Page 62 of Vanessa’s Bravery

“Shut up, and let me concentrate,” Gabriel demanded.

“I would do what he says,” Ethan advised. “He’s not as gentle as my colleague and I.” He pointed to Patrick.

Scared into silence, the rogue clamped his jaw shut.

It took less than a minute before Gabriel pivoted away from Harris. “I saw who turned him. It’s definitely not our Thomas, but I’ve never seen the guy.”

Harris’s eyes widened. “What the fuck?”

Everybody ignored him.

“What now?” Patrick asked.

“I’ll go through our database of known vampires and see if I can find him in there. It’ll take a few hours, but with some luck he’s in there,” Gabriel said and already headed toward the door. “And put the guy in the lockup. Don’t kill him yet, just in case we still need him.”

“Kill me? What the fuck! I answered your questions. I told you everything I know,” Harris whined.

Gabriel looked over his shoulder. “You savagely killed your mother. And not because you couldn’t control your thirst for blood. Vampires like you need to be put down.”

Harris screamed and fought against his restraints, but he couldn’t break them.

Patrick wasn’t surprised that Gabriel had decided that Harris deserved death. Had it been his decision, he would have come to the same conclusion. A man who killed his mother deserved no better than death.

Patrick grabbed the rogue by his shirt collar, and bared his fangs. “I’m looking forward to killing you.”

“Who said you get to kill him?” Ethan asked, stepping closer.

“I called dibs.”

29

Vanessa sat on the two-seater sofa in the office where she’d told Cole the truth about her and her family. She was curled up, her arms hugging her knees, tears streaming down her face in little rivulets. The red color of her tears stained her top, but she didn’t care. Cole didn’t love her enough to accept her the way she was. Nothing mattered now. She’d lost. She was the first and only hybrid among her friends who’d been rejected by her mate.

Everything had been perfect between them. He’d accepted that they were both satyrs, and that fact had given her hope that he would also accept that she was a vampire. But she’d been wrong. He hated vampires. And why wouldn’t he? A vampire had nearly killed him. He was traumatized. She should have waited longer, until his love for her was stronger. Maybe then, he would have accepted that she was a vampire. She’d rushed it. It was her own fault.

A shudder wracked her frame, and with it came another wave of tears. She almost didn’t hear the door opening.

“Nessie.” It was Ethan.

He rushed to her, and put his arms around her, hugging her to him. “I was told that Cole was seen leaving the garage without you.”

She briefly lifted her head, looking into her brother’s eyes. “He didn’t want me. He hates vampires. He hates me.”

“He doesn’t hate you,” Ethan protested, his voice soft and beseeching. “I saw how he reacted, when you tried to shield him from the rogue. He wanted to protect you. It’s his instinct. You’re his mate.”

Vanessa shook her head. “He’s rejected me. He sees vampires only as evil and violent. I didn’t even get the chance to tell him what it is like between mates.” She sniffled. “I love him, Ethan. I’ve never felt like this for anybody.”

“I know, Nessie, I know.” Ethan pressed a kiss into her hair, and stroked his hand over her back, comforting her. “Just give him some time. I know he’ll come back. I saw how he looked at you. He loves you.”

“He doesn’t love the vampire in me.”

Ethan put his fingers under her chin and forced her to look at him. “Sis, I promise you he will come back to you.”

She doubted it. Cole had made his choice.

“In the meantime, how about I drive you home, and you’ll rest a little?” he suggested.

Wordlessly, she nodded and rose. Her vision was tinted and blurry from the tears. Ethan took her by the hand, and ushered her out of the office. A couple of minutes later, they sat in a Scanguards-owned SUV, and Ethan drove out of the garage.