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CHAPTER 1

Robby MacKay had murder on his mind as he approached the rendezvous site in Central Park The peaceful scene did little to dissuade his violent thoughts Moonlight sparkled on the still lake and glea the shore The boathouse sat nearby, e for signs of an ambush

He and his companions halted in front of a series of steps that descended into a dark gully At the botto for his death, if Robby had his way

He started down the stairs with Zoltan and Phineas Angus MacKay and his wife Eed over the hill with vaate the far side of the tunnel

"I told youcome alone," a Russian-accented voice whispered from the black interior of the tunnel

Phineas stopped on a landing halfway down the stairs, his hand curling around the hilt of his sword "You've been trying to kill ht soonna anoff"

After surviving entirely on blood for alanoff looked like, but he took gri called a mean and nasty dude

Unfortunately right now, he wasinto wet shifting sand The casts and bandages had been reht he'd claimed he was ready for action It was a bluff he could pull off only if he didn't fall down the stairs

Meanwhile, the other mean and nasty dude, Zoltan Czakvar, zipped down the stairs at vaainst the brick wall to the right of the tunnel entrance

The Russian had insisted earlier on the phone that he would come alone to meet Phineas Robby and his fellow Vamps suspected a trap, but the question here? No doubt the Malcontents realized a group of Vamps would accompany Phineas to Central Park Did the Malcontents plan to attack in the park, or were they hoping the Vamps would leave their base at Romatech Industries understaffed and vulnerable? Either way, the Vamps knew they had no choice but to divide and protect both Phineas and Romatech

Robby had asked to go with the group to Central Park, figuring it afforded hi a Malcontent One wouldn't be enough, but it was a good start He made it to the bottom of the stairs and stationed himself to the left of the entrance

"Yo, Stan," Phineas called to the Russian "You paying rent for that tunnel or what?" He drew his sword and affected a gangster voice "Come out and say hello to my little friend"

The Russian vao pants and a black sweatshirt jacket, eased slowly fro his face in shadow, although the icy blue of his eyes glittered as his gaze darted nervously about He flinched when Zoltan whipped his sword out, the blade gleaht mere inches from the Russian's shoulder

Robby followed suit, reaching overhead to draw the clayrasped the hilt with both hands to keep fro a dent in his thick skull Bugger He should have brought a lighter weight sword He lowered the sword and rested the tip on the ground

The Russian lifted his hands in surrender "I did not coht I have no weapon"

"And he's alone" Eed fro next to Phineas "The tunnel's clear"

Angus exited the tunnel, returning his claymore to the sheath on his back He patted the Russian down froain He jerked the hood off the Russian's head, then stepped back to glower at him "Stanislav Serpukhov What are ye up to?"

Robby stiffened at the sight of the Russian's spiky white-blond hair He'd seen that hair before His newly healed fingers flexed jerkily around the hilt of his sword "Ye were there In the cave"

Stanislav whirled around toward hi onto the first stair step "You're alive?"

Mees of the torturers with their twisted, gleeful faces The stench of his burning flesh The snap of his breaking bones "Ye bloody bastard Ye were there" He used both hands to raise his sword

"Robby, stop!" Angus ordered

"He was there!" Robby lurched toward the Russian, who scurried up the steps to the landing

"I said stop" Angus planted one hand against Robby's chest and his other hand on Robby's ar the sword down

Robby glared at his great-great-grandfather, who only looked a few years older than hie Ye canna stop me"

Angus glared back "I expect you to follow orders"

Robby pulled away frorip and focused on the Russian "I knoho ye are now and where to find you"