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.Gabriellefelt a sudden jolt of panic that made her want to leap out of the car and runback to them, back to her old life.Page 142 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlToo late.She knew that.This new reality had her in a tight grasp, and she didn t think there would beany turning back, only a steady march forward.She turned away from the rearwindow and sank into the seat s butter-soft leather, staring straight ahead asLucan wheeled sharply around the corner and drove her deep into the night.CHAPTERTwentyShe didn t know how long they d been driving, or even in what direction.Theywere still in the city, that much she could tell, but the many turns and backalley routes that Lucan took had since become a jumble in Gabrielle s mind.She stared out the dark-tinted window of the sedan, vaguely aware that theywere slowing down at last, approaching what appeared to be the expansivegrounds of an old estate.Lucan braked outside a tall, black-iron gate.Twin beams of red light shotdown from a pair of small devices perched on both sides of the high-securityperimeter fence.Gabrielle blinked away the sudden shot of light that flashedin front of her face, then watched as the heavy gate began to slide open. This is yours? she asked, turning to speak to Lucan for the first time sincethey d left her apartment. I ve been here before.I took a photograph of this gate. They rolled through, then up a long, curving, tree-lined driveway. The estate is part of our compound.It belongs to the Breed. Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlEvidently, being a vampire was quite lucrative.Even in the dark, Gabriellecould see the old-money quality of the well-tended grounds and the ornatelycarved limestone work on the pale façade of the mansion as they approached.Double rotundas flanked the lacquered black doors and soaring portico of themain entrance, above which rose four elegant stories.Ambient light glowed from many of the arched windows, but Gabrielle hesitatedto call the effect welcoming.The mansion loomed like a watchful sentry in thegloom of the surrounding night, stoic and forbidding, with its collection ofsnarling gargoyles that stared down from the roof and twin balconiesoverlooking the drive.Lucan wheeled past the front entrance and around to a large hangar in theback.A gate lifted, and he rolled the purring Maybach to a stop inside, thencut the engine.A row of lights went on as the two of them climbed out of thecar, the soft clicks of motion sensors illuminating a fleet of glossy,high-end machinery.Gabrielle gaped in astonishment.Between the Maybach, which cost about as muchas her modestBeacon Hill condo, and the collection of cars, SUVs, andmotorcycles, she had to be looking at millions of dollars worth of vehicles.Multimillions. This way, Lucan said, the duffel bag of photographs gripped in his hand ashe guided her past the impressive fleet to an unmarked door near the back ofthe garage.Page 143 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html Just how rich are you people? she asked, trailing after him in amazement.Lucan gestured for her to enter as the door opened then he followed her insidethe elevator and pushed a button on the console. Some members of the vampirenation have been around a very long time.We ve learned a few things about managing our money wisely. Uh-huh, she said, feeling a little off balance as the elevator began asmooth but swift descent, down, and down, and down. How do you keep all ofthis hidden from the public? What about the government and taxes? Or are youstrictly a cash-and-carry operation? The public can t get past our security, even if they tried.The entireperimeter of the grounds is wired.Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlAnyone foolish enough to get close to the compound would get afourteen-thousand-volt ass kicking and a mind scrub.We pay our taxes throughfronted corporations, of course.Our properties around the world are owned byprivate trusts.Everything the Breed does is legit and aboveboard. Legit and aboveboard.Right. She laughed, a bit nervously. Just nevermindall the bloodsucking or the extraterrestrial lineage. Lucan leveled a dark glance on her, but she was relieved to see the corner ofhis mouth lift in something that might have passed for a smile. I ll take the backups now, he said, his penetratingly clear gray eyeswatching her as she dug the memory sticks out of her jeans pocket and placedthem in his hand.He let his fingers close around hers for a second.Gabrielle felt heat in histouch, but she didn t want to acknowledge it.She didn t want to admit whatjust the slightest brush of his skin made her feel, even now.Especially now.The elevator finally came to a stop, and the door slid open to reveal apristine room constructed of glass walls reinforced with gleaming metalframes.The floor was white marble, inlaid with a series of geometric symbolsand interlocking designs.She recognized some of the designs as similar to theones that Lucan bore on his body those strange, beautiful tattoos that coveredhis back and torso.No, not tattoos, she realized now, but something.else.Vampire markings.On his skin, and here, in this underground bunker where he lived.Beyond the elevator, a corridor stretched and wended along a path that musthave been several hundredGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlyards long.Lucan paused to look at Gabrielle when she hesitated to followhim.Page 144 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm
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