“Nothing,” I mutter, not bothering to glance his way as I carry on, making my way around the room.
Each subordinate, as my brother likes to call them—victim, in my eyes—tilts their head when I approach. They don’t meet my gaze, though, and they definitely don’t try to deny me access.
Not one of them.
Nerves start to get the better of me the further around the room I get. The whole reason I started on the far side was to prolong having to approach Elodie’s parents, but I find myself here regardless.
I swallow down the emotions threateningto burst through me as I come eye to eye with Thorne’s father’s best friend, who just so happens to be Elodie’s father. The corners of his eyes pinch as he takes me in. It has to be because of the blood I’m now wearing as a drying second skin, but I’m too startled by the eye contact to say anything about it.
Wordlessly, he angles his head just enough for me to press the device against his skin. Writing down his details as quickly as I can, I’m soon turning my attention to the woman sleeping with her head on his shoulder.
I don’t want to simply reach out and take her details while she sleeps. Even I’m aware ofsomeboundaries. Instead, I lean closer to her while keeping my attention on the man before me.
“Odie, wake her for me, please.”
His brows pinch as he assesses, but instead of solemnly doing as I ask, like everyone else, he speaks. “He said your brother. Is Jude your brother?” I blink at him, unable to answer, but he must sense something because he pushes on. “Did he do this to you?”
I gulp. “This isn’t my blood,” I rasp, my heart galloping in my chest as he gives me a pointed look.
“That’s not what I was asking,” he states, and Ishake my head, desperate to put some much needed distance between us, especially after already having a moment with Jenkins too.
Aiming the device at Ellie’s throat, I go against my better judgment and try to take her reading. I already asked him to help. His insistence on asking me questions is his own fault. But before I can make contact, he reaches out, grabbing my wrist with a firm tug.
I freeze.
“Odie,” I warn, my voice hushed as his eyebrows furrow deeper.
“You know my name,” he breathes, his eyes flitting back and forth so fast I can practically hear his thoughts from here.
Faltering, I mutter the first thing that comes to mind. “It’s on the sheet.”
“No, my initials are on the sheet,” he corrects, his gaze finally settling back on mine as they widen. “How do you know my name?”
My world stills. I can’t handle this.
“Be quiet,” I grunt, attempting to stand, but he holds my wrist tighter.
“How? Only one person who could possibly be alive would know my name. It’s him, isn’t it? He’s alive. He survived. Tell me it’s true.” Tears gather alongthe bottom of his eyes, but not a single one falls as he stares at me desperately.
“What the hell is taking so long?” Walker grunts, my attention snapping over my shoulder to find him hovering at the door, slightly distracted by his cell phone in his hand.
Reluctantly, I turn back to the man before me, resolution burning with distaste deep in my gut as I offer him a sobering smile that falls flat. “I’m sorry, Odie,” I whisper. “I’ll pay for it a thousand times over one day, but it’ll make sense eventually, even if she’s the one to tell you,” I rasp, rising to my feet despite his resistance, making it clear I had allowed him to hold me there of my own volition.
“Sorry for what?” he asks, refusing to let go.
I take a deep breath as the device falls from my hand, but I don’t hear the sound of it hitting the floor as the echoing thud of my fist colliding with his cheek vibrates around us.
My soul shatters in two as he falls in a heap, his hand gone from my wrist as Ellie gapes at me with wide, panicked eyes beside him.
But I have a role to play, and if we all stand a chance of getting out of here alive, then I have to play it well. I have to own it, maybe even become it.
Determination vibrates through me as my fangselongate and my vampire takes hold. My jaw aches with the tension, and I can’t imagine what I look like, but I shoulder it all as I bark. “Keep your fucking hands to yourself unless you want to face the wrath of Jude Forrester’s feral fucking brother.”
11
RION
“Are we really just meant to wait here while they do everything?” Elodie grumbles, despair pinching the corners of her eyes as she paces in front of my bed.
