“But then what? Vampires would still go to war.”
“His people were rounding up all of your leaders, the ones who want to go to war once the bill is shot down.”
Stark toggled his head. “Not a terrible idea, but lacking the insights of someone like myself.”
I threw back my head on the bed, catching my breath. “What insights? Also, I think I peed a little.”
“Vampires are notorious double-crossers. The ones who say they are with you are generally againstyou and vice versa. Also, I do not mind a little pee. As long as it is fresh.”
“Ew. Stark.”
“Humans pee. It is natural. The scent only becomes an issue when they allow it to dry and fill the alleys where we hunt. Old urine is quite the repellent.”
As a woman who’d used a few gas station bathrooms, I’d agree. “Stark, this is serious. Charlie had a real plan to save us, and you killed him. That means you killed me, my family, and Leiper’s Fork. You killed the human race.”
Stark sat in his leather armchair. “He really asked you to make moonshine?”
“Yes.”
“And the ingredients?” Stark asked. “Where did he find them?”
“I don’t know. Maybe from the vampires they’ve captured—your missing leaders.”
Stark nodded. “Very powerful hooch.”
“Stark, untie me now!” I yelled.
“Just a moment.” He grabbed his cell from his pocket.
He was already stabbing me in the back and ratting out the plan?
“It is I. Yes. Uh-huh,” he said to whomever he’d just called. “Oh. I see…” Pause. “Yes. You were correct about your assumptions. Kill them all. No mercy.”
“Who are you killing?”
Stark blew out a breath, his cheeks inflating for a few seconds. “The vampires traveling with Charlie last night. But you should know, your plan was already blown. Charlie would have died anyway.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because, as I already stated, vampires always play the other side. He had more moles than our ninth green. Tell me who else was helping him.”
“I don’t—”
“I must be sure we flush out the swine. Who else knew of Charlie’s plan?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Think.” Stark pushed.
I still didn’t know if I could trust Stark, but those big hands were on standby. “Charlie wanted to test his moonshine recipe on me. That’s why we kissed.” I held back the fact that Charlie had also hoped to trap Stark.
“I knew it.And?”
“And Charlie called a vampire. He gave me a command to obey Charlie.”
Stark toggled his sensual lips, which I completely ignored. Almost.
“How did he sound?” Stark asked.
