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HAYLEY
I SQUEEZE SAWYER’S leg, pinching him out of nervousness. He doesn’t react to the pressure and only slides his hand under mine, so I can grip it instead. We look at each other in silence. This whole car ride has been ridiculously quiet. No one wants to talk. No one wants to strategize. I think everyone just wants to get home, despite not going into La Vega yet. We have to ensure Lawrence makes it to his meeting location outside the wall. I’m sure the entire leadership anticipates this moment. Unless Alexander is doing it in secret. I have no clue. All I know is that I don’t want to go. I want to be done with these assholes and find myself back at the Bella. I never even got a chance to truly call it my home yet, but Sawyer’s presence gives me hope.
If only Lawrence didn’t make the others ride separately in another car. He said it’s better to have two vehicles in case something happens. I think he just wants to make sure that we can’t all team up and overpower him. It doesn’t help that his so-called allies are with us. Well, two of them. Mr. Falo is with Monroe, Knox, and Cooper. I hope they make the whole car ride truly unbearable for him. Show off their fangs to remind him what he’s missing and what happens to people like him. I hope they tell him everything they’ll do if he even so much as looks at me wrong.
Damn. I wish I could hear it.
“When we get there, Hayley, you’re going to stay in the vehicle. This is only a scare tactic to prove to Alex that he can’t fool us with his betrayal. Understand?” Lawrence looks at me in the rearview mirror. “This is a warning to him about going behind my back. He only needs to see you long enough to know that you’re alive and under my control.”
I don’t respond to him. I don’t feel the need because there’s nothing I can really say. It is what it is, and I will be the obedient little dhampir he expects me to be until he turns his back. He thinks he’s in charge, but he’s not. Neither is Alexander. Lawrence thinks he has the advantage because Alexander doesn’t know his alliance with Falo failed, and we can use it against him. No one trusts anyone at this point, and hopefully Monroe was right about them taking each other down.
I was nervous telling Lawrence about the situation, but if he knows about the betrayal, he can surprise Alexander and catch him off guard. The attention won’t be on us. It’s all so complicated, but this is all part of the Bella Crew’s plan to get back into the city and remain there. Sawyer has done an amazing job playing the role as someone who needs help. He knows how to work the power-hungry over, and convinced Lawrence that we’ll even bring him the performers from the Aris, but what we’re actually going to do is plan an attack. We’re not giving anyone anything.
Sawyer drops his arm over my shoulders and kisses my temple. “Look, we’re almost there.” He flicks his hand, motioning to the city lights in the distance. I don’t think I’ve ever seen La Vega from this perspective as an outsider looking in at night. Last time, I only saw the city vanish in the daytime. And now, I realize just how beautiful it is. If only under the glittering lights wasn’t such a terrible, monstrous city. I can’t help but wonder what it once was like when donors ruled. If only we can turn back to those days, or at least be able to bring donors back up as equals instead of as blood sources.
“I wish I could see more of it. It’s so strange to see it from a distance. I’ve only ever been able to look out my room window at the Bella’s fountain.” I stretch up a bit in my seat as if I could see more of it beyond the wall. But I can only see the tops of the towering skyscrapers of the rundown hotels.
“You will, my heir. You’ll see more than La Vega. I plan on taking you to many places over your eternity.” Lawrence offers me a creepy smile, turning slightly in his seat to look over his shoulder instead of at my reflection in the mirror.
I shiver at his words. There’s no way in hell I want to spend even another day with him, let alone an eternity. And traveling? Where to? I didn’t even know that the vampires around here got out much. It’s safer to remain in their hotels, especially when they have power. I would be okay spending the rest of my existence in the Bella as long as I had my guys by my side.
“Where’s that exactly? The nearest territory is still quite far away. They are also completely locked down and walled off. At least, that’s what I remember.” This comes from the silent man sitting in the front seat beside Lawrence. I wish the front had three seats, so I didn’t have to be so close to the other strange vampire, who has been staring at my wrist for what feels like the entire car ride so far. I know he’s thinking about how he got to drink from me, and I’m probably making him hungry by just existing. Thankfully, Sawyer was allowed to ride with us. All it takes is him glowering to get the guy to look out the window.
“I have my ways, Mr. Primm. You know there is far more to this world than incorporated territories. There is a whole land of wilderness and pockets of humans untouched by vampires. I’d like to explore with my heir and her...protectors. Taking La Vega will give me the means to conquer more of the world.”
This man is truly evil. There seems to be no end to his desire and craving for power. It makes me hate him even more.
“That’s pure folklore. There are no pockets of untouched human civilizations, Lawrence.” The man beside me finally speaks up, leaning forward to get a view of the side of Lawrence’s face.
I don’t even have a chance to react before Lawrence swings his hand out and smacks the guy across the cheek hard enough to send his head jerking into me. Stars pepper my vision with the force of his head smashing into mine, and Sawyer snarls, lifts me up, and puts me on his lap and away from the man.
“Hayley, you’re bleeding.” Sawyer touches his hand to my head where it hurts the worst.
Oh fuck.
Slamming on the brakes, Lawrence skids the car to a stop. He flies out from behind the wheel and flings the back door open. Sawyer tightens his hold on me, not allowing Lawrence to drag me out without him. He catches himself on the door, keeping me locked under his arm as if I’m a little doll. Bright headlights flash behind us, and I squint my eyes as Monroe screeches to a stop, kicking up dirt with the tires on this old back-world road that hasn’t seen much travel.“Are you fucking crazy?” Sawyer says, growling, aiming his blade at Lawrence.
The others join his side, and Knox and Monroe create a wall of muscle between me and the asshole.
“She’s bleeding. I had to get her out of the car. Those bastards are already addicted to her blood, and the last thing I need is for a damn fight to break out. I didn’t want to have to give her blood, but she needs to heal.” Lawrence flashes his fangs and bites his arm. “Give my heir to me. It will be my blood and only my blood she consumes.”
I grimace at his words. The last thing I want is to put my mouth anywhere near him. Just the thought twists my stomach. This is his fault to begin with. If he hadn’t slapped the vampire, he would’ve never smashed his head into me.
“Lawrence, don’t be so foolish to think that we lack restraint,” Mr. Primm says, exiting the vehicle.
The other man follows suit, remaining silent but never taking his eyes away from me. I squirm under his scrutiny, wondering if Lawrence might be right about him. I cling onto Sawyer tighter, wanting nothing more than for him to back up and add more space between us.
“Yeah, Lawrence. Get back in the car. You know there are outcasts and rebels out here. You want to make it to our destination, don’t you?” This comes from Falo as he exits the other vehicle with Cooper.
“The destination you’ve picked? Hardly. You probably have a plan in mind to try to take what doesn’t belong to you.” Lawrence growls deep in his throat. His eyes flash with hunger and then he looks at me.
My heart sinks into my stomach. What the fuck? He looks absolutely crazy right now. I don’t know what set him off, but I’m not sure we’re ever going to make it to our destination.
“You have five seconds to give me my heir,” Lawrence says, taking a step closer.
“I think Hayley will be okay. She’s not bleeding that much. She’s already healing. Giving her your blood is unnecessary. I think we need to stick to the plan.” Sawyer straightens his back, looming over everyone. “We’re almost there. Why don’t we just rearrange who sits in what car?”
Lawrence doesn’t have a chance to respond because someone materializes from behind the car. Who the fuck is that? And then I notice the filth covering the vampire. He must be one of the outcast vampires they mentioned.
