Home > Vampire Redemption (Heart of the Huntress #5)(34)

Vampire Redemption (Heart of the Huntress #5)(34)
Author: Terry Spear

 

 

Chapter 16

 

 

After they reached the homes, they all worked together to set up the security cameras, one home at a time, some watching the others' backs, though they knew the hunters in the homes across the street were watching them too.

Once they were done with that house, they moved onto the next until they'd finished the work. Now they not only had their hunters on the scene, they had video security they could monitor also. Zachary had asked if the hunters at the various homes had security cameras, so once they had found they did, they forwarded the videos to Zachary and he forwarded them to everyone else so whoever had the time could go through them and see if any of the ones they had killed were featured in the videos.

Then it was time to get something to eat, and they decided on pizzas after they had suggestions of Chinese food, Mexican dishes, Italian, and pizza.

The pizza parlor had an old-world charm with black and white tiles inlaid in the pattern of carpets, and the aisles in between featuring white tiles with little black diamonds connecting them. The tables had red tablecloths, and long poled lights hung from the ceiling, giving a nice lighting, yet providing ambience. The lower half of the walls were brick and the top of the shelves were lined with a variety of fancy wine bottles. Each of the booths had window-framed scenes of Italy, and the chairs at all the tables were covered in green vinyl. Flowers surrounded a water fountain at the entrance, a lion's head sitting front and center, lights highlighting him and the water flowing from three spouts into the basin. The water pouring into the basin was pleasing to the ear while Pasha listened to the sound of music playing overhead, and people's conversation and laughter filling the air. The aroma of freshly baked pizzas and pasta, of cheese and pepperoni, Italian sausage, and tomatoes, all added to the great fragrance of the place. Pasha's stomach rumbled with interest.

A waiter hurried to seat them in the busy restaurant, one whole wall filled with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on the Gulf. The waiter had another help him move some of the tables next to the windows so they could all sit together.

Pasha asked Zachary, "Did one of you help convince the waiter to set that up?"

Zachary smiled. "I told you there are some gifts with being what we are now that can be extremely helpful."

"I'll say. I know of a lovely Irish pub nearby that we'll have to go to one of these days. You can get us the best seating in the house."

Zachary raised a brow. "Even if I have to make some guests leave their meals behind so that we can take over the table?"

Pasha sighed. "I guess that's what a rogue would do. But I still think it's a great gift." When here before she thought it was just a curse.

All the hunters looked over each of the patrons, the three men in the kitchen area tossing pizzas in the air as they prepared them for more customers.

"I've never been here before," Pasha said. "It sure is nice." And she sure hoped they wouldn't have to create a scene if hosts were in the place and gave them trouble. Then again, if any were in here, maybe the vampire hunters could change their minds about helping the rogues.

"This is great. When Adonis suggested it, I hadn't expected anything this nice," Zachary said.

They finally took their seats, some of them sitting facing the waterfront and the boardwalk out front, others sitting with their backs to the windows so they could watch the action inside. Even though all of them were vigilant in watching for trouble, she wanted to see out the windows more. Danai was sitting with her back to the window while Zachary sat next to Pasha to watch out the window with her. She suspected he chose that seat more than the one by Danai and Michael because he wanted to be nearer to Pasha, not because he was more interested in the view of the Gulf.

"If we return to Dallas, I'll have to take you to some places I know of that are my favorite spots to eat," Zachary said, and she realized, for the first time, they were talking about courtship, about going on dates.

"We will. So we can see your family. You don't have to be cut off from them forever just because you'll be staying with us in Pensacola." That was unless the other hunters in the Dallas clan couldn’t live with what Zachary had become. If not, his family might have to come out to Pensacola to visit him. “I…didn’t say it, but I’m glad you’re staying with us.”

Zachary smiled at her. “You had any doubts?”

She sighed. “Yeah, maybe.” She did wonder what had become of Gregory, the hunter who tried to kill her brother. She hoped they'd never have to deal with him again, but if they did, they would. Permanently. He wouldn’t get away with trying to kill Adonis for a second time.

The waiter brought menus, and everyone was trying to decide on the size of pizzas to order and the toppings to include. Since most liked the same things, they agreed on three large pizzas with a variety of toppings, including three kinds of meat—pepperoni, grilled chicken, and Canadian bacon, double the cheese, two tomato-based sauces, one white sauce, and several different vegetables—some spinach, dried tomatoes, mushrooms, black olives, and green and red bell peppers.

For drinks, they all wanted water, to keep a clear head for any fights they might get into this afternoon. Though if Pasha had been on a date with Zachary, she would have enjoyed some red wine with her pizza.

"Pasha might have asked you if you want to stay here for good, once we clear out the vampire threat, Zachary," Adonis said.

"She has, and I accepted." Though Zachary glanced at his brother to see what he was going to do, Pasha figured.

"Danai asked me, and I'm staying," Michael said.

Pasha was glad. Though she noted that neither Michael nor Danai had said anything about mating. It looked like it was going to take them some time to decide this. She wondered who was the one holding things up. Her sister? Or Michael? Maybe both were seeing how things would go. Pasha didn't have the patience for waiting. She was more apt to jump in with both feet once she had decided something. But she was trying really hard to hold off until everything was taken care of as far as the vampires in the area were concerned.

She and Zachary were a good hunter-fighting team. But would living with each other be as great as a mated couple? She thought so.

She knew everyone was frustrated with the lack of intel that would tell them if they had taken care of most of the rogues or still had way too many to terminate. She would be glad when this was all over and they could get back to their—well, they would never be normal lives again—but more normal than spending every waking moment thinking about the fight ahead of them.

While they placed their pizza and drink orders, Pasha and the other hunters glanced around at their surroundings again. No vampires would be there during the day, but hosts could very well be there. No one seemed to be watching them as if they were worried or afraid the hunters had shown up.

She did think about asking Zachary if he could talk to the staff there to control them instead of the vampires, but the vampires probably wouldn't come here or to any of the restaurants. Instead, they'd send their hosts to pick up meals or whatever else they needed.

Pasha suddenly had an idea as the pizza was delivered, but she waited for the wait staff to leave before she mentioned it. "What about blood banks? The vampires often have bloody cocktails at bashes, even if they have hosts to feed off. Maybe we could check with the blood banks and convince them not to give blood to vampires."

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