Page 106 of My Vampire Plus-One

Reggie seemed at least partially mollified. “I just can’t believe we didn’t see this coming.”

“See what coming?” I asked. “That my awful client and the group going after you were the same people? As far as I know, my firm doesn’t make a habit of representing vampires. The odds of The Collective being one of my clients had to be just about nonexistent.”

“Yes, but…” He shook his head, clearly frustrated. “You don’t understand. You could have beenhurt. And it would have been my fault.”

My heart ached to see him blaming himself for this bizarre situation. “I was in no danger. John Richardson had no idea who I was, or that I had any connection to you.” Thinking back to the night Reggie and I first met, I added, “You would have been really proud of how well I pretended in that meeting today.”

That earned a smile from him. “I always knew you had it in you.”

I blushed at the praise. “Anyway, if anyone’s in any danger ofsomething, it’s their nonsense nonprofit.” I looked to Frederick. “Your lead on the blood bank break-ins was helpful, but taking them down through taxes is the immediate key to getting The Collective off Reggie’s back.”

Frederick peered at me. “What do you mean?”

“At best, they’re a walking audit risk,” I explained. “I mean, they don’t even know the difference between an I-9, a W-4, and a 990, for god’s sake, despite me having spent the better part of the past month trying to explain it to them.” I shook my head. “The IRS is on the cusp of yanking their 501(c)(3) status no matter what my firm manages to put together for them. And honestly? With what a disaster their record-keeping has been, I wouldn’t be surprised if they owe a pile of back taxes so huge they’ll never dig themselves out from under it.”

Reggie let out a quiet moan. “You’re so hot when you talk taxes,” he breathed.

Frederick cleared his throat. “Focus, Reginald,” he chastised.

Reggie glared at his friend. Then he sighed and reluctantly moved away from me. “Fine,” he muttered.

“I’m still formulating a plan for how to take them down,” I said.

“I want to be a part of it,” Reggie insisted.

I patted his arm. “You will be. I promise. But in the meantime, is there anything The Collective is afraid of?” I asked. “Anyone who could talk some sense into them? Once I gain access to my firm’s GuideStar account, I suspect I’ll find all I need by way of research by looking up the Wyatt Foundation. Since the IRS still recognizes them as a nonprofit, they’ll be in there, along with a lot of their financial data. But I’ll feel better about it if it’s not only me in the room for this meeting.” The thought of threatening them all by myself was honestly terrifying. “Who do youknow that’s scary that would be willing to meet with them with me?”

“I can’t think of anyone The Collective is frightened of,” Frederick said. “They are essentially coddled children who have been given the gift of immortality. Even though they have become a thorn in the side of the vampiric community, people remember who they used to be and tend to treat them indulgently.”

“Even when they do things like this?” That was hard to wrap my mind around.

Frederick gave Reggie a sideways glance. “How do I put this delicately?”

Reggie sighed. “Just say it.”

“Reginald has not endeared himself to many over the centuries,” Frederick said, carefully. “Even if people were inclined to put a stop to The Collective’s nonsense, they wouldn’t do it on his account.”

“Okay,” I said. “What about something that frightens all vampires?”

Frederick and Reggie looked at each other.

“Zelda?” Reggie suggested.

Frederick shuddered. “God’s thumbs. Not her.”

“Exactly.” Reggie snapped his fingers. “It’s pretty fair to say most of us are frightened of her, right?”

“Who is Zelda?” I asked.

“A witch who’s been deeply misunderstood over the centuries,” Reggie said.

Frederick scoffed. “Hardly. Her preferred nickname isGrizelda the Terrible,” he said. “She came up with it herself. She used to keep a cauldron in her front yard to make it easier for her to cook children.”

“An urban legend,” Reggie protested.

Frederick leveled a stare at him. “I think you’re letting your history with her cloud your judgment.”

My ears perked up as a hot stab of something that felt uncomfortably like jealousy went through me. “What history?”

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