 Today's excerpt is from Quarry, book 2 of The Vampire Guard.  Declan waited another few minutes, finished his own drink, and ordered another. He raised his glass in a mock salute to the man and said, “Interesting exhibit, yes?” He dipped his head at the man’s glass. “Best whiskey, isn’t it?” The man barely glanced at Declan, yet Declan felt he was being appraised and examined to the point of feeling stripped bare. He wasn’t accustomed to it and the sensation was unsettling to say the least. A smirk was the only reply Declan received as the stranger took his drink and walked away. Declan got up and moved in the opposite direction, circling the room again, stopping when he and Blair came to the same display. “Recognize him?” Declan asked in a low voice. Blair shrugged and shook his head. “Maybe. I’m not sure. I feel like I should know him. It was a long time ago, and I wasn’t really paying attention to a lot of the people there. What if he remembers me?” “It won’t matter. There isn’t a thing about you that would tell him you’re here as anything more than a fan of the art,” Declan said. “We need more information on him.” “Just another geek,” Lucas chimed in. “He’s sort of creepy,” Blair observed. Declan snorted. “I think we’ll need more than that.” “He’s a vampire, so he’ll see us no matter how fast we move,” Blair said. “Exactly.” Declan nodded. “That’s why I’m doing this alone. You’re getting very good at picking human and werewolf pockets, but you’ll need more practice for a vampire. Watch my back.” “Always.” Blair turned away and went to the next display, while Declan moved in the opposite direction. Declan got into position next to his target. Motioning to the television screen above the case holding the tiny computer wafer, Declan said, “Very interesting idea, don’t you think? I’ve studied many types of art for years, and I have to say, this is truly unique.” He turned so he faced the man and held out his hand. “Henri de Fleur.” The man turned to Declan, stepping out of reach as he did so. His gaze raked Declan up and down, he had to concentrate to keep a shudder from coursing the length of his spine. Jonas blasted out a solo, and Declan’s gaze involuntarily went to the stage, meeting Jonas’s. The fact Jonas was focused completely on Declan and their target was comforting. He could feel Lucas tense through their bond and knew he was watching as well. “So much here to enjoy,” the man said and walked away. Declan needed a new plan. He sighed and headed toward a balcony off the exhibit hall, grumbling to himself, “I need some air.” The man was too focused on him after Declan had approached him twice and slipping out would either throw him off Declan’s scent or force a confrontation. Leaning on the railing, Declan took a few controlled breaths and looked out at the city lights. Lucas’s anxiety level spiking accompanied the sound of the balcony door opening. Voices floated through the door, but no music. Declan turned, expecting to see Lucas or possibly Jonas. He immediately straightened and squared his shoulders. Keeping the surprise off his face took everything Declan had in him. “de Fleur, did you say?” The vampire stood in the doorway, blocking Declan’s escape. “I saw your name on the guest list.” Confrontation it was, then. Nodding, Declan made an effort to keep his voice calm and neutral despite how this guy rattled him. “I didn’t get your name, mon ami.” The man stalked a few steps to the side but remained out of Declan’s reach. “Stay out of my way.” His hands were in his pockets. Drawing himself up even more, Declan couldn’t help raising his eyebrows. “Pardon me?” An oily smile spread across the man’s face, and his eyes became cold and hard. He opened his mouth, then clamped his lips tightly together. The balcony door banged open, and Lucas staggered through. “Wow, there is another party out here and no one invited me!” He threw one arm around the man’s neck, pulled him close, and held his phone at arm’s length. “Say cheese.” The man flinched ever so slightly when the flash went off. He recovered quickly, pulled his hands free, and pushed against Lucas. “You fool. Are you that drunk? Get away from me.” He started to shove Lucas toward the railing. Declan stepped forward and barked, “Hey!” Now he blocked the doorway. Dislodging Lucas and at the same time glaring down Declan, the man straightened his suit jacket. “I suggest you find other places to hunt.” He scowled at Declan one last time before he shoved past him, hitting his shoulder as he walked briskly through the door. “Are you alright?” Declan shook off the odd feeling the man had given him and took Lucas’s arm. Lucas grinned and held up his phone. “We got a picture.” He turned the screen so Declan could see. Of course the only face was Lucas’s. “Now we simply wait for HQ to send us back an image.” “We need to get that guy out of here. I have no idea how, but I think he made me as another thief,” Declan said. “If he can’t finish his scouting trip, he’ll have to come back. We can use the extra time to formulate a plan to trap him. He said he saw my name on the guest list, so he’s apparently hacked into it and checked out guests.” “Maybe your reputation preceded you,” Jonas said in Declan’s earbud. “Henri de Fleur has never been associated with stolen art. I’ve kept his name clean. You know that,” Declan said. Jonas added, “What we really need is a good distraction.” “Do you have an idea?” Declan asked. “We have to give Sayyna a chance.” “Forge, you have the horn. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Lucas’s face suddenly lit up. “It’s always a hit at the department summer outing,” Jonas said. Declan could picture Jonas’s eyes twinkling from the tone of his voice. “What are you two talking about?” Declan asked. He looked up when Lucas focused on the fedora Declan wore. Lucas snatched the hat and put it on his own head. “You’ll love this.” Quarry is available in eBook, paperback, through Kindle Unlimited and your local library digital catalog.     
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