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Marcus snorted. “I don’t believe for a second that you care about humans.”
Meryl gave a little roll of her eyes. “No, of course not. But a meal that is killed equals a missing human, and it’s much harder for a human to simply go missing now. People start looking into disappearances. Videos are reviewed. Dead humans are bad for vampires.”
“She hasn’t had an accident with a human in years. Decades even.”
“But you can’t say the same for other vampires she’s randomly attacked.”
Marcus nearly growled at her, but he kept his mouth shut. There had been a few instances where other vampires had gotten too close when she’d been out hunting. She’d escaped Beltran as well as Winter when they were escorting her and had attacked the vampires. One had been killed. The other had escaped, but Marcus didn’t know if he’d survived through the next morning.
Leaning against the arm of her chair, Meryl reached out and placed her hand over Marcus’s wrist. He wanted to rip his arm away from her cool touch, but he didn’t move.
“And that’s not including the damage that she’s done to you and your brothers. How many times over the years has she hurt you or Bel or Winter? Or even reckless Rafe? How many times has she nearly killed them? We all know you’re not reporting those attacks to the Ministry.”
“Let it go, Meryl.”
“You’ve been given a second chance at life. A better, stronger one than you were born to. Do you really want to spend this eternity patching your brothers together and living in fear that one time you’re not going to be able to save them?”
Marcus pulled his arm out from under Meryl’s touch and crossed them over his chest. “What goes on behind the closed doors of our homes is a Varik family matter, and that is all. The American Ministry need not be involved.”
She smiled sadly at him. “Such loyal, loving sons.” The smile disappeared in the blink of an eye and she glared at him. “Julianna Varik is not leaving this city alive. Rafe can be reasoned with. Made to see the wisdom of our ways. Julianna is beyond reason.”
“You are not in the American Ministry, Meryl. You do not speak for it,” Marcus snarled.
She giggled, the sound disturbingly light and airy. “No, but I’m very good at speaking to it.”
Marcus tried to stand, but Cain pressed down on his shoulder. Marcus knew he could break free, and he was sorely tempted to do it. His hands clenched and a low growl rumbled in his throat, but before he could make a move, Meryl was right there, her nose a bare inch from the tip of his own.
“Are you sure you want to do that?” she taunted.
“Get out,” Marcus snapped. “Leave my house now.”
Meryl reached out and patted his cheek. “Only because you asked so nicely.”
She slipped around him, her heavy shoes loudly clomping on the floor as she headed to the hall. Cain released him and followed placidly after her. Cursing her and his own life, he followed after them, if only to reassure himself that they were actually leaving.
Thunder rumbled outside, loud enough to rattle the glass in the window frames. The storm had unleashed its fury on the city. He had little doubt that it looked as if night had settled over the city hours early. Meryl and Cain might be stepping out into a drenching, but they were walking freely while he was still trapped in his house until he could be sure the sun was down. He couldn’t risk being out in one of Meryl’s storms and not knowing when she was going to end it, sending the clouds on their way. If he was lucky, he’d simply be trapped at another safe location until nightfall. But it could all end very badly if he wasn’t so lucky.
Pausing at the open door to the dining room, Meryl peered inside and then she looked back at Marcus who was still descending the stairs. “Ahhh…looks like your assistant has disappeared. I’m sorry to have disturbed your little romantic dinner for two.”
“It was time for him to return home,” Marcus said evenly while inwardly rejoicing that Ethan had followed his instructions and left. At least that had gone as planned, and he was safely away from Meryl and Cain.
“I can see why you hired him. He’s just adorable with that blond hair and big blue fuck-me-daddy eyes.”
Marcus stopped on the stairs, tightly clutching the handrail. He didn’t trust himself to not launch his body at Meryl. He didn’t want her talking about or even looking at Ethan. He hated the idea of her even knowing that he existed. No one should ever talk about Ethan like that. He deserved her respect. Ethan was smart and funny and so damn compassionate.
