Blood Doll Read Free Page A

him nothing at all about whether she understood her situation or not. Christian was willing to bet folding money that she was as clueless as all those stupid kids outside.
    “Well, yes,” he admitted, “but what do you know if it?”
    “Not much, other than that’s where Sarah’s friends told me she was.”
    In the distance, Christian followed the sounds of the watchers. They were closing in—obviously one or more of the brutes had picked up on her scent. Even his lack of odor couldn’t mask the scents of mortal blood and fear.
    “Then you know nothing, Lana… and they’re following us. We need to go.”
    “Wait a minute,” she said, jerking her arm out of his grip and sliding away, “I am not going anywhere with you until you tell me exactly who and what you are, and how the hell you managed to tear that guy’s head off!”
    Christian sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “I understand that you and your sister have little in common, but I can tell you right now that a child’s fairy tale would be easier to accept than the truth. Right now I don’t have time to explain.” From the sound of it, the watchers had less than two blocks to go. “If we don’t leave right now, you and I will both be dead in under a minute. Now please,” he offered his hand to her, “come on.”
    “Do I have a choice?” Lana asked. She sounded frightened again, and worse, the scent of fear emanating from her was growing stronger with each beat of her stubborn heart.
    “Not really,” he replied and grabbed her hand. “Hold on to me and close your eyes.” She hesitated, and rather than scream at her, which he wanted so badly to do, he tucked a finger under her chin and tilted her chin up. “Sarah is my best friend. She needs you right now, and I swear to you that you will always be safe with me, Lana. Now please…we need to go.”
    She nodded and did as he instructed, and with a slight bend to his knees, Christian leaped. The rush of wind was only a momentary setback, but it was enough to rip the breath from Lana’s lungs and keep her from screaming. Before she could take her first breath, he turned from the rooftop where he now stood and jumped to the next. In a dozen quick strides, he leaped again and landed soundlessly on the tarred rooftop of an apartment complex.
    They might be trespassing, but at least here the scent of other people would help mask hers. Loosening his grip, Christian helped her to the ground. She sank to her knees, where she bent over and gasped for breath. The jump had confused their followers, but it wouldn’t take long before they figured him out. She had thirty seconds at most to recover before they would have to move again.
    “What the hell are you?” she croaked, her voice reedy and still breathless.
    “You probably don’t want to know.”
    “I want… to know… Christian,” she said, pressing her fist between her breasts as if she were trying to hold her lungs in. Her heart rate was erratic and bordering on stroke level. “I…I want to know…how we got on…this roof.” He raised an eyebrow at her and unsuccessfully tried not to smirk. Even bordering on a blackout, Lana was an observant one. He pulled her to her feet.
    “I am a vampire. I jumped. Now come on.” He took her hand again and snatched open the access door that lead into the building. She tried to jerk away from him, but he was much stronger, and proved as much. “There’s no point in struggling, Lana. I’m not going to eat you. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m trying to save you from the ones that will…now come on. We’re in a building full of people, and the deeper into it we get, he more it will confuse your scent.” She dug her heels in, but he tugged her wrist and brought her crashing forward into him. “You can scream at me all you like about it later, but right now you need to do as I say, before I pick you up and carry you.”
    Under any other circumstances, the sour look on her face would have