Page 53 of Blood Vows

“You let someone into unit 314 yesterday,” Dante said. It wasn’t a question.

The manager swallowed. “I already told the other guy⁠—”

“Tell me,” Dante said. The man looked at Elena, and Dante saw the recognition flash in his eyes. He stepped between them. “Eyes on me.” The manager did as ordered, fast—which was a good choice.

“They had the code to get into the unit,” the man said.

“They?” Dante asked.

“No, sorry, it was just one guy,” the man corrected.

“You just said they,” Dante said. The man paled, and Dante stepped closer. “Try again,” he growled.

“I don't know what you want me to say,” the man insisted.

“Yes, you do,” Dante spat. “I want the truth.”

“I swear—” the man started. Dante grabbed the front of his shirt and dragged him halfway across the counter. Elena inhaled sharply behind him, but Dante didn't look back.

“Someone is trying to kill the woman standing behind me,” he shouted. The manager’s eyes widened. “So we're going to skip the part where you lie to me and get to the part where you decide how much you enjoy having teeth.”

“Dante.” Elena’s voice was a quiet warning. He loosened his grip, but only slightly.

The manager swallowed. “There were two men.”

“What were their names?” Dante asked.

“I don't know,” the man insisted.

“What did they look like?” he asked.

“They were wearing suits. One guy was older with gray hair.”

“And the other?” Dante asked.

“He was maybe thirty, tall, with dark hair.”

“Did they show identification?” Dante questioned.

“No.” The man looked down at the floor, and Dante knew that he wasn’t telling him everything.

“How'd they get in?” he asked.

“I already told you—they had her code.”

Elena stepped closer. “Did they take anything?”

The manager looked at her. “I don't know.”

Dante tightened his fist. “Think harder.”

“They carried out a box,” the man admitted.

Elena went pale. “What kind of box?”

He shrugged. “It was small, like the size of a file box.”

“The ledger,” she whispered.