Page 97 of Obsessed in Blood
“The healer can collect blood from the dead,” Simone said. “Did you check on the manor?”
Sergi nodded. “Decker said a couple of cars drove by, but they didn’t slow. There was only the driver in both of them.”
“Their pick-up?” Lucas asked.
“Most likely,” Sergi answered. “I guess Lorenzo hoped for some of them to return.”
“And isn’t that a bloody shame?” Simone turned to Lucas. “You need to get back to the manor. You have an appointment with Colantha and Hamilton.” Simone watched Cressa approach, her face pale. “You’ve given too much blood.”
Cressa shrugged. “I’m still standing. He was the last one but was the worst off.” A smile twisted her lips into a mocking smile. “But you better keep an eye on some of them.”
“Why is that?” Simone asked.
“You know. In case they go crazy from the tainted blood.”
Simone rolled her eyes. “You’re just not going to let that go.” Cressa had been hurt when Simone had shut her out of cadre business when Devon’s beast had control. She’d apologized, but Cressa continued to remind her when the opportunity suited her. Devon told her it was a human thing, and Simone put up with it because it was Cressa. And maybe because she still felt a wee bit guilty.
Cressa patted her shoulder as she passed her on the way into the house. “Still a bit too soon not to.”
Simone’s phone buzzed, and she glanced at the caller ID. Devon. And he’d apparently left several messages.
“Hello, Devon. It’s over. We lost three. There are no surviving enemies. Cressa is fine. Don’t rush home, clean-up will take a while.” She hung up without waiting for a response. He’d be pissed, but it would stir his beast for their mission.
ChapterThirty-Three
I staredout the window at the late afternoon landscape. Long shadows stretched across the yard, and the branches of the sycamore tree swayed with the coastal breeze. I was still in my robe, but my hair and makeup were done.
My fingers traced over the medallion that hung around my neck. It had been a tossup whether to wear it. If I was caught, Lorenzo would find it and take it from me. But Colantha felt it was worth the risk. It was a weapon as much as the dagger that I’d wear in a thigh holster.
If I was caught in a situation where the dagger was of no use, then I’d call Colantha. She would build a construct to include whatever threat surrounded me. It was tricky as we’d have to build the construct together, and it would be quicker with my medallion as a focal point. We tested it a couple of times and it worked. The question was whether I had the control and nerve to close my eyes against the bad guys when they were standing in front of me, swords in hand.
I jumped when the bedroom door swung open, and I spun around.
Devon held his hands up. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
I gave him a wistful smile. “I’m just jumpy in general.”
“It’s a good plan, and I’ll be with you every step of the way—or most of them.”
The plan was for both of us to assist with taking out the guards where Hamilton was being held. Then Devon would circle back and advise the team to start their way toward the boats transporting guests to the mainland.
I didn’t like being separated, but it was the fastest way to keep the rest of the team updated. It was too dangerous to wear mics.
“We’ll be successful.”
I gave Devon a more thorough look. He looked amazing in his tuxedo. His shirt was a silver gray so the color of the thin bodysuit he wore underneath, something each team member would wear, wouldn’t show through. The dark color showed off the gold streaks in his hair and brought out the icy blue of his eyes. The effect sent shivers through me, tightening my middle.
If we only had the time.
“What are you smiling at?”
I hadn’t realized I was until he mentioned it, and I grinned wider. “You’re always so confident before a mission. How do you do that?”
He considered the question, taking it more seriously than I’d intended. Now, I was curious about his answer as he held his hands behind his back and slowly paced the room.
“I’ve commanded hundreds of missions and have experienced myriad emotions before each one. Most I knew in advance would be an easy victory or a possible defeat based on my assessment of the size of the army or the experience of the opposing commander. The missions now are typically covert, but judging the success of one isn’t much different. There is much risk in this plan, but with our latest changes, I feel even more confident of our success.”
“And what happens if the other commander is equally assured of their success?”
