Free Darkness Dawns by Dianne Duvall Page B

is a member of a particularly violent eastern European crime family. He also usually carries a couple of .45 semiautomatics but lost them in the fight.”
    “Why didn’t you bring him replacements?”
    “A miscommunication.”
    Since they rarely fought more than one vampire at a time and wanted to avoid drawing attention to their battles, immortals tended to avoid using guns. Vampires did as well, knowing even in their madness that more than one careless vamp had experienced an excruciating death in a sunlit cell after being taken into custody by law enforcement officials.
    Pursing her lips in a way Roland found adorable, Sarah left them, disappeared into the bedroom, and returned carrying a Glock 9mm and a spare clip.
    “Here,” she said, holding them out to him. “You can use mine.”
    Roland raised his eyebrows.
    She shrugged. “I used to live in Houston. Crime is pretty bad there and, when a woman in my apartment complex was raped by a burglar, I decided that any man who broke into my place was going to have to be carried out.”
    Damn
. He really liked her.
    Sarah watched him palm the weapon and give it a quick inspection. She kept it in good condition. Clean. Well-oiled. No rust or dust in any of the grooves or crevices. He seemed satisfied.
    “There’s a bullet in the chamber and fifteen in the clip,” she told him.
    “You any good with it?” Marcus asked.
    “Very good,” Sarah answered matter-of-factly. “There’s no point in owning a gun if you aren’t prepared to use it.”
    Roland handed it back to her.
    “Don’t you need it?” she asked, taking it.
    “I want you to hold on to it. If my assailants catch up with us before we reach my home, aim for the major arteries.” Using his index and middle fingers, he pointed out the key arteries on his own body in his neck, arms, abdomen, and inner thighs. “Here, here, here, and here. Got it?”
    “Yes.” Every man she had ever chatted with at the shooting range, including cops, had told her to aim for the chest. Then, after seeing what a good shot she was, amended that to the head and chest. Yet, Roland was telling her to aim for major arteries?
    That was odd.
    “Don’t hesitate,” he stressed earnestly. “If you even
think
one of them is moving toward you, start shooting.”
    “Will do,” she promised.
    Marcus cleared his throat. “And don’t shoot
us.
”
    She frowned up at him. “I just told you I’m good. I never miss my target.”
    “And I’m asking you not to target us,” he countered, eyebrows raised. “Please?”
    She looked at Roland and caught him exchanging a somber glance with Marcus.
    Feeling as if she were missing something, she addressed Marcus. “Fine. If it will make you feel better, I promise I won’t shoot you.”
    He nodded. “Good. I’m going to hold you to that.”
    If she didn’t know better, she would have thought he truly believed she might turn her gun on them later.
    Roland grabbed her tote bag. “Let’s get going.”
    Marcus collected the duffle bag and briefcase and headed outside.
    Sarah stuffed the spare clip into her back pocket and gripped the 9mm tightly with her right hand, nervous all of a sudden.
    His expression softening, Roland touched her left arm. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone harm you.”
    She forced a smile.
    Sliding his hand down until their palms met, he linked his long fingers through hers and gave her hand a light squeeze.
    Butterflies erupted in her stomach as she followed him onto the porch.
    How could something as innocent as holding hands sometimes feel so intimate, she wondered as he locked and closed the door behind them.
    Darkness enfolded them, so complete Sarah couldn’t see an inch in front of her face.
    When Roland started down the front steps, she remained where she was.
    “What’s wrong?” he asked, tugged to a halt.
    “I can’t see.”
    The porch light flickered, then came on.
    Blinking at the sudden brightness, she looked up at the glowing bulb, back at