“Oh, yeah. I forgot you have super hearing now.” She finished removing makeup while I dried off. We changed into pajamas, then grabbed the bathroom bag and headed down the hall. “I’m gonna get water.” She paused in the doorway of Mateo’s room. “I’ll bring you some, too.”
I dropped the bag and went straight to his bed, climbing in to hide beneath the covers. It was nighttime—I’d apparently been sleeping for hours—but sleep was still all I wanted. I stared at the ceiling, trying to silence the swirling thoughts in my head.
They kept going back to the people I’d killed. Their families would never see them again. What if one was married or had kids? Or was newly reformed? And all the things they’d wanted to do, everything they’d worked for or accomplished in their lives, were now gone. All of it. All thanks to my stupid plan of becoming a vampire to protect myself and Ari. It was so stupid, and even more so, it was selfish.Iwas selfish, and now it was too late.
I heard Ari’s footsteps approaching and turned away, trying to hide the warm tears sliding down my cheeks. She closed the door and set both glasses of water on the night stand.
“Why are you crying again?” Her voice was soft as she sat beside me.
“I feel so bad,” I whispered.
“Please don’t. I talked to Sean. He said the girl with a record of violent assaults and robbery has done it to tons of people. The first guy committed murder but got off, and the last one was a repeat sex offender who was released on a technicality. All three had recent offenses. They checked everything so you wouldn’t have to feel like this.”
I stared at the ceiling as another tear rolled down, leaving a trail of warmth against my cold skin.
“Emery, hun, it’s not your fault.” Ari pulled my hair away as I continued to snivel.“You’re a good person. You did everything right to not take innocent lives. No one’s blaming you.” She lay beside me,rubbing a hand along my arm. The same way she used to when we were little. There was a quiet knock at the door and she slowly sat up.“Yeah?”
“Can I come in?”
She glanced at me. I barely nodded.“Yeah.”
Dennis’chains were louder than usual as he walked in. He came around the bed and I turned to look at him, then almost smiled when I saw who he’d brought.
“I thought you might want him.” He set Frankie on the covers beside me.“Call me if you need anything.” He directed it toward both of us.
I could tell he didn’t mean it the same way Mateo had, as if I were going to kill Ari in a fit of bloodlust. He actually trusted me around her.
“Thank you,” I said, holding Frankie close.
“That’s what binds are for.” A boyish grin crossed his face, and then he was gone, quietly closing the door behind him.
“That was really sweet,” Ari murmured, staring after him.
Sean’s footsteps metDennis’halfway down the hall. I hugged Frankie as their voices carried.
“How is she?” Sean asked.
“She smiled a little,”Dennissaid.
“I know we haven’t known them long, but I’ve never seen her this upset.” Mateo was further down the hall.“Have you?”
“No.” Dennis took a couple of steps before coming to an abrupt halt.“I hate leaving her like this.”
“It’s probably better,”Mateosaid.“I’m sure she’d rather be with Ari.”
It sounded like Dennis ran a hand through his hair before saying,“You’re right.” He continued down the hall, then paused briefly before entering his room.
“I hope she’s okay in the morning.” Sean was the last to walk away.
Their hushed tones were enough to keep Ari from hearing, but I could hear every word. Another tear escaped as I reached over to hold her hand.
“Please don’t be mad at me.” I finally looked at her. Her face held so much pity, it almost made things worse.
“I’m not.” She rubbed my hand and lay back down.“I promise I’m not. You know that.” She frowned as two more tears slid down.“I love you.”
“I love you, too.” I closed my eyes as distant voices in my head started up. Hopefully, if I slept long enough they would go away.
Bad Blood
