Page 24 of The Vampire in the Potting Shed

The door shut with a hiss behind us, and I found myself facing more than a dozen kids, a few babies, and the elders unfortunate enough to be stuck entertaining them while the action happened without us. The vast majority of them didn’t twitch at the blood flecking my face and clothes. They were too used to that aspect of their shifter natures to be bothered, but I hadn’t built up a callus over my heart like them.

Back flush against the smooth wall, I slid until I was sitting and rested my forehead on my knees.

Try as I might, I kept replaying the moment when Fayne…

“Your father is not?—”

Not what? What had she been about to tell me? Who had she been to the Walshes?

And what had unleashed the roar that left my bones vibrating?

I didn’t know, but as soon as I got out of there, I was going to find out.

ten

Four hours later,I got the text from Mercer okaying me to punch in the code to unlock the panic room. I didn’t waste any time getting out of there. I also didn’t make it far. A wall of sentinels awaited me, and it came as no surprise that Bowie was the one to grip my shoulder and blaze a path through the others.

One guy was too slow to avoid bumping into me, which solved one of my problems as I threw my weight into him. Hands falling to his waist, I apologized as I thumbed the release on the dagger sheathed on his belt. I drew it as I shoved off him, tucking it into my waistband under my shirt with rusty sleight of hand.

Sadly, my weapon of choice was at home. Even if it had been at work for me to grab, I couldn’t risk bringing it to Dad’s attention. He would have kittens if he knew I fought with silver.

Sloane hustled behind us, not letting me out of her sight, and I was grateful for it as Bowie nudged me up the stairs and out the front door into a waiting SUV. With both rear doors standing open, I missed the copper tang of blood until I was locked in with the scent that stung my nose.

Instinct nudged me to keep on scooting across the bench until I could let myself out and run.

“Child locks are on,” Sloane said softly from beside me as Bowie got behind the wheel.

Once he got comfy, I drew the stolen dagger and held it to his throat, counting on Sloane to subdue the front passenger if they got any ideas. “What’s happening?”

“Do you really want to do this?” His eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. “Right here? Right now?”

“Are you guys required to complete a training course on how to answer questions with questions before you get that pay bump to sentinel?” I pressed the blade deeper. “Tell me what the fuck is going on.”

“Let us…get you…” a ragged voice panted from the front passenger seat, “…somewhere…safe first.”

The blade wobbled in my hand as I whipped my head toward the speaker.“Fayne?”

“Hello again, darling.”

“You’re working with her?” I gaped at the back of Bowie’s head. “With the Walshes?”

Apparently she wasn’t as DOA as I had been led to believe on that bluff.

And the mystery pet owner? I was willing to bet it had been Bowie who got caught on camera making the drop. But if he was posing as her owner, who was the vampire in the potting shed? What was his role in all of this?

“It’s complicated.” He tapped my wrist. “It’ll get more complicated if we don’t get out of here now.”

During the time I spent locked in the panic room, I had berated myself for not getting to the point with Fayne faster. She had been sitting there, about to enlighten me, thenbang. Gone in a blink. Along with my answers. Or so I had thought. Now that I was getting a second chance, I wanted Fayne to finish what she risked her life to tell me.

And maybe, just maybe, I could talk to the Walsh alpha and plead my case to stay in Brentwood.

“Fine.” I released Bowie and sat back, staring at Fayne, marveling that she survived the shot. “Let’s go.”

Not wasting a moment, Bowie threw the SUV into gear and spun out toward the gate and the highway.

“You’re going to let him kidnap you?” Sloane looked primed to snatch the dagger. “Are you crazy?”

“I’m starting to feel that way.” I rested my head on the back of the seat. “Someone start talking.”

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