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fate and a desperate hope for his family. Cynthia didn't want the burden of this man's hope.
She was nobody's savior; she didn't want to be.
"Please, he whispered.  You're human. You're like me."
I'm not like you, Cynthia wanted to scream. It's not me lying on the floor, stinking of my own
piss and sweat and begging a total stranger to save my family because I fucked up my life.
She closed her eyes and looked away, opening them to find Raphael watching her. She
matched gazes with him, then rubbed one hand over her face tiredly.
"I'll try, she said finally.  Give me your wife's name and address, and I'll try. But you have
to tell me everything you know. You have to give me something to work with."
"Okay, Scott said, nodding eagerly.  Okay. His tongue darted out to wet his lips as he
started talking.
* * * *
The door closed behind Juro and Duncan, poor Scott Judkins held between them. He was
right about one thing. He was a dead man and there was nothing she could do about that.
He'd signed his own death warrant the minute he'd decided to betray a vampire. He could
have gone to Steve Sipes, to Duncan, or even to Raphael himself, and told them he'd been
approached. That would have been the smart move. But people never thought about the
smart move. They simply reacted and then watched their lives go down the toilet and
wondered why it was happening. And now six men were dead, their families grieving, and a
little eight-year-old girl would never know what happened to her daddy.
Cynthia watched the door close, then turned away, sickened by the waste of human life.
She walked over to the sliding window behind Raphael's desk and pulled it open, stepping out
onto the balcony, into the cool, salty air. She raised her face to its freshness, wanting to wash
away the last hour of her life.
"That was well done. Raphael's silky voice blended perfectly with the dark night.
Cynthia closed her eyes.  He was terrified of you."
He didn't say anything, and she turned her head slightly, listening. She wanted to know
where he was.  How did the other one die? Was it you who killed him?"
Raphael gave an elegant shrug.  I am Vampire, Cynthia. They betrayed me and murdered
men who trusted them. Did you not say the same to Judkins?"
She gave him a bleak look.  So is this like a palace revolt or something?"
"Just so."
"I thought your own couldn't betray you."
Raphael turned to regard her, his dark eyes unreadable.  I said it was unlikely, but not im-
possible. In any event, this is most probably not one of my own children."
"How do you know she's still alive? she asked suddenly, wanting to crack his ever
present cool façade.  Bait doesn't have to be living."
He regarded her steadily, not saying a word, but she felt the reproach all the same. She
met his gaze, refusing to look away. He smiled slightly and said,  We are ... linked, Alexandra
and I, in more ways than one. I would sense her death in the instant it happened. Vampire
bait does need to be living, sweet Cyn."
Cynthia blushed, ashamed at her lack of subtlety, though she'd never admit it to him. She
raised her chin defiantly.  Do you know who has Alexandra, then?"
"A suspicion, nothing more. Someone who has sworn an oath of loyalty and is now recon-
sidering."
"Kind of like your buddy Albin."
"Does it please you to know I have enemies, Cyn?"
Cynthia thought about that.  No, she said finally, knowing it was true.  No, it doesn't. Will
you help them?"
He frowned.  Help whom?"
"I promised Judkins I'd try to help his wife and daughter. You bragged to me how fair you
are to your men, how you help their families when they die for you. That man served you
faithfully for ten years. He was stupid, not malicious. His family shouldn't suffer for that.
They've already suffered enough, and only because he made the mistake of working for you."
"As you do. His voice was smooth, but there was an underlying anger.
"As I do, she agreed wearily.  So, will you give them his death benefits?"
He regarded her somberly, and then lifted one side of his mouth in a bare smile.  I will in-
deed, Cyn. She breathed a sigh of relief.  If you deliver the benefits personally."
"What? No. I don't know these people. I don't want " [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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