Page 34 of Marked By the Pack
“It wasn’t a movie. You ran into a vampire. Didn’t you?”
Grudge already knew. What did it matter if King did too? I had no idea where he was from, but I was pretty sure it was another country. What could him knowingthe truth hurt? Elias was missing. Grudge just wanted me to leave. I needed King’s help. I nodded.
“Zoey, I want you to listen to me very carefully. Do not engage with him.”
“He’s dating my best friend.”
“There is no creature on this earth worse than a vampire. He’ll kill you. And he’ll kill your friend.”
I shook my head. “He only drinks animal blood. He…”
“That’s not possible. He’ll lose control. I’m going to send you two of my bodyguards while you gather your things and move.”
I couldn’t leave. I wasn’t running. “I’m not moving.”
“This isn’t up for discussion. What’s your address? They’ll be there within 24 hours.”
I had never given a client my address before. Ever. Although, Grudge probably knew it somehow. I trusted King. But I didn’t want two of his henchmen following me around town in order to make me feel safe.
I thought about the way Otto’s hand felt in mine. Maybe I already had my answer. And in a lot of ways, Otto was practically a perfect combination of Grudge and King. Funny and charming, and domineering and rich.
“I really don’t think that’s necessary,” I said. “I’m not…I’m not scared of him.” I was a little. But Callum seemed so calm. So in control. Although I didn’t love the bruises on Emma’s neck. I knew he was drinking her blood, even if she wouldn’t talk to me about it.
“This isn’t a game, Zoey. You’re in danger as long as you’re there. And not just from the guy your friend is dating. Darkness has a way of following darkness.”
The way he said it made me shiver. “What does that mean? Like…a vampire hunter will come?” Elias had mentioned them the other night. I’d thought that maybe Otto and his friends were vampire hunters because they hated Callum so much. But it seemed like they wanted nothing to do with Callum. They wanted to avoid him, not hunt him for a living. Which meant…something else was coming. I really didn’t want anything to happen to Callum. Emma would be heartbroken forever.
“No,” King said. “Other supernatural creatures. Have you seen anything peculiar recently?”
“I don’t think so. Emma’s boyfriend is new to town. Maybe those creatures haven’t come yet. Maybe they won’t ever come.” Seriously, more monsters were coming?What the fuck?!
“Zoey, it’s not a question ofif. It’s a question ofwhen. I’m going to send you those bodyguards.”
“I don’t need them. I…I have someone here who can help me.”I hope.I just needed to be honest with Otto. He didn’t seem scared of Callum. Which seemed a little foolish. But if he wasn’t scared, he could protect me. If he didn’t want to date me, maybe we could make an arrangement. I could pay him to sleep in my bed with me at night or something. Just to be safe. I didn’t hate the sound of that.
“I’d really feel more comfortable if I had my guys on the ground.”
“It’s okay. I’ve got this. Now let me take care of you.” I ran my fingers back up my thigh. And I wasn’t sure if it was because Otto had just touched me right there, or because I knew Grudge was probably watching…but I needed this. Desperately.
“Be a good girl and lie back,” King said.
Chapter 9
Thursday
Emma
I ran my fingers down the neck strap of my camera. I stopped at the knot. Callum had ripped it ten years ago. And I’d kept it. I’d kept it just like he’d kept everything from that night.
A part of me was still frozen in the moment when we first met.
And for some reason, I’d kept replaying it the last couple of days, wondering what memories of me Callum would hold on to after I was gone. It was morbid. And ridiculous. I should have been living in the moment with him. But…a moment for me was fleeting. A moment for him really would last forever. Unless I could get him to change his mind about changing me.
“You look lost in thought,” Zoey said as she walked into the kitchen. She placed a huge container of salt down on the counter.
“I was. But now I’m just curious about what that is for.”
“Salt things.”
