Bitter Blood (Morganville Book #2)

Chapter 14

Justin's dad turned on an electric light overhead, and the sudden glare made me wince and blink. I looked down quickly at Dr. Mills to confirm that he was still breathing, and not moving. Good. I needed all my concentration right now.

Jeremy Bieber looked the same as he had the last time I'd seen him alive, there in Bishop's office - thin, lean, with his long graying hair down around his face, only now he was paler. He looked like a man who'd lived hard and died the same way - and there was definitely a shadow in him that hadn't been there before. A crazy, scary shine in his eyes, like a silver film. He had a few things in common with Oliver, but where Oliver came across as tough, frightening, and ultimately rational, Bieber missed that last one entirely.

He was way too close. I stayed very still, trying not to let my pulse pound too hard.

"I see what my son likes about you," Jeremy Bieber said. "You're tougher than you look."

"Thanks," I said. "Now back off."

He laughed again. It echoed off of the stone, as if he'd brought three or four copies of himself to enjoy the show. "No," he said. "I don't think so. Never done it before. Never will." He paused "I'd like to talk to my son."

"Never going to happen," I said. "He doesn't want to talk to you."

Mr. Bieber's smile showed more than teeth. His fangs slowly unfolded, and the edges caught the dim light. "You think he'd want you sucking plasma, too, sweet-heart? It would kill him if something like that happened. So you might try to be a little more polite."

I wanted to vomit at the thought of Jeremy Bieber biting me. "He'll kill you," I said. "You know he would."

"Maybe he'd try." Jeremy shrugged. "He wouldn't hurt you, though. I know my boy well enough to know how head over heels he is for you. He'd never touch a hair on your pretty little head. You're his weakness, Anastasia."

That was sickeningly true. Justin would do anything to save me. He'd even let his father turn him into a vampire - which might be what Freaky Jeremy was thinking about.

I couldn't let that happen. No way.

I slowly let the duffel bag I was holding thump down to the floor, and took stock of what I had to work with. Not much. Jeremy Bieber had been turned by Bishop; he wasn't sick. I had no hope of curing him, or even treating him. This was his natural state of crazy.

My backpack.

I let it slide down my arm, hoping that he'd think I was getting ready to make a run for it. It'd be useless to do that; I'd never make it.

Plus, he'd enjoy the chase.

As my backpack caught in the crook of my elbow, I grabbed the front zipper. Gravity helped me pull it down as the weight sagged forward.

Oh, crap.

The stakes weren't in the front pocket. I'd put them in the bigger interior, with my books. There was nothing in the front pocket but some paper clips, a highlighter, and half a candy bar. I didn't think bribing him with chocolate would get it done.

"Relax," Justin's dad said. "I'll let you go."

That seemed . . . too good to be true, but I was willing to take it and run. "Thanks," I said, and bent to grab Dr. Mills to pull him toward the portal.

"I didn't say he could go," Jeremy said, his smile full-tilt crazy. "I deserve a little bonus for being so accommodating."

I could feel my heart pounding now, even through the layers of calming drugs that Hannah had dosed me with before. Everything seemed to slow down. I didn't pause to think. I threw all my strength into grabbing the pack in both hands, twirling in place like a shot-putter, and slamming the pack into Jeremy Bieber's back.