A Relentless Thirst

A RELENTLESS THIRST THE WRAITH BROTHERHOOD: BOOK ONE EVELYN LEDERMAN CONTENTS Internal Title Page Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Note From The Author A Relentless Thirst The Wraith Brotherhood: Book One By Evelyn Lederman Copyright @ 2023 by Evelyn Lederman All rights reserved All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental. Editing by Tina’s Editing Services Cover by Fiona Jayde Media Created with Vellum CHAPTER 1 The taste of blood soured in Blake Andrews’s mouth. How he longed for the days when he could indulge in sopaipillas drenched in honey. An impulsive decision he made took away that simple pleasure. Five years ago, his fate had been sealed. The payment for the death of the man who had been indirectly responsible for his father’s murder had cost him dearly. His family’s legacy ended with his conversion into vampirism. He wiped the crimson fluid from his parched lips. The man sprawled dead at his feet would never harm another child. There was compensation for the work he now performed. As a member of the Wraith Brotherhood, he made sure criminals who escaped the human justice system met their well-deserved end. He helped to balance the scales. Nestled in the beautiful city of Savannah, a bleaker element existed. The dark alley off Bull Street seemed the perfect location to dispose of this vile human. Tourists who walked down the busy thoroughfare had no idea of the action he had taken. Blake pulled out his phone and speed-dialed headquarters. This job had been done in record time; they wouldn’t be expecting his call. “It’s me,” he said as soon as the call connected. “That was fast,” Devlin Harper drawled. After over a century and a half of being a vampire, his friend hadn’t lost his southern accent. “I need a partner on my next job and you’ll be perfect. Head to Savannah’s executive airport. A plane will be waiting for you.” Members of the brotherhood rarely did jobs together. There had to be multiple targets involved, but he wasn’t interested. “Not this time,” Blake said. “I have plans this weekend.” “A weekend on the beach?” Devlin asked. “Fun in the sun and all that.” Devlin had an odd sense of humor, but he was an outstanding hunter. The guy could find anyone regardless of how deep undercover his target went. If Blake didn’t know better, he would suspect his fellow vampire to be part hound dog. “It’s the anniversary of my father’s death,” he reminded Devlin. “I’m going to Albuquerque.” Every year, he traveled to New Mexico to honor his father’s memory. It was partly out of guilt because he hadn’t returned home to see his dad for the two years prior to the old man’s death. Blake had been too wrapped up in building a career in New York to venture home. “You have to eventually let it go,” Devlin commented. “I’ve tracked down the two gunrunners selling illegal firearms including to that kid who shot ten of his fellow high school students last year. They’ve met up with additional cohorts. Shit, I’m not sure what I’m dealing with.” His father had been killed by someone who purchased an illegal firearm. The ATF always seemed to be a day late and a dollar short in stopping deaths associated with weapons sold outside legal channels. Blake had immediately hunted down the culprit who killed his father but not the man who sold him the weapon. When he finally found him, the bastard had gotten the drop on him. He’d been fatally wounded in his quest to avenge his father’s death. But fate had other plans for him. Kieran O’Hara, the founder of the brotherhood, had tracked down the man as well and intervened in stopping Blake’s death. Just before he took his last breath, O’Hara presented him with an opportunity he couldn’t refuse. He accepted the vampire’s offer to avenge his father and right other wrongs. There was no wife or family waiting for him at home. No girlfriend or anyone who would worry about him if he disappeared. Devlin knew the exact button to push to motivate him. Ten mourning families would sleep a little easier after he and Devlin were done and the cards were sent. “What about tonight’s assignment?” Blake asked. “I’ve got to wait for the cleanup crew to arrive. How’s the body going to be discovered anyway?” All signs that could lead anyone to the conclusion a vampire had been involved would be eliminated. It would be presumed the criminal had died in a house fire or a single-car accident where the vehicle had been engulfed by flames. “He won’t be found,” Devlin said. “The families have been very vocal about taking justice into their own hands. We don’t want any of the family members to fall under suspicion. No one is dependent on the man you killed this evening. Without a body, there won’t be an investigation. I doubt anyone will file a missing person report on him.” It made sense. They had a wonderful team who would find a crematorium and make quick work of eliminating the body. The bastard would go straight to hell. Each of his victims’ families would receive an untraceable death announcement mailed from the nation’s capital. The Federal Bureau of Investigation must’ve had a very thick file on the brotherhood by now. Some agents would applaud their actions while others believed their victims had received their day in court and hadn’t been convicted for one reason or another. “Where will I be landing?” Blake asked. “Austin, Texas,” Devlin replied. Great, the state steeped in its love of guns. Blake covered his nose as the undeniable stench of a werewolf assaulted his nostrils. It didn’t matter if the creature