Steven nodded. “I won’t get into that now, but how is he?”
I ground my back molars. “One of your kind murdered him.”
Sam widened his stance like he was digging his heels into the carpeted floor and preparing himself for an onslaught of punches. “Well, that’s what you get for hunting vampires.” He cupped his hands in front of him and gave me a smirk that was equal parts hateful and sarcastic.
My fists itched to wipe any emotion off his handsome face.
Steven growled at Sam. “Knock it off.”
I held back a grin as Sam clamped his mouth shut.
“I’ll cut straight to the point,” Steven said. “What do you want with my son?”
That was a loaded question. In the space of one breath, I wanted to feel what it was like to screw his brains out, and in another, I wanted to drive a cobalt blade into his heart until it burned into ash.
I glared at Sam, not knowing if I should spill my guts about Dowell. I decided why not? I had worse problems with the shifter and Roman. If Dowell wanted to hurt us, then he had to get in line.
I stuck my chin out at the elder Mason. He seemed just as powerful if not more so than Sam, but I had nothing to lose at that point, and frankly, I needed help. If I could get rid of Dowell, then that was one less problem to deal with.
“I’ll tell you after Sam helps Rianne.” I was among enemies, so I shouldn’t be so bold, but I had to try.
Steven scrutinized me, sending eerie shivers down my spine.
Sam, on the other hand, glowered, his silver eyes now a deep green, reminding me of a lush forest after a hard rain. I couldn’t decide if I liked the silver or the green better on him. It didn’t matter at the moment.
“Samuel, wait outside.” Steven kept a keen focus on me.
Sam hesitated before he did as he was told.
Once Steven and I were alone, he shut the door.
I would bet Sam ran to the room where he could watch every move I made and hear every word I spoke. To my surprise, Steven motioned with a hand in front of the camera, giving whoever was on the other end the sign to turn it off.
I had no doubt he could hear my pulse beating fast and smell the sweat beading on my neck. I was ready to pee my pants. Sam I could handle. Steven I wasn’t sure about. Needless to say, nausea swirled deep in my gut.
“Are you in charge of the SEAL team?” I asked for nothing more than to break the tension strung between us. I understood a father wanting answers about why I was at the club to kidnap his son and threaten his daughter. But he wasn’t dressed in a uniform, so I wasn’t sure if he was here in a more official capacity.
“Yes and no. I oversee the vampire military as a top official, but I’m not Sam’s immediate boss. I’m here as his father. I’m also here because I have the most knowledge of your family.” He rubbed his strong angular jaw as he pierced me with a hard look. “Layla, I can tell you’re an intelligent woman. I would think long and hard before you answer my question.”
A bead of sweat trickled down my neck and kept sliding further as he continued to pierce me with his green gaze. At any moment, he would probably show me the real him if he didn’t believe what I was about to say. Then I remembered something that made my hands tremble. The vampire could read minds.
I inhaled, digging deep for what Dad had told us to do if ever confronted by the elder Mason. The problem was that I couldn’t think straight with him glaring at me.Oh crap.He’s probably reading my mind now.
I swallowed thickly, thinking of anything other than the second reason I was on base.
“Before I get to my question,” he said, “I want you to know we are not the enemy. Roman, the name you dropped earlier, is an extremely cunning and lethal vampire who wants nothing more than to profit off others. If you’re working for him, I’m sorry to tell you, but you won’t be able to leave unless you tell me everything you know about him.”
“You would hold me prisoner?” Duh, I was already a prisoner.
“I will do what I have to do to protect those in harm's way, especially my family.”
I was tired of being threatened. “I don’t care how powerful you are. I came here for help, not to be interrogated. If you want an apology, I can’t give you one. I didn’t do anything wrong.” At least not in the eyes of human law. And since I was human, I didn’t conform to or follow vampire law.
Fury poured off him as he raised his chin. I got the feeling no one crossed Steven Mason.
Too bad. I had had enough. The only way out of there was to lie to him. If I told him the second reason I was there and what Roman wanted, Jordyn was dead—yet if I didn’t give him something, I would never see the light of day again.
He sucked up all the air in the small space, and the walls seemed to close in. I wasn’t claustrophobic like Jordyn, but I was beginning to understand how she felt when locked in or cornered, especially alone in a room with an extremely powerful vampire. I had no clue of the magnitude of what Steven Mason was capable of.
