“See, we think alike.” Ant smiled, even though his face was still pale. “That just shows you’re perfect for me, too.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“We should make it a rule that we don’t have the phones on in the bedroom,” Ant said, glancing over at his mate, who was sprawled out across the covers, reading the latest headlines on his screen. “We don’t need to know what happens next,” he added. “We just need to catch the people doing bad things and hand them over to the appropriate authorities. What happens to them after that isn’t up to us.”
“It’s part of my quirk as a curious vampire,” Viktor said, as he pressed the power button, turning his screen black. “I like to keep tabs on what’s being said about my absolutely stunning, intelligent, and very skilled mate, along with his faithful sidekick, the vampire known as Viktor. If nothing else, I have to make sure they’ve spelled my name correctly.”
He chucked his phone onto the bedside table. “In this case, all’s well that ends well. Now that Carmine has been revealed as a fraud and a criminal, the other dominoes are slowly falling. According to what I read tonight, Hammond and Bains have both resigned from their respective positions.
“The mayor has put out a public statement claiming that he’s horrified by the depths of corruption afflicting our fair city and made a strong vow that every resource at the city’s disposal will be used to ensure that the individuals responsible for criminal coverups will be arrested and charged in due course.” Viktor’s arms were a welcome weight around Ant’s waist. “All the normal stuff politicians say when they’ve been caught snoozing at their desk.”
“Some people have the innate ability to say the things the public needs to hear. Most people going about their day-to-day lives hadn’t even heard of Carmine Doukas.” Ant snuggled in close to his mate. In the two days after the business with Carmine, therewere still parts of Ant that felt a bit shaky. Reading so many visions at such a fast speed was really difficult on both his brain and his magical system.
Having to spend almost twenty-four hours recalling and recounting it all for the Mage Justiciary hadn’t been easy on him, either. Mages tended to get caught up in what they were doing and forgot about the basics like food, rest, and bathroom breaks. Fortunately, Viktor didn’t leave him alone for a second and made sure to growl at the clerks every time he thought Ant needed a break. By the time he had finished, Ant would’ve been perfectly happy if he never heard the name “Carmine” again.
Viktor’s touch helped to ground him. Ant was soothed by him, everywhere Viktor’s skin touched his. That was a gift Ant would never take for granted, and he leaned into that touch now, seeking to shut off his overactive brain.
“There was one thing I wondered about,” Viktor said slowly after a long moment of quiet. “Why is it, back when you met Carmine that first time when he was dating Bridget, you didn’t pick up any information about what he’d done to Carol, or any of the other shit he pulled back then?”
“I’ve been thinking about that.” Nestling his head against Viktor’s chest, Ant said, “I think it was because of a number of factors. First, the touch was only a quick handclasp. I think I told you a while ago, I only got some quick impressions – a sensation of shadows, like I’d picked up from you when we first met. A couple of flashes – enough to see he was a truly bad man back then, but not enough to say anything specific beyond warning Bridget she needed to stay away from him.
“Carmine was also projecting a different image then, too. He was determined to be seen as a rich and successful businessman.” Wiggling around so he could get more comfortable, Ant added,“When I think back now, after what I’ve seen from him since, I think Carmine was simply someone who had developed a skill of projection. Remember the headaches I said he caused me during our lunch meeting. I’d say he was doing the same thing when I met him on that date with Bridget.”
“He was doing something like that deliberately?”
“I don’t think so, no.” Ant stifled a yawn. “Once I realized he had been living a lie for so long, I surmised he’d developed a pushy and dominant personality to purposefully stop people from questioning him or his methods.”
“I still don’t understand how someone didn’t realize he wasn’t the original Carmine Doukas over all those years.” Viktor’s breath ruffled Ant’s hair. “Surely other family members visited from Greece from time to time, or somebody already living here remembered him from when he was younger.”
“From what I remember, the fake Carmine did share a lot of the same physical characteristics as the original one. If you also factor in changes due to weight loss or gain, along with people’s faulty memories, it would be easy enough to do. Do you really think that the Doukas family will threaten him in captivity because of what he did?”
“With what he did to the original Carmine and Carol? I imagine so, yes. If they can get to him. Even if they can’t, you know he’s always going to be worried that they will.”
Ant wasn’t sure how he felt about that. “I still wish I knew why it is people do what they do, especially to other people.”
“We’ve had that conversation before,” Viktor said, keeping his voice low. “People will do what people will do, and all you can do is focus on yourself and your behavior in the long term. I think the fact that you’re prepared to stick to your guns, that you won’t change your principles for anyone – it means you can faceyourself in the mirror every morning... There’s a lot to be said for that.”
“I thought that, too,” Ant said. “But I still… Why would people choose deceit in the first place? Why would they choose to do something that they already know is wrong?”
“Babe, people have free will – paranormal or human, they all choose their own path. I believe, for a lot of them, they just don’t think they’ll get caught. Or that what they’re doing won’t do them any harm because they tell themselves it’s just one time. Hammond with his gambling and Bains with his hooker addiction are classic examples of that.”
Viktor’s hand slid to Ant’s hip, just resting there - a heavy, warm presence. “Remember how Bains broke down when he told you he’d had that affair? He made out like he’d only done it once, but that woman looked very comfortable on his lap at Carmine’s dinner party. He probably told himself it was only the once, but then, when he got under pressure – I can’t say for sure, but I imagine it’s easier to go back and do something for the second or third time, especially if he didn’t get caught by his wife the first time.”
“I guess I just have to accept I’m not meant to understand the nature of others.” Ant looked up at his mate, seeing the heat in his eyes. “I only have to understand you.”
“I’m sure you’re the one who told me that most people just live their lives every day, and they’re not consumed with all the stupidity that goes on around them. They just want to get ahead. They just want to be comfortable. They just want to get to a point where they can sit on their porch and stare out at a sunset or a sunrise, depending on what type of person they are. The perfect time to appreciate how wonderful life can be.”
“I know my life’s been pretty wonderful since you’ve been around.” Viktor’s leg was quietly nudging at Ant’s, and Ant could feel the weight of his mate’s erection pressing against his hip. “Are you thinking about giving me one of your special all-over massages again?” Ant turned so he was facing his mate, who was lying on his side.
“I love how you read my mind, babe.” Viktor’s chuckle was low and filled with promise.
“I love how you don’t even try and read my mind.” Ant pressed closer, tilting up his face. “You instinctively know what I need, and I love that about you, too.”
Epilogue
“I’m sure you’ll sleep a lot better now, Mr. Kirk. There are very definitely no spirits haunting your house, but I would advise you to call in a pest control expert to deal with the issues of squirrels in your attic.”
“I’m so thankful for your time, Doctor Channon. Honestly. You’ve been a godsend. My wife, bless her soul, was such a vindictive person in life. It was easy to believe…” Mr. Kirk, a thin, older individual with a bit of a nervous twitch next to his left eye, shrugged and managed to look embarrassed and apologetic all at once.
