按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
s the street； heading south。 There wasn t really much in that direction。 Was she lost？ Well； that possibility didn t sound entirely out of character。 I got back in the car and drove slowly through the streets； looking for her。 I stepped out into a few other patches of shadow； but I only caught her scent once more； and the direction of it confused me。 Where was she trying to go？ I drove back and forth between the bookstore and the restaurant a few times； hoping to see her on her way。 Jessica and Angela were already there； trying to decide whether to order； or to wait for Bella。 Jessica was pushing for ordering immediately。 I began flitting through the minds of strangers； looking through their eyes。 Surely； someone must have seen her somewhere。 I got more and more anxious the longer she remained missing。 I hadn t considered before how difficult she might prove to find once； like now； she was out of my sight and off her normal paths。 I didn t like it。 The clouds were massing on the horizon； and； in a few more minutes； I would be free to track her on foot。 It wouldn t take me long then。 It was only the sun that made me so helpless now。 Just few more minutes； and then the advantage would
be mine again and it would be the human world that was powerless。 Another mind； and another。 So many trivial thoughts。 。。think the baby has another ear infection Was it sixfouroh or sixohfour ？ Late again。 I ought to tell him Aha！ Finally； someone had noticed her！ Here she es！ There； at last； was her face。 The relief lasted for only a fraction of a second； and then I read more fully the thoughts of the man who was gloating over her face in the shadows。 His mind was a stranger to me； and yet； not totally unfamiliar。 exactly such minds。 NO！ I roared； and a volley of snarls erupted from my throat。 gas pedal to the floor； but where was I going？ I had once hunted My foot shoved the I knew the general location of his thoughts； but the knowledge was not specific enough。 Something； there had to be something a street sign； a store front； something in his sight that would give away his location。 But Bella was deep in shadow； and his eyes were focused only on her frightened expression enjoying the fear there。 Her face was blurred in his mind by the memory of other faces。 first victim。 Bella was not his The sound of my growls shook the frame of the car； but did not distract me。 There were no windows in the wall behind her。 Somewhere industrial； away from the more populated shopping district。 My car squealed around a corner； swerving past another vehicle； heading in what I hoped was the right direction。 By the time the other driver honked； the sound was far behind me。 Look at her shaking！ The man chuckled in anticipation。 him the part he enjoyed。 Stay away from me。 The fear was the draw for Her voice was low and steady； not a scream。 Don t be like that； sugar。 He watched her flinch to a rowdy laugh that came from another direction。 He was irritated with the noise Shut up； Jeff！ he thought but he enjoyed the way she cringed。 It excited him。 He began to imagine her pleas； the way she would beg I hadn t realized that there were others with him until I d heard the loud laughter。 I scanned out from him； desperate for something that I could use。 the first step in her direction； flexing his hands。 He was taking The minds around him were not the cesspool that his was。 They were all slightly intoxicated； not one of them realizing how far the man they called Lonnie planned to go with this。 They were following Lonnie s lead blindly。 He d promised them a
little fun One of them glanced down the street； nervous he didn t want to get caught harassing the girl and gave me what I needed。 I recognized the cross street he stared toward。 I flew under a red light； sliding through a space just wide enough between two cars in the moving traffic。 Horns blared behind me。 My phone vibrated in my pocket。 I ignored it。 Lonnie moved slowly toward the girl； drawing out the suspense the moment of terror that aroused him。 He waited for her scream； preparing to savor it。 But Bella locked her jaw and braced herself。 He was surprised he d expected her to try to run。 Surprised and slightly disappointed。 He liked to chase his prey down； the adrenaline of the hunt。 Brave； this one。 Maybe better； I guess more fight in her。 I was a block away。 The monster could hear the roar of my engine now； but he paid it no attention； too intent on his victim。 I would see how he enjoyed the hunt when he was the prey。 thought of my style of hunting。 I would see what he In another partment of my head； I was already sorting through the range of tortures I d born witness to in my vigilante days； searching for the most painful of them。 He would suffer for this。 He would writhe in agony。 The others would merely die for their part； but the monster named Lonnie would beg for death long before I would give him that gift。 He was in the road； crossing toward her。 I spun sharply around the corner； my headlights washing across the scene and freezing the rest of them in place。 I could have run down the leader； who leapt out of the way； but that was too easy a death for him。 I let the car spin out； swinging all the way around so that I was facing back the way I d e and the passenger door was closest to Bella。 I threw that open； and she was already running toward the car。 Get in； I snarled。 What the hell？ Knew this was a bad idea！ Should I run？ Think I m going to throw up Bella jumped through the open door without hesitating； pulling the door shut behind her。 And then she looked up at me with the most trustful expression I had ever seen on a human face； and all my violent plans crumbled。 She s not alone。
It took much； much less than a second for me to see that I could not leave her in the car in order to deal with the four men in the street。 What would I tell her； not to watch？ Ha！ When did she ever do what I asked？ When did she ever do the safe thing？ Would I drag them away； out of her sight； and leave her alone here？ It was a long shot that another dangerous human would be prowling the streets of Port Angeles tonight； but it was a long shot that there was even the first！ Like a mag； she drew all things dangerous tow