Page 136 of Black Bird

“Sit down, Senator,” Dahlia growled, situating her long skirts. Conrad obeyed.

“Sorry for the interruption at this hour. We did agree I’d be your daylight eyes and ears.”

“I was given the impression that this was urgent. Otherwise, I’d likely snap your neck. What do you want?” Her elbows propped against the surface of her long desk, and she rested her chin on her hands.

“Did you ever take any heed in getting yourself a television? Watched any news lately?”

“Why would I need that when you so generously provide me with useless information?”

Conrad pursed his lips. “I visited my son today. He doesn’t have the blood.”

“What a shame.”

“It definitely is. For me …andfor you.” He crossed an ankle over his knee and leaned back in his chair.

“And why is that?”

“Brent had a little visitor while I was there today. Captain Malcolm Foley of the 12th precinct.” Dahlia recognized that precinct as the one Kane was part of. She left no evidence of curiosity on her face.

“And?”

“And … he said Sarah St. James is wanted for murder. So is that detective working her case.”

“Athan Kane?” She raised her brows.

“You know him?”

Something in her lower belly sparked. “Yes. He’s my star player in this little charade with EverLife. My go-between with Nick Specter.”

“Why was I never told this?” Conrad seemed offended. Good.

“Because it was none of your business. Those were coven matters that had very little to do with our shared interest.”

“He’s a vampire?”

The surprise in his question wasn’t unmerited. Dahlia nodded. “Yes. A very old and rebellious member. And about as fucking foolish as they come. Why do you ask?”

Conrad shifted in his seat. “Did you give him any of that blood?”

Dahlia slowly lowered her arms. “No.”

“Then how is it that he can walk in daylight?”

Every undead nerve in her body buzzed with realization and utter rage. She slowly sunk back into her chair, her limbs coming to rest on its arms and had her heart still been beating within her, it would have nearly burst through her sternum. She recalled seeing him outside that girl’s apartment … beside her bed. Recalled his mouth declaring his love for her while he gently brushed her hair away. Dahlia’s breathing quickened. The night that he’d been in this office. In the very chair the senator was occupying … he had been about to break with bloodlust. She even remembered digging him with it when he’d left that night. Remembered telling Conrad that the body they’d found outside the club hadn’t been one of her people—but she had been wrong.Hewas the one. Athan fed on Sarah St. James. And he was now walking around as the shining trophy of the two things she wanted most. It all made perfect sense to her now.

“How do you know that he can walk in the daylight, Conrad?” she asked, Patrick stepping forward after hearing the shaking in her voice. The senator eyed him closely.

“As I said. Read a paper or watch the news once in a while. They were a front-page story when he had her on the back of his motorcycle after that attack. And that was before she kicked my son to the curb.”

Dahlia tried to gather herself. “Is there anything else?”

“Yeah. Nobody knows where they are. Your vampire made off with the only other source we both have. And every shot at getting what we want from her.”

“Fuck,” Dahlia said under her breath. “And the captain told your son all this?”

“Yes. Seems he doesn’t believe she’s responsible for any murders in Boston and the Feds have him pegged down. Do we have you to thank for those bodies?”

Dahlia let a smile creep across her mouth. “Only one. I let someone else handle the first. The second was my own work of art. I should have been more careful, it seems. It was meant to lead him back here … to me. Where he belongs.” Patrick stared a hole through her face. Conrad leaned forward.

---