Free Damned if I Do by Erin Hayes Page B

message.”
    “Jude?” He sounds too interested.
    I inwardly groan. “Yeah. Send him a message that I’ll be at Twin Fangs tonight. And no, you can’t go, Carl.”
    Carl pouts and starts typing in the message. I don’t feel too much sympathy, because it’s all for his own good. I know I’m overprotective of him. Although Carl is in a better position than Amelia, since he’s not next in line to be the Harker, I still want to take care of him.
    “Sorry, Carl. I know you want to see him, but having one hunter in a vampire bar is already dangerous.”
    “Dangerous for you too.”
    “I laugh in the face of danger, haha ha ha,” I deadpan.
    “Message sent,” Carl announces, putting the phone down.
    “Thanks. Sorry,” I say again, feeling guilty. Carl really wants to be a part of the vampire hunting world, yet I don’t want him to get caught in the crossfire. He’s been on a few hunts with me, either as my weapons-carrier or as a back-up, but he’s still not ready. His mom really wanted him to live a peaceful life, and, well, you don’t get one of those when you’re around me. “Next time. When I know more of what we’re up against.”
    “It’s all right.” Carl turns to leave. “Do you want me to wake you up for dinner?”
    I smile at him. “Please.”
    He shuts the door behind him, and I close my eyes in the dark room. I’m not sure it is because I have a bad headache or I didn’t get much sleep the night before, but I fall instantly asleep.

Chapter 10
    Jude
     
     
    I don’t really tuck myself in for sleep during the day, but I am lying down in my haven and about to pull the covers up over me when I get a text from Edie. I have to read it a few times to really get what it means.
    “What the fuck?”
    Meet me at Twin Fangs tonite. Wear something cute.
    This doesn’t sound like Edie at all. At first, panic overcomes me, and I wonder if she’s being held captive and whoever is doing this is trying to lure me into some sort of trap. Surely they don’t know my feelings. I’ve been careful to keep myself and my digging separate from being associated with the Harker.
    Then I calm down and realize that it’s just what it is—a joke. Edie never writes anything like that, so it has to be tongue-in-cheek. Plus, she’d never say “tonite”. She always makes sure to use correct grammar and punctuation. On the contrary, I don’t do that at all because I know it gets her riled up. I learned five months ago that a riled up Edie is still better than the despondent one she can be whenever she gets pulled into the throes of her depression.
    Maybe she’s forgiven me for trying to glamour her last night and this is a peace offering. I know it’s too good to be true…but I still hope.
    Twin Fangs is an interesting choice. She wouldn’t go to vampire bars unless she has a specific purpose in mind.
    I briefly debate telling her that I want to meet somewhere else, and decide against it. Twin Fangs is as good as any to start. I still can’t help the hopeful tremor in my hands as I type in my response.
    ill find u
    It’s a reply that I would have sent in any case. So if it is Edie making a joke, I’m still playing around. And in the unlikely event that it’s someone who has her phone and is trying to get a rise out of me, well…
    I make the decision to arrive on Sixth Street early to stake out the place at nightfall. I have only a few hours left. I need to rest and be fully energized and awake in case the shit hits the fan tonight.
    They say that vampires don’t dream. Yet as I lie in my bed with the hurricane shutters pulled tight over the windows, I have the vision of her in my head and the scent of her still filling my senses.
    Then I remember what I am, that nothing can ever come of it. I want something that I can never have because I’m a thing that I hate, from a time that I can’t remember.
    It will never work out. I’m such a hopeless, lovesick fool.

Chapter 11
    Edie
     
     
    I had horrible