Chapter 6 · The Debt Comes Knocking

The bar door slams open hard enough to crack the frame.

Lynn's got about two seconds to register the three men in black coats before Rachel screams. The first guy doesn't even bother with words—just grabs the nearest drunk by the throat and throws him across the room like he weighs nothing.

Vampires.

"Stay down."

Adrian's voice cuts through the noise, low and flat. He's already moving. One second he's at the bar, the next he's between her and the door. The speed makes her stomach lurch. She's seen vampires fight before—watched them tear through her father's squad like paper—but Adrian moves different. Cleaner. Like he's done this a thousand times.

The lead vampire stops. Tall, scarred across the jaw. When he sees Adrian his mouth twists into something ugly.

"Commander." The word comes out mocking. "Victor said you'd be here. Guess he was right about you going soft."

Adrian doesn't answer. Just shifts his weight, puts himself directly in front of Lynn, and waits.

The scarred one laughs. It's a wet sound, like something's broken in his chest. "He also said to make it messy. Said the girl's a hunter.