Page 85 of Broken Wolf

“Yes, but we had agreements in place and I don’t with Igwe,” I countered. “And while they wouldn’t want anyone to start a war with me, several still would like me gone and a shifter with power out of their hair even if I’m doing good for vamps too. They liked their old ways of being assholes from the shadows. More than that, I’m costing him his ‘kids.’”

“That’s why you immediately went to him, because you were holding Topher,” Dain surmised, swearing when I nodded. “It makes sense. The bear elder was grateful you didn’t blow up the situation with Barry being his family. You’ve had no other grudges with people involving children or family. Other than…” He gave me a horrified look.

“We need to check West Andrews,” I muttered. “Yeah, he thought Eddie was his—there’s no way Stacey ordered a hit from where she is in Greece, but we check. We check it all.”

“Yes, yes, we do, and I will make it clear through my people as well,” Laila agreed.

“Who could I have pissed off… Dain’s family?” I hedged.

“No, they would not risk my wrath,” she said firmly. “They made it clear on that and they stood by their decision to kick him out and didn’t want to dig up the past. As if it was an ugly matter to leave alone and not their damn child. But I know Jonik’s family is not happy they lost one of their studs to use as they wanted. I will make sure it’s not them.”

“Thank you, Laila.”

“Always, my friend. We need you. We need you safe and taken better care of.” She cleared her throat. “I am sorry I have been pushing so hard. I know—I forget you are so young. You handle everything—it seems so easy to you. You handle so much that I cannot even, and—I’m sorry, Sera. Truly. I applaud your idea of an audit and—whatever you need.”

“Who snitched?” I chuckled.

“I had a discussion with Eva. She spoke with your mother and me, and we were told to calm ourselves. Rightfully. We can focus our efforts in Bolivia and Iran if we’re so bored. That was how she said it.”

“Thanks, Laila. Yeah, I just need—I’m overwhelmed and can’t let things fall apart.”

“We would never let you. We love you.”

I felt it and that helped a lot.

We hung up right as we pulled into the parking garage and then headed inside. Ten minutes later, I was sitting in front of Greg Camara.

He gave me a bored look. “Yeah, yeah, you’re awesome, dog. You caught me because the humans fucked up. My council isn’t going to care that I was screwing over our food, so give me my phone call to them so they can get me out of here.”

I blinked at him for a full minute before bursting out laughing. I laughed so hard I would have fallen out of my chair if the SAiC hadn’t steadied me.

The vamp got pissed and launched at us. My instincts kicked in, and I went overboard because there were humans in the room—humans I was responsible for. I punched him in the mouth and he plopped right back in his seat… With one less fang.

“You will die for that,” he shrieked. “It’s against everything to break a fang and—”

“Okay, who the fuck is your maker who taught you all of this stupid shit?” I demanded. “Seriously, because none of this is…” My eyes went wide when he went possum. When worried or lying, other people’s hearts raced, but a vampire was the opposite, and their bodies went almost cold and quiet. “Did you kill your maker?”

He stared at me as if to say he wasn’t stupid enough to answer that.

Yeah, he was so out of his league. I put my influence on him and he immediately answered.

“She was weak,” he blurted. “I did vamps a favor by killing that weak bitch who was so stupid she turned me after some flirting. I did things the way of vamps.”

“According to what bad romance novel?” I drawled. “You’re delusional, but smart enough to have pulled this con off for a bit. It’s not your first though, right? Where did you do this before?”

“Not this, but I’ve done other cons.” He growled when I made him tell me what and where. “What does it matter? Let me call my council and—”

“Kid, they’re not coming,” I told him firmly. “That was why we laughed. Everyone in this building knows that, even the humans. The council doesn’t care about one fledgling who will give vamps bad press. You broke the law about making vamps look bad, and you’re dead for killing your maker. There are laws against that. Big time.”

“You’re not lying,” he whispered in horror.

I actually almost felt bad for him. “You’re such a guppy.” I sighed when he looked affronted. “I’m not lying, but I’m too fucking powerful for you to tell. I’m containing my power.” I realized it would be easier to just show him, so I peeled back the covering of my power and let it out and out.

And then turned it up again and again which was nice since I tended to neglect that side of me when I was upset. Hey, I could learn.

He was gasping for air when I was done and looking truly afraid.

“Yeah, so I’d feel sorry for you if you didn’t immediately use your new powers and life to hurt people,” I told him. “So make this as painless as possible for yourself before you die. Hell, you work with me and give me the deal about your maker and I’ll advocate they make the exception for real rehabilitation instead of death.”

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