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Fuck. Cooper is going to be a problem. I know it.
“Lilac, shit.” Cooper drags Hayley with him as he closes the space to the woman and throws his arms around her. “I’m so fucking happy to see you. I’ve missed you.”
“Same, brother. When Kingman came to me, I almost couldn’t believe it. You’ve been caring for a dhampir. And now you get to help ensure she gets back to where she belongs. Grandma would be so proud.” Lilac eases away and turns to Hayley. The way she refers to the fucker Falo digs under my skin. No one enslaved to another would speak almost lovingly and so informally about the one who controls them.
I tense as she cups Hayley’s face. I hate it. She’s about to lose her damn hands for touching my girl. I don’t care if she knows about dhampirs or if she is Cooper’s blood sister. I don’t trust her. Fuck I don’t even trust Cooper right now.
“Where I belong? He’s trying to send me back to my master in La Vega who sold me around the Strip.” Hayley’s voice snaps through the air as she speaks up.
Cooper pulls her away from his sister and plants his palm over her mouth, silencing her. “Don’t speak again. This isn’t the place you speak freely. Do you understand? Your concerns aren’t warranted either. Anything is better than this bullshit.”
I ball my hands into fists, my rage consuming me. It takes everything in me not to charge forward and stab Cooper in the gut. I don’t like the way he handles Hayley. I understand that he treats her as it’s expected in front of the other vampires, but I’m not cool with it. I’m not cool with any of this. It has to end here.
“You are a slave in La Vega?” Lilac turns to fuckhead Falo. “You didn’t mention this. I thought you said she wanted to go back.”
Oh hell. I was right. Cooper’s sister isn’t enslaved or being forced to stay with Falo. I thought it was weird when Cooper said she was being held against her will and treated like trash. But that’s not the case. I wonder how long it’s been since he has seen his sister. She talks to Falo as if he’s of equal level.
“I don’t consider it enslavement, honey. Don’t you think being a performer in a safer environment is better? We’ll be getting a hotel of our own and able to finally leave this shithole.” Fucker Falo puts his arm around Lilac’s shoulders. “You have to trust me.”
Cooper straightens his back, the same realization that hit me now hitting him. “Lilac? Are you with him?” His voice comes out softly, hesitantly, as if he’s afraid to hear the confirmation.
Lilac purses her lips. “We have a blood union, Cooper. I thought you knew.”
Cooper flashes his fangs, growling deep in his throat. “You lied to me. How is this freeing my sister if she’s willingly with you? You said—”
Fucker Falo rushes Cooper, pushing him into the concrete wall. Hayley screeches and scrambles out of his reach, and I can’t stand hiding from them any longer.
I fly forward and grab the back of fucker Falo’s suit jacket, yanking him away. He snarls, surprised by my attack, and I slice my blade across his throat, sending blood spilling down his white shirt.
“You traitor bastard! Did your dumbass think you could get away with making a deal with Aris without us finding out?” I hold Falo in place, aiming my knife at Lilac, keeping her back. “This kind of bullshit isn’t tolerated. I’m going to need one damn good reason why I shouldn’t decapitate you right here.”
Falo opens and closes his mouth, the gurgling noise sending more blood spilling. I should’ve gone for the gut, but he was pissing me off.
“Wait, please. Don’t hurt him. He’s only doing what is best for our coven. You have to understand.” Lilac holds her hands up in surrender, risking her safety by stepping forward.
“Cooper, you need to help us. You’re part of this. Come on, don’t you want to have a better life? Falo told me about your deal, but ours is better, don’t you think? I know it seems bad to return Hayley to her master, but we have to make decisions that are best for us. Grandma would understand. Help me with this asshole.”
Because of her words, I stab Falo in the side next, making him holler. His throat already heals some, letting him get enough air to make noise.
“Lilac...no. I was doing this for you. I was...fuck. I can’t believe this bullshit. You’ve been safe and unharmed this whole time when I imagined the worst fate possible. Why didn’t you come for me? Why didn’t you try to negotiate a deal to bring me to Falo Ill instead of leaving me to the herd?” Cooper’s voice shakes with his words. He’s been played, and he realizes it now. But he’s not angry. He’s hurt.
“I was working on it.” Lilac keeps her hands up in surrender, darting her eyes to me and back to her brother.
“It’s been two years. I’ve lost two years and have experienced unimaginable fucking things.” Cooper’s chest rises and falls, and he growls in frustration.
“I’m so sorry for that. Do you remember what grandma used to say? We do things we have to do to survive.” Lilac puckers out her bottom lip. “Please, Cooper. You must understand. We are vampires now. We don’t have that same bond anymore. Blood bonds are weak for a reason. They just keep you down.”
“You bitch! You’re a fucking bitch! He has only thought of you, and you didn’t deserve it.” Hayley surprises the hell out of me and launches at Lilac. She shoves her back into the concrete wall, putting her in place with her strength.
Cooper just stands there and watches in awe, and so do I, because damn. I’m a bit jealous she attacks a vampire on his behalf. I don’t even think she realizes it. She’s so caught up in her new hunger that it consumes her.
“Little bird, don’t kill her. We’re going to need them both alive. Their treachery has given us an opportunity. We can use this to our advantage if they agree. Because Aris offered them a hotel. We can take it. We can use his betrayal. It’ll be fun. If you need to bite someone, go ahead and bite Cooper. He deserves a little teeth.” He’ll also enjoy it and won’t fight back. I can see how much he thinks about it now, his expression morphing from anger to lust like the horny bastard he is. I know that look because I’m sure it’s written all over my face now.
Hayley doesn’t let go of Lilac. “How can we trust her? How can we trust them?”
A wicked grin crosses my face, my deep psychotic nature threatening to rise. “Because they won’t have a choice. I’m going to start by cutting off one of Falo’s fingers. And if he tries anything, I’ll cut off his dick next. I’m sure that will be saddening for the two of them. And as for Cooper’s sister, she can take his spot in the herd. I will put her there myself.”
Cooper flashes his fangs, but he doesn’t yell at me or argue. “No, I’ll fucking put her there myself. She needs to know what she’s done. It’s not like she’s my sister anymore.”
