Page 115 of Vampires and Violas

“Yeah, but I was bitten again. The paramedics have disinfected it, but I’ll have to go to the doctor next week to see if I was reinfected.”

“We’re in the car, only about five minutes away,” she says frantically. “I told you Noah was trouble—didn’t I tell you?”

“They were afterme, Mom,” I say, beginning to lose my temper. “Noah is the only reason they didn’t drag me off with them.”

“We’ll discuss it when we get there.”

Great.

“So,” Cassian says when I hang up. “That sounded like it went well.”

“They’re on their way.”

Noah rubs his hand over his face, looking like he’s not in the mood to deal with them either.

“Where are Larissa and Sophia?” I ask Cassian.

“I sent them back to my place. The last thing I need is them getting in the middle of all this.”

“Didn’t Larissa check the yard before they left?” I ask.

“She did. Ethan’s men must have shown up after that.”

“Or she and Sophia are connected to all this,” Noah says. “Ethan is one of hers, after all.”

“They’re not,” Cassian insists.

I frown because he’s just being stubborn now. “But how can you be so sure?”

“I just am.”

“Well, either way,” Noah says, “all this happened the night they showed up. I’m not comfortable having them stay here.”

“What are you going to do about Piper’s parents?” Cassian asks him.

“I don’t know yet.”

“Best figure it out quickly.” Cassian gestures to the car lights pulling into the drive. “Because it looks like they’re here.”

They don’t get very far. Several police officers block the drive. One goes to the driver’s side window, probably demanding to know who they are and what business they have here at this time of night—after an attack, no less.

I expect Sheriff Thompson to let them in, but he’s nowhere to be found.

“I should tell Officer Kerrington they’re okay,” I say.

The policeman looks over when I approach him, flashing me a grin. “Hey, Trouble.”

He’s using that nickname again, though I guess we’ve met under weird circumstances enough times now it might be fitting.

“Those are my parents,” I say. “Can we let them in?”

“Sure.” He radios the men outside, and a minute later, Dad’s car makes its way down the drive. Mom leaps out before Dad comes to a complete stop and runs up the porch stairs.

“Hey.” I meet her outside the door. “You really didn’t have to come over. It’s late, and they have all this under control.”

“You’re coming home with us,” she says.

“No, I’m staying here with Noah. I’m safer with him than anyone else, and I don’t want to make you and Dad targets.”

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