Page 93 of The Monster and the Last Blood Match

Reyna showed him her neck. Up close, it was clear it was perfect. No marks at all. Not even the tiniest little ones. Not that that was the only place a person could get bitten, but it was the most common.

“What was I doing?” she repeated, laughing bitterly. “Going to balls in gorgeous dresses, clubbing, shopping in designer boutiques, and learning photography. Absolutely nothing of any practical use.”

Brian and Drew exchanged a hesitant look.

“That sounds like a fairy tale,” Drew said.

“I know.”

“So why did you leave?” Brian asked. He took the other seat next to her. They both looked honestly curious. She could tell they were glad to see her, and she hoped that meant they wanted her to stay.

“It was a fairy tale at first,” she said cautiously, “but the dangers of that world are too much. I can’t describe it. You’ll just have to trust me.”

“We can talk about it when you’re ready,” Drew agreed easily.

Drew was always far more trusting than Brian, who was giving her a look as if he wanted to ask more questions, but he held his tongue for now.

“Thank you for sending the money, by the way.”

“Oh, guys, I’m sorry,” she apologized immediately. “I’ll try to get a job to cover me being back.”

“We’ll make do,” Brian said. “We’re glad you’re home.”

“What happened to this place, anyway?” she finally asked, gesturing around the room.

Both guys looked down and away from her. Neither wanted to tell the story. Finally, Brian blew out a breath. “After a bunch of the guys found out that you were sending us money, they ransacked it and took everything. We have nothing, Reyna.”

Reyna’s mouth dropped open. All this time, she thought she was helping, and she’d been making it worse for them.

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault,” Drew said consolingly.

“It is.”

“It’s not,” Brian insisted. “We’ve been working doubles to make up for it.”

Reyna threw her head into her hands. She had tried so hard to give them what they always deserved and allow them to take fewer shifts at the warehouse. She had wanted them to have their own lives. Everything had backfired.

She stood with a newfound purpose. “I put the rest of my wages into your account, but I’ll start looking for a new job today.”

“We don’t care about the money, Rey. We care about you.” Drew took her hand. When he saw that she wasn’t relenting, he added, “Give it a day or two. We’ll figure it out.”

Reyna wavered but ultimately decided a few days wouldn’t hurt anything. She needed some time to get used to being back, anyway.

“So, what have I missed?” she asked between them.

Brian immediately colored. It was impossible for him not to get embarrassed. It was probably where she had gotten it from.

“Laura and I are getting pretty serious,” he admitted.

Drew laughed. “She’s already hounding you for a ring.”

“Hasn’t she been doing that since you started dating?”

“Yeah, but, well, now that you’re gone…” He cleared his throat and looked away.

“Now that you don’t have someone else to take care of,” she added.

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