Page 6 of Born Wicked

There’s a deep, low growl that resonates in the back of Jon’s throat when Superintendent Day saysupstanding. But it’s low enough, it can only be heard by vampiric hearing.

“I don’t know where Sebastian is,” I state flatly. “I’ll answer your questions, but you’d better be careful with your accusations.”

“Is that a threat, Dr. Doe?” she asks. And I realize she’s enjoying every second of this.

“We’re just making sure there’s an unbiased investigation happening here,” Jon says coolly.

Her eyes slide to my father, and I can just see all the pre-conceived judgments going through her head. “I’d like you to come in for questioning in a few days, Dr. Doe. We’re still hoping Dr. Vincent returns and we find there’s nothing to worry about. But I am sure you will be instrumental to this case.”

“Just tell me when and where,” I state. My heart starts beating harder, faster, knowing how difficult my life is about to become.

“Thursday, noon,” she says as she walks to the door.

My jaw locks tight as I watch her walk out, offering that controlled, tight smile once more before she disappears.

“This is great,” I say, my jaw clenching. “Just, truly, truly awesome. Not only do I get to deal with Sebastian’s shitshow, the cops think I killed him!”

“Now we really need to find the bastard,” Jon says. If looks could kill, he’d be able to strike Sebastian down telepathically.

“I don’t have time for this,” I breathe out in exasperation. I pull my phone from my pocket and start a group text with Sigrid, Roman, and Mason.

Newest level of insanity, I type.Can you all meet at the Nocturne in an hour? I’ll have to keep it short.

Mason’s reply comes in immediately.Heading into a meeting now, make it an hour and a half.

Sigrid’s message comes in next.I will make it work.

Roman’s follows only ten seconds later.I will be there.

“Find me that assistant,” I say as I look up at Jon and walk back to my desk. I drop down into my seat and pull the folder of applicants in front of me. “One who is a vampire. I don’t know how the hell Sebastian balanced all of this, but I’ve got to figure out a way to make this work.”

By the time I need to leave to head to the Nocturne, I have it narrowed down to five doctors I’d like to interview. I hand them off to one of the office guys and ask him to contact them all to set up interviews.

Neither me nor Jon says a word as we walk down the sidewalks to the Nocturne. Even the weather seems to know life is a mess of chaos and question marks. It’s windy as hell, and rain is blowing sideways, yet I can see patches of sunlight out west.

We walk up the steps to the beautiful building and when I pull the door, I find it unlocked.

Sigrid is already in the ballroom, her bodyguard Amy lingering in the shadows. Sigrid sits on the table with her back to me, her head hanging. Without saying a word, without even seeing the look on her face, I know things are just as hard for her as they are for me.

She’s lost her gift. I’ve only been a vampire for nine months now, and it’s very much a part of my identity. Sigrid has had her gift since she was a teenager. I can’t even imagine how this feels right now to have that part of her stripped away.

“How are you holding up?” I ask as I walk around the table and approach.

Her eyes rise to meet mine, and she doesn’t hide anything. “I’ve been through many hard things in my life,” she says. “I will get through this too. Somehow.”

“I promise, I’m still working to figure out how to fix this,” I say.

She offers a soft, small smile. “I know you are.”

The sound of footsteps draws my eyes back to the door, and I watch as Mason and Roman walk in side by side.

Mason looks exhausted. His business partner is also incapacitated, his twin sister. He’s pulling double duty just as much as I am right now. Patrick may be his bodyguard now, not just Mason’s driver, but he’s no help when it comes to the business.

Roman on the other hand… He looks like he’s ready to explode into fangs and rage any second.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, his tone a growl. “Did Sebastian contact you?”

“No, but the police seem to think I killed him, or that I’m the reason he’s gone missing, at the very least,” I answer simply.

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