Page 81 of Bite of Sin

“Do what?” Warner glanced at Tim.

Tim sighed. “He doesn’t want anyone trying to listen. We need to go outside.”

“Fuck that,” Warner hissed. “What if he gets free and Kali’s down there with him? We wouldn’t get to her in time—”

“He can’t move.” Tim cut him off. “I locked him up myself. And he still has hawthorn in his system. He’s weak.”

“Go,” I told them. “I’ll be fine. Just let me get this done.”

Warner grumbled under his breath, not moving until Tim grabbed his arm and forced him to walk down the hall with him. I sucked in a deep breath and headed back downstairs. Zan was watching me as I stepped back into the basement, his face unreadable.

“Close the door,” he said in a low voice.

I did what he said, and then leaned against the door, crossing my arms and attempting not to show my nerves. Just like Tim said, Zan was locked down. But I had a feeling even those chains wouldn’t stop him once the hawthorn was out of his system. He oozed confidence and strength even now.

“What—”

“Wait,” he cut me off, tilting his head. “They aren’t outside yet.”

I bit my tongue, wondering how good his hearing really was. Could he hear me on the second floor in the room I was staying in? I stood there, the silence making it seem like every second was dragging on. Finally, Zan straightened, the chains clinking against the pole as he focused on me.

“We’re alone now.”

His words had a mixture of fear and curiosity washing over me. He might be the one chained, but he was acting like he was still in charge. And seeing as he’d gotten me down here like he wanted, he still was, in a way.

“Tim wants to know where your father’s property is,” I said tightly.

“Is that what you want to know?”

I stared at him. “Yes.”

“Too bad. I’m not talking about that. I’ll give you enough to make him happy before you leave. But for now, I’m choosing the topic.”

His words weren’t a surprise. He wouldn’t just blurt out his secrets because he was talking to me. No, he was playing a different game. He gave me a small grin, jerking his head in a nod.

“Come closer. I can’t see you.”

I scoffed. “You can see perfectly.”

“Come here, Kali.”

“We’re not in your city,” I ground out. “You can’t boss me around.”

“If Tim wants any answers, then yes I can.”

My irritation flared, and I bit my tongue as I glared at him. Tim was counting on me, and I didn’t want to let him or the Clovers down. I shuffled forward, still keeping at least ten feet between us. His eyes raked over my body, dropping to my feet and then raising again, only to stop on my chest.

“You took off my necklace,” he said with a frown.

“You think I would have kept it on?” I bit out.

A muscle in his jaw ticked. “You should have. Even if I’m stuck here, you should never take it off.”

“Why?” I asked. Warner had broken the lock on it almost immediately after I woke up. It was up in my room right now.

“Because other vampires will leave you alone. You can’t go back to your city, which means you have to be careful. It would protect you.”

“That’s why?” I asked skeptically. “Not because you’d be able to find me if I had it on?”

---