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Blood War and your death, she became obsessed with the idea that, if
not for her intervention in your fate, you would not have died such a
horrible death.
 If not for her intervention, I would have died sooner, Preston
exclaimed.  I was determined to die while still in human form. I didn t
want to live without her. She saved me from that. It s not her fault
what happened afterwards.
Artimus gazed at him with sad eyes.  I have tried to convince her of
that indisputable truth, but to no avail. The child would not listen to
reason, neither then or now.
 I have to know where she is, Artimus. I have a hunch my brother
may not be far behind her. I have to get to her be there to protect
her.
 I don t believe you, Debra said, coming forward.  You will say
anything to get us to reveal her whereabouts. We are not fools. We
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gave our word and we intend to abide by it. Nothing you can say will
change our minds.
 I m afraid she s right, dear boy. We did give our word. And a
person s word, whether he be man or vampire, is about all anyone has
anymore. I m sorry.
 You can t be serious, Preston shouted.  My God, Gabrielle is in
mortal danger and you two talk of honor. Is it honorable to let her die
like an animal by my brother s hand?
A worried expression crossed Debra s wrinkled features. She
exchanged a frightened glance with Artimus.  I & I don t know what
to do. How can we be sure he s not telling the truth? What if
something happens to Gabrielle because of our stubbornness?
Artimus smiled.  Do whatever you heart tells you, little Debra.
Whatever your heart tells you.
Debra s gaze locked with Preston s for a long, drawn-out moment,
and just when he thought he d failed to convince her, she frowned.
 Okay, since Gabby s life is at stake, I ll make an exception, but it will
do no good. You can t possibly reach her before tonight.
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 Tell me where she is, Debra. Let me handle the problem of getting
to her.
Debra closed her eyes, and then opened them with a reluctant sigh.
 She went back home. She plans on packing up and leaving the
country.
Preston sharply drew in his breath, unable to believe what she d
said. The image of Gabrielle running into a warehouse to escape
Cameron flickered in front of his inner eye. He knew for certain that it
wasn t just a dream. No, he d seen the future and some presentiment
told him tonight was the night his brother would make his move.
He glanced at his watch. His heart sank when he saw it was already
fifteen minutes after five. There was no way he had time to drive to
North Carolina, nor did he have time to catch a flight out of New
Orleans. There was only two ways he could get there in plenty of
time Angel or Serene.
But would either of them help him? And would they arrive here in
time for him to convince them of Gabrielle s peril?
* * *
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 This is the last of it, Miss Warlick. The delivery man shoved back
the visor on his stained baseball cap.  If there ain t anything else you
need us to do, I reckon we ll be on our way.
Gabrielle smiled.  Thank you, Otis. I ll make sure to pay you
overtime for coming out tonight.
The man s homely face reddened.  Glad to help. If you like, I ll see
you to your car. He glanced around the deserted parking lot of Pat s
Rent-A-Storage.  I don t cotton to a woman being alone here this late
at night. It ain t safe.
Gabrielle tilted her head to look at him, a hint of a smile on her lips.
 I can take care of myself, Otis. You just get on home to your family.
There are a few things I still need to do before I leave.
He hesitated.  You sure, Miss Warlick? I can wait, if need be.
Alice ll hold supper a while longer.
 No, please go. I ll be fine.
 Okay, if you say so. You re the boss, I reckon.
Gabrielle waved as the trucker climbed into his cab and pulled out
of the parking lot. She shook her head with a wry smile. Southern men
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were the most gallant in the nation. In many ways, they reminded her
of knights in medieval times, she mused on her way back to the
warehouse doors.
Like Preston.
She shoved the stray thought to the back of her mind with a
determination she didn t really feel.
She stopped dead in her tracks.
Something didn t feel right. A ripple of disquiet made its way into
the pit of her stomach. Her legs trembled as she revolved around,
slowly searching the deserted, endless expanse of cracked pavement. It
appeared ghostly under the sodium pole lights, somehow threatening
with its graveyard silence.
Gabrielle s car, a dark shadow in the distance, reassured her. She
shook her head. Surely, she was imagining it. Otis words of caution
had lodged in her mind, and now she was overreacting.
The danger was gone, defused by Angel and Serene. She had
nothing to fear nothing at all, she told herself firmly. Her waning
powers were playing tricks on her senses, that was all. And no wonder;
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