Grateful for the distraction, I turned toward Nathan. “This wasn’t how my evening was supposed to go.”
Nathan shot me a flirtatious smile. “Only you could turn social hour into a murder fest.”
Caroline choked, her shoulders shaking with a silent laugh.
“How did Connor get an invite but not me?” Nathan asked, touching his chest in mock hurt. “I’ve known you longer.”
“Perks of being my business partner. Quit your enforcer gig and join the dark side, and you, too, can attend deadly social hour.”
“Don’t tempt me with your wicked ways, woman. I might take you up on your offer.”
“Report,” Liam said, losing patience.
Nathan became serious. “The crispy critter outside is definitely a vampire. We’ll need an autopsy to determine cause of death, but I would say it’s a pretty sure bet that his neck was broken beforehand.”
“There’s no way the hunter could have done that,” I said in surprise.
Breaking a person’s neck wasn’t as easy as it sounded. You needed both strength and leverage. It took training, and even then, it was best done using the element of surprise. With a vampire’s much quicker reflexes and greater strength, it would be practically impossible for a human to succeed.
Nathan’s brow furrowed. “What makes you think a hunter is involved in this?”
I shot a quick glance at Liam before nodding at the shish-kabob on the ceiling. “He saw the vampire’s murder.” As an afterthought, I added, “He’s a hunter.”
The statement seemed to suck all the air out of the room as Nathan went uncharacteristically silent. Even Anton stopped what he was doing to focus on me.
Caroline shifted uncomfortably. “You seem to have a lot to talk about. I’m just going to wait by Jenna for now.”
As if finally noticing there was someone else present, Anton and Nathan took in Jenna’s slumped over form. Anton frowned in disapproval as Nathan’s face went carefully blank.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I huffed at the two of them. “Connor has already compelled her. Tomorrow she’ll wake up not remembering what happened tonight.”
The thought left a sour feeling in my stomach.
Jenna would assume she got blackout drunk. Our relationship, the one we’d just got back, would probably return to the way it was. With me keeping my distance for her own safety.
“We didn’t say anything,” Nathan said.
“You didn’t have to.”
Their faces said it all.
Nathan started to speak before falling silent. There were some truths that were undeniable—hurtful though they might be.
Liam’s gaze caught mine in a silent question to ask if I was okay.
I shook my head. No. No, I wasn’t.
I didn’t want to go back to before. To the hurt feelings and misunderstandings that I’d purposely created.
“Do you know what the hunter was doing here?” Anton asked, changing the subject in a rare display of kindness that made me grateful. “They usually focus on the downtown clubs rather than small bars like this.”
The question reminded Liam of his anger.
He shot me an evil smile, enjoying my discomfort. “Yes, Aileen. Why don’t you explain what the hunter was doing here?”
My disgruntled expression made that smile widen.
“I’d be happy to answer for you if you can’t,” Liam said in a gentle tone that made me shiver.
