do you have—”
Mal’s dagger drilled into Tatiana’s neck, cutting off her words. She dropped the apple and he attacked, taking her down and grabbing the dagger’s hilt. He wrenched the blade down, severing her spine. She went limp beneath him, then turned to ash a second time.
He stood, wiping the bloody blade on his pants. “There. It’s done.”
But before he could walk back to Chrysabelle’s side, the ashes lifted into the air, swirling just as they had before, taking on Tatiana’s shape once again.
The knife fell from his hands. “The Aurelian never mentioned this, did she?”
“No,” Chrysabelle said, her voice thick with hopelessness. “Nadira’s big on leaving out details.”
He nodded as Tatiana’s form became flesh and blood. “If we ever get out of here, I’m killing the Aurelian next.”
“Thanks for coming, Chief. I know it’s late.” Doc shook Vernadetto’s hand as he walked into the office. The man had done a lot for them and if this meeting went well, he’d be doing a lot more. Fi gave the man a hug. Amazing her effect on people. If anyone was cut out to be the pride leader’s wife, it was Fi.
She stepped back by his side. “Nice to see you on better circumstances, Pete.”
“You too, Fiona.” Vernadetto looked at Doc. “I can’t imagine what other information you have to give me about Heaven’s death. We found enough evidence in Remo’s apartment that the case is officially closed. But Fi said it was important, so—”
“It’s not about Heaven’s death but I didn’t want to say too much over the phone.” Doc gestured to the sitting area. “Come on in and we’ll talk.”
He shut the door as Fi and Vernadetto got comfortable on the couch, and then he sat across from them in one of the chairs. He leaned forward. “Can I get you a drink?”
“No, thanks.” Vernadetto grinned nervously. “Better keep my wits about me until I know what’s going on.”
Doc sat back. “But I’m guessing you have a pretty high tolerance for alcohol, don’t you?”
Vernadetto nodded, smiling sheepishly. “Runs in my family.”
“Most varcolai can outdrink a human three to one,” Fi said quietly.
The color drained out of Vernadetto’s face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Before Doc could say anything, Fi grabbed the chief’s hand. “Don’t be mad at me, but I told Doc what we talked about at the cocktail party. What we’ve
Vernadetto’s head snapped up. “What the hell? After everything I’ve done for her?”
Fi laughed reassuringly. “That’s what we thought. Anyway, Creek and the mayor aren’t exactly getting along these days. He gave us the file. All the info he’d collected on you.”
Vernadetto started to breathe through his mouth. “I don’t like this. He had no right. He should have given that to me.”
“I agree, but he gave it to us because he knew we might need a bargaining chip.” She smiled and shook her head. “Obviously, everything worked out with Remo and we didn’t. We wouldn’t have anyway. Your business is your business. And I promise you, neither of us has looked at what’s in the file.”
He calmed, but stayed wary. “You haven’t?”
She pulled the large envelope out from under the sofa and placed it on his lap. “It’s still sealed.”
Vernadetto clutched it, but kept it on his lap. He stared at the single
Doc cleared his throat. “Based on what Fi told me, I’m sure you’re a remnant. You know what that is, right?”
He nodded, still mute.
Doc tipped his chin at the envelope. “After you digest what’s in there, Fi and I would like to talk to you again. Make you an offer.”
Vernadetto said nothing.
Fi bit her lip. “Are you mad because I told Doc about you? Please don’t be, Pete. With all this going on, I couldn’t not tell him. And I swear, we just want to help you.”
Vernadetto inhaled a deep shuddering sigh. “I’m not mad at you and I don’t need to open this.” He raised his head and looked Doc squarely in the face. “I already know what I am.”
Creek turned the engine off before he hit the turn that would take him to his grandmother’s house. He coasted, then hopped off and walked the bike in. She’d be asleep by now, his mother probably an hour or two from getting home after her shift at the hospital, but the sooner he did this, the sooner he could be free. Or as free as a man could be who’d just sold his soul to a new devil.
Unless leaving the KM wasn’t the right thing to do after all.
A soft light shone from the back of the house and he smiled as he parked his bike. The earthy tang of cigarette smoke told him Mawmaw was up and waiting. Once again, she’d known he was coming. Tucking his helmet over the handlebars, he ran a hand over his Mohawk and said a prayer that she’d know what to do. She always did. She was his rock when everything else was quicksand.
She deserved a grandson who was around more, able to help her when she needed it, not one who was off doing the bidding of a shadowy organization hell bent on… whatever they were hell bent on. The KM and their damn money. At least they made it possible for him to provide for his family that way. How would he replace that money if he left? That was the thing that weighed heaviest. He could handle prison again if he really had to, but leaving his family broke was unacceptable, especially when their financial situation had been caused by his legal troubles to begin with.
He skirted the house and went around back. Mawmaw sat in her rocker, the faint light from the cherry of her cigarette brightening her face more than the gas lantern sitting on the railing. Pip curled at her feet. The dog lifted his head enough to sigh, then went back to sleep. Creek nodded at her. “How are you, Mawmaw?”
“Good.” She exhaled, the smoke pale in the lantern’s light. “You should sit. You have a lot on your mind.”
He took the rocker next to hers, his body as comfortable on the worn wood as in a feather bed. “I have a decision to make. One that will color my future.”
She took a long drag, then blew the smoke out in a thin stream. “Go on.”
“The organization that freed me—”
“The ones who make you hunt the blood eaters.”
“Yes, them. They also make me do other things. Things I’m not happy about. Things that have hurt people I call friends.” An owl hooted. He stared out at the swamp.
“But?” she said, waiting.
“But they’re also the ones who made Una’s scholarship happen. The mortgage payment the bank gets for this house every month? That’s not from me. It’s from them. The raise mom got after I joined them…” He shook his head. “They own me.”
She turned to look at him, anger in her eyes. “No one owns you, Thomas. You’re a child of this land. Remember that.”
He nodded. “I know, Mawmaw, but telling them I’m a child of this land isn’t going to mean squat. They expect my service. It’s the price I agreed to.”
She looked away from him and crossed one arm over her body to prop up her other elbow. “What are you here for if you have all the answers?”
“Because I don’t have all the answers. Especially now. What I do have is an opportunity to get free.”
She raised her brows like she knew there was more to it. Because she did know. She
Damn it. “Free of
She ground out her cigarette in an old coffee cup filled with sand. “You battle two wolves. One known, one
