Read Online Night's Promise by Amanda Ashley - Free Book Online Page A

her back here. Only three nights ago, she had decided it wasn’t safe to frequent Goth clubs like this one. She had phoned her mother to let her know that she planned to come home, and would probably be there in a week or two. At least at home, she would never be bored. Life with her parents was like living on a merry-go-round. If they weren’t on the golf course or playing tennis at the club, they were out on the boat, or dedicating a new wing at a hospital, or holding a charity auction to raise money for one cause or another. There were always parties to host and plays to attend, gallery openings, nights at the opera. Life was often hectic, but never dull.
    She had left home because she wanted something different, wanted to spread her wings and try living on her own. Her parents had frowned on her decision, but it wasn’t up to them. She had her own money, thanks to a healthy inheritance from her great-grandfather.
    Living by herself had been satisfying, in its own way, but also extremely lonely. She didn’t know anyone in California, didn’t have the skills to get a good job. And looking for a vampire hadn’t been as exciting as she had hoped, until she’d met Derek.
    Damn. She had sworn she would not think of that man again.
    “Can I get you a refill, miss?”
    “What? Oh, no. Wait. I’d like a Vampire’s Kiss.” One last drink, and then she was going home to pack. It seemed fitting somehow that it would be the drink Derek had recommended.
    The bartender grinned at her. “Coming right up.”
    The bartender had just served her drink when two men approached her. Both were built like linebackers, tall and broad shouldered. One had a long scar on his left cheek. They both wore long black coats.
    Sheree felt a shiver of apprehension when the scar-faced man sat on the vacant bar stool beside her. He had blond hair, worn long, and eyes that were an odd color, not yellow, not brown, but something in between. The second man stood behind her.
    “Could we talk to you for a moment?” Scarface asked.
    Sheree shook her head. “Sorry, I was just leaving.”
    “This won’t take long.”
    “Sorry.” She stood, but the second man blocked her retreat. “What do you want?” She told herself there was nothing to be afraid of. She was in a room filled with people; the bartender was only a few feet away.
    “We’d just like to ask you a couple of questions.”
    “What kind of questions?”
    “You were in here earlier in the week.”
    “Yes.”
    “We’re trying to get in touch with the man you were with. He’s a friend of ours. We were hoping you could tell us where he lives.”
    “I thought you were friends?”
    Scarface smiled. There was no warmth in it. “He moved recently and we lost touch.”
    “I’m sorry, I can’t help you. I just met . . .” She paused at the eager look in the man’s eyes when she started to say Derek’s name. “I just met him.”
    Scarface looked at his companion, then shook his head.
    Sheree glanced around. If she yelled for help, would anyone come to her aid?
    “All right, let’s go at this from another angle,” Scarface said. “What do you know about him?”
    Sheree shook her head. “Nothing. I told you, we just met.”
    “Did he do anything that seemed unusual?”
    “Unusual? In what way? We had a few drinks, we danced. That was all.”
    Scarface looked at his companion again. “We’re wasting our time here. She doesn’t know anything.” He nodded at Sheree. “Sorry to have bothered you.”
    Sheree watched the two men as they made their way to a table in the back corner, where they sat with their heads together.
    She grabbed her handbag and practically ran toward the door. When a hand closed around her arm, she let out a startled cry.
    “Let’s go.” Scarface pushed her out the door. “Where are you parked?”
    “D-down there. The-the blue one.”
    Fear choked her as the second man wrenched her purse out of her hands and unlocked the doors.
    “Keep your mouth