“I didn’t get all the information. Why were you pretending to be human?”
“Why were you?” I arch a brow.
“I already told you. I’m not answering any questions.”
“Well, in case you failed to notice, I’m no longer your prisoner.” I lift my hands to show my unbound wrists.
Someone knocks on the front door, immediately putting me on high alert. “Miss Sophie? Are you all right?”
She pivots on the spot and faces the door. “Yes, I’m fine, Igor.”
“You’re not alone. Who’s there with you?”
Hell. I so do not want to be here to face whoever is outside that door. Judging by his baritone voice, I peg him to be a massive dude like Ronan. I rush to the open window. We’re on the second floor. I think I can make the jump.
“Hey, where do you think you’re going?” Tish asks.
In the next second, the front door opens, and a freakishly tall male fills the frame. Yup. I was right. He’s a giant.
“Stop right there!” he yells.
Don’t think so, jerkface. I leap, praying I don’t break my legs when I land. That will seriously impair my ability to escape.
The fall is jarring, even with me landing on soft knees. At least my bones survive the impact, and I don’t fall flat on my face. I quickly get my bearings. The name of the street tells me Sophie’s apartment is downtown, and even though it’s late atnight, there are still people milling about in cars and on foot. No one pays any attention to me, though.
Before I take off down the street, I look over my shoulder. Sophie is by the window, staring at me. I’m caught between needing to flee and wanting to stay. Damn it. Did her bite do something to me? There’s no way these emotions are normal. I didn’t stay in captivity long enough to develop Stockholm syndrome.
I shake my head to clear my mind, then finally leave. It’s only when I put some distance between her place and myself that a fear presents itself in my brain.
If she saw that Lucca turned me into a vampire, what else was she able to see?
SOPHIE
“Who was that, Miss Sophie?” Igor asks, none too happy that I didn’t let him go after Vaughn.
I turn away from the window, feeling strangely sad that Vaughn is gone. What a novelty emotion for me, who rarely feels anything.
“He’s no one of importance,” I lie, and sense Tish’s judgmental gaze on my face.
Igor tries to level me with a hard stare. “Somehow, I don’t believe you.”
I move to the couch, sitting down with one of my legs crossed under me. “Why did you come to see me?”
“Your father wanted a report. Were you able to find Madeleine Boucher’s hidden cell at Bloodstone?”
“Nope,” I lie again.
By now, Tish must think I have a concussion. I did hit my head pretty hard, but that’s not why I don’t want to tell Igor that I located Madeleine. After my encounter with the deranged specter, I wasn’t sure if it was wise to free her. And now, after I got glimpses from Vaughn’s memories, I’m even less sure. They paint a completely different picture than the story my father told me.
Boone died because he went after Lucca’s girlfriend, and even though I don’t know her, I can imagine that being someone who Boone was obsessed with was not a good thing. Every time I think about him, I feel the worst type of dread.
“Your father will not rest until you locate and free Madeleine Boucher.”
I massage my temple. “I’m aware. Well… I have nothing to report tonight. I’m sorry you came here for nothing.”
“Yeah, ever heard of using a phone?” Tish adds.
“I was nearby, and then I caught a scent of vampire male leading to your apartment. I got worried.”
