Laird nodded. "Yep. Hundred bucks was pulled off his ATM card in Denton, but the camera was blocked. No visual proof that it was either one of them. Priests have been all over Denton for days now, and there's just nothing. What do you think she's doing?"
"She?" Thane asked, catching the way his brother had phrased that. "There are two of them, and I'm pretty sure they're working together."
"They split up, though," Laird pointed out.
"They kissed like lovers in the club," Thane countered. "So tell me, are they still being called vampires?"
"That's the going theory," Laird admitted. "Why?"
"Because I don't buy the Bishop's bullshit," Thane told him. "That woman drained my life when she kissed me. Mom didn't fucking dissolve when she was staked."
Laird made a hiss to shush him. "Leave Mom out of this!"
"Just hear me out," Thane begged. "Stu chose to die instead of kill one. Mom was staked for being possessed, but she didn't dissolve. Those women drank blood, ate flesh, and drained through a kiss. At least the blonde did. I only saw the Asian girl drink blood. Maybe she's a vamp and the other's a succubus. Don't know, don't really care. All I'm saying is that the Church is so damned sure they have to be vampires, and why?"
"Because the Bishop announced that they were to the priesthood," Laird said dryly. "While we were all out there trying to catch them, he was proclaiming that once again, the power of God was fighting the forces of evil, and our hunters would stop these vampires."
"So they're going to stay vampires," Thane realized.
"Mhm," Laird agreed. "Why? What do you know that I don't?"
"I know that she told me it's all a lie," Thane admitted.
"What's a lie?"
"All of it," he said. "What they are, what we think we are, who is evil, and so on. It's all a lie, she said before jumping out the window. Laird, what if she's right?"
For a little too long, Laird said nothing. Thane didn't push, because he could see his big brother was thinking hard. Then, just as he turned into the drive for the restaurant, Laird finally looked over.
"The Bishop has been hinting that I need to prove my faith, Thane. He knows I'll tell you. I get the impression that if you step out of line, I'll be the one facing the clavum next."
"What?" Thane asked, hitting the brakes in the middle of the drive. "Fuck that. You're the one with the power!"
"I don't think I am," Laird said. "I heard something I'm pretty sure I wasn't supposed to. They always said that the more power we have, the more it changes us. What if that change includes destroying our chances of reproducing?"
"The hunters?" Thane asked.
Laird just nodded. "Yeah. The Bishop was on the phone. I don't know who he was talking to, but he said something about why couldn't the hunters deal with these two since they're the ones with the power to handle it. Power, Thane, and he wasn't talking about priests. Regardless, he saw me pause outside his door, asked what I'd heard, and then made it very clear that if I wanted to keep from having anyone doubt my faith, I needed to make sure that my family doesn't cause problems."
"Fuck," Thane grumbled. "I'm fucking trying, ok?"
"Yeah," Laird agreed. "Me too. So how about we don't mention Mom or Stu again, ok?"
"Sounds like a plan," Thane agreed, but inside he was cursing.
If only he'd killed her that night, Laird would still be safe. Dahlia might be gorgeous, but this was his brother. If he had to choose, Thane wouldn't hesitate at all. That blonde bitch would get a stake through her heart without hesitation if that was what it took to keep the last of his family safe.
Chapter Thirteen
THANE
That night, the team was woken up just after two in the morning. Dale turned on all the lights in the bunk room and men groaned, but something was buzzing in the other room. Dale headed that way. Like the rest, Thane pulled his ass out of bed and started throwing on clothes. What he wanted was a coffee, but it sounded like there wouldn't be time.
"What do we have?" Brice asked.
"Banshee in Waxahachie," Dale called back. "We need to move fast before he leaves the area."
"He?" someone asked. "Thought banshees were always women."