Read Online Vengeance (Night Roamers) Book Three by Kristen Middleton - Free Book Online Page B

“Basically, I’m going to be bait.”
    “Don’t worry,” said Ethan, grabbing my hand and squeezing it. “You’ll be safe. Trust me.”
    “I guess we don’t have any other choice,” I replied.
    “Exactly,” said Ethan, releasing my hand. “Now, let’s get you some coins and set you up at a machine.”
    “ You know, don’t you think that will look a little odd? Me, playing the slots while my mom and brother are missing, and I’m supposed to be searching for them?”
    Ethan shrugged. “We need you out in the open, what better place than the machines? These mongrels won’t care what you’re doing. They’ll be too caught up in their bloodlust to think that hard.”
    “ Thanks,” I replied dryly. “Nice way to pump me up for this.”
    He chuckled. “Sorry.”
    Duncan hit the elevator button. “I hope you know what you’re doing. I still think this plan sucks.”
    “She’ll be fine. Do you really think I’d put Nikki in real danger if I didn’t think we could handle it?”
    “Considering how well you’ ve been handling things up until now?” he replied. “In the last few days, you’ve had the life sucked out of you by a shape-shifter and barely survived a gunshot wound. Frankly, I’m not sure if I really trust your judgment.”
    “ You know, I don’t give a shit whether you do or not,” he snapped, and then turned to me, his eyes softening. “What about you? You trust me don’t you, Nik?”
    “Of course.”
    Ethan turned to Duncan and gave him a cocky grin. “See. She trusts me and obviously knows if anyone can protect her, it’s this guy,” he said, waving both of his thumbs towards his chest. “I guess you could say in this group, I’m the Alpha.”
    Duncan snorted. “Unbelievable.”
    “Don’t be a hater, Dunc,” said Ethan, getting into the elevator. “Tall, dark, and handsome always trumps guys like you.”
    “Ethan, Duncan is incredibly handsome, too.” I turned to Duncan. “Don’t listen to him.”
    Duncan shrugged. “Considering his charms are all fake, I take what he says with a grain of salt.”
    “ You can believe what you want,” said Ethan, looking towards me, “but the end result appears to be in my favor, though, doesn’t it?”
    “We haven’t reached the end,” replied Duncan, smiling coldly. “Don’t go and jump the gun now.”
    I rolled my eyes. These two were definitely getting on my nerves. “Please quit goading each other? You’re both driving me crazy.”
    They didn’t say anything, just continued sizing each other up as the elevator went down. When we reached the bottom, the doors opened, and they followed me out towards the busy lobby.
    “ So… what am I supposed to do?” I asked.
    “Here,” said Ethan, pulling out his wallet. He took out a hundred dollar bill and handed it to me. “Get yourself some change , and then find a machine. We’ll follow you around at a safe distance.”
    “W here do you get your money?” I asked, staring at the bill. He always had oodles of it, but I had no idea where it actually came from.
    He smiled. “Let’s just say I’ve had many years to save. Just because I’m a vampire doesn’t mean I’ve never held a job.”
    “Oh.”
    “Don’t listen to him,” replied Duncan. “I’ll bet he’s stolen as many bills as he has lives.”
    “I’ve never stolen money,” he replied.
    I thought about our free upgraded suite he’d gotten for us , which many people would label as stealing. I kept it to myself, however. I was sick of the fighting, and had other things to think about. Like staying alive and finding my family. I thought about the movies I’d watched and how vicious Lycans appeared on film. This was real life, though, and these creatures were obviously much more dangerous.
    I shuddered.
    “You okay?” asked Ethan, a tender look in his eyes.
    “I ’m okay. Just nervous.”
    He raised my chin with his finger. “You’ll be fine. I swear I’ll kill them with my bare hands before they