Page 35 of Dear Mr. Vampire

I was thinking fuckboy, but I wasn’t going to say it out loud. “I wouldn’t say that.”

“It’s your turn. Did you break up with a man from Minnesota and flee to Chicago?”

“Ah, sort of. No, it was that exactly.” I let out a nervous giggle. “My ex was, is, very dangerous.”

“That’s a vague statement.”

“Well, he’s a criminal.”

“I’m intrigued.” I noticed his smirk from the corner of my eye.

“I didn’t know that when we first met.”

“And this criminal? He’s back in Minnesota?”

“Yes.” I didn’t want to tell him he was out on bail for a murder charge. I would look like a real fool.

“Do you think you’ll run into him when you’re back in town?”

“I don’t think so. I hope not. He doesn’t know where I live now. I have a restraining order on him.”

“Was he violent?” Zand looked over at me. He apparently not only needed to hear my response, he also needed to see it.

“Yes, not with me, with other people. But there were threats of violence.”

“Huh.” Zand paused dramatically. “It’s a good thing you got away from him.”

It was better than good. “I did, get away.”

“What’s his name, your ex?”

Did he have a motive for asking? Probably not just making conversation. “Alonzo.” I offered because it didn’t make a difference.

Zand shook his head a little bit. “You got away from him. I got away from her. We fled and we’re all the better for it.”

I wholeheartedly agreed with him. I wanted to share the entire truth about Alonzo, but I was afraid it would scare Zand away. That was the last thing I wanted to do. Zand was a regular guy and a legit business owner. He didn’t know anything about a Mexican drug lord for organized crime. I was quite sure of that.

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHANEL

We made good time when we arrived in Bloomington. I went directly to Silver Cross Hospital. Zand found parking near the entrance and he went inside with me. I was relieved he wasn’t going to let me go at this alone. Hospitals weren’t my favorite place. It was a place that held terrible memories for me. It was the place that my mother and aunt took their last breath. I associated hospitals with cancer and death.

I messaged Morgan that I had arrived at the hospital. She met me in the first floor waiting room. She looked worn out. I knew she wasn’t doing well. Swollen eyes, red nose, she had been crying, and I didn’t want to start crying. That would only make things worse.

I approached her and extended my arms. She rushed into them and hugged me tightly. Her body was rigid, and I knew she was worried. The situation was stressful. But I needed to know what was going on.

“Hey.” I greeted her while grasping her forearms.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“I packed some things and came as soon as Mitchell called me. How’s Craig?”

Morgan let out a deep breath. “He’s not good. He flat-lined an hour ago. They had to resuscitate him. It doesn’t look good.”

“Oh no, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t even know what happened. The police were asking all kinds of questions. They say it wasn’t just a random accident. There are eyewitnesses. They think it was road rage, but Craig doesn’t rage. You know him. He’s like the most laid-back guy ever.”

---