Page 69 of Visions in Blood
“Vamps.”My gaze shot to his, and though it was only there for an instant, his fear shook me.Not fear for himself, but what it could mean to the fragile balance if vamps had done this.“Why would vamps attack a shifter pack?”
“It wasn’t a true pack.It was a group of rogue wolves who’d gathered for protection.From what Sergi was told, they had the approval of the local pack alpha.But that doesn’t mean they didn’t have issues with other rogues.”He stood and moved toward the windows.His expression was unreadable as he stared at the view.He could have been staring at the manicured lawn that stretched to the cliff, the ocean beyond, or nothing at all.“There are other things at play that might have spurred the killings, we just don’t have enough information.”
“What other things?”
He turned toward me, and I no longer saw Devon.It was the alpha vamp, the leader of a great House who stared back at me.“We’re still pulling the pieces together.”He hesitated for a moment and seemed to gather himself.“There’s something else you need to know.”
I tugged my robe closer, wishing he would have waited until I had something more decent on.It didn’t feel right getting bad news in a swimsuit, and I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to like what was coming next.
“Underwood was spotted in the Hollows with a young woman.A vampire.”
I snorted, and my earlier worry evaporated.“That doesn’t surprise me.I guess that confirms whether he knows Lorenzo is a vamp.”
His nod was quick.“And I used that information to gain other, more critical information.”
My stomach clenched.Here it came.
“I used the photos of him with his girlfriend to learn more of the necklace.”
“My necklace?How would photos…” The world tilted.He wouldn’t have.Couldn’t have.A coldness swept through me.“You took them to my mother?”
He didn’t respond.
“Without asking me first?”
“It wasn’t your call.”
“Wasn’t my call?It’s my mother.”I was off the bench, pacing alongside the pool.The earlier chill turned to a burning anger.“Is that why you sent me to L.A.?To get me out of the way?You had no right.”
“First, I’ll remind you of something I’ve told you before.My business and the protection of my family comes first.The continuation of our race, and the safety of your own, which I shouldn’t have to remind you, comes second.”
His words penetrated, but I shoved them away.
“We’re not talking about that.We’re talking about my mother.”
He moved closer with a predatory grace I’d come to recognize as a danger sign.His gaze took on that silvery glow.
“Your mother.The one you barely speak to.The one you said all but abandoned you once she married Underwood.That mother?I just want to be sure we’re talking about the same woman.”
“That’s not fair.”The hot burning tears rose, and I spun away from him.So stupid to put my back to a raging vamp.
“She had more knowledge about the necklace, and your attempts were proving too slow.We have to know more, and we’ve lost the time to be subtle.”
I whirled back around.Something must have snapped in me because he took a step back.“She didn’t need to be dragged into your world.And whatever that necklace represents, that’s my business.Not yours.It’s between her and me.”I was so angry, I could have spit blood.
“Let me break it down further for you.Because this is more than just you and your mother.There’s a reason Lorenzo is looking for that necklace.I don’t know why, but if he’s looking for it, it poses a grave danger.And here’s another startling truth.I wasn’t meeting with your mother.I was meeting with Underwood’s wife.One, I might mention, who was quite aware of her husband’s infidelities.A woman, whose proximity to a man who’s dealing with vampires, has found herself in a very dangerous predicament.By no fault of hers, her husband has put her in harm’s way.Lorenzo plays for keeps, and if he has Underwood under his control, your mother’s life as she knows it no longer exists.She needs to pick a side.And quite frankly, she’s too immersed in guilt over you and worry for April to make a sound, logical decision.”
He strode toward me.“I knew you’d be angry.And I didn’t wait for you to leave to do this.I would have met with her without your knowledge or approval whether you were in town or not.Too many things are happening.Events that not only impact our greater mission but lives.I don’t know if my move to repeal the censure has unwittingly cracked other secrets, or it’s all bad timing.But I’m not going to sit around to find out.”
His gaze softened, almost remorseful.“I need to get a handle on what happened with the shifters.In order to accomplish that, I had to give my guards assignments, which removes them from Ginger’s security.I have others that can guard her, but for your benefit and hers, it’s easier and safer to guard one position.”
He heaved a sigh, and I thought he might reach for me.How silly was that?
“Take time to recover from your trip.Then get your head settled on our mission.”
He strode toward the door, leaving me to stare at the sun blazing through the windows.The earlier anger had burned out, and not even the warmth of the room could dispel the chill from all he divulged.
He stopped at the doorway.“Willa is full of guilt over your separation.Everything she’s done was to protect you.And while it wasn’t the best way, that it hurt you, she never stopped loving you.Rasmussen was the love of her life.”
