Page 29 of Vampire Lee

Dillon laughed, it was short and rusty, but it was a laugh. Murrie’s gaze softened. It was work to get hammered? These people were insane. Dillon reached for the wine again, and his muscles unclenched a little more.

* * * *

Rei grabbed Lee’s arm before he could open the apartment door. “Someone’s been here.”

“What?” Lee inhaled when Rei did, but he couldn’t pinpoint anything special. Or maybe. There were scents he didn’t recognize, but there most often were. Though not right outside his apartment.

Carefully, he pushed down the door handle and opened the door. Rei tensed as he pushed it open, ready to shift no doubt. It sent a fizzle of thrill through Lee, but it shriveled up and died as he took in the state of the apartment.

Everything was trashed.

“I think we should leave. Right now.” Rei stood balancing on the threshold. “Grab a change of clothes and toiletries but be quick.”

Fuck, did he scent something Lee couldn’t? He did as he was told since he wanted to be able to change clothes and shower. He grabbed his phone charger, some clothes, and his toiletry bag which was always packed with whatever he could need for a weekend away. He’d make a good boy scout.

“Ready.” He pushed it all into a plastic bag from the gas station.

“Classy.”

“Always.”

They hurried down the stairs, but when Lee was about to walk out on the sidewalk, Rei pulled him toward the basement, and they took the same route they had the night before.

“What do you think happened?” He looked at Rei as they hurried toward the manor house. Seemed like Lee was in for another night of nightmares.

“I think someone was looking for something.”

No, it didn’t feel right. “I think someone was looking for someone and got angry when he wasn’t there.”

Rei narrowed his eyes. “Looking for you?”

“Nope. Jala asked if we were living together. Then she went off on a date with Maybe-Aaron.”

“Do you have to call him Maybe-Aaron?” There was a flash of annoyance in Rei’s eyes, and Lee grinned.

“Yeah, I think I do. I don’t think his name is Aaron.”

Rei huffed. “You think Jala is in on it?”

“No.” Then he frowned. “I don’t want her to be. I don’t think she is.” But she was the one who’d asked. “Maybe she said something to Maybe-Aaron in passing. A comment as they left or something.”

Shaking his head, Rei sped up his steps. Lee followed. Shifters might have better noses, but vampires were faster.

The house was dark and quiet when they entered. “We’ll fill everyone in tomorrow. I’ll check the schedule and—” He pulled up his phone. “Oh…”

“Oh?”

“Murrie told Faelan to go undercover. There’s a text. He’s staying at a hotel tonight.”

“I know. He told me to put all Faelan’s drinks on a tab and send him the bill.” Undercover. Lee wanted to go undercover. Or maybe not, since he wasn’t a cop. He was a bartender, and almost everyone in the supernatural community in Hagwall would recognize him.

Rei grunted. “You okay in your room on the third floor?”

“Sure.” Lee headed toward the stairs, then stopped. “Should I report a break-in or something in my apartment?”

Rei shrugged. “We can talk about it in the morning.”

Lee waved a hand and walked up the stairs with his plastic bag in a firm grip. A shower would be nice, but he should try to get some sleep if there was going to be a morning meeting.

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