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CHAPTER 18
Antoine
“THAT’S RIGHT. EVERYTHINGIN the account needs to be transferred to the offshore account,” I said to the frantic accountant on the phone in my office.
“Of course, Mr. Durand. Right away.” Larry Hedgers’ heart beat so fast I could hear it through the telephone. He wasn’t guilty, just worried he was about to lose his best client because someone was trying to sabotage my family’s assets. “Once again, I’m sorry to hear about your financial issues. I will make sure your money is protected. Give me a few hours and I’ll-”
“One,” I cut him off with a sigh as I leaned back in my chair. “You have one hour, and I want to see my account empty. Do not disappoint me, Larry.” I hung up before the man could plead his case for more time. I didn’t care what strings he had to pull. I would not let whoever was out to get us take everything away. I would do whatever I must to keep us financially sound.
Someone coming after our assets was unheard of. I'd never known anyone to go after us in such a way. Everyone who ever had an issue with us always came at us head on. Usually ending in bloodshed and then death. This was a form of attack I had not been prepared for. It couldn't have come at a worse time either.
With Allister's life hanging in the balance, I didn't need the extra stress of this. I had called the club to see if I could get a hold of Morpheus to no end. No one picked up the line, and when I tried his place of residency, I ended up with the same result. I was at my wit's end and not sure where to turn. We had no proof it was Allister or wasn't. The times Allister had told us he had come home on the nights in question, there was no footage of him coming home. Not like he hid from the cameras but as if the footage had been put on replay. No one and nothing showed on those nights, except for Allister leaving.
So far, that left us with nothing but a bloody trail all leading back to Allister.
I adjusted the cuffs of my shirt and huffed a breath of frustration. Why couldn't we figure this out? Morpheus being in the wind only made matters worse since we couldn't find out if it was him that was setting Allister up. I didn't think Morpheus had enough connections to be the one messing with our finances, but I wouldn't put it past him either. I just didn't have enough answers to any of my questions, and it was leaving me utterly helpless.
I hated that.
"I assume the news isn't good?" Darren asked from his seat across from me at my desk.
My gaze shifted over to him, and I stroked my jaw. "Nothing good, that is for certain. Larry will make sure our money is secure, and that is all we can do at the moment