He finally steps away from the window. “Just for that, I’m going to make you play a game with me.”
“What game?” I can’t help but ask.
“It’s a surprise.” He comes back a few minutes later and drops a box of cards on the table.
I look up at him. “UNO? Really?”
“It’s a game.”
“You’re right. It is a game.”
He drops down onto the couch next to me. “I’ll deal. I don’t trust you not to cheat.”
“Seriously?” I flick him on the arm, just for that. He smirks but shuffles and deals. I take the cards into my hand. “How do you play again? What? It’s been a long time.”
He explains the rules, and we get started. Even though I haven’t played in years, it comes back to me. We’ve only been playing for a few minutes when he calls out, “UNO.”
“Seriously? I still have like six cards.”
He shrugs. “One of us has to win.” I give him a stink eye and then proceed to give him a draw four card. When it’s my turn, I give him another one and then another one after that. “Really?” he asks in a dry voice.
I smirk at him. “One of us has to win.”
He still manages to beat me that round and then the next three rounds. But I finally get him in the fourth game. “Took you long enough.”
I ignore his comment and stand and stretch. “Do you think they’ve figured out anything?”
“No. Bryce has been keeping me updated.”
I frown at him. “That would have been nice to know.”
He leans back against the couch and looks up at me. “Why? They don’t know anything.” I bend over and pick up the cards. “What do I need to do to sell it to the vampires that you have me enthralled? What does it typically look like?”
His questions throw me for a loop; I wasn’t expecting them. “I’ve only seen it a few times, and honestly, it’s not pretty. They really think they’re in love with the vampire that drinks from them. All they can think about is being with him, having him drink from them again. I think because you’re a male and a wolf, you don’t have to be that pathetic.”
His eyebrow lifts. “Pathetic?”
“It’s actually pretty sad. I’ve seen it happen to the human women Rizo brings in sometimes.”
Hunter’s eyes flash. “Human women?”
I drop my gaze. “Yes.” I put the box of cards down and step back. “I would try to get them out, but I can’t. They're kept in part of the facility that I don’t have access to.”
“Hey,” Hunter says softly. ”I’m not blaming you. You aren’t the one doing these things.”
“I should have done more.”
“Stop. Shaming or guilting yourself just makes it worse.” He glances towards the door. “Bryce and Ryan are here.”
I feel myself tense at his words, but I force myself to keep a blank expression on my face. Hunter opens the door, admitting the alpha and beta. “Hey, Sherese,” Ryan says. He and Bryce both look so serious. My stomach knots up.
“Who was it?” I ask.
“Sherese,” Hunter says, but I ignore him. I need to know.
Bryce is the one to tell me. “Her name was Kelli. She was single.”
And now her life is over. “I’m sorry.”
