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Then he remembered the flash of agony along his cheek.
But her eyes only flickered for a moment, then held his. “Tough guy, aren’t you?”
Like this was the worst that had ever happened to him.
Not even close.
“You’ve got to stop trying to protect me.” Her fingers lifted and brushed back his hair. Simon knew his hair had to be singed like hers. That, too, would vanish with the next rising. “You know I’m stronger than I look,” she murmured.
A hell of a lot stronger. “You killed them all?” A guy could hope, because those creeps were trouble.
Her hand fell away. “No, your sire’s still breathing. Kinda, anyway.”
He flinched. This was the last thing he wanted. “What? Why? And where the hell is he? Humans are here!”
“Easy.”
Why was everyone telling him that?
She glanced back over her shoulder. “Tony has him. He’s taking the guy to a private holding cell.” Her eyes returned to his. “Can’t really have him blending with the general population in jail, now, can we?”
Not unless they wanted a slaughter.
Someone slammed the ambulance doors. The siren shrieked on, wailing over his head. “I can’t go to a hospital!” Simon spoke quickly. “You know what will happen once they get a good look at me.”
She crouched and locked her fingers with his as the ambulance took off. “We’re not going to the hospital.” Her eyes didn’t waver. Didn’t look at the skin on his face that he knew had to look like it had been touched by hell.
“Then where?”
A faint curve lifted her lips. Samuels watched them, but said nothing as she fiddled with the bags of blood, one of which still drained into Simon’s veins. “We’re going to that private holding cell,” Dee said. “Tony still needs his proof that I’m innocent, and before the sun rises, Leo will give him that proof.”
“You think Leo will turn on Grim?” He managed a hard shake of his head. Pain knifed through his body, white-hot agony snaked up his arms, but he was getting stronger. Every second, he was getting stronger. “Never gonna happen.”
“Aw, but you don’t know just how persuasive I can be.” A bigger smile, one that showed the tips of her fangs.
He swallowed.
“Grim,” she repeated the name, as if tasting it. “That the name of the freak after us?”
“Yes.” One of his names, anyway. When you lived as long as Grim had, the names changed over the centuries. “He’s not an easy mark. You’ve never come across another like him.” He had to warn her. The fight wouldn’t go down like others had in her past.
“Huh.” A pause, too long, then, “If you haven’t been bullshitting me, and I’m really a Born?—”
“Oh, Christ,” the whispered exclamation came from a suddenly wide-eyed Samuels.
“—then I can make that bastard Leo talk. One way or another.”
Yes, she could.
He fell back against the gurney. “It’s not bullshit.”
“No.” Soft, thoughtful. “I don’t think it is.” Her fingers traced up the edge of his arm, carefully skirting the bright red blisters. “Where do you fit into all of this? Their side? Mine?”
His gaze darted to Samuels. He didn’t know her. Didn’t trust her. He caught Dee’s fingers. Brought them to his lips. “I’m with you.” That simple—he fit with her.
She hesitated. He knew she didn’t trust him yet. But she would. Soon. Even if he had to step through fire for her once more.
Simon closed his eyes, pushed back the pain, and wondered who Grim would send after them next.
