Page 45 of Vampire's Cupcake
Romeo pressed his lips together."They can try, and if they want to make an example out of anyone, Eli or my family are the ones they'll target."
Thano wasn't sure he understood what Romeo meant."Target how?"
Romeo grimaced and rubbed his chest."I'm not sure what they'd do.I suspect they'd fire my family members, so they don't have an income."He pressed his lips together, then straightened his back."I'm gonna go get them."
"What?"
"I have a bad feeling.They can stay in the house for a couple of days."Romeo threw the small spade-like thing he'd been using to dig on the ground."Will you come with me?"He looked at Thano.
Come with?He'd come back from Last Hope moments ago.
"I'd feel safer if someone came with me."
"I'll come!"Humbert waved his hand.
"I'm sorry, bud, but we need not to be seen, and people notice you."
Humbert looked so sad, it tugged at something deep inside Thano, but they couldn't bring a non-human-passing person into town.They didn't allow it on good days, and Romeo was right, there were people with guns in the town.If they saw a boy with bear ears, bear feet, and bear eyes, there was a risk they'd shoot.
"Thano."
Thano didn't know what the look Romeo sent him meant."What?"
"Please, come with me."
"Where is Ciar?"
Romeo gestured at the trees, and Thano took it to mean he and Draven were out hunting again, but then he spotted a black panther resting on a thick branch.His eyes were fixed on Thano.
"But Ciar would take up a seat in the car.You could be in smoke form."
Thano glared at him."I don't have a smoke form, and even with the shadows around me, I take up space."
"I was hoping you'd shadow-hop back."He grinned."Stay invisible as I get my family, make sure we get out okay, then you hop on home."
The sound coming from Ciar wasn't a growl exactly, but it was a sound of displeasure.He stretched and jumped down from the tree.He stalked over to them with his head held low only to shift when he was a few steps away.
"Thano."
Thano dipped his head in greeting.
"Do we need to attack them?"
"It might come to that.Meeting tonight to discuss how to handle it."
Ciar nodded, then focused on Romeo."I can run home.I'll go with you in the car, and then come back on foot."
"No.I don't want you out there running.What if someone shoots you?"
Ciar huffed."It's off the paved road."
"Not inside Last Hope."
"I'll go."Thano didn't want to, but if someone harmed Romeo in any way, they'd slaughter the people in Last Hope.
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Chapter 10
