Page 37 of Feral Attraction
“Manhattan,” he said.
Rey studied his face.Solemn but serene.“Yes.I’m sorry to tell you this, sir, but your half-brother George is dead.”
The man’s shoulders sank, his posture speaking of grief.He hadn’t known.His lips parted with a gasp.“How?Your badge says homicide.So I assume he was killed.George and I talked on the phone, maybe once a month.On occasion, we visited one another.Though we only met once as children, we reacquainted as adults.”
Rey heard Con sniff the air.He stiffened beside her.He said, “You’re half-brothers.Do you share a mother or father?”
“Mother.Ours never married my father.She left him and married George’s father.”
Con leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.“Your father raised you?”
Anton nodded, staring at Con.
“Where is he now?”
“He’s in Scath.”
Rey twisted toward Con.
Surprise.
Con pursued the interview.“You’re half vampire.How are your urges?Some mixed breeds have none.”
“I am not so fortunate, though my needs are not as great as my father’s.”
“How do you satisfy them?”Rey busied herself with notetaking.
“I stock a supply from a local blood bank.”He smiled, his fangs hardly noticeable.“And the occasional willing lady friend.”
“Are you licensed to stay on Earth?”Rey was unsure of the rules, but she’d heard Con ask others the question.
Con answered.“Not necessary for a mixed breed.”
Rey cleared her throat and consulted her electronic pad.“Tell us about George and Mommy’s visit.”Even though Anton had not mentioned Mommy or a recent visit with his half-brother, she figured it was best to act as if she knew one had taken place.
Anton sighed.“That’s the last time I saw him.I think you need some background.George was troubled.”
“How?”asked Con.
“Even though we met only once as children, he was eager to connect as adults.He looked up to me as his big brother.I suppose he wanted to be like me.”Anton paused.“In every way.Of course, he couldn’t, but he became obsessed with everything vampire.I tried to get him to understand that what he wanted was impossible.He was human.”He stared at Con.
“So what happened when he brought Mommy for a visit?”
“Simply put, we shared her.She wanted my bite.I obliged.”
Rey bounced around how best to reveal the next bit of information.She decided to go for the direct approach to see how he reacted.“We think a vampire or predatory shifter may have killed your brother.”
“What?Why?”
“His neck was torn open,” said Con.
Anton’s head dropped into his hands.“How awful for George.Was he drained of blood?”
Con settled into the sofa cushions.“No.That’s why I suspect shifter or a crazy Earther with a knife.But it coulda been a vamp with some restraint.”
When Anton looked up, he said, “You don’t suspect me, do you?I liked George.I tried to set him straight.I’d never harm him.”
“What were you doing Saturday night?”Con crossed an ankle over his knee.
