Vampires Are Foreve(48)

Inez knew Thomas wasn’t your average guy, that he was faster, stronger, and could control minds, but she wasn’t sure he could control three at once, or how much stronger and faster he actually was. Slinging her purse strap over her shoulder, she stood and murmured, “Thomas, I think we should move on and call Herb for another set of coord—”

“No, no, love. Sit down. We want to buy you a drink.” The words were accompanied by a sudden sharp tug on her hand that sent her dropping back into her seat. Her eyes shot to the first man as he turned his attention to Thomas and said with a shrug, “I don’t see a ring on her finger. She’s free to sit with us.”

Inez never saw Thomas move, but suddenly the blonde was dangling in the air, held there by Thomas’s hand at his throat.

“Thomas,” she said anxiously, standing up and catching his free arm with her hand. He jerked as if she branded him, his head whipping around, eyes blazing silver fire. Inez caught her breath and stared back for a moment and then glanced around sharply and cried out with surprise as she saw the brunette approaching Thomas from behind. Her warning came too late, even as the sound slipped from her lips, the man flicked open a knife and plunged it into Thomas’s lower back.

He stiffened, his back arching slightly, then dropped the blonde and whirled on his attacker, baring his teeth and hissing. Inez saw the brunette’s eyes widen incredulously as he shrank back, but she was already stepping between the two men.

“Thomas,” she said in low warning.

For a minute, Inez thought he’d knock her aside and go after the brown-haired Brit, but a shout and the sound of pounding feet made them both glance around to see two uniformed members of the Amsterdam police force rushing toward them. Thomas growled at the sight of them, and then Inez suddenly found herself caught under one arm like a football as he charged up the walkway away from the police.

Inez was aware of their passing from light to darkness to light once more, and thought they were on the main street again. She heard people gasping and exclaiming in surprise as he whizzed up the street, dodging the crowds of pedestrians and knew this couldn’t be a good thing. That was when Inez realized just how much the Sweet Ecstasy was affecting Thomas. She’d assumed that the concentrate would just affect his body, but now she knew it had to be affecting his mind as well. He’d bared his teeth in public, for heaven’s sake and now was drawing attention to them with this superhuman rush up the road.

The good thing was that at the speed he was moving, it was doubtful anyone was getting enough of a look at either of them to be able to describe them later. Still, staying hidden was a creed among his people. They spent most of their lives trying not to draw attention to themselves. She knew he shouldn’t be doing this. Inez had barely realized this when Thomas turned a corner and slowed so abruptly her stomach lurched. In the next moment she found herself upright and able to breathe again as he set her on her feet.

Inez stumbled, her legs not quite ready to support her, but Thomas simply held her upright with a hand under her arm and urged her forward, and into a building. They were halfway across the lobby before she realized they were back at the hotel. Inez supposed she shouldn’t be so surprised, he’d certainly moved faster than the tram and it really hadn’t been that long a ride on the tram in the first place.

They were on the elevator and the doors were closing before she glanced out and noticed the startled looks the few people in the lobby were giving them. Frowning, she glanced to Thomas, afraid he was still flashing his teeth, but he wasn’t and then she glanced down and noticed the knife still sticking out of his lower back.

“Oh God,” she breathed, feeling the blood rush out of her head.

Thomas didn’t even look her way. His eyes remained fixed on the lighted numbers over the elevator doors. Biting her lip, Inez reached toward the knife, thinking to pull it out without warning so that it would—hopefully—hurt less, but let her hand fall back before she touched the handle. She simply couldn’t bring herself to do it and didn’t think she’d be able to do it even with his knowing.

The elevator dinged as it came to a halt, and she glanced around as the doors opened, then followed quickly when Thomas stepped out and started up the hall. She was so distracted staring at the knife sticking out of his back that Inez didn’t notice that his steps were unsteady until they’d nearly reached their suite.

“Are you all right?” she asked anxiously, moving up to his side to peer at his face. Her alarm only increased when she saw how pale he was. “Thomas?”