Page 69 of Seduction in Blood
"No. And I haven't had time to follow up my leads since the ball."
"If they haven't panned out, see what you can find on Willa Langtry before Cressa's birth. I know it was a long time ago, but maybe someone remembers her and who she might have been seeing."
Sergi nodded. "I have a list of her residences going back that far. If there's something there, I'll find it."
"Do you need me to help?" Lucas asked.
Devon shook his head. "No. I need you to find out why Underwood is looking for Cressa. You've built a trust with her and Ginger. Keep at it. See if you can find out something about April, Cressa's stepsister."
Lucas nodded.
"You all know what's at stake. Take two days, then we'll meet at Oasis and plan our next steps."
After everyone left, Devon closed his eyes. They had all worked hard since the ball, trying to figure out what happened, what had gone so horribly wrong. He'd avoided Cressa, wanting to give her time to work through the events of the evening on her own. Seeing her tonight was the first time since the morning after the ball. He'd stopped in long enough to ensure she was all right, and two others from his family had been there to see to her needs. There hadn't been time to speak with her. To be alone with her.
She wasn't going to be happy with him. And maybe that was for the best. There was too much in front of them to dally with personal feelings. And there hadn't been any more dreams. Was that the influence of his blood or something else? He thought he was past his addiction to her. Until he saw her walk through the door this evening.
He left the office and had just started to climb the stairs when Lucas jogged down them. Devon didn't like the look on the young vampire's face.
"Anna says Cressa packed her suitcase earlier today."
Devon sighed. "I expected as much. Don't worry, I'll set it right."
"She's going to be mad."
"Yes. But it will focus her. And that only works to our advantage." He shook his head before Lucas could respond. "She'll be fine. Check on Ginger. See when she'll be returning."
Devon waited until Lucas had moved down the hall before he continued his path to Cressa.
* * *
I paced my bedroom,suitcase packed and nothing else to do. I couldn't relax. I was irritated with Devon for his casual dismissal, sending me to my room like a child after dropping the bomb that Christopher had met with Lorenzo. A vamp. Did Christopher know?
I'd texted Ginger only to discover Devon had given her a rental car. She'd driven to Seattle to visit her family. Her mother was so excited to see her, she begged Ginger to stay a week. She was safe from Christopher, and I had a week to figure out what he thought I'd stolen. Whatever he had going with the vamp had to be related to his other shady businesses. Five years away from his house, and they'd both ended up working for a vamp. What were the odds?
But my job was finished, and it was time to go home—my debt paid. I'd have a week to shrink back to my dull little life before Ginger returned. I had enough money stashed to fix the apartment. But the thought of contacting Harlow about a job made my gut wrench. Maybe it was time to get a higher-class crew.
Thirty minutes passed, and I was still wound up. When the knock came, I pounced at the door, wrenching it open. Devon wore the same navy-blue, tailored shirt he'd worn in his office, and the color brought out the darker hues of his eyes. My pulse, already hammering, sounded like drums in my head with every heartbeat.
He smirked. "Can I come in?" He took a seat by the fireplace while I remained on my feet, already returning to my pacing.
"Please, sit down. You're distracting."
"I can't seem to relax." My body wasn't the only thing ramped up. I was happy to be leaving, wasn't I? Somehow, this wasn't how I'd pictured our last moments together. At odds with each other. It was probably my imagination. "It was torture sitting in your office."
When he didn't respond, I stopped and turned to face him. This was the first time I'd ever seen him uncertain. "What happened to me? How did I walk away from that fall?"
He stared into the barren fireplace before giving me a weak smile. "I gave you blood. It was only a small dose."
I'd expected that answer, and I licked my lips in memory of that sweet taste. "What will it do to me?"
"Heal you. Nothing more."
I wasn't sure I believed him, but he held his expression in check, giving nothing away. I strode to the window, bouncing on the balls of my feet and ignoring him.
"Will you sit down?"
"I can't. I'm hyped up. I'm surprised I've slept at all." I swung around and went back to pacing. "It's the blood, isn't it?"
