Page 4 of Addicted in Blood
“We need to determine which side the Council members are on.”Sergi’s expression was blank as he added something I hadn’t considered.“And which of our allies are still with us after this morning’s discovery.”
“Agreed.”Simone leaned back and tapped the arm of the chair.I couldn’t read what she was thinking, but it wasn’t difficult to pick up on the anger mixed with agitation.She didn’t like chaos.“For this afternoon, I’ll need Lucas, Bella, and Jacques to go with me.”
“I should go as well.You’ll need a show of force.”Sergi couldn’t be more surprised than I was on Simone’s decision to go without her head of security.
She shook her head.“We don’t know the motive for killing a Council member.This could be subterfuge for something else.Someone believes they have weakened us, leaving us open for an attack.But we are not weak.I need you to lead should something unforeseen occur at Council.If we return, then we continue with Devon’s plans.”
“And if something unforeseen occurs?”I had to ask.Whether I was part of the family or not, this catastrophe impacted me and Ginger.
“Then, in all likelihood, we’ll be dead, and the House will be dismantled.Which reminds me.Sergi, we need to know where the police are with the Underwood investigation.Specifically, how much trouble is Cressa in?”
ChapterThree
I pacedmy room as wired as the day Devon had given me blood after performing a pirouette through a second-story window.Someone had framed him.The truth sang through my blood, though it was most likely the several cups of espresso Cook had sent up to my room.Devon’s mission hadn’t been moving at record pace, but we’d been uncovering new leads and making progress, as slow as it seemed.
We’d discovered a book that might hold the origins of vampires, and we hadn’t been the only ones searching for it.Then out of the blue this Magic Poppy showed up.The timing was just too perfect.With everything moving forward, why would Devon toss it all away by dabbling with the Poppy, especially after introducing me to Lyra?
Devon loved his sister and worried for her.It was evident with how gentle he’d been with her.Somehow my dreams were a connection, which was why Devon had dug into my past.He’d only hinted at it, but it felt right.Our planned trip to New Orleans to search for my father and Colantha Dupré, a name my mother had given Devon, might have provided more answers.
I picked up a crystal statue and threw it against the far wall.It gouged the drywall before thudding to the carpet.Of course, I would pick up something that was more useful as a paperweight than something that would shatter into a million pieces as my emotions were currently doing.
After wearing a trail through the plush pile, I stared out my window and down at the grave markers.Lyra had been the one visiting them that first night at the manor.And it made me wonder all over again who’d been buried there.I turned away from that mystery and fell across my bed.
Simone had shooed me out of the office a couple hours earlier, claiming it was cadre business to determine how to deal with the Council.I didn’t argue.Lucas would eventually tell Ginger, but the waiting game was going to drive me loony.
Before leaving the office, I managed to learn one thing.Decker was out looking for Devon.I’d only met the shifter once.He owned a shifter fight club called The Den.I didn’t know his history with Devon, other than Decker had once saved his life.If someone could find him, it would be a shifter.Lucas had once mentioned they had excellent noses, but so did vamps.One more thing I couldn’t help with.
I stared at the ceiling for another five minutes before Simone’s comment about Christopher floated back.Was I a suspect in his murder?More importantly, and something I should have thought of immediately, how was my mother taking the news?From what Devon had said, she knew about Christopher’s infidelity.She must have known something about his shady business dealings if she’d been saving for a way out.I’d never given her enough credit.
The police had to have notified her by now.When would the questioning start?Sergi thought they’d wait a couple of days, but I wasn’t so sure.Christopher was well-known in the community, and I had no doubt his murder would be a priority for the mayor, who would put pressure on the chief of police.Would they care if they found the real murderer or be satisfied with someone close enough?A chill ran down my spine.With everything going on with Devon, I wasn’t sure the cadre would take my plight as seriously as they would if Devon was here.I considered the cadre my friends, but when it came down to it, I wasn’t sure the feeling was reciprocated.
I scrambled off the bed, grabbed my cell, and then sat by the window, this time staring at the ocean and a lone sailboat heading north.This call would be easier if I were closer to my mother.Rather than let any further procrastination set in, I dialed April’s number.She hadn’t returned any of my calls before the murder, what were the odds she’d take my call now?
I counted the rings.After the fourth one, I waited for voice mail to pick up and was surprised when I heard April’s sniffles.
“Hello.”
“Hi, April.It’s me.”When she didn’t hang up or respond, I continued, “I wanted to tell you how sorry I am.”
Her ragged breathing mixed with background conversations.They weren’t loud enough for me to pick up specifics.
“How dare you!”
“April…” My hand trembled.
“Don’t say a word.You have no right to call here.Not after what you’ve done.”Her voice was shrill with a touch of hysteria.
“It wasn’t me.”
“You’ve always had it out for him.Now the police know it, too.How could you?I trusted you.This is all your fault.”The last part was the most hurtful.Probably because she screamed it at me—all her anger and loss fresh and in my face.
I listened to dial tone for several seconds before dropping the phone on the cushion.But it was nothing more than a smokescreen hiding April’s words.“And the police know, too.”
What had she told them?Somehow, Christopher had turned her against me.Whatever he’d told her, it must have been major for her not to confront me.This was worse than I’d thought, and with Devon gone, it was highly questionable whether the cadre would cover me.
I hugged my knees to my chest, my forehead resting on them as I sucked in air.I was in trouble and more scared than I’d ever been.
The chirp from my phone made me jump.It took a second to pull out of my self-pity before I searched for my cell.I stared at the number—April.She must be calling to apologize.Of course, I couldn’t have killed Christopher.Certainly not the way he’d been found.
