After Sundown: Redemption Read Online Free PDF Page A

prefer?”
    Again, her change of topic and unusual question unnerved him. No one had asked him what he preferred for a very, very long time. Momentarily bemused by her questions, he gave himself a mental shake. He had to get back to business.
    “That really doesn’t matter, Alyssa,” he said brusquely. “The point of this conversation is that I am a vampire and my job is to protect you. Do you understand that?”
    “Of course. I understood that the first time you told me. Do you repeat yourself often?”
    Frowning, Christian studied Alyssa’s face. Her dimpled smile and the amusement in her eyes were unmistakable. The minx was teasing him!
    He couldn’t resist the answering grin that spread across his lips. He was surprised, but also glad to see this side of her personality. She had a sense of humor and she was stronger than she looked. He liked that.
    Alyssa didn’t know where the questions came from. She had used this technique before when she was on unfamiliar ground. Asking ordinary questions usually managed to calm her and the other person down. She settled down immediately and was glad to see Christian also relax. He was puzzled enough by her query that his fangs withdrew and his eyes returned to their normal color.
    Relieved and feeling more in control of her situation, she said, “Okay. So you and that woman Bazhena and Vlad are vampires. But you’re also a bodyguard. And you plan on protecting me from this stalker. Is that correct?”
    He gave her an indulgent smile. “Yes, palomita , that is correct.”
    “What does palomita mean?”
    “Full of questions aren’t you? I think I’ll let you find that out for yourself. Now let’s get back to business.” Christian moved back around to his side of the desk, sat down and opened the file in front of him.
    He motioned for Alyssa to sit across from him. “Please sit down. We have a lot to cover before your speaking engagement tomorrow night.”
    Alyssa remained standing.
    “One more question before we start, Mr. Galiano. Do many other people know you’re a vampire?” She’d been dying to ask that, because the whole situation was just so weird.
    “I’ll answer that on one condition.”
    “What?”
    “That you sit across from me and that you call me Christian, not Mr. Galiano. I think it will make things easier and more comfortable for both of us. Agreed?”
    Alyssa nodded her head and sat down. After all, he and Vlad had just saved her life. She figured that she at least owed him that. This side of Christian intrigued her. He wasn’t mocking her and instigating her anger. They were actually having a civil and somewhat friendly conversation. Pleased by his easy-going manner, she nodded her head.
    “Agreed.”
    “Good.” Christian’s lips spread into a much too satisfied smile and Alyssa wondered if she had agreed too quickly. “To answer your question, no, not many people know what I am. Think about it? Who would you tell? And more importantly, who would believe you? Today’s society is based on science and facts. Luckily, it’s that narrow mindedness which allows us to operate Sundown Security and keep our anonymity. Our group is diverse and talented, but we all have one thing in common. We can all be categorized as unexplained or unsubstantiated phenomena.”
    “You mean there are others like you working here?” she asked, unable to keep the shock from her voice.
    “Well, I wouldn’t say ‘like me’. We all have our own special talents,” he explained vaguely. “But let’s get down to business. I see from your file that the first incident—”
    Christian looked up as somebody opened his door.
    “Hey, Christian. Who does a vampire fall in love with? The girl necks store. Get it? The girl—uh, sorry. Hmm. I didn’t know you had a client. Talk to you later.”
    Christian’s door quickly closed.
    Alyssa was too stunned to speak. The man who had just stuck his head through the doorway had the face of an angel, a perfect Adonis, with