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I grabbed a clean cloth from nearby, swiping it between her legs, planting a kiss on her cheek. Picking up her thong I helped put it back on.

She eyed me warily. “Hey,” she said, cupping my cheek. “Are you okay?”

I forced myself to look her dead in the eye and lie to her face. Again. Because I didn’t know how to tell her that, any day, I could turn into a vampire.

“Yeah, you just blow my mind.” Tucking myself back into my jeans, I took her hands in mine and gave them a squeeze. “Let’s get out of here.”

She eyed me for a little longer than I liked. The type of look that screamed ‘curious,’ or ‘not convinced.’

As we entered the bar again, the overwhelm consumed me entirely. Choking me. Ty shot me a sly grin, throwing a thumb toward the exit. I shook my head. I still needed to finish my shift and lock up.

Scar planted a kiss on my cheek, throwing me a worried glance. “See you at home. I’m going to get a ride with Ty. I have work tomorrow.”

I nodded in response, kissing her temple, but even that felt like a deception.

Her hand floated from mine, and I watched her leave. She glanced back and gave me a small wave. I wondered if there would be a time when she never turned back. A time when she only walked away.

I didn’t want to think about it. The lie. The monster lying dormant inside me. Tomorrow, I would visit Colt and find out if the roots of the botanical could be salvaged. It was my only hope.

***

The white van parked outside Colt’s greenhouse stopped me in my tracks.

Colt never had visitors.

My interest became concern when I approached the front door. He never left the door unlocked, and something about the way it sat open ajar made me push it wide open with caution.

I let myself inside, where an uncanny quiet sat in the room. Usually, the sound of a sprinkler or the low hum of electricity sounded, but not now.

Shuffling drew my attention to the far corner, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I dodged a vine climbing from a pole and into my line of sight.

“Hey, you good?”

The unexpected voice made me jump.

I pushed another vine out of my way, clearing my vision to where the unknown voice came from. In the corner of the room stood a guy, both taller and bulkier than me. He wore black jeans and an equally black t-shirt, a faded pair of Vans on his feet. Glasses bridged his nose, and my instant thought was tech geek, although his broad shoulders suggested otherwise.

“Hey,” I said, steering my gaze around us, searching the room. “I’m looking for Colt.”

Tech geek raised an eyebrow. “Should be back in five. He just ducked out.” Moving toward me, he extended his hand. “Zane.”

“Reid.” I shook his hand. “Haven’t seen you around,” I said.

“I’m not from here.” A simple answer. Straight to the point. “Colton said he thought his electrics tripped.”

That piqued my attention. “Thought?”

He gave me a look as if trying to decide if he should share any further information.

I felt the need to explain my interest. “A botanical I needed was destroyed. I have a personal interest in this situation.”

Deciding I was worth his trust, Zane nodded. “It looks more like vandalism to me.”

The fuck?

“Vandalism? What makes you think that?”

Zane motioned for me to follow him over to the computer system in the corner. Sitting on the seat in front of the screen, he adjusted his glasses. “Call it a gut feeling, but I don’t think this was an accident.”