Excerpt from Dead and Kicking

…I crept as quietly as I could, but it was pretty much a given that I couldn’t hide from a vampire’s amped up hearing or sense of smell.  When I reached the end of the wall dividing the hall and the kitchen, I started to peek around the corner only to be abruptly grabbed and thrown against the wall.

“Gaak!”  I said.  Hey, you try talking when a six foot goon with the strength of a vampire has his arm cross your windpipe.

Tomas had pinned my knife hand as well as my throat.  He grinned at me smugly.  I could see Salvador lounging unconcerned across the room.  My vision began to blur from the lack of oxygen as I let my knees give out a little, shifting more of my weight onto his arm.  Surprised, he loosened his grip enough that I was able to take a rasping breath.  I quickly brought my knee up to his groin as hard as I could.  It was satisfying to know that whatever he was, he still felt it when he got one in the ‘nads.  Tomas let go of my arm and I slid down the wall.  Unwilling to hope that a shot to the junk was enough to keep him down, I followed through with a quick punch to his throat.  He fell to one knee and I sprang away…

Dead and Kicking – The Harry Russo Diaries, volume 1
By Lisa Emme

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