I was the strong empath, and Tripp was the weaker one. Which meant we could feel what Fred was going through.
I was tempted to tell Jordyn to ease up, but the show was too fucking good.
“We’re”—Fred took in a breath—“clear.”
She released him and wiped the spit off her cheek with her T-shirt-covered shoulder.
Fred shuddered, inhaling and exhaling. “You know, Jordyn.” His high-pitched voice cracked, so he cleared his throat. “If your father were alive, he wouldn’t approve of what you’re doing here.” He swallowed as color slowly returned to his face.
She tilted her head. “What would you know about my dad?”
“Plenty,” he said rather boldly. “I know he was dating a vampire named Kendra. I know he wanted a better life for you and your sisters.” The corner of his mouth curled upward. “And I know he would still be alive today if he hadn’t been a fucking idiot.”
It took me a second to process his last statement. Had Layla’s dad been the one who had given Fred the scar?
Jordyn raised her knee, about to ram it into his gonads, when he headbutted her.
The sound of bone on bone along with a screech from Jordyn blared in the room as she floundered to stay upright.
Tripp steadied her while I grabbed Fred by the throat, my fangs front and center, primed to tear out every vein one by one.
The asshole guffawed like he was enjoying himself. “You don’t scare me, Mason.”
I choked off his airway, lifting him until his feet dangled. “Did you kill Jordyn’s father? Is that who gave you the scar?”
“What the fuck?” Jordyn’s extremely high-pitched voice was mouselike.
“Sam, let him go,” Tripp warned before he came over.
Jordyn charged up on my other side. “Did you kill my father?” Venom drenched her tone.
Tripp touched my arm. “Ease up so he can talk.”
I pulled him toward me before slamming his head into the wall. Fuck being careful with him. I didn’t give a rat’s ass if he walked out of here with black eyes, a broken nose, and a bashed-in head. The more I thought about the people at the press conference and the message they’d blasted to the world, the more my fury grew. But I wanted to hear his answer. Because if he had murdered Wayne Aberdeen, then he was just another target to kill, and I would gladly do the deed on behalf of my wife, who would be distraught and pissed to know this fucker was responsible for taking her father’s life.
Tucking my fangs away, I unleashed him from my grasp and stepped backward.
He choked, slumping to the floor, laughing.
Jordyn fisted her hands, the muscles in her arms bunching. “Answer me.”
“I enjoyed draining your father’s blood and watching him die a slow death,” Fred boasted.
Jordyn went ballistic, kicking him over and over and over again, crying and screaming, “You motherfucker, bastard, fucking asshole. I will murder you!”
Tripp and I watched, making no attempt to stop her. She needed to release her anger. Besides, no one would see the bruises on his upper thighs.
“Aren’t you two going to do something with her?” he asked, not reacting to Jordyn’s repeated kicking.
I slipped my hands into my jean pockets. “Nope. You’ll be lucky to leave this room with your dick attached.”
Tripp said telepathically,She’s going to pass out if she continues.
As much as I was enjoying the show, Tripp was right. Jordyn’s heart rate was astronomically high.
I gently grabbed her arms from behind. “Enough.”
She spun around and buried her face into my chest and cried.
