Page 49 of Viktor

“Soon after I landed in Miami, an anonymous donor contacted me. I agreed to meet them. Someone handed me the portfolio with the information…but he was merely a courier. I signed off on the paperwork.”

“And you didn’t find that strange?” he asked.

“Not really. As I’ve told Viktor, owners sometimes want to remain anonymous. Sometimes the owners of art,” she glanced to Viktor, “they don’t want people to know their identity.”

“So, you go to the club and she’s not there?”

“First, I stopped by her apartment. It was empty. Looked trashed.”

“It wasn’t locked?” he asked.

“Now that I think of it, no, it wasn’t. The door was closed but it was unlocked. I thought maybe she’d moved. I went back to my hotel, and then decided to go look for her.”

“You didn’t tell the police?” Greyson asked.

“Eventually I did, but I imagine many people go missing in Miami. Teagan doesn’t have any family, so it’s not like anyone is going to press them to look for her.”

“True.” Greyson nodded.

“When I got back to San Diego, the painting was already at the museum. I really haven’t had a chance to process it properly. Sister Plautilla Nelli was mostly known for large pieces, but it’s been rumored she also did smaller ones.”

“Is the painting still in San Diego?” he asked.

“No. I have it here,” she told him.

“I’d gone to San Diego to check on Dr. LaFleur,” Viktor explained.

“That’s one way of describing what I saw earlier.” Greyson laughed.

Viktor continued, ignoring his brother. “I’d gone to an event the museum was holding. A charity event.”

“He’d donated a Monet,” Waverly told him.

“Quite the flex,” Greyson teased.

“I don’t have to explain myself to you,” Viktor replied, his tone curt. “All you need to know is that I went there to check on Waverly.”

“There was a man with a gun. He shot me,” Waverly whispered, her voice shaken.

“I took care of it.” Viktor and Greyson exchanged a look of understanding. “Then I took Waverly to my place in Miami.”

“He healed me,” she managed with a deep breath.

“Did he now?” Greyson raised a questioning eyebrow at him with a knowing smile. “I’m sure he enjoyed the taste.”

“He doesn’t drink from me,” she stated flatly, her eyes on Viktor.

She’d called his name, whispering the words. Bite me. But he wanted her certain. Surer than anything in her life. Because he suspected she belonged to him. And once he bit her, he’d never be able to give her up. If they bonded, he knew more than anyone of the sacrifice that came with bonding to another. She’d not only need to accept him, his existence as vampire but his thirst, his immortality. And her own.

The sound of his brother laughing broke his contemplation.

“I see how it is,” Greyson said.

“You see nothing,” Viktor countered.

Greyson gave a long pause, staring at his brother and then switched the subject. “Are the police involved?”

“Yes, they are aware of Teagan’s disappearance. Waverly reported her missing to the police, but they likely won’t investigate for long. She has no family. No one is pressing to find her.”