His movements rough, he closed his hand around the dead man’s. Already brittle from the heat of the fire, the skin tore, obscuring all trace of the mark.
His actions bought us time.
But probably not much. For Dominick to be so convinced the human was a hunter, he had to have known about the man beforehand. I didn’t trust he wouldn’t have some way of proving it.
As if he hadn’t just destroyed a critical piece of evidence, Anton went back to the task of gently lowering the body from the ceiling.
Thomas stalked toward the door. “Aileen, Liam, come with me. There are things we need to discuss.”
I didn’t move as he vanished outside. The need to take care of Jenna taking precedence. After tonight’s events, it wasn’t entirely safe to go home in the event Dominick and his people tracked her there.
She also needed to be monitored.
It was rare, but occasionally compulsions didn’t work on a human. Usually because of a hereditary resistance or when high stress situations were involved.
Considering her hysteria before Thomas’s compulsion, it was best to be cautious.
“Go,” Caroline said, seeing my hesitation. “I’ll keep watch over her tonight. If anything happens, I’ll call you.”
Reluctantly, I nodded. “I’m sorry to ask this of you.”
As much as I hated leaving Jenna in someone else’s hands, Caroline was the best option. She loved Jenna like a sister. I knew she’d protect her.
If I could, I’d stay behind to help. Thomas’s growing impatience and the fact I had no place to take her made that impossible. She’d never believe I could afford my house.
Great. Now Connor was rubbing off on me. “My” house. Next thing I’d be compiling Pinterest design boards to put my own mark on the place.
If I took her home, what was I supposed to do? Introduce her to my blood donor? My roommates? How would I explain any of it?
The answer was, I couldn’t.
Someone had to be responsible for this clusterfuck of a situation. Even with Anton’s sabotage, we were on a ticking clock. It wouldn’t be long before the dead vampire outside was matched to Dominick’s. From there, he’d make good on his promise to come after Jenna.
I didn’t think she’d survive that.
Caroline shook her head. “Don’t be sorry. I’m the one responsible. You’re right. It was too dangerous.” Her eyes were damp. “I just wanted some normalcy and thought Dahlia could keep us safe.”
That was the thing about life. Safety was a fairytale we told ourselves so we didn’t go mad from the truth. That harm could come for you in an instant. It didn’t matter how carefully you planned or how meticulously you prepared. Disorder and chaos were inescapable.
“Warn Brax,” I told Caroline.
The alpha of the werewolves should be prepared in the event the worst happened and Dominick took over the city.
Her nod was grim. “Consider it done.”
I started after Thomas and Liam.
“Do you need help getting home?” Nathan asked Caroline behind me.
Her snort made my lips lift in a halfhearted smile. “Not from you.”
I missed Nathan’s response as I reached the black Escalade. Thomas was already seated in the back, the dark windows hiding his presence.
I waved at his driver, another of Liam’s enforcers.
Eric was a quiet man who rarely spoke. He treated words like they were precious gemstones, doling them out sparingly.
He had a poet’s face, his feature’s refined and his eyes the color of amber. His wavy hair made him seem more boyish than I knew him to be. I suspected people had a habit of underestimating him because of it.
