Page 4 of The Vampire's Hunter

But where was that same ire for those who’d taken advantage of her, for those who’d hurt her? For all the men, the vampires and otherwise who’d made a fool of her all because she had a kind heart that they’d found easy to exploit? Where was the distaste forthem?

Quinn shifted uncomfortably in his seat, unused to her tears. “We need your help.”

“We,” she repeated knowingly, having to suppress a gurgling, unamused laugh.

“The Execution Underground,” Quinn elaborated.

She knew exactly who “we” meant, but her brother answered as if she’d asked a question. No surprise there. She knew without a doubt everyone believed she wasn’t smart.Naïve.Flighty. Dimwitted.Just like Mr. Dougherty had said. Men were always talking down to her. Hell, women too. Always assuming she didn’t know. And why bother to correct them?

There was little point to it.

She’d lost that fight long ago, before it’d ever really started.

People saw a pretty face, a kind heart, and a forgiving nature wrapped up in a scared, damaged soul and they made assumptions. They always did. She was both Madonna and whore.

“What could the Execution Underground possibly want with me?”

Quinn reached inside his jacket and pulled out a photo, sliding it across the table toward her.

For a beat, Dani simply stared at the blank backing, until finally she couldn’t stop herself from flipping it over and examining the handsome silhouette beneath. Immediately, her heart plunged to her feet, taking her stomach along with it. No.

No, no, no, no.Anyonebut him.

“What do you want with him?” she heard herself whisper before she’d even fully registered the question.

Quinn lifted an impatient brow, pointing to the photo of the devilishly handsome vampire. “You know as well as I do Corbin’s involved with theCosa della nottesyndicate.”

Dani shook her head, refusing to answer. “I don’t have anything to say to you about that.”

TheCosa della nottewas the vampire equivalent of the human mafia. Its members ruthless. The worst of which treated humans like her as if they were little more than cattle.

And yes, she knew without a doubt that Corbin was involved in it, though he’d never been anything but dazzlingly kind to her. Cillian had been too, though, before Trixie and Malcolm had saved her from him, from herself, and from the abuse she’d gotten herself tangled into.

They’d left the ancient bloodsucker for dead on the floor of Corbin’s club.

No, Corbin Blackwell, the Blood Rose’s owner, a charming British vampire who was entirely too much of a smooth talker that healwaysgot his way, may have broken her heart years ago without even knowing it, but that didn’t mean she was going to rat him out. Not like this. From what Trixie had told her, Corbin had played a key part in getting her away from Cillian, in ending the abusive relationship she’d been stuck in, and for that, she’d be forever grateful to him.

No matter how much the sight of him made her chest ache.

Unwillingly, her hand flitted to the pocket of her apron, to the skeleton key she kept on a necklace chain hidden under her clothes. A reminder that she was stronger than she believed herself to be.

Like how she’d once thought she could feel whenever Corbin had captured her with that all too entrancing gaze, though she knew better now. The ancient British vampire would never be so sentimental as to gift anything of meaning to her. She wasn’t that important to him, even if he’d been kind to her now and again. She was just someone worthy of his pity, that’s all.

Before Dani knew what was happening, her brother was talking again, lobbing words at her that when strung together in her mind didn’t make any sense—words like duty, and bravery, and justice—things she’d only ever experienced on T.V. or in the overpowering shadow of her brother’s presence.

“We believe he may have insight into Lucien’s whereabouts.”

Immediately, Dani’s blood ran cold. Vague drug-hazed memories of harsh hands and even sharper fangs assaulted her, holding her down. It hadn’t been enough for Cillian to hurt her again and again, but then he’d been certain to share her with his fucked-up friends, though not Corbin, of course. He hadn’t been among them.

Dani was trembling before she’d even realized the memory had overtaken her.

Quinn reached out and touched her hand, bringing her back to herself and causing her to nearly jump out of her skin.

Her brother’s gaze softened then, and this time, it stayed that way.

Which somehow only made it worse.

“We need someone who will blend in. Someone whose been a part of that world and—”

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