“No…”
“Please, Keisha, everything is important.”
Silence stretched in the room and I could hear Keisha’s heart hammering in her chest.
“Keisha, if you know something, you need to tell them,” Julia said.
“I promised him…”
“If you know anything, then you need to tell them… He’s gone and—” Julia choked off and stared down at her picture again. It was all she had left.
“He joined a group online, it changed him… He became more secretive.” She said the last as though she could sense my questions before I spoke them. “Last I saw of him he was going to one of their meetings,” Keisha said.
Julia started in her chair as though her daughter had just slapped her.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I told you, he made me promise not to tell… I begged him not to go, said it was too dangerous, that people wouldn’t understand what he could do, that he could get into trouble with it but he wouldn’t listen, so I tried to follow him but he knew and covered his tracks…”
“Can you remember the name of the group?” Grey asked, catching my eye.
She shook her head, screwing her eyes up tight. “I want to,” she said, “but he wouldn’t tell me, I know it’s important but…” Her eyes popped open and she stared at Grey. “They killed my brother and I don’t even know what they were called.”
“I didn’t know about any of this. I loved him but he couldn’t share any of it with me. What kind of mother does that make me?”
“The kind that loved your son dearly,” I cut in before Grey could answer her.
“You said he was in there,” Julia said and I stared at her in surprise. “I heard you saying it in the room before, you said he’d been in there, that you had felt him… I felt him, too, but everyone is saying he was dead before he was ever found.” She’d started to shake her head. At first I wasn’t sure if it was just a tremor that started in her head, but it grew worse and I knew it was almost a physical denial of everything that was happening. I’d heard of it happening before. As though the knowledge of their loss was too great and their bodies reacted by physically rejecting the idea.
“He can’t be gone,” she said brokenly, “he was a good boy, he was my good boy. What am I supposed to do without him?”
“You have to live for him,” Grey said, “for your daughter, too, it’s what he’d want.”
“I don’t want to,” she said bleakly. “I just want my boy back.”
Grey opened his mouth once more and I left my seat, crossing the room to Julia. I crouched down in front of her. “There’s nothing any of us can say to fix this,” I said. “Your loss is unnatural, it’s not how it was meant to be.” She stared down at me, her brown eyes bloodshot, her lashes damp as even more tears welled. “But I can tell you this, the one who did this to your son, I’m going to hunt them down and I’m going to make them pay, for Simon… For you.”
“Will they suffer?”
I nodded. “As much as anyone can.”
Her lips thinned and she nodded abruptly. “Good.”
“Jenna,” Grey said. The edge in his voice as he said my name told me he wasn’t happy with the promise I’d made. Not that there was anything he could do about it. It was my promise to make and mine to keep. As much as he’d said Simon’s death wasn’t my fault, I couldn’t help but feel responsible. And Simon wasn’t the only one, how many others had Carmine murdered? If I’d done my due diligence after Kypherous, they would all be alive.
As far as I was concerned, a promise like this was the least I could do.
“Simon would want me to forgive you,” Julia said, “but I don’t think I can.”
“It’s all right,” I said, “I’m not asking you for it, I don’t expect it. I failed you and your son, but I will do everything in my power to honour you both.”
“I just want him back,” she said softly, clutching at my hand suddenly.
“I know.”
It was such a useless thing to say but nothing I or Grey said would bring her comfort. All I could do was stay there, holding her hand until Keisha wrapped her arms around her mother’s shoulders.
I pushed to my feet as Julia’s sister came into the room and ushered me aside.
Stepping out into the hall, I glanced back into the room, watching the women hug, Julia’s shoulders shaking as she sobbed soundlessly.
“You shouldn’t have made that promise,” Grey said into my ear.
“It’s the truth.”
“You know Division 6 doesn’t allow for vendettas,” he said sternly.
“I don’t care.”
I left him standing there, picking up my pace as I reached the end of the corridor. Reaching the exit, I burst out into the stairwell and started to run, taking the steps two at a time, my boots pounding the solid floor. I didn’t stop until I was outside, the misty rain sticking to my hair and soaking in through my shirt, but at least the air was clear. Drawing in a deep breath, I couldn’t shake the smell of disinfectant. It would fade, unlike the memory of Simon and his family.
Closing my eyes, I saw his terror once more.
Carmine would suffer for this, no matter what Grey said.
Chapter 8
Crouching by the hospital wall, I kept my head down, ignoring the odd looks I drew from the people coming and going from the main door. I’d already had one well-meaning man on his way into the hospital with a large bunch of daisies in his grip pause to ask if I was all right, or if I needed help. Since then, I’d done my best to project an air of unapproachability, which so far seemed to be working just fine.
Burying my face in my hands, I closed my eyes, fighting to clear the memory of Simon. If I saw him every time I closed my goddamned eyes, I wasn’t going to be fit to do my job and that just wasn’t an option.
“There you are,” Grey’s voice made me jump and I glanced up to find him standing over me. “You all right?”
“Peachy,” I snapped, pushing through my heels as I straightened up, my body protesting and my stomach rumbling like I hadn’t been fed in a month. That was the problem with expending large amounts of magic. Most didn’t understand that using magic was akin to a heavy session in the gym. The calorie burn was definitely good for the waist line. Of course the downside was that if you didn’t keep physically refuelling, the magic would let you down when you needed it most.
