The Darkest Kiss (Riley Jenson Guardian 6)

His smile was wan, but there nevertheless. "It's like that old cliche says - you never know what you've got until you almost lose it."

"Just make sure you tell Liander that when we finally rescue him."

"I intend to, trust me." He blew out a breath that didn't seem to do a whole lot to ease the tension still evident in his body.

I resisted the urge to say "you'd better," and asked, "I don't suppose Jack found the files for Young's disappearance?"

Rhoan snorted softly. "Apparently it's regular procedure for regional police offices to purge computer files after twenty years. They have a hard-copy record, but it's still being found."

"Just as well we can go straight to the source, then." I dragged my phone out of my pocket and pressed the button to ring the Directorate. "Has Jack got any other information about the house Young used to live in?">One of the toga-clad teenagers shifted slightly. Energy whispered down the link, a mere echo of the power that Quinn flung across the room at the kid who had moved.

"Stop," he said, voice holding the steel of command. The kid froze and his eyes went wide. As wide as his mistress's suddenly were.

"And drop that weapon," Quinn continued. "All of you, drop your weapons."

Weapons clattered to the floor. Every kid had at least two.

"Kick them under the chaise lounge, out of reach."

They did so. I glanced at Vinny. For the first time, there was fear in her eyes.

"Ready to be a help rather than a hindrance?" Rhoan asked softly.

She nodded. Rhoan lowered her back to the ground and eased his grip on her neck. "Now, be pleasant and answer Riley's questions."

Vinny licked her lips, then said, "What do you want to know?"

"Why is Aron Young kidnapping and murdering those who were in tenth grade with him?"

"As I told you before, he seeks vengeance for his death."

"Why now, though? Why not in the years immediately after his death?"

"Because he was unable to get out before now."

So he had been kept prisoner by his parents. "How did he get out?"

"His mother - she was sick. Her heart or something. She let him out."

And then she'd died, and he'd buried her rather than let her rot where she lay. I guess even evil bhutas had one soft spot. "Tell me where he is."

"I gave you an address - "

"One address," I cut in sharply. "Vampires intent on foul deeds always have more than one hidey-hole."

I'd learned that the hard way.

Amusement flitted briefly through her eyes. "That is true. I cannot, however, give you that information, because I do not have it."

Shit. I was so hoping that Vinny would give us the easy answers, but I guess I should have known better. Fate was never one for giving me the quick way out.

"Is there anything else you can tell me about him? Anything that might help us find him?"

She considered me for a moment, then said, "Try his home. I tasted memories of it in his thoughts."

"We have people in his home. He's not there."

"Which home, though? I do not speak of the home after his death, but rather the home when he lived. The place where it all started."