There was no way she was letting me go without her. And I couldn’t stay in this house with him. It was a battle to hold it together, not to break down. If she caused a scene, they wouldhear us leave and he’d do whatever he had to, to stop me. So he could use me for his own gain.
I relented. “Fine, but you have to be quiet.”
“Are we sneaking out?” She grinned. “We are, aren’t we? Finally, I never thought you had it in you!”
“Stop talking,” I whispered as we walked down the stairs. The music was loud, but still, if one of them heard us …
My mind whirled, and my heart, my fucking heart felt like it was being burned alive. We crossed the hall—the door was still open from earlier. All we had to do was get Karson’s keys?—
“A herd of elephants would sneak out quieter than you two.” Monique appeared like a ghost and whispered in my ear as my hand reached for the keys.
Georgie jumped. “Shiiiitt, you scared me, don’t do that.”
My insides went cold. I unhooked Georgie’s arm and lifted my hand, palm facing her. “Don’t even think about stopping me, Monique,” I hissed. “I mean it.”
She eyed my palm, a lazy smirk curling her lips. “On the contrary.” I blinked in surprise. She was letting us leave. Then again, she hated me. This was what she’d wanted all along. “I’ve been ordered to go out with you.”
How the fuck did he know? Anger began to curl through the pain. “Tell him to go fuck himself. I don’t need you.” The chandelier lights flickered in the foyer. “And I don’t need him, and I don’t need …” I was appalled when my words cracked and a few lights went out. “I don’t need anyone.”
Georgie looked between us, confused, a flash of sympathy crossing her face as it dawned.
Monique’s fingers dug into my arm. “Control your emotions,” she hissed into my ear. “Everything he does, he does for a reason.”
Every ounce of me wanted to storm into that room and scream at him, to hurt him like he had hurt me. As if I could, asif he cared. It took all those same ounces to remain in control, though I couldn’t hide the bitterness. “So I fucking heard?—”
Monique tightened her grip and yanked me out of the door. “Shut up.”
Georgie jogged after us.
“I’m not going with you,” I snapped.
“You are.” She opened the car door.
I folded my arms and planted my feet. “I will call a cab, and if you lay one?—”
I gasped. She had me off my feet and threw me onto the seat before I could finish. I could fight, I could use my powers and blow off the fucking door. I was furious enough to. But then what if Karson came out? Things would get worse. I just wanted to escape.
Georgie tumbled in, her hand shooting out to stop her body from falling. How drunk was she? She straightened and slurred, “I take it you had a fight. I know you’ll make up, don’t worry about it. On the positive, going with Monique is better than not at all.”
I didn’t respond. I didn’t trust my voice to speak. I sat there, my whole body stiff, my lips pinched, a sob jammed in my throat, while Monique drove out onto the road.
“You’re an asshole,” I said as the car sped past green forestry. “You’re all assholes.”
“Trust me when I tell you, I can be far worse than an asshole.” Her words dripped sugar doused with arsenic. “So, don’t push me.”
“Who’s the new fangs? One of them is hot.” Georgie leaned forward, clutching the seats, in an obvious attempt to change the subject. “I saw him in the garden, a muscled dark guy.”
Monique glanced in the rear-vision mirror, a shadow crossing her features. “His name is Kenneth.” Her tone was bitter. “Rodney is the leader of the group. He is about aspowerful a vampire as you can get without being a firstborn. He is able to read minds, and like Karson, he can do it without touching you.”
“Karson can read minds?” Georgie squeaked. “Oh my God, my life just gets worse and worse.” She closed her eyes and sank down into her seat.
“He can, but Rodney is next level. Witches and vampires are hard to read, especially if they have trained to block. But all Rodney needs to do is touch your head and he can see everything. Your past, your present—he can hear every thought you have.” My stomach churned at the idea of someone being able to know everything about you. “That ability alone makes him a formidable enemy. Or a valuable asset.”
“And is he a friend or enemy to you guys?” Georgie asked.
“He’s an asset.” Which didn’t really answer the question.
“What about Amy’s mind, can they read hers?”
