Page 78 of Flock This

“So what? She gets found or she doesn’t. If she does, she goes down for the murder. If she doesn’t, she’s branded guilty and on the run for the rest of her life. Either way, it doesn’t change anything.”

“What if she talks?”

“What’s she going to say? That she’s innocent? All guilty people say that.” The man reached out, Ursula flinching away before he made contact. Rather than the roughness I’d expected—and clearly that she feared—he set his hand against her cheek in an almost gentle touch. “You worry too much. She’s a pawn, just a game piece getting pushed around by our plans. You needn’t worry so much.”

Ursula pressed her lips together and blew out a slow breath, one that didn’t imply she agreed with him but couldn’t argue. “Is there any word on her?”

He let out a sigh. “Nothing substantial. Rumors here and there, but since most people can’t recall having seen her or what exactly she looks like, it’s difficult to track or verify anything. In fact, you could have met her again, and you might not even realize it.”

Ursula furrowed her brows as though she hadn’t considered that before. “I did as you asked. I’m done now, right?”

The man smiled, the expression mocking. “No, you aren’t done yet. You were supposed to ensure she was caught there.”

“You never said she could turn into a bird. How did you expect me to deal with that?”

“Well, she wasn’t the one who was supposed to show up. Life is full of change, however, so you should have thought quicker. Since you didn’t complete your task, you aren’t off the hook just yet.”

“So what else do you want? When does this end?”

“When we’re sure you’ve paid off your debt. Now, go on home. We’ll contact you when you’re needed again.”

Ursula didn’t move at first, and somehow, even I felt bad for her. Even after realizing that she’d help set me up, her expression made me feel bad. It was the same expression I’d seen on others when they wanted nothing more than to escape.

I’d seen it on the face of a squirrel once stuck inside one of those humane traps. The term had always made me laugh, since I understood better than most just how vital freedom was. A lack of freedom might not hurt the body but it murdered the soul, and left a husk in its wake. When I’d spotted the poor fluffy thing behind that wire, I’d opened the trap and let it free.

Ursula had that same look, but I couldn’t open the door for her.

Especially when the man curled his hand, his touch changing from a gentle caress to a grip, when he grasped her chin to force her to look into his eyes. His tone took on a different mood as well, shifting from almost bored to threatening. “Make sure you do answer, Ursula. You should know by now how far our reach is, and it will only grow after the new council seat is announced. You do not want to make enemies of us or forget who gave you what you now have.”

Her eyes widened, showing real fear. It made it clear how fake it had been in that room with William when compared with the depth of her true terror. It was clear that she believed this man could do whatever the fuck he wanted, and that she didn’t wish to play that game with him.

Which all but ensured she’d be useless to me. That sort of fear wasn’t something easy to overcome or remove.

She nodded despite his grip, leaving him to let her go, then patted her cheek hard enough that a light slap echoed through the spindly bushes of the desert.

“Go on, Ursula. Enjoy what you have and do not forget where you got it from.”

She turned and rushed back for her car so fast that she stumbled, tripping in the soft sand once before scrambling into the driver’s seat. I doubted she’d closed the door fully before the tires spun and she took off. She didn’t try to make a U-turn, instead heading farther down the same dirt road. Then again, most of the streets out here connected and eventually made their way back to a main intersection, and I’d bet she’d prefer being in the middle of nowhere so long as that man wasn’t there.

He chuckled without moving, staring off in the way she took off. “She’s going to be a problem,” he said, though I could see or sense no one else. Was he talking to himself?

What a weirdo.

“Ah well. What’s life without some problems?” He shook his head then turned toward his car. He touched the handle, as though to leave, but froze.

He went still in the way that set my nerves on edge. It carried this undercurrent of threat, and I automatically ducked behind a bush, holding my breath. He couldn’t have possibly noticed me, right?

I tried to reassure myself with that little pep-talk, as though I were convincing him as well.

The slam of a door shutting let me exhale, thankful that for once I was right.

It had to happen occasionally, right? My luck couldn’t be bad enough that I always got fucked over.

I waited for the engine to turn on, for the asshole to drive away. I couldn’t risk following him, not right now, but I committed his face to memory so I wouldn’t forget, so I could keep an eye out later. Except, it didn’t.

I twisted, peering out toward the car. It appeared dark. Maybe he was making a call? Fucking around with his phone?

Vampires were just like humans in many ways, what with their love of distraction and all. Or, hell, maybe he was jerking off. Maybe dark, creepy meetings in the middle of the night were his kink so he had to rub one out before heading back home.

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