Worse than Death - Nico Pontevecchio

It was supposed to be a simple job. 
Post-raid inventory of a blood-harvesting ring’s warehouse. 
Ugly work, especially trying to get enough evidence that at least some of the victims can be IDed to get their families closure, but low risk. Perfect for breaking in a new partner.
Now Vinny is laying on the floor, a few yards away, eyes glassy, final breaths rattling in a smashed chest and whistling through his torn throat. The pool of blood around him is growing so fast Nico is sure that in moments it’ll mix with the one forming around his own leg.
It happened so fast.
One moment, they were collecting samples from the vacuum devices to try and match to the missing persons database they definitely don’t have legal access to. 
The next, Vinny was flying backward across the room, blood spattering from his suddenly opened throat, chest caved in from the single sharp blow of an inhumanly strong hand.
Nico had gotten two shots off into the shadows before his gun was raked out of his hand, and he was pinned to the floor with a twisted-off shaft of rebar that he’s pretty sure is sunk a few inches into the concrete underneath him. 
The shock of the pain immobilized him long enough for his attacker to remove his stakes, even the backup ones in his ankle holster, and the knife sheathed to his belt. Now he’s defenseless, at the mercy of the vampire who just slaughtered his partner in under a second. The fact that he’s still alive is more terrifying than reassuring.
Drops of blood trickle down the vampire’s fingers, splattering onto the concrete. At first, Nico thought it was his own blood, or Vinny’s, but there’s too much of it to be that. One of his wild shots must have struck home. 
“What do you want?” He asks, trying to breathe through the pain and get words out instead of just gasps or screams. “You’ll get nowhere with the Sunrisers by holding me hostage.” There’s a strict non-negotiation policy. The hunter Nico trained under as a rookie put it bluntly but honestly. 
Get yourself caught by a vampire, you’re a liability. Sunrisers won’t want you back unless you can get yourself out of it. If you can’t, you’re no longer capable of doing the job anyway.
It’s a harsh rule, but they’re fighting a secret war (or as secret as it can be after that LA Daywalker put the spotlight on vampires’ true existence). 
“Oh, no no no.” The vampire says, crouching beside Nico with a smile. “I want nothing from them. This is personal.” 
Now that he’s up close, Nico can see the different colors in his eyes. One blue, one brown. The only known distinguishing feature of the vampire who calls himself only Damien. He’s been on the Sunrisers’ radar for over a year in connection with attacks on a series of prostitutes and homeless people. 
They’d assumed he was an opportunist, seeking out the easiest prey. 
The fact that they haven’t caught him yet probably should have been the clue that he’s far more dangerous, cunning, and resourceful than they’d predicted. Taking down two hunters in as many seconds really should have come as no surprise.
“If this is personal, then why did you kill my partner?”
“He didn’t shoot me. But you did.” Damien hisses. “He gets to die quickly. You won’t be as lucky.” 
“Go to hell,” Nico snaps, the words grinding out between gritted teeth.
“It’s your fault I’m hurt. So now it’s your blood that will heal me.” Damien bares his teeth and leans in toward Nico’s neck.
Nico thrashes, trying to pull away, forgetting the metal rod in his leg until it stops him cold with a jarring shock of pain. “There’s plenty of blood already, you don’t need to bite me.”
“You expect me to lap off the floor like a dog?” Damien’s lip curls. 
“Please. Don’t do this.”
“Begging already.” Damien laughs. “What kind of hunter are you?”
The kind who never, ever, wants to become something like you. Bites don’t need to mean infection with vampire venom, but with as unhinged as Damien is, Nico is afraid he’d think infecting the hunter who attacked him is just another good way of getting revenge. 
But there’s nothing he can do as the teeth sink into his throat, as something cold and foreign and toxic floods into his veins, spreading through his body. 
He almost envies Vinny.
At least his family can bury him in peace, mourn him, and move on.
For Nico, the nightmare is only just beginning.