Beth corners me as I help Winnie arrange the beanbags in colour-coded piles in the corner. “Maisie is so grateful for your help. I know you like to pretend you don’t care about people, but you’re a good friend, Arabella.”
“I’mnotteaching a vampire pole class,” I growl.
“Why not?” she moans. “Don’t you want to dance again? You love it.”
I do love it.
But I’m never dancing again. It’s too dangerous. Especially with ghosts from my past like Paul Badica and Gideon Blake around.
“I don’t have to explain myself. I’m not doing it, and that’s my final answer.”
“It was worth a shot.” Beth waves. “See you!”
After we’ve straightened the events room to Winnie’s exacting standards, we say goodnight to Mina and the two of us walk up Butcher Street towards the Rose & Wimple, where Alaric is having a glass of blood with his Thrall, Reginald. I’d parked my car in the pub parking lot, but when I step into the space, it’s gone.
“Someone stole my car!” Rage consumes me. How dare some punk touch my precious vehicle?
“Don’t panic.” Winnie pats my shoulder. “I’m sure it’s around here somewhere.”
“It’s not like I’ve misplaced a sweater. I parked it right here, and now it’s gone. When I find the person who did this, I’m going to lick off all their cartilage—”
Winnie rolls her eyes. “You vampires, always jumping straight to the stabbing and cartilage-licking. You gotta learn tochill.Why don’t we just go up to the pub and hang out—”
“I’m not ‘chill’. I don’t ‘hang out’. I swear unbreakable oaths. I eviscerate my enemies. I turn the blood of those who wrong me into delicious cocktails with tiny umbrellas made from their skin.”
Winnie holds up her hands. “Okay, okay, I got it. No chill whatsoever. We’ll call the police and make a report. Reginald can drive you home. I’m sure your car will turn up—”
A figure steps out of the shadows.
“Gideon?” I frown at him, suspicious. What’s he doing in the village, skulking around near the alleyway where Danny O’Hare was found dead? He looks far too hot to be up to anything innocent in a pair of arse-hugging tailored trousers, a glittering Armani watch, and a cobalt silk shirt that matches his eyes rolled up to the elbows. “What are you doing here?”
“She means ‘hello’,” Winnie finishes.
“No, she doesn’t,” I snap.
“I’ve come to give you a ride back to Sanctus.” He grins. “It’s all part of our personal service for our members.”
“Well, you can personal service yourself out of my way. I brought my car.”As soon as I locate the bastard who stole it and feast on their liver.
“I know.” His grin widens. “And a very nice ride it is, too. I had Sinead drive it home for you.”
Hewhat?
But how did she—
I dig in my wallet for my keys, but they’re still there. “Youbroke into my car?”
Behind me, Winnie makes a choking noise.
“Technically,Sineadbroke into your car. I merely provided her with the means to do it.”
“You… you—”
“I’m as cunning as ten foxes in a trench coat, each with a degree in cunning from Cambridge University. You’re welcome. Shall we?” Gideon gestures to the Lamborghini looking completely out of place in the pub parking lot.
Is he on some kind of vampire drug?“Why would you imagine I’d want to get in a car with you after you’ve shown me that you have no respect for my property or agency?”
“Because I have an angelic face.” He opens the passenger door. “And I have a surprise for you.”