“Hangry again I see,” Grey said with a smile, which earned him a glare.
“I’m not hangry, Grey, I’m pissed the hell off…”
The smile slid away, the expression replaced by one of concern. “Are you sure this is the right case for you because—” Whatever he saw in my face caused him to cut off abruptly.
“When it comes to dead teens, there’s no such thing as a good case but doesn’t change the fact that it’s mine all the same.”
His lips compressed together and he looked away, toward the plaza in front of the hospital.
“What no argument?” I said, flexing my fists. I wanted to fight someone, anyone. Despite feeling like I’d been run over by a truck, I was buzzing with nervous energy. Energy that wanted to batter Carmine into a fine paste. And well if I couldn’t get at her, then I needed something else to direct my attention toward.
“What’s the point?” he said, keeping his back to me. “Anything I say won’t matter. Even Sophia thinks you’ll be an asset. And after the heart to heart you two had, she thinks the valuable insight you can bring to the case isn’t something we can afford to waste.”
Noting the look of surprise I wore, Grey shook his head. “Don’t get too flattered, Jenna, Sophia would rather see you in Hell than succeed in this case. If she can, she will destroy you.”
“Why does she hate me so much?”
Grey gave me a wry smile. “It’s not just you, she hates all of us. Takes any opportunity she can to sink us.”
“I don’t get it, she’s one of us, why would she want to bury the preternaturals w
orking for Division 6?”
“Part of her nature, from what I can tell,” he said. “She can’t do it to the humans so those of us who aren’t strictly human are fair game.”
After the conversation I’d had with her, I was pretty sure it had more to do with the fact that she viewed the humans of the world as a food source. Without other preternatural predators around to compete with, she would have carte blanche.
“Fancy getting something to eat?” he asked, suddenly changing the subject.
“Finally, speaking my language,” I said with a grin, the thought of food causing my stomach to protest loudly once more. “Needs to be protein rich, though.”
“I’m no amateur,” Grey replied. “I know the perfect place.”
“What about Alex?”
“He’s got stuff he needs to finish up with here,” Grey said. “Sophia has him running errands.”
“So we’re done for the day?”
He nodded. “Yeah, pathologist has to do her bit. Until she gives us a call, there’s not much else we can do right now.”
“Food it is…”
Grey scooped the car keys from his pocket before he glanced over at me again. “I know you think I’m wrong to want you off this case.”
His words caused my steps to falter and my shoulders stiffened.
“But I just want you to know that I don’t want to see you hurt... That’s all,” he said softly. “I failed you once, Jenna, I don’t want to do it again.”
And then he was gone, striding off across the plaza in the direction of the car park. A warmth spread through the centre of my chest, quashing the anger I’d felt earlier. I didn’t need him worrying about me, mothering me, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t nice to know that he cared.
Didn’t change the fact that it was bonkers. I was the best lead they currently had, but the fact that he was willing to endanger the case, a man who had never broken a rule Division 6 had laid down… Well that meant something.
Just what it meant, well, I wasn’t entirely sure about that yet. Perhaps I’d find the answers in the bottom of a carton of chips.
Chapter 9
The evening was beginning to draw in as Grey parked the car and gestured for me to follow him. My stomach had decided I’d abandoned it, and as we crossed the street, it growled loudly in protest.
“Where are we going?” I asked, the distinct lack of fast food restaurants made me uncomfortable.
“It’s just down here,” he said, moving aside and motioning for me to move into the alley ahead of him. I paused, eyeing the two large green bins that sat against the brick wall. They were big enough to hide several bodies in and I could already imagine the stink that would fill the air if the lids were disturbed. With a mental shake, I pulled my thoughts from the dark twist they’d taken. If it had been anyone else at my back, I’d have flatly refused, my distrust for nearly everyone on earth tended to make me more paranoid than I needed to be.
Grey isn’t going to murder you here and stick your body in the dumpster, Jenna. The fact that the thought had even occurred to me in that way didn’t make me feel any better. Despite how ridiculous I felt for even having the thought, I still hesitated.
As though he could sense what I was thinking, Grey smiled softly. “I swear, Jenna, I’m not going to hurt you,” he said, “you’re safe with me.”
It was such a simple thing to say and yet as the words left his mouth I felt a lump forming the back of my throat. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually felt safe with anyone… Perhaps, I’d never truly felt safe with anyone. It wasn’t impossible, according to every book on psychology it was perfectly normal for those with traumatic pasts to have trust issues, but they could be worked on… Learning to trust wasn’t impossible… So why did it feel as though it was?
“I can go first if you like,” he said, making a move toward the alley entrance.
Catching his arm, I brought him up short with a shake of my head. “It’s fine.” I swallowed hard, struggling to make light of the situation. “Anyway, if you jumped me here, I’d probably end up having to eat you.” As though backing up my statement, my stomach grumbled again, loud enough that Grey flashed me a wide smile.
