Page 61 of Blades and Bone

“No idea. He seems to have gone missing while doing his rounds—it was his night. And we can’t spare anyone to go searching for him. Hopefully, we’ll get a ransom call.”

Hamish doubted Ann would pay the ransom for Felix. It was even less likely that the Orlans would demand one. But they had Frankie, and maybe Mirabella wanted her back. Felix was not worth trading for Frankie Orlan…surely Mirabella knew that?

Garrick dropped the man’s head, then checked his palm and grunted. “Right, let’s clean up the dead while we wait for this one to wake up. Hamish, grab the bag.”

Hamish picked it up, and the three of them went to where the body lay.

“I can’t believe you brought a cleanup kit,” Brodie said as Hamish helped Garrick unpack.

“We always bring it,” Garrick said. “Much more reliable than dragging bodies out into the sun and hoping no one sees it before it burns up.” He waved the small vacuum designed for cleaning cars. “Also much neater than leaving a pile of dust.”

“I’m a little concerned that you guys travel with it and use it. How many vampires are you killing that you need it?” Brodie stood to the side, watching.

“Before the Orlan trouble, very few. The numbers have dramatically increased.” Garrick grimaced. “I don’t like it…however it is much easier to dispose of a vampire than a human.”

“I suppose I should be glad that you didn’t kill any of my staff.”

“You should be glad that none of your staff were implicated.” Garrick began unbuttoning the man’s shirt.

Hamish started on his shoes without being asked. He knew the procedure and was a little envious that Brodie had never needed to learn. That the Ashby family lived on a resort or cattle stations and never had to worry about vampire trouble. Compared to his family, they were quite chill. But now that trouble had reached them, they didn’t know how to react.

It didn’t take long to undress the dead vampire, and while Hamish didn’t like killing or cleaning up, the alternative meant he was either dead or captured, neither of which was an outcome he wanted to explore.

He and Brodie stepped out of the room while Garrick lit up the body.

“He’s very comfortable dealing with this,” Brodie said as he leaned against the bedroom door.

“Yeah. We’re all trained in what to do. Part of being safe.”

“I can see that. It’s a good idea…the kit…even though it’s not something I thought about before.” He shook his head. “It’s not something I ever needed to think about.”

“I wish it were something I never needed to think about.” And if he hadn’t been blooded, then he could’ve been living his life and pretending that vampires didn’t exist.

“All clear,” Garrick called. “And our friend is now awake.”

Brodie glanced at Hamish.

Hamish nodded. “Yeah, it’s about to get as bad as you’re thinking. We need answers, and our friend isn’t going to chat over a few beers.”

“Maybe I should check on Vivian.”

Hamish wished he could tap out so easily. “We should check with Garrick, but you might want to warn your brothers and anyone else you trust.”

“Why do we need to check with him first?”

“Because the more people who know something is going on, the faster it will get back to whoever is behind it. So keeping it amongst us for the moment might be the best way forward.” He shrugged. “Maybe. Who knows? It’s not like these things come with instruction manuals. It’s always a case of do something, see what happens and adjust on the fly.”

Brodie peeled himself off the door. “The whole time hoping that you don’t make a fatal mistake.”

“That’s why I listen to people like Garrick. They know a lot more than me. Hell, even Joel and some of the others close to my age know more. You know who is scary to talk to? Nix Hadley. I met him at the opening of his winery. He doesn’t look like the most well-known assassin…yet I wouldn’t trust him with a rubber band because he knows how to kill someone three ways with it.” He stepped into the corridor where Garrick was now vacuuming up the remains.

Garrick switched off the vacuum. “Only three ways? Nix will be disappointed by your low opinion of him.”

“I don’t think he’ll care what I think. You missed a spot.” He pointed to a small dirty patch that could be vampire dust or just dirt from shoes.

Garrick sucked it up in a second. “I’ll empty this. We’ll be needing it again later.”

The bound man squirmed on the floor. “Kill me now. I’m not telling you anything.”