Page 75 of Heartbeat Girl

“Did that make you feel better?” Pete stretched and glanced at Liam like that was no big deal.

Liam paused and looked down at Steve. “Remember her taste because it’s the last time you’ll get that gift.”

My shoulders sagged as Steve rose from the floor and rubbed his neck. “Just to let you know, her blood was well worth it.”

Steve goaded Liam with a smile. To make matters worse, Steve turned in my direction and his eyes blackened.

Liam stepped forward with his fangs protruding. “On second thought, let me snap your neck again—”

“All right,” I huffed. “I offered my blood to Steve, so I’m to blame, too.” I scowled at Steve. “And Steve, stop baiting Liam. It was just my blood. Nothing special.”

Steve shook his head. The gesture reminded me of how a parent looked after their kid said something silly. “Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong, Jayne.”

“There’s no such thing with you,” Pete mumbled, but his voice grew louder as he continued. “You’re not like us, but you are one of us now. Can’t you see that? You’ve never been an outsider. The one running has always been you. We’re simply trying to keep up.”

“Sorry, Jayne,” Steve added, his gaze sliding over to Liam. “This one time, I got something Liam didn’t. I’m allowed to tease him about it.”

“I don’t…”want to cause any more problems between them.

“We’re canceling the tour.” Liam didn’t give me a chance to finish my sentence before he threw that bomb on me. “We’ll finish this week, but that’s it.”

“What?” I shrieked. “Do you have any idea how pissed and heartbroken your fans will be?”

Liam raised a hand. “It’s nonnegotiable. Two attacks within a week. Marilyn’s men are growing restless.”

“Could this mean Marilyn’s got in some of their minds while asleep…” Pete trailed off.

“Why don’t you take me to her?” I sighed. “I’ll put the stake in your sire’s heart, and it’ll be over. You’ll be free. That’s what you can’t say, right?” Unless I guessed wrong, the thing they couldn’t say had to be killing her. It was clear they loathed her and wanted away from her if they put her asleep.

All three heads snapped toward me. Three mouths slowly opened. They looked back and forth between each other before Steve laughed.

“Liam.” Steve grabbed Liam’s shoulder and squeezed. “Holy fucking balls. I’m going to kiss her now. Why didn’t we think of that?”

Liam’s palm cracked across Steve’s jaw. “Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe because we can’t even say what it is we want.” Liam flipped that blackened stare toward me. “But we can heavily imply what we want. My heartbeat girl knows what we wish, but it’s a no. Jayne isn’t getting near Marilyn.”

“Why?” Pete nudged Liam’s shoulder, then smiled. “This is perfect.”

“No.” Steve sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing his jaw. “Liam’s right. One of the first things Marilyn commanded of us was to protect her. No matter what.”

Just like that, Pete’s shoulders—his entire demeanor drooped. “We might take Jayne there. But the second she tried to stake Marilyn…”

“We mightattackJayne to defend Marilyn.” Liam shook his head vehemently.

“Her words are that powerful?” I asked.

“The link between us is unbreakable, unless she freed us,” Steve spat.

“I’ll chain you guys up,” I added. “I’m sure there’s somewhere—”

“For starters, nothing earthbound could hold us. Do you think for one second I would leave you vulnerable? Who knows how many watch us right now, waiting for a chance to attack,” Liam practically growled at me.

Wait!The beautiful woman from earlier… Now that I thought back, she hadn’t seemed alarmed in the least. A normal person would have freaked out from the commotion.

“What color is Marilyn’s hair?”

“Blonde,” Liam answered. “Why?”

Not Marilyn then. But something about her made me wary.

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