Enduring Service Read Online Free PDF

with the kids. I think they’re getting pizza or something.”
    Dixon knew Sterling probably meant his pregnant wife Kate, their friend Jackie and her three children. “Did Sulie go with them?”
    Sterling took a sip of his beer, but then raised an eyebrow. “She’s not with you?”
    Dixon kept his voice level and remembered he didn’t need to play the numbers game in his head. “Not since after the press conference when she had an emergency at the hospital.”
    Sterling shook his head. “She must still be there.”
    A slight chill ran up Dixon’s spine, but he dismissed the sensation. “Babies take time I guess.” Dixon used the bottle opener on his key chain to open his beer. He glanced over at the empty stove and oven. “No food tonight.” Dixon was well aware that vampires did not eat human food unless they were younger than their Jahrling year or if they were pregnant or nursing a baby. Sulie, however, was willing to cook just for him, and even though he was not looking forward to eating fish tonight, he was hungry.
    “Dude. Get a clue and brown bag it. I mean, it’s entertaining as hell watching you choke down my aunt’s cooking, but you must pass dozens of fast food places to get here.” Sterling took a sip from his bottle as he headed out of the kitchen but then stopped shy of the door. “But, if you are hungry, feel free to make yourself something.”
    “I think I’ll wait.” Dixon smiled. Last week Sulie surprised him with a Mexican lasagna. Overall, it wasn’t bad, but the cilantro and basil did not blend well. Sometimes she’d pick up food on the way home. Those were the best meals.
    “I’m sure she’ll be home soon,” Sterling said as he left the kitchen.
    Dixon glanced at the antique clock which hung on the kitchen wall. He had helped Sulie pick out that clock several years ago from one of their favorite antique stores. The time was already late. He wondered how much longer she’d be.
    He took his beer and followed Sterling to the green poker table in the living room. Before taking a seat at the table, he swung by the light switch and turned on the overhead light. The vampires didn’t need it, but his aging eyes appreciated the new brightness in the room. More and more team members arrived at Fang Manor during the next hour, but there was no sign of Sulie anywhere. Daniel, Ben, Sterling, Raymond and Dixon sat around the table and played five card draw.
    Dixon scanned the vamps around the table. The two strongest members of the team were present. Raymond, with his dark hair and formidable build, had a noble quality about him, always watching out for all the team members — especially his sister, Sulie. And Ben, who was actually the largest member of the team. It wasn’t only his height, because he stood as tall as Raymond, but his massive build which made him the most physically intimidating. If not for his superhuman strength and speed, Ben could fit into any major league football team in the nation. In fact, both Raymond and Ben had a superhero quality about them.
    “ Sulie deserves her own superhero. Not a weak human” , he thought as he continued looking at his team members.
    Sterling had the smallest build of the group, but he was the only half–breed among them — half human and half vampire. A hybrid in every sense of the word. He looked nothing like his father, Raymond. The boy had picked up much of his fair–haired, Shaun Cassidy appearance from his mother’s side of the family. Overall, he was a good kid. Dixon knew Sterling was already 180 years old, but still thought of the vamp as younger than himself. It was easy to do when the vampires chose to look as young as their Jahrling year — which Sterling always did.
    Dixon paused when he got to Daniel. The vamp was born the same year as Dixon. He had been turned decades ago, but decided to continue aging. Daniel’s hair had grown whiter than Dixon’s, and he had a few age spots around his face. The vampire resembled