Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“We wanted to make sure you’re okay,” Leo presses. “That’s what we wanted to do last night. Look…this whole situation is messed up and you were right about Mom and Dad knowing this whole time. The deal with the vamps, it’s beyond fucked, okay?”
“That still doesn’t change things,” I tell them and anxiety starts to form deep inside my chest. They need to get out of town. Out of state. It’s the best chance they’ll have until I can convince my new family to leave my old family alone. “Ryder shot a person. If the Malus family doesn’t come for you, the Order will. Shooting a bystander isn’t allowed.”
Leo and Antonio exchange looks.
“What?” I ask.
“The Order is hailing him a hero,” Antonio says apologetically.
“Hero?” I echo. “He shot a person and almost killed him.”
Antonio shakes his head. “That’s not how the story is being told. As far as the Order is concerned, Ryder is the first person in a long time to come close to taking out a Malus vampire.”
Chapter
Nine
“I’m waiting for you to tell me you’re joking,” I say when I’m greeted by silence. “Devon was alive. Very much so. And Ryder shot him.”
“But he’s a vampire now, isn’t he?” Leo asks, tipping his head to his side. “Or did he die?”
I close my eyes, opening my mouth and having to force the words out. “Xavier said he was going to turn him. I haven’t seen him yet.” I open my eyes and rake my fingers through my hair. “Even if he’s a vampire now, it doesn’t change that he was a human when he was shot. There was a whole ambulance ride and surgery and everything.”
“No, not on paper.” Antonio glances at Leo again as he’s talking. “We checked it out, thinking the Order had something to do with it, but it wasn’t them. They’re not that fast.”
“What are you talking about?”
“On paper, Devon Malus died in a boating accident on this day ten years ago. There is no record of the 911 call, the ambulance dispatch, or that he was ever a patient at the hospital.”
I lean back, chills going down my spine. I knew Xavier had power beyond vampire strength and the ability to hold people spellbound. And I knew he had connections; that he paid people off to work for him or turn a blind eye. But realizing he’s that connected, is in that deep with whoever it is who can make someone disappear in less than twenty-four hours…it’s impressive and terrifying at the same time.
And it’s making me realize that running away isn’t going to keep my brothers safe. If Xavier can make Devon disappear, he can make anyone disappear.
“Ryder shouldn’t have shot him,” Antonio says. “Even when we thought he was a vampire, I told him not to shoot.”
“You did?”
Antonio looks at me incredulously. “He could have hit you. And messing with the Malus family is a death wish.”
I tip my head. “Wait, you’re telling me you had no idea what Larissa was up to?”
“We weren’t aware of what she was doing until she was already doing it,” Leo says, brows pushing together. “It was fucking stupid. We weren’t just going to save you—”
“And let’s be honest,” Antonio interrupts. “You’ve never needed saving.”
“I do tend to save your asses more than you’ve ever saved mine,” I chide modestly. It’s the truth.
“We were going to stop Larissa. You got there first.” Leo shakes his head. “That blonde vampire…is she…is she okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine,” I tell him, knowing he’s not concerned for Mabel’s wellbeing as much as his own. “Mabel isn’t going to hurt anyone. Not all vampires are evil. Just like not all people are.”
“But a lot of people are,” Antonio says softly.
“There are more evil people than there are evil vampires,” I counter, expecting him to come back with there are more people than vampires but he just shakes his head. “I know,” I agree with his unspoken words. “This is a mess. Larissa, Dale, and Randall kidnapped Mabel. Ryder shot Devon. Whatever peace treaty the Order had with the Malus family is most likely broken.”
“Technically, Xavier broke it first when he killed Gavin and Buck,” Antonio starts and even Leo gives him a shut the fuck up look.
“Because they shot him,” Leo says before I do, surprising me. Though, maybe it shouldn’t. Leo’s faith in the Order has been wavering. Silence falls over us, and I know we’re all thinking the same thing.
“Where is Larissa?” I ask, my heart starting to speed up. As much as I think she’s an obstinate bitch, I don’t want her to die. Suffer a bit, yes, but in order to do that, she needs to stick around.
“I don’t know,” Antonio replies. “Mom and Dad were pretty upset. I think they’re taking her to the HQ in Chicago.”