“Guess you did, didn’t you?” Forever in a pine box somewhere.
“It was quick.” A shrug. “She didn’t suffer.”
“Yeah, I’m sure there were plenty more who suffered over the years because of you.”
His lips trembled. “Not what I wanted. Never wanted.”
What? “Listen, buddy, you were the one killing. The one biting and draining—”
“Wasn’t strong enough.” His gaze darted to Simon. “You know what it’s like. When he gets inside…”
He. Grim. The big badass that Simon had warned her about.
“He takes control,” Leo said, giving a slow shake of his head. “His needs became mine. You have no idea how strong he can be.”
Footsteps shuffled closer behind her. “Tell me this freak Grim isn’t in my town.” Tony’s voice cracked a bit. Fear would do that to a guy.
Leo didn’t answer.
Dee grabbed his bloody shirt front. “Where is he?”
His eyes narrowed on her. “Fled. Knows what you will do.”
Okay, so now his voice was getting a bit sing-songy. Was she doing that? Or was it his blood loss? Maybe both.
“Uh, what’s she gonna do?” Tony asked.
Simon and Leo answered in unison. “Kill him.”
Simon caught her hand. “Or at least, I hope to hell that she will.”
“If not,” Leo breathed, staring straight at her with his hunting black eyes, “then he’ll tear you apart, Born. Rip your world away and tear you apart.”
Ah, nice visual.
A shrill beep cut through the air. Tony swore and jerked out his phone. Leo sagged back against his chains. “Death,” he whispered.
This was the tough SOB who’d nearly taken her out earlier? He looked…beaten.
No, broken.
“It’s your blood,” Simon said, his voice carrying only to her ears. “It’s diluting Grim’s hold on him, making him remember who he was and everything he’s done.”
Tony let out a hard expulsion of air. “What? When? Christ. How many dead?”
Dee ran a hand over her face. “If Grim has this much power, why weren’t you like”—she shot her thumb toward the trembling vampire—“him?”
Simon’s face had begun to heal. The blisters were starting to vanish, the skin lightening to pink instead of the fiery red. “Grim didn’t change me directly. Leo did. So the bond was weaker.”
“Liar, liar…” A weak chant from Leo. “I know what you did, Simon. I know, little brother.”
“Dee!”
She jerked at Tony’s snapped call. She eased away from Leo. He looked like he was down for the count, but she didn’t trust him.
Tony lifted a hand, reaching for her. Then he hesitated.
Dee’s chin lifted. I’m still the same.
Maybe. She hoped.
Tony’s hand shot out and he snagged her wrist.
A growl built in Simon’s throat.
Tony didn’t glance his way. “There’s been an attack.”
Yeah, well, sadly, in this city, someone was attacked every day.
“Less than half an hour ago, vampires took out two hunters at Night Watch and they killed one of the assistants, a woman named Grace.”
Her face iced. “What?” Not Night Watch. No one would dare to go into headquarters and attack the hunters there.
Not unless they wanted hell on their trail.
“I’ve got to go—”
His fingers clamped tighter around her flesh. “I can’t have you at the scene. Not…with the way you are.”
Fangs and claws. Bloodlust. Her jaw locked. “Who—who are the hunters?” Not Jude. Not Zane. No, not them, please.
“Spade and Gomez.”
Bile rose. The taste of blood—way too strong in her mouth. Monster. I’ve become just like them.
“Spade was DOA, his throat had been ripped open.”
“Fuck.” A snarl from Simon and suddenly he was there, wrapping his uninjured arm around her, holding her close.
“Gomez is en route to the hospital, but he’s bad. Real bad.” Tony inhaled. His fingers brushed over her wrist, over the pulse that raced too fast. “Looks like the vamps jumped them all right after they left Night Watch.”
There would have been too many hunters inside. The vamps wouldn’t have been stupid enough to risk a fight like that. So they’d hid in the shadows. Struck in a weak moment.
“This isn’t your fault,” Simon told her, voice roughening. But even before Tony’s lips parted, she knew he’d prove Simon’s words a lie.
“They left Gomez alive so that he could deliver a message.”
She kept her chin up. Kept her shoulders back.
Leo, crazy screwed-up bastard, started to laugh again. So much for her blood helping him. “What message?” she asked.