Free Vamps in the City by Crissy Smith

up in bed.
    “I…I…” Paige stopped herself when Grant yanked on her hand. She looked at him again. She didn’t understand the problem. It was obviously to her that Tasha knew who she was …
    “Grant?” Paige asked in a whisper.
    He just shook his head.
    “Paige,” Tasha sounded alarmed. “I didn’t know you were here.”
    Paige looked back at her, but it was Grant who answered, “Why wouldn’t she be here? This is a place to come to be safe, right?”
    Paige didn’t understand what was going on or why he was acting this way so she tried to pull her hand away. He tightened his grip and Sam moved to stand between the bed and her.
    She watched Tasha look at Grant for the first time. She nodded and dropped her eyes.
    “I’m sorry. So sorry,” she said quietly.
    “Honey, what are you sorry for?” Paige asked gently.
    “I didn’t have a choice. You have to believe me, Paige. I didn’t have a choice,” Tasha said before she started to sob.
    “Choice?” Paige asked gently but Grant yanked her backwards towards the door.
    “Sam, get Paige out of here,” Grant ordered.
    “No!” Paige cried as Sam grabbed her arm and pulled her to the door.
    She heard Tasha cry out and looked back to see her arch on the bed. Her head moved from side to side and she moaned, then she turned those chocolate eyes back on her.
    “Leaving so soon, Paige?” a voice asked that didn’t belong to Tasha.
    Paige sucked in a breath and found herself between Sam and Grant.
    “Oh, don’t be that way, son. I want to meet your girl,” the voice came again.
    “Grant?” Paige asked quietly, grabbing hold of the back of his shirt.
    “It’s okay, baby,” he tried to reassure her.
    “Bring her closer, Grant. Let me get a good look,” the voice said, laughing.
    Paige started to shake and pressed herself closer to Grant.
    She had no idea what was happening but she was worried about Tasha. About Grant. All of them really.
    “Grant? What about Tasha?” she asked pulling on his shirt.
    The horrible laugh sounded again. “Oh, she’s here, Paige. Right inside.”
    “Sam, take her,” Grant ordered again.
    “No,” she held on tighter to his shirt. He didn’t look at her.
    “Now,” Grant snapped.
    Sam put an arm around her waist and lifted her off her feet. When they got into the hallway, he put her down but kept an arm around her.
    “Sam.”
    He shook his head and pulled her down the hall to the elevator. She didn’t know where they were going but she didn’t want to leave Grant.
    “Please, Sam, I want to stay with Grant,” she begged.
    He looked surprised and even smiled at her. “You’re a good girl, Paige. I’ve never met anyone like you.”
    She looked at him in confusion.
    “Grant’s going to need you when he leaves that room. Just keep that in mind.”
    She nodded. “I want to be with him now.”
    The elevator door opened and he led her down the hall, taking her to Grant’s room.
    Once there, he opened the unlocked door and motioned for her to enter first. She did and he walked over and turned on the lamp.
    “The message was obviously for him. He needs to hear it out so the demon will leave your friend,” Sam told her.
    “Is Tasha going to be alright?”
    He sighed. “It depends on how long he’s been in her mind. The longer he’s there, the more damage done. Grant needs to get him out to save your friend.”
    Paige nodded, not really understanding. Who could possess someone like that? “What was that thing?” she questioned.
    “That was one of the strongest vampires that has ever existed.”
    Paige felt sick to her stomach. “What does he want with Grant?”
    Sam dropped his head and took several deep breaths. When he looked up and their gazes locked, she knew he was going to tell her something bad.
    “Everything. He wants everything from Grant.”
    Paige wrapped her arms around her middle. “Why?”
    “Because that monster is his