“I promise not to jump you, here…” Raising his hand to his chest, he made an exaggerated motion with his finger crossing over his heart, a lopsided grin sweeping his face.
“That’s not what I meant,” I whispered furiously, my cheeks flaming. My denial only served to broaden his grin. Stellar work, Jenna, walked right into that one.
Just to escape the heat in his gaze, I strode past him and into the alley. The air flared around me, light streaming in the corners of my vision as I sucked in a deep breath. Crossing the barrier felt more like I’d plunged myself into an icy pool, the shock momentarily stunning me. And then I was through the dirty alley with its bins big enough for my body gone.
The street was wider here, wherever here was. Magic never ceased to amaze me. Grey’s fingers wrapped around my elbow, steadying me as my foot slid on the slick cobbles beneath us. The sensation of his skin on mine, sent a thrill flaring through my core and my stomach flip-flopped in response.
Just ahead was a small restaurant, and from the corner of my eye I spotted a lilac haired fae lounging against the wall near us. She drew on the end of her cigarette, the red tip a glowing ember that lit her face. We moved past her and I could feel the intensity of her hooded gaze sweeping over us before she lost interest, her head lolling back as she drew in a lungful of grey smoke.
Grey kept his hand on my elbow, guiding me down the street to the red door that marked the entrance to the restaurant. The door wasn’t wide enough for us both and I moved ahead of him. His hand slid from my arm to the small of my back and every nerve ending his fingers traced across lit up in response. The warmth of his palm seeping through my leather jacket and permeating my skin had me fighting the urge to squirm. It had been too long since I’d had any real contact with another being, well the kind of contact I wanted, anyway, and I never wanted Grey to take his hand away.
A young man greeted us inside the door, his amber eyes sliding over me as he thrust a menu in my direction. I felt his gaze slip from me and cross to Grey.
“Table for two?” he asked, giving Grey the full weight of his dazzling smile. The sight of his elongated canines took me by surprise. Vampires didn’t work in restaurants, especially not ones that also hired fae.
Grey didn’t answer, he didn’t need to, the vamp was already off, moving gracefully through the furniture as though none of it existed.
I wanted to turn to Grey and ask him what the hell was going on, but knowing the vamp would hear anything I had to say kept my lips sealed tight. The vamp directed us to a small table covered in a delicate looking white cloth near the corner of the room. One solitary candle that was practically burned down to its stub sat in the centre, the wax had trickled down the side, creating a ring around the base.
“Can I get you something to drink?” he asked. “We cater to all tastes.”
His words caused my shoulders to stiffen and I met Grey’s eyes across the table but he didn’t bat an eyelash at the vamp’s declaration.
“Scotch on the rocks,” Grey said without raising his eyes from the menu.
“I’ll have the same,” I said softly. The vamp glided soundlessly away from us leaving me alone with Grey. The moment the vampire was gone, Grey lifted his eyes from the menu, his smile lighting up his whole face.
“What the hell is going on here?” I whispered half beneath my breath.
“What do you mean?”
“He said they cater to all tastes and he’s a goddamned vampire, isn’t that as good as saying they serve up humans?”
Grey nodded. “They do,” he said, and I felt the colour drain from my face. “They’ve got human donors,” he continued, ignoring my sharp intake of breath, “along with fae donors and basically any other type of supernatural that wants to donate. This place is one of a kind, neut
ral territory for all preternaturals.”
“Neutral territory.” I repeated the words as though by saying them again would better help me understand.
“No violence,” Grey said. “Everything here is by consent only.”
“So what, a blood-sucker can walk in here and order a blonde on the rocks if he wants?” I snapped unkindly.
“Not quite.” He gave me a patient smile. “The patrons can choose a blood type of preference but that’s as far as it goes. The donors don’t come out on the main floor. They’re heavily warded in here to prevent violence.”
“Grey, we both know that’s not true. The ‘donors,’ as you so kindly called them, never consent to the violations they suffer. We’ve both worked these situations long enough to know the truth. They’re nothing but food… Discarded as soon as they pass an arbitrary sell-by-date.”
“Not here, Jenna, I wouldn’t have brought you here if this place wasn’t clean. And I swear to you, there’s nothing nefarious going on.”
There was a slight ringing in my ears and I stared down at the menu, the words jumbling together. “How do you know all of this?”
“Because my brother runs it,” Grey said softly. My head snapped up, my gaze searching his face. Had I heard him correctly? Had he really just brought me to a restaurant run by his druid brother? As far as I’d been aware, Grey wasn’t exactly on the best of terms with the rest of his family. From everything I’d managed to glean from our conversations regarding them, they practiced blood sacrifice and Grey had cut himself off from that life centuries before.
“Quinn doesn’t practice,” he said, making me think he’d read my thoughts. “He was outcast long before I walked away from it all.”
“Outcast, what does that mean?” I couldn’t help but ask the question, but no sooner had the words left my mouth, I watched Grey’s expression shut down.
“It’s not something I can talk about,” he said, “not my story to tell.” His smile was strained and ridiculously polite, not at all the Grey I knew, but I got the message loud and clear. Clearly, outcast was not something he wanted to talk about, and as much as I was curious about the entire situation, I wasn’t going to push it.
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