Page 84 of Forever Midnight

“Yep.”

“Shield?” I ask as we head downstairs.

“Viv gave us a spell to shield onlookers from what we’re about to do, which is burn this building to the ground,” Yves explains. “No building, no bodies. No bodies, no crime.”

“Whoa. This is some cool shit.”

Midnight smiles. “Indeed it is, little kitten.”

ChapterThirty-One

MIDNIGHT

By the time we return home, my desire for Tru is all consuming. I can barely hold myself back from publicly stripping him down and claiming his body and soul for good. He seems to be aware of my dilemma, squeezing my hand and flashing that gorgeous smile at me throughout our walk. Just before we reach our building, Tru calls out to Yves.

“Uh, hey, Yves?”

“Yes, Tru?”

“I don’t know the rules, but would you consider letting me donate this money we found? I sure don’t need it, and it doesn’t seem like you guys do. Maybe it could do some good, even though it came from somewhere bad.”

A surge of love and affection bubbles up in me. He’s so kind, so good of heart.

“Hmm, Dimas said something about stuff Vinni took.”

“Fuck, Dimas,” Syn growls. “We did the heavy lifting. No vampire worth his existence is going to miss this amount of cash, and if he’s selling drugs, he can fuck off with that too.”

“Fair point, my friend,” Yves says, chuckling. “This was your job, Tru. You can do what you wish with the spoils.”

“But I’ll take the drugs if you don’t want them,” Thorn chimes in.

Tru chuckles. “They’re all yours, Thorn.”

“Nice.”

“What will you do with the money?” I ask as we walk on.

“Give it to a local rehab for homeless and disadvantaged people. Lucia’s in a top-notch facility that’s like a resort. My dad has the money for that and the ability to keep it out of the media, but most people don’t. I want to support groups that help people on the streets with no other resources.”

“You’re a good egg, little madman,” Thorn says, bumping his arm against Tru’s.

“I think my madman days are over,” Tru says. “My vendettas are done.”

“We’ll see about that,” Raphael says. “You’ve got a wild streak in you.”

Tru nods, gazing up at me. “I feel I should explain their comments,” I say.

“Okay.”

“One of the things about being turned is that who you are at your most core self is amplified. Yes, all your external ailments heal, but if there is darkness in your heart, it will rise to the surface. Likewise, if you have a good heart, that will rise too.”

“Can’t you be both?”

“Sure can, little madman,” Thorn says. “Case in point,” he adds, pointing at himself.

Yves chuckles. “Ah yes, our walking enigma. Thorn. Both the sweetest and deadliest vampire you can find.”

Tru nods, biting his bottom lip. “That’s what you were telling me, Bowie?”

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