Page 11 of Vipers and Vendettas
Show time.
I let out a breath and pretend this isn’t real.
I look up into the camera in the corner and give it a little wave. ‘I’m guessing this thing has audio. I hope so because there are a few things I wanted to say before I left. There was a little confusion earlier. Maddox, Daemon, you were right not to trust me. I’m only here for one thing. Another payday.’ I scrunch up my face and fake cringe. ‘I know! I’m sorry, but I’m a little behind on my rent, and you guys just make it so easy. Maddox, thanks for the opportunity to feed the clan for the next three years, but no thanks.’ I chuckle. ‘What I should really be thanking you for is opening this safe in front of me.’ I tut as I twizzle the dial. ‘Silly, silly.’ I put in the first number and turn around for the camera again. ‘Iron, this is for you— a little friendly advice. Don’t get in touch with your family. They got rid of you for a reason, sweetie, and I doubt it actually had anything to do with your lack of magick.’ I put the next number in.
‘It’s funny,’ I say. ‘If Axel had just killed the arania when he had the chance, none of this would have happened, so this is basically his fault. But, Maddox, don’t kick him out, or the vamps will probably turn him into an incubus whore like they did with Daemon.’ I turn and look directly at the camera. ‘Did you know they chained him up in a basement for months? I’ll bet you did. But you still didn’t help him. In fact, you sort of abandoned him. Huh. I always thought you were a better leader than that.’
I shrug and turn back around, grasping for something to say to Jayce that will make him hate me, too. It comes to me quickly, and I close my eyes, forcing back tears. ‘Jayce,’ I say, my voice almost breaking, ‘you should probably take that painting back.’ I swallow hard, and I make my words as nonchalant as I can manage. ‘I know it was meant to be some grand gesture, but the thing is, I was only using the arania to stay alive, and I don’t really want to think about the Mountain anymore.’
Bile rises at my untrue words about Siggy, and I choke out the rest quickly.
‘Krase, I know you’re lonely, and you wanted me to stay here with you happily ever after, but do you really expect me, or anyone, to believe I saved you somehow? We all know you’re going to sink back into that pit of darkness, and Maddox is going to have to put a bullet in you. I can’t help you. I’m a human. That’s it.’
I roll my eyes at the camera and let out a laugh. ‘I literally can’t believe you all fell for my ‘poor little Jules’ routine.’ I shake my head. ‘Anyway …’
I put the final number into the safe and open the door.
‘Well, I’m out of here. Sorry, you got burned by me again.’ I give the camera a wink. ‘It’s not personal, guys. Don’t bother trying to find me, either. You won’t. But, hey, maybe I’ll come back one day, and we can do all this over again. Maybe you won’t get the wool pulled over your eyes. Third time’s a charm, after all.’
I empty the safe, grabbing the jewels in their little velvet bags and boxes and thrusting them all into a small backpack. There’s one box I leave, but I put it all the way at the back, so it looks like I missed it. It’s a ring that belonged to Maddox’s mother. I know his dad pawned the rest of his mom’s valuables when he was a kid, and I can’t bring myself to take that, too.
I close the safe with a click when it’s cleared out, and, just for a second, my emotions get the better of me. I close my eyes, stifling a sob, but I touch my stomach and get it together. The baby is what matters, and I’ll do everything I have to do to protect him or her. I wipe my eyes and step back, turning to give the camera a finger wave.
‘It’s been fun as always, guys.’
I put the link key on the main door and think about the fae market. I open the door and grab the link key as I go through.
More tears blind me, but I make it to the other side, and I close the door behind me, leaning against it for a second before I cast myself off into the street.
It’s lively and full of supes, and I walk quickly, not making eye contact with anyone. I get to the bank and cross the street, going down the alley to the familiar red door.
I knock once, and the shutter opens.
‘Password?’
‘Hey, Bruce,’ I say with a drawl. ‘How you been?’
The goblin on the other side does a double-take before he lets out a soft chuckle.
‘Been a while, sweetheart,’ he says as he opens the door. He gestures down the black corridor. ‘You remember the way?’
‘Yeah, I remember,’ I say quietly. ‘Thanks.’
I walk down the corridor, the diamonds heavy in my bag.
I go through the conjure curtain and find Jack at his desk. He glances up when he sees me.
‘Looking good, Vicki.’
‘You too, Jack. How’s the vamp life?’
‘Forever, baby.’ He grins. ‘What you got for me?’
I open my bag and take the diamond necklaces out of their pouches and boxes. Laying them out for him to see.
‘You really are something, you know that?’ he breathes, taking out a magnifying glass and peering at them. ‘Lovely.’
When he’s satisfied, he sits back in his chair. ‘I can give you a conjure to hide you for three years and half a bag of silver for this stuff.’
