Page 178 of Black Bird

You did that already. And I’m still here, aren’t I? It’ll be fine. If it gets hairy … turn me properly. Feed me your blood. Don’t you let him stop that IV until he has enough. I don’t give a shit what happens.

Athan hung his head until it rested on her knee, and she smoothed a hand through his hair.

I don’t like this. I don’t like it at all. It shouldn’t be this way.

Sarah pulled his head up by his hair and leaned in, pressing a hard kiss to his mouth. He almost lost himself in it. She whispered softly into his mouth.

“Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn …”

He couldn’t do anything to stop the way she had him completely surrendering his soul. She knew it. Knew exactly what to say to still time and bring him to his knees for her. He kissed her again.

“It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore …” he whispered back, sliding his hand around her throat. “A rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.”

They cameveryclose to giving Specter a show, and had she not gripped his shirt to stop him, he would have. She was asking him to trust her. He had no choice but to do so. It was either be here, and become a part of this, or she’d make him leave, and do it anyway. He pulled away to stand up and face Nick, who looked on in utter confusion.

“Turn around.” Athan gestured with his finger.

“Kane, come on. She’ll die!”

“Turn around, Specter. Do what she says. And you better keep it quick and clean. If she hurts even the slightest bit because of you, I’ll kill you myself.” He unlocked the cuffs, freeing Nick’s wrists.

“The quicker that blood leaves her, the worse she’s gonna feel. This is gonna be a lengthy process, Kane. We gotta move slow, or it could backfire on us quicker than anything.” Nick ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm his nerves. “Go grab that monitor off the shelf. I need to keep an eye on her vitals while we do this …fuck.”

“I’m glad you’re finally seeing things my way,” Sarah winked, offering her arm and taking a stress ball in her hand. Nick rolled a stool over, gloving up and taking the sterile needle.

“Give it a squeeze.” Athan watched Sarah pump her small fingers around the stress ball a couple times, finally gripping it tight as Nick carefully slid the needle into her vein and taped over it. “Put those legs up.” Once the bag started filling and the monitor was hooked onto her, Nick stood and turned towards him.

“Going somewhere?” Athan asked, carefully watching him.

“There’s warm blankets a level up, in the donor lab. She’ll need them. Take this, and grab several.” Nick handed him Sarah’s key card. “Third door on the left.”

Athan glanced at Sarah who nodded her approval to be left alone with him. He plucked the gun from the counter and set it in her lap. “Try one stupid thing, Specter.”

“I know … you’ll gut me. As if this isn’t stupid enough. Go. I’ve got her.”

Gretchen sat straight in the leather armchair by the fireplace, sipping from her whiskey glass and watching him pace through his home office. While the girl’s occasional screaming was very faint, he could still hear them. Conrad lit a cigar.

“What are you gonna do about that?” Gretchen asked, looking at the door.

“I don’t think gagging her would do much good. Maybe I can sedate her, or something. Don’t ask me. This is my first time holding somebody hostage.” He did notice the sarcastic look she gave him at that last bit. “Don’t look at me like that, Gretchen. It wasn’t all bad for you.”

“Maybe not at first. That changes a lot when you blackmail someone, Conrad.”

“Well, you just keep doing your job, and you won’t have to worry about it in a few days, yeah?” He took a puff from the cigar.

“What’s your next move?” she asked, taking another sip. “Are you gonna tell her that you’ve got the girl?”

Conrad thought about that for a moment. He could tell Dahlia about the prisoner in his basement … or he could wait to show his hand. The cards had to be played right. He was finally ahead of the vampire queen … for once.

“Not yet,” he replied, turning toward the window and putting a hand in his pocket. “You said they know?”

Gretchen was quiet for a moment before finally answering. “Yeah, they had some unfamiliar faces at Vintorri’s apartment.”

“Was the good captain with them?”

“No.”

“I feel like he’s gonna be a problem. Hearing him at Brent’s makes me think he’s a bit too eager to stick his nose in my business. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Captain Foley.”

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