and a deferential demeanor. Kyle Williams, slightly taller than Jeff and rail thin with black hair, was more reticent and didn't introduce himself. I'd given him my name over the phone when I called, and he hadn't failed to see my reaction to Jeff's gesture.
"What's this about?" Kyle asked instead, going straight to the purpose of our meeting.
"This." I'd brought the file of photographs with me—the ones depicting the bodies and their bite marks. "The local Pack suspects this is a vampire's work. Know anything about that?"
"Are these the ones on the news—those three who went fishing and didn't come back?" Jeff examined the top photograph carefully before replacing it in the folder.
"Yes."
"The punctures are too far apart." Jeff's blue eyes studied my face, silently asking if I hadn't recognized the same thing.
"I think so, too," I agreed. "Upon what do you base your opinion?"
"A medical one," he replied. "I have two medical degrees, and I've worked in the field for the past seventy years."
"So
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