Page 55 of Blood Bound (Blood Mafia 3)

Chapter Twelve

Demi

Colt pulls the Tahoe he’s driving into a parking spot and switches off the ignition.

Alissa and Evelyn are crammed in the very back while Grayson and I shared the middle row. Mateo is the first to get out, slamming the passenger door and getting all of us moving.

“You look rested.” I glance over Alissa, noticing her bruises have faded.

The silver nitrate has fully worked out of her system.

“I could use a drink.” She laughs and shakes her head. “Maybe five.”

Evelyn grins and slaps the call button for the elevator. “Now you’re talking, baby. Let’s get liquored up.”

There’s no sense in pointing out they can’t get drunk because their bodies will metabolize the liquor too fast. Besides, it’s only ten-thirty here. I’m tired from all the fighting and death, but I’m not too exhausted to spend some time with my friends.

Especially when we just got Alissa back.

We all climb onto the elevator, the women leaning against the back wall and the men leaning against the side walls.

In case something has changed, I focus on my hunter radar and try to find my parents. Knowing I at least gave it a shot before going out with my friends will make the gnawing guilt subside, at least for a while. I’m losing hope since all I’ve been doing is hitting brick walls when it comes to locating them.

The X-ray style globe in my mind spins faster than ever before. I sigh and bang my head against the wall, keeping my eyes closed for a few more seconds even though it’s a fool’s wish something will happen.

Except, something does happen. The globe stops spinning and zooms in to California. Then it blinks and zooms in farther until I’m staring at the Blood Mafia skyscraper.

“What?” I ask and open my eyes.

Mateo’s frowning at me. “What happened?”

I glance around the elevator, seeing all eyes on me. “I think… I think my parents are here.”

Pinching my eyebrows together as I say the words, I try to figure out what it means.

Did Mateo know all along?

Was he hiding them from me?

Is this why he apologized on the jet?

My stomach churns with uncertainty. He steps closer, sensing my unease through the bond.

“Demi, are you okay?”

With red tinged vision, I glare at him. “How long were you planning on keeping them hidden?” I shove his chest and he stumbles back more out of surprise than from the force of it.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I growl and jump toward him. Grayson wraps his arms around my waist and yanks me against his body. I jerk against his hold.

“Were you in on it too? Were all of you?”

Evelyn and Alissa exchange a concerned look. The lines forming on Evelyn’s forehead piss me off.

She knew. I call bullshit on her act.

She had to have known.

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