Page 81 of Addicted in Blood
“He has good friends.”
“Look.If you’re here, I’m guessing it’s because you’re looking for redemption.”
“Do I need redemption?”
“No.But that doesn’t mean you’re not feeling it, especially with the cadre being such dicks.”
I played with a loose string from a seam in my pants.“Do you have any words of advice?”
“I heard from Sergi about an hour ago that the Sentinels have enough evidence to sway the Council on what really happened to Boretsky and who most likely killed him.The problem is that no one can predict how Lorenzo will take the news, but I’d give anything to be a fly on the wall at tomorrow’s Council meeting.”
“The meeting’s tomorrow?”I sat up.Of course, it would be.No surprise I didn’t get the memo.The hurt I’d felt earlier in the evening returned.
“Devon’s time is up.Simone was contacted moments after the files were received with instructions for her, Lyra, and Devon to appear before them to hear the Sentinel’s findings.”
“Will this be the first time the Council hears the report?”
He nodded.“The Sentinels don’t like to work that fast, but they understand the Council’s desire to close the case.”
“At any cost?”
“Yes.At least it was before new evidence came to light.And no one has seen Devon since before the murder, so Simone is going to be keeping an eye on Lorenzo when Devon is ordered to stand witness.I don’t think even Lorenzo, the coldest vamp to walk the earth, will be able to shield his anger at Devon’s recovery.”
I gave him a wistful smile.“It would be something to see.”I stood, feeling I’d overstayed my welcome, and the fatigue had finally hit.It would be a long walk to the condo.
“You going to the manor?It’s a bit late to go all the way out to Oasis.You gotta a car?”
I shook my head.“I have a place in mid-town I can stay.”
He stood and scooped a set of keys out of a bowl.“Let’s go.”
“You don’t need…”
“Shut up and let me do something for you.To be honest, the cadre didn’t think too highly of me when Devon decided to stay here for several years after he got clean.Us outsiders need to stick together—for Devon’s sake.”
Decker dropped me off a block over from the condo.It was his idea.He didn’t think we’d picked up a tail, but he wasn’t the trusting sort.He told me to take the alley to the left of where he’d parked, then work back to the condo.It was nice to see he could be as suspicious as me.
He gave me a gruff goodbye and took off, and I moved into the shadows to see if anyone followed him.Satisfied it appeared clear, I worked my way back to the condo.When I reached the security desk and gave them my name, they pushed a key card toward me without asking any questions.
Grateful I didn’t have to go through the whole “prove it was me” scenario, I took the card, gave the guy a tired smile, and after a long elevator ride up, fumbled with the key card before I got the green light to enter.I was barely through the door when Ginger raced down the hall.
Tears erupted at her being there for me, and I collapsed where I stood.Ginger pulled me in for a hug, held me tight, and rocked me as I cried.
ChapterThirty-Eight
A knock at the door,followed by it swinging open with such force that it banged against the wall, spun Devon from the window where he’d been staring down at the garden.The warm memories shattered like so many others had in a very long week.
Lyra strode in, her eyes blazing with the same eerie blue of his beast.“Where’s Cressa?”
He sighed and walked to the minibar, where he picked up his cup of cooling coffee.“I’d ask if you wanted a cup, but you seem more than awake this morning.”
“Don’t patronize me, brother.”
“And now you’re channeling Mother.”
“And don’t insult me.”She came face-to-face with him, her breath rushing out in short gasps and her eyes still aglow.“She didn’t come home with you last night.”
“No.She didn’t.”He turned away, not only to get away from her condemning expression but his own guilt as well.
