Stalking the Others Read Online Free Page B

considered this. The White Hats were supposedly against all things with fangs or fur, the more active of the bunch going so far as to actively hunt them down, so if it got out that one of their leaders was bound to a vampire, the whole situation would turn into a clusterfuck of epic proportions. Jack either trusted me more than I had guessed, or he was so far gone in his illness that he no longer cared about the potential consequences of telling me his secrets.
    Royce always had a million and one plans roiling in that devious mind of his. It wasn’t unlikely that my becoming a member of the White Hats was some kind of backup plan, or maybe something he’d been considering using me for all along. My potentially turning Other must have thrown some kind of wrench into his plans. Who knew what he wanted to use me for now. Or how he would have broken the news to me if he really had wanted me to take over the White Hats’ New York chapter.
    That the vampire had his fingers in so many pies was unsurprising. What worried me was the possibility that he might use his connection with the White Hats to keep tabs on me. Or maybe force me back to his side.
    The possibilities and second-guessing were making my already aching head hurt worse than ever.
    Maybe the belt was right. I should consider getting Royce out of the way before he dragged me into something even worse than what the Sunstrikers had started.
    Or maybe this little hunting trip of mine had been part of the vampire’s plan all along.
    “Listen, Jack, I’m sorry—very sorry—that you’re ill. But I’m not leader material. Even if I don’t turn, I’m not the person you need to run this kind of outfit. And I’ll never answer to Royce. Being bound to him once was enough. If you tell him I’m here, I’ll leave and find some other way to deal with this problem. But if you’ll have me and keep my involvement secret, I could use your help. And I’ll do what I can to help you, too—at least until I know what’s going to happen to me.”
    Jack regarded me steadily, stubbing out the cigarette on the table. “I wouldn’t expect any less from you. And don’t worry. He doesn’t know. He won’t be able to drag it out of me unless he asks me directly. I’ve figured out how to play some of his games.”
    I started to relax, but he leaned forward, holding up a single digit.
    “But—here’s the deal. You owe me. Us. You owe the White Hats a favor. One we can call in at any time. In return, I’ll give you a safe place to stay. I’ll make the others help you hunt. It’s something we might have done anyway, but at least we’ll have good reason now.”
    Despite my worries, this was the best shot I had at bringing down the Sunstriker pack. I reached across the table to take his cool, dry hand and shake on it. A compact with the devil wasn’t new to me, but I had the feeling I wouldn’t live long enough to pay Jack and his White Hat buddies their favor back. If I did, I’d just have to bite the bullet and pay the price, because there was no way I could get my revenge working alone.
    “Yes. We have a deal.”

Chapter 4
    Jack and Nikki had work to do, but there were some cots set up in the basement. They offered to let me catch up on sleep for a few hours until it was time for them to go back to their headquarters. I gratefully accepted.
    After taking an age to get back on my feet and an exceedingly painful millennia to limp down the stairs, I collapsed into one of the cots in the storage area and slept for a while.
    Nikki woke me with a rough shake some time later. All that kept me from punching her was the protesting ache in my muscles. Even so, I felt better, not quite so sore, and followed the two hunters to a black SUV parked a couple blocks away from the shop. The sun was still out, but the end of the workday was approaching and the streets were quickly becoming packed with traffic. I dozed again on the ride, the sounds of a low, droning announcer on the radio