It was then he noticed that Jian-Li was busy lighting incense. A lot of it.

Masking his scent.

He moved with his natural speed to the window and stood behind Chen, who moved out of the way.

And he saw them.

Vampires. He knew it because he’d seen one of them last night. The one who was talking with the police officer, not the one talking on his phone who’d seen Abel. But today he had another one with him, big, built, but blond.

He couldn’t believe he hadn’t sensed them when he was downstairs. Up at Jian-Li’s place with that incense interfering, he could see. But he had a finely honed ability to detect danger.

Fuck. His need for Delilah was totally fucking him up in a variety of ways.

He stared through the window.

They were both in nice suits and they both had eyes trained to the restaurant, the blond one leaning casually against the back of the SUV, the dark one standing on the sidewalk, his frame stiff like he was the kind of guy who had a stick up his ass.

“You think they caught your scent?” Chen asked quietly, and Abel looked to him.

“Yeah.”

“Fuck,” Chen whispered.

“Language,” Jian-Li warned.

The door opened and Wei came in. “Covered the grate,” he announced, shutting the door. “Far’s I can tell, no eyes on the alley. But figure they’re here because they caught your scent, so they sniff it out, they’ll find your lair.”

“Fuck,” Chen repeated.

“Language,” Jian-Li hissed.

“Where’s Xun?” Abel asked.

“In the restaurant,” Jian-Li answered.

“That’s good, Ma, ’cause they’re on the move,” Chen said. “Headed toward the front door.”

“Oh man,” Delilah whispered.

“It’ll be okay,” Jian-Li murmured reassuringly.

“Chen, cover the hall. Wei, outside. Keep an eye on the alley. One of you tell Xun he just became a server and his only table is the one they’re seated at.”

“On it,” Wei said and moved out.

Chen said nothing, he just moved out.

“Jian-Li?” Abel called, and she looked to him.

“I’ll supervise in the restaurant,” she stated.

He nodded.

She moved after her sons and disappeared behind the door.

“Abel?”

Fuck. Even her voice, low and sweet with a strange husky lilt in it, he felt in his cock.

He moved his eyes to her.