Albert Manlii has walked this earth for more than two thousand years, but survival on his own was never easy. Now he leads a faction of highly organized vampires who carefully guard the secret of their existence. Unlike the old days, potential recruits are carefully selected and presented with an offer.<br><br>Phillip Brewer has weeks to live -- if he lets his disease run its course. He doesn’t want to die, but given a choice, will his desire to live outweigh his concerns about the vampires’ ethics?<br><br>When the new recruit’s missteps are cause for concern, can Albert control the fallout, or will Phillip’s life once again be torn apart?

The Recruit

Neil put up a hand, palm out. “Whoa there, cowboy,” he perfectly laid on the accent Marshall had drilled into him and pointed to the name tag sewn onto his vest. “Sorry about your friend, buddy, but I don’t know you from Adam’s off ox.”


Cam halted and peered through Neil’s black-rimmed glasses into his now-green-hued eyes, then cast a quick glance up and down, taking in everything from the undercut blow-dried hair style and the ear cuffs, to those damned skinny jeans. He sniffed, and Neil could practically see the wheels turning in Cam’s brain when the Joop! Homme he’d thought was overkill turned out to be a brilliant piece of the puzzle as Cam quickly sorted through the evidence three of his senses threw at him.


“Sorry, uh…” Cam’s gaze darted to Neil’s name tag. “Neil.” Cam stepped back again, almost tripping over Hobbs. He gave the dog an odd look, which was no surprise considering the very-un-Hobbs-like behavior.


Chapter 23