He added, “I’m sorry, but we couldn’t risk losing a chance to grab him.”
“Well, it didn’t work, and now you’ve lost my trust,” I snarled quietly. By the way, why hadn’t he come? Stark wasn’t just the poster child for jealousy, he’d practically invented it.
“That’s too bad, because we still need your help.”
“You think I’d help you after this?” I argued. “You made me kiss you.”
“I hope you understand. We don’t have a lot of time to make our moves, and every piece of the plan counts.”
Mulling, I stared over his shoulder at the Flaming Rooster logo on the wall behind him. I remembered when Uncle Jimmie painted it years ago. It had alwaysmade me laugh—a certain cheesiness to it. A fiery, tough rooster that loved to sing and mingle with humans. It reminded me how this place, my life, and my family were worth fighting for.
“I’m sorry, Masie,” Charlie repeated quietly, “but I didn’t actually take advantage of you, did I? And what’s a few harmless kisses in the name of freedom?” He grinned.
“You’re not funny,” I scoffed.
“No. I guess I’m not, but I did mean what I said about Stark—who he is. What he is. He’ll never really care about you.”
My eyes teared up a little. “Yeah. I know.”
Charlie stared with pity. “He can’t help it, Masie. He’s a vampire. It’s just what they do. It’s why my cousin killed my girlfriend.”
I gasped.
He added, “Said she smelled like sunshine and couldn’t resist.”
So this was why Charlie no longer believed in coexistence. That, and he’d seen their big playbook.
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
“Being sorry isn’t going to save us,” he explained. “You need to choose. Our side or theirs. Because Stark will do everything in his power to control you, and if you want us to win, then you need to use his feelings, his weaknesses, against him—just like I attempted to do tonight.”
Jealousy, money, and the need for power and control, those were Stark’s weak spots. “I understand.”
“Good, because that vampire thinks he owns you, and his biggest fear is being proven wrong.”
“How do you know what he feels?” I questioned.
Charlie looked at me like I was crazy.
“What?”
“You and Montgomery Stark are like…the Romeo and Juliet of the vampire world.”
What?“Why?”
“You two are their favorite soap opera. Some hate you. Some are rooting for you. But many vampires believe if you ever unite, you’d be dangerous.”
That was dumb. “I’m not dangerous, Charlie.”
“Anna is.”
“And I’m not her,” I said firmly.
“Tell that to the vampires of the world.”
I whooshed out a breath. “It’s a hoax. Stark lied to them. And anyone who knows me in real life would figure out I’m not her in under a minute.”
Charlie flashed a knowing smile. “Then don’t let them get to know you.”
