Page 44 of The Vampire’s Temptation

Though she was still some distance away, Alessandra knew the blonde woman in the distance, a tourist judging by the look of her, was her target.

Target? Now why had that word popped into her head?

The woman was a complete stranger, but Alessandra couldn’t stop staring.

Not because the woman was beautiful, though she certainly was that.

Not because the woman was looking at her with something like recognition.

No, the reason Alessandra couldn’t stop staring was because she was one hundred percent positive that this woman was related to Lawrence. Moreover, the stranger was making her way directly to their table. Despite that haunted-house feeling, Alessandra could sense she was not a threat.

So much for the idea that this sixth sense thing was all in her head, a manifestation of Kenton and Lawrence’s fantastical musings about her ancestry and some magical bloodline.

It was true. Their claims weren’t some tall tale.

The question was, what did this woman want from her?

* * *

“Do not take another step.”

He didn’t see, or feel, Lawrence’s presence yet. But if Laria had come to town, no doubt her brother would be close at hand.

“Hello, Kenton,” Laria said without turning toward him.

Kenton leaned against the brick wall of the alley spilling onto Main Street, hopefully keeping out of sight of Alessandra. “I may not be powerful enough to kill you, but I can still make you suffer if you get any closer to her.”

Sighing audibly, Laria turned to face him rather than continuing on her path toward the restaurant. She’d never been one to take orders, so the move surprised him.

“It’s been how many years since we’ve crossed paths, and this is how you greet me?” she asked, as if annoyed by a small child’s antics.

She watched him from eyes with the same vivid green as her brother’s. Despite the hate he bore for her and her family, Kenton could not deny she was quite beautiful.

While each of the Kenton brothers sported the same jet-black hair, Laria and her brothers shared a shade of brown that was kissed by the sun.

“Your brother and I have made an agreement. She is off-limits.”

Laria cocked her head to the side. “So Lawrence tells me.”

“And yet . . . here you are.”

He turned from her, walking deeper into the alleyway. Each side alley branching off Main Street led to more shops and restaurants. Appropriately enough, this one led to Amendment 18, the speakeasy where Lawrence had apparently found employment. Since its customers would not arrive for hours, it was as private a place as any.

“I just wanted to take a peek at the woman who’s causing so much fuss.”

“Your brother is a liar,” he said, ignoring her words. “He assured me you would be nowhere near Stone Haven.”

“Your little truce with my brother is safe,” she said dismissively, waving a hand through the air as if swatting a fly.

His jaw clenched.

“Lawrence gave his word, and therefore you have mine.”

“Then perhaps you have somewhere else to be.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t think so. You see, Kenton,” she said, emphasizing his name as if it were an epithet, “my brother is under the illusion that you won’t kill Alessandra. But I know better. When the truce is up, and you attempt to destroy the lovely Alessandra Fiore and her family, I will be here to ensure that does not happen.”

God save me from Clan Karyn.