The snow was melting, making the ground sloshy and uncomfortable. But it was better than being stuck in the house while Washington worked on replicating the antidote or hearing Brian’s screams from upstairs or feeling the emptiness of Beckham’s absence.
“I know. I don’t worry about that. He’s sending the circle back to take care of Brian. It’s just me he doesn’t want to see.”
“Well, y’all went through some serious shit. That contact dude is scary,” Jodie said. “I mean, you still can’t say his name, right?”
“No. Well, I can say it to myself when no one else is around. Isuspect I could say it to Beckham.”
“Yeah, don’t do that.”
Reyna managed a smile. “Not high on the priority list.”
“Maybe it’s not even that he’s jealous. Maybe it’s all the feeling mojo and him healing you. He doesn’t do well with emotions, right?”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
“Washington went apeshit over that. I mean, fuck, girl, healing is a big deal.”
“It is. I know. Beckham is feeling things for the first time. I know that must be intense for him. I wish he’d share itwithme instead of running away.”
“If that’s even what he’s doing,” Jodie said.
Reyna shot her a look full of exasperation. “Anyway, I love him. He’ll come back. It’ll be fine. What’s not fine is that there’s a fucking blood antidote out there and Harrington is using it to feed his vampire army.”
“Well, at least that takes me out of the hot seat. Washington was getting nowhere with my blood. So, it’s on the back burner while he works through that vial you gave him.”
“That’s something at least.”
“I wish we were having some luck with June. We’ve hit another dead end,” Jodie said with a sigh. “It’s so dire that Zoya and I have even been checking morgue registries. We haven’t found anything there either. It looks like she’s another missing person in Harrington’s war.”
“Ugh. I’m sorry, Jodie.”
She frowned. “I didn’t have much hope, but I wish I knew either way.”
“Me too.”
“Reyna!” Tye called from the back door of the house. He called a second time before she and Jodie made it to him.
“What’s up? Did something happen?”
“It’s your brother.”
“Brian? Is he okay?”
“Sorry. Drew. It’s your other brother, on the phone.”
“Oh.” She deflated slightly. “Okay. Yeah. I’ll take it.” She took the phone from Tye. “Hey, Drew. How is everything?”
“Everett left.”
“Left?”
“Yeah,” Drew said with a sigh. “He goes out sometimes to check on stuff and bring in supplies. But he’d been gone for over twenty-four hours and when we searched his room, we found his gun missing, a bunch of tech—microphones, cameras, that sort of thing—had been scattered all over, and he left a note.”
Reyna grit her teeth. “What does it say?”
“He said to tell you that he was going to prove you wrong.”
“Oh fuck,” she whispered. She’d goaded him the last time they were together, when she had been grieving what had happened to Brian. She hadn’t actually believed he would do something about it.
