Page 62 of Grayson’s Challenge

“Fuck!” Grayson charged at the assailants.

Holding her stake in front of her chest with both hands now, Monique collided with a massive vampire, killing him instantly. Yet the collision made her lose her footing on the wet floor and she slipped and hit the wall. She pushed herself off it quickly, and stormed into the melee once more. Hamish and Grayson were both trading punches and kicks with the hostile vampires, but more kept coming, joining the fight.

Monique did her best to fend off her attackers, using her agility to evade blows and kicks, when two vampires suddenly managed to grab her arms and slam her against the wall, knocking the wind out of her for a moment. When they pulled her back, she saw the stake in the hand of a third assailant. It was aimed at her chest.

She tried to free herself from her assailants’ hold, and used them for leverage to kick her legs as high as she could to catapult the third assailant backward with such force that he fell on the floor and slid several yards farther on the wet surface.

“Bitch!” one of her attackers cursed. But it was the last thing he said, because he suddenly dissolved into ash. Monique used the other vampire’s surprise to wheel toward him and drive her stake into his chest.

She whirled around, completely drenched now. Grayson had saved her. Relieved that he was unharmed, she let out a breath. “Thanks.”

Then she looked past him and couldn’t believe her eyes. Her brothers were fighting the hostile vampires. They weren’t alone: John, Cooper, and the three Stealth Guardians were by their side, killing one vampire after the other. But that wasn’t the reason she was stunned. No, the reason was the fact that all seven of them were dressed only in their underwear. In their very wet underwear.

Only three hostile vampires were still fighting, but her brothers and her friends made quick work of them.

“Thank God you’re alive,” she said and walked toward her brothers.

“Did we miss a party or something?” Grayson asked with a chuckle, pointing at their nearly naked bodies.

“Lead in the paint dust they sprayed on us,” Zoltan said with a look at Grayson and Hamish.

Grayson nodded. “How many more are down there?” He gestured to the door at the end of the corridor that led to the floor with the cells.

“None,” Zach said. “We took care of them. But I’m sure there are more upstairs.”

“Any word from Logan?” Monique asked with a look at Grayson.

He looked at his cell phone and shook his head, then sent another text message. “Let’s find them. And can somebody turn off the sprinklers?”

“I’ll take care of it,” David said. “The controls are in the boiler room.”

“Somebody go with him,” Monique said.

“I’ll go,” Cooper offered, and together they walked in the other direction.

The sound of an explosion was suddenly coming from upstairs. Monique exchanged a panicked look with Grayson, and they ran, followed by the others, up the main stairs.

Grayson had his gun drawn, and Monique reached for hers too. The time for killing silently was over. She took two steps at a time, hurrying upstairs. When she reached the landing, Grayson by her side, she saw at least a dozen vampires lying on the floor of the large foyer looking as if they were sleeping.

The only two men standing were Wesley and Logan. Both spun on their heels, guns drawn, pointing them at her and Grayson.

“Don’t!” she called out quickly.

Both lowered their guns, and behind Monique, the Stealth Guardians, and the others crowded into the foyer.

“Blake?” Grayson asked, his voice laced with panic.

Wesley made a dismissive hand movement. “He’s fine.” He pointed to a spot on the floor, and Monique recognized Blake lying on the ground like the other vampires. “I told him not to get too close to the potion when I did the spell… Same with Robert.” Wes shrugged. “They’ll be fine. Just a bit groggy when they wake up.”

“Thank God,” Grayson said, the relief evident in his voice.

“Are those all of them?” Monique said with a look at the vampires on the floor.

“We think so, though we haven’t had time to check the upper floors yet,” Logan said, “but every vampire on this floor is asleep thanks to the spell.”

Finally, the sprinklers stopped.

“Let’s handcuff them with silver.” Monique looked at Grayson and pointed to a door. “In the guards’ station—”