Her icy gaze holds mine. “And you’re hoping Raoul is your way out of a financial hole?”
“No, of course not! And I didn’t know about the tax. My parents never discussed it with me.”
I’m guessing they never talked about it because they thought I’d be under the protection of the Progeny after their death. If anything happened to them, they thought I would leave Nashville and go to a Progeny commune, or that Progeny representatives would come to Nashville to take care of me. Somehow, they never imagined that I’d try to do life on my own.
“Ignorance is no excuse,” says Philippa.
“So you kidnapped me because I owe you money?” I vent a disbelieving laugh.
“In part, yes,” she says coolly. “The Collective takes debts very seriously, and when someone is in default, an example must be made, or other supernaturals will begin to test our good graces. But you’re correct—the mere existence of the debt is not enough. To dispose of you completely, I knew I would need more.” She touches her phone a few times, then holds it out so I can see the screen.
It’s security camera footage of me in an alley, slaughtering themen who were planning to rape me. Killing them in the most messy, violent way imaginable. The scene is dark, but she’s had the footage enhanced, and when I leave the alley, there’s a shot of my face. A little blurry, but it would probably hold up in court.
“The Collective hushed up these murders when they occurred,” says Philippa. “Truthfully, we thought it was one of our own who’d gone rogue around the same time. The two of you look rather alike. But once my people started digging to find information on you, we realized the truth. And that’s not all we found.”
She swipes through several more clips and images of me with my various victims, leaving bars or going into motels. With each successive piece of evidence, the sense of nauseating dread builds in my stomach.
This is my worst nightmare. I thought I’d been so careful.
When I glance up, Philippa is watching me with a shrewd, triumphant smile. “You’ve committed assault against at least five men that we could find—probably dozens more. You’re a danger to the people of this city. And the way you operate, you could easily expose the supernatural world to the humans.”
I want to tell her I don’t do that anymore. But I can’t risk confessing to those crimes aloud, and mentioning that I frequently drink from her brother probably isn’t the best move here.
“Most of all, you’re a danger to Raoul,” Philippa continues. “I don’t know what kind of sick hold you’ve got over him, but the Raoul I know would never reject his family. He knows his place and what’s expected of him.”
“You expect him to stay with the Collective and let himself be used,” I lash out. “That’s why you want him—because his status as a wolf shifter cements your control of the pack. You don’t care if he’d be happier elsewhere, away from all this political shit. That’s so typical of supernaturals. You’re so obsessed with yourself and with powerthat you’re ready to sacrifice your own family to attain your goals.” I spit, and the foam hits her left Louboutin. “I despise people like you.”
She quirks her right forefinger, and the big shifter who escorted me in kneels meekly and wipes my spit off her shoe with the cuff of his shirtsleeve.
“You won’t have to despise me long,” Philippa says. “Once you’re out of the picture, Raoul will come to his senses.”
“And how exactly are you going to take me out of the picture?”
“Use your imagination.” Her smile is a thin, malevolent line. “You said it yourself—we can’t bribe you. We could give this evidence to the human authorities, but I doubt their prisons would hold you, and the Collective doesn’t keep prisoners. So there’s only one practical solution.”
They’re going to kill me. That’s what she’s saying.
Dying at the hands of my boyfriend’s sister was definitely not on my to-do list for opening night.
“Go ahead then,” I say with a bravado I don’t feel. “Have your guy shoot me. Raoul will hate you for it.”
“Shoot you? And have you pop right back up again the second we leave? I don’t think so.” Her smile widens. “I know all about the healing power of vampires. We’re going to make sure the job is done properly. Another thing you may have learned about the supernatural community—we love a good ritual. I’ve already invited the Collective to witness your death. I like to hold these little executions from time to time to remind everyone of the importance of paying their dues and following the rules. It’s just good business.”
My mouth is dry, and though I refuse to beg for my life, I need to know what timeframe I’m working with. So far, Philippa has given no indication that she knows about Erik, which could play in my favor, if only he has enoughtimeto locate me and Raoul.
“When?” I ask quietly. “When am I going to die?”
She glances at her phone. “In an hour or two if all goes well.” She gives the burly shifter a tight nod. “Keep the girl here until I text you. Don’t underestimate her.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replies.
Philippa meets my gaze again, her eyes like mint-green ice. “It’s been a pleasure, Christine. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to have a conversation with my little brother.”
28The Phantom
“Who’s going to tell me what the fuck happened?” My voice reverberates like thunder through my lair, echoing across the canal, bouncing off the concrete walls. The gathered ghosts retreat slightly, shifting and murmuring among themselves. Ever since I destroyed Agnes, they’ve been more obsequious around me, more eager to please, with the unfortunate result that no one wants to be the one to deliver bad news.
“You have nothing to fear from me,” I growl, trying not to sound too threatening. “My lovers have disappeared from this place, and I need to know exactly how it happened and who took them. I have spoken with a few of you, but none of those spirits witnessed anything suspicious. That is why I have called this meeting. If any of you have information, come forward.”
