“It gets easier with time,” Beckham said.
“Sure does,” Gabe said.
Reyna realized that she was in a car between two killers. Both had remorse for their past, but they still seemed unaffected when they had to kill to get business done. Reyna thought back to her brother’s face, and she hoped that Beckham would be right. That this would all get easier with time.
…
“Are you sure we have to do this?” Reyna asked Beckham later when they were standing outside the anti-vamp cult room where the rest of Elle stayed. Beckham glanced at her. “Okay. We do.”
She was not looking forward to it. Not even a little bit.
Beckham ushered her inside. Gabe was waiting in the car. They’d promised him they wouldn’t be long.
The room they entered was massive, at least two stories up and round, with hallways branching out from it. It was full of people watching TV and hanging out. Her heart panged. It reminded her so much of the rec room at Elle.
“I didn’t know you were coming by,” Everett said, approaching from a hallway.
Beckham tensed next to her.
“And you brought him. You know this isn’t a vamp-friendly place.”
“Try to make me leave,” Beckham said threateningly.
“Let’s not,” Reyna said, holding up her hands. “We’re not here to argue with you. I need to talk to Drew and Laura.”
“By all means.” Everett gestured his arm. “But your escort stays here.”
“If you think I’m going to leave her alone with you…”
Reyna blew out a strangled breath. “It’s fine. You’ll know if I’mnot okay.”
Their eyes met and she opened herself up to him. Let him feel the turmoil. He could sense her no matter where she went. She wasn’t worried about being in this place. Just frustrated that he couldn’t be here for this.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Beckham said to Everett. “If you’re capable of that.”
Everett shot him a smug look and then directed Reyna down the first hallway on the left. The halls were narrow, with peeling white paint and muted tile. The dim lighting didn’t help with the overall feel of the place. It certainly wasn’t as nice as the old bunker, but it did the job. That was all that mattered.
“You don’t have to antagonize him,” she said.
“Why not? It’s fun.”
“You’re an ass.”
“Been called worse.”
Reyna shook her head. She didn’t want to argue with him. “How are things here?”
“Quiet.”
“That’s good.”
“It is. I don’t know how these people even got mixed up with Elle. They seem to want a normal life.”
“We all want a normal life,” she muttered. “We’re fighting for a normal life.”
“True. You’re still going after Harrington, right?”
Reyna’s eyes glanced down the empty hallway, wondering if anyone was listening. “Keep your voice down.”
