Page 24 of Blood Moon
“Did we just screw it up to where we have to move again?” I rubbed my forehead while Zane turned to start frying up some shit on the stove.
Hangover remedy.
“I could only dream of getting the hell out of here,” he laughed. “No, I just need to know who they are. Your blood was covered up. Cole will make the decision if they need to come down and use their immortal shit to dominate this location as their own.”
“They can do that?”
Zane glanced back at me as if I’d lost my mind, “You do remember they’re original immortal vamps, right? Not only that, they’re juiced up on your blood, and any vampire would bow to whatever the hell they wanted right now. The Banners have always moved in and taken whatever they wanted, but it was always on their hunts to find and end Enzo’s shit. Let me give Cole a call.”
I ate the eggs, bacon, and potatoes Zane had whipped up, and I felt it feeding my body that I’d abused by overindulging in alcohol. I did not want to feel shitty in the morning, so while Zane went out on the porch to talk to Cole, I made sure I downed three glasses of water to rehydrate and pray I didn’t feel like crap for having to use alcohol to cover up my Life Blood scent.
“Alright, it’s cool. Cole knows the dipshit who was there tonight.”
“Good or bad?” I asked, feeling sobered up a bit.
“They’ve gotten into it with them before, but at least they know that the Banners are down here and Cole pulled vamp rank on their asses. They’ll most likely be moving out of the area, wondering if the Banners are going to show up attheirclub or not. They won’t be a problem.”
“Was he pissed at you for taking me there?”
“No.” Zane narrowed his eyes at me. “Fuck any of them if they would be. I wasn’t careless, and when I sensed you could be in danger, I remedied the situation immediately.”
“Sorry about that,” I said, knowing Zane had enough trouble trying to be part of our group here than I really could ever understand. “I didn’t mean for it to come out that way.”
“It’s fine,” Zane said. “After I tried to give you alcohol poisoning, I’m fairly sure you’re done with the night.”
“Trying to get rid of me?” I asked.
“No,” his features softened. “Trying to take care of you.”
“Well, I’d like to sit outside and relax. If you want to help take care of me, I could use the company.”
Zane studied me for a moment then reached for my hand. “Then, let’s go hang,” he said with a smile.
14
Isat out in one of the lounge chairs, gazing out at the skyscrapers that lined the horizon of the shoreline to our left. The lights danced off the buildings into the rippling water of the ocean they overlooked. It was a fascinating evening, especially since I was sobering up and not getting the headache that I knew was coming my way if I didn’t rehydrate and fast.
I was definitely a lightweight when it came to alcohol, and it’s because I wasn’t one to drink. Whether or not mom drankherown lifeblood into hiding and became a blackout drunk to save me or whatever the hell her story was, I couldn’t bring myself to accept drinking like that was the way to go. It triggered BS memories of me navigating through life on my own, and it was certainly hard to accept that mom was hiding me and trying to give me a normal life while she hid from my psycho dad, Enzo.
My phone buzzed, and I glanced down while Zane remained quiet and staring out at the ocean, most likely in deep thought like I was.
“Hey Zac,” I answered.
“You alright?” he asked, loud voices in the background.
“I’m fine. Zane handled the situation the way you all would have.”
“I’m sure he did. Did he burn the bodies before or after he kicked their asses for even thinking they could look at you?”
“Don’t be an asshole.”
Zac laughed, “Hey, you said Zane handled it like we would’ve, so I’m just making sure those fuckers that eyed our girl paid the ultimate price for it.”
“Zane wasn’t about to cause a scene, dumbass,” I teased.
“Whatever,” Zac said, ending his taunting Zane through his conversation with me. “I’m sure Zane filled you in, but tell that bastard he’d better watch his ass when he brings you into public like you’re just some chick he lives with.”
I exhaled, “He made sure they didn’t pick up on the scent of my blood. He saved my ass, and I don’t need to hear that he couldn’t give two shits about me right now.”
