Excerpt: 'Grave Expectations' by Lina Gardiner

Lina Gardiner stops by to share an excerpt from book four of her Jess Vandermire, Vampire Hunter series, Grave Expectations, which comes out Aug. 31 (but you can pre-order it now). I've been a longtime fan (and friend!) of Lina's, so when she asked me for a blurb, I didn't hesitate to gush: "Reading a Lina Gardiner book is like riding an out-of-this-world roller coaster with your favorite people in the world." Once you read this excerpt, you'll see why. Chills!

About the book (ImaJinn Books):

For decades, Jess Vandermire, has been fighting the city's biggest threat—deadly hunters in the night. But with John 'Britt' Brittain, by her side, there's nothing she can't handle. That is, until now. Suddenly…

The vampires Jess and Britt are hunting aren't acting like normal bloodsuckers. They're braver, smarter…and harder to kill.

The Vatican has ordered Jess's brother, Father Regent Vandermire, to save the soul of a massive, bloodthirsty creature. But his prayers aren't working. And if the monster gets much bigger, the whole city will need them.

Her beloved Britt is once again in her life. But until he understands his newfound powers, he won't touch her. Because there's a good chance his love might kill her…

Jess quickly realizes she and Britt aren't powerful enough to handle the upcoming challenge alone. There's only one man who can help—evangelist Malcolm Fisk. Too bad they can't trust him ...

Lina sets the scene for us …

Lina: Jess Vandermire is a vampire, and a member of the New York City dark ops vampire hunting team. She works side by side with her second in command, Lieutenant John Brittain — the man she loves.

Right now, they have a big problem. Britt has gained abilities he doesn't understand. He's able to wipe out vampires with a blue light that erupts from his solar plexus, only he has no idea how he does it. That means he's a threat to the woman/vampire he loves more than life.

In this scene, he has found someone with similar abilities, and he hopes to learn how to control his own — as well as use them against marauding vampires in the city. He's worried when Jess demands to go with him, though. The man named Fisk, who is like Britt, is ultimately dangerous to Jess, and Fisk has vampires coming and going from his building.

It's a huge risk. But they need to find out why ...

EXCERPT

This was the last place Britt wanted Jess to be. Coming face-to-face with a man who, most likely, had the ability to kill her with a single thought. "Jess, maybe you should—"

Anger flashed in her eyes. "I indoctrinated you into the underbelly of our world because I knew you had what it took. I trusted you to do what had to be done against a foe with strengths far beyond your own. Don't think I'm not able to do the same against someone with your kind of abilities. I'm not afraid of him."

His gut twisted. Maybe, just this once, she should run scared. The elevator stopped and the doors opened into a hallway instead of Fisk's office.

"Jess ..."

She flashed him a look he knew very well. "Don't even think about trying to get me to go back downstairs," she said. "How would you like it if I mollycoddled you at work from now on?" She leaned against the elevator door and blocked his exit.

He scanned the length of her, drank in every curve, every nuance. God, he loved her. He couldn't lose her. But he'd drive her away if he kept trying to protect her from harm. What the hell was a guy to do?

On their way to Fisk's office, they passed a line of people waiting outside a room on their right.

"They're vampires," she whispered, as they neared the ragged-looking group. "Why are they here?"

"I have no idea, but it explains why I've seen so many vampires coming and going," he said, trying to get a look in the room. Inside, a voice droned on about something, but he couldn't make out the words. It sounded as if Fisk's people were holding an information seminar.

Light bulb moment.

He grabbed Jess's arm to hurry her past those still waiting outside the room.

Suddenly, one of them noticed her and spoke. "Look. It's Captain Vandermire and her pet!"

Jess stiffened and began to transition into full vampire fighting mode.

Meanwhile, Britt tried to urge her forward, but couldn't get her to budge.

A quick check proved that her eyes had gone black and her luscious lips had curled back to show her fangs. Britt's gut clenched. There was going to be a rumble, and he couldn't do a damn thing to stop it.

"You talking to me, creep?" she said.

Britt touched the stake housed under his leather jacket. With a couple dozen vampires inside the room, he hoped this wouldn't turn into a battle. The last thing he wanted to do was to wipe out all of them and give Fisk a preview of his capabilities. Worse, with Jess this close in a small space, his abilities might rebound and destroy her, too.

An ugly vampire with stained teeth and stringy black hair broke from the line and approached, hissing and showing his fangs. Typical bully, always braver in a pack.

"Back off, scum," Jess said. "Or you'll regret it."

Dressed in her fighting leathers, she looked lithe and impressive. No wonder word had gotten out about her. Any vampire in his right mind would run in the other direction rather than stand and fight her.

But then, these vamps didn't seem to be in their right minds.

"What are you doing here, hunter? Did you come here for salvation, too? You don't deserve it. You deserve to die."

"Funny," she said. "That's exactly what I was thinking about you."

Salvation? Is that what Fisk was up to? Britt's gut churned.

Jess shoved the vampire backward with one hand and he surged forward again, sticking his ugly mug in her face, cursing her. Spittle flew off his fangs. The jerk didn't know when to quit. Right now, Jess was showing amazing restraint. She had barely given him a taste of what she could do. But, if the idiot didn't back off, he'd find out the hard way who Jess Vandermire really was.

The clueless vampire positioned his legs then crouched, prepared to jump at her. She waited for him to make the first move. Taut. Ready. Deadly.

"Stop this right now!" Fisk's voice echoed through the hall, as if he'd used some sort of amplifier.

Britt actually felt the reverberation in his bones. Weird and effective, he noted.

The attacking vampire stopped in his tracks and backed away from Britt and Jess. He looked suddenly terrified. "I'm sorry, Leader," he said.

Fisk marched up to him and poked the angry vampire in the chest.

It was like poking a mad dog, Britt thought. Crazy.

"Get out of my building," Fisk said.

"No, please. I'm sorry. I lost my head," he said. "I have salvation in my heart." He repeated the words like a drilled-into-his-head quote.

Britt and Jess shared a shocked glimpse with each other.

"I said, get out!" Fisk pointed to the elevator. "You will not be allowed back. This is not a place for hatred but for healing."

Jess stood near enough to Britt that he could block her, if he had to. She'd never submit to protection, but if Fisk decided to annihilate the recalcitrant vamp, Britt wanted to keep her safe from possible blowback.

Rather than attacking Fisk, the vampire looked truly devastated to be tossed out. Vampires didn't go to church, and they didn't believe in anything but the need to feed. Certainly not salvation.

So, what the hell?

Find out more about Lina and her books at www.linagardiner.com.