[Elena's POV]

The thin man's eyes lit up—just a flicker, a spark of chemical hunger that I recognized all too well from my father's worst days.

"Yeah," he said quickly, licking his dry lips. "Yeah, I can get that. I've got some... stuff downstairs. Stronger than Ibuprofen."

He turned to the brick wall of a man beside him. "Watch her. I'll be right back."

The big man didn't respond. Didn't even nod. He just stood there, arms crossed over his massive chest, staring at a spot on the wall behind ...