Roaring Dawn: Macey Book 3 (The Gardella Vampire Hunters 10) Read Online Free PDF Page A

was struck by the bald sincerity in his voice. It was in his eyes as well. “She’s the closest thing we have to perfection.”
    She couldn’t argue with that, but it didn’t mean she had a lack of questions for the mysterious woman.
    “We need to find a way into Iscariot’s den,” Macey said, formulating into words her most terrifying and determined thoughts. She started to walk down the aisle, to the back of the church. “Because that’s the only way to catch him by surprise and destroy him.”
    Chas lifted a brow as he walked along with her. “Bold and brassy. I like it. But never say you think you’ll just waltz right in and stake the bastard.”
    She rolled her eyes. “First we have to find where said bastard is hiding before I can waltz right in and then stake him.”
    “This might help.” He produced a folded newspaper, and it smelled of fresh ink.
    The evening edition of the Chicago Tribune . And on the front page, dominating half above the fold, was a huge photograph of Nicholas Iscariot.

THREE
    ~ The Gauntlet is Thrown ~
     
    For the most part, Macey had come to avoid reading the Tribune . Every time she saw the byline J. Grady next to a story—and there had been more and more of them lately as he became more and more successful—her heart hurt.
    The last piece she’d read with his name on it was a front-page report of Harry Houdini’s funeral. The escape artist and magician, who died in a Detroit hospital after a show, had been a friend and mentor to Grady. The sorrow and grief over the loss of his friend had come through in the prose, despite the fact that it was a journalistic piece.
    At least he wasn’t also feeling sorrow and grief over losing Macey—because he didn’t even remember her, thanks to Wayren and the small golden disk Macey had asked her to employ.
    Now, she looked down at the folded paper Chas thrust at her, stepping under one of the sconces in the church to better examine the story. The front page was dominated by a huge photograph of the beaming Nicholas Iscariot shaking hands with Mayor Dever, and flanked on the other side by Colonel McCormick, the Trib ’s editor in chief. Macey automatically glanced at the byline. Her heart sank.
    J. Grady .
    So her favorite newshawk had been there. He’d seen, spoken to, and interviewed Iscariot.
    And Iscariot knew who he was.
    While Grady, though he’d been imprisoned by the vampires and tortured by Iscariot only weeks ago, would have no idea who the other man was.
    All because of her.
    Trepidation stabbed her as she looked down at the photo, at Iscariot’s arch, patrician features. He was looking out at the camera, staring straight at the viewer with a modest smile. But she saw the truth through it and read the underlying evil and satisfaction burning in the curl of his lips and the glint in his eyes. It was as if he were looking directly at Macey, tossing the challenge at her feet.
    Waiting for her to figure out his plan.
    Italian Baron Graces Chicago , read the headline. The subhead gave more information: Nicholas, the Baron Politano, newly arrived from Rome, debuts into society at Cardinal Ball .
    She let her arm fall, allowing the paper to drop away, and looked up at Chas. He was watching her with eyes that were too intuitive for her comfort.
    She gritted her teeth and collected her thoughts. She focused on fury, duty, and determination—and immediately felt powerful. “Well, at least he should be easier to find, now that he’s debuted into society. Aren’t young ladies supposed to be debutantes—not barons?” she sneered.
    “That’s the way it used to be, back in my day,” Chas replied. But he was still watching her carefully.
    Macey shoved the paper back at him and pulled out the stake she’d tucked into a garter beneath her frock. “Let’s go. I’m in the mood for a fight.”
    “That’s the best thing I’ve heard you say in a while.” His eyes lit with appreciation. “Let’s dust some vamps.”
     
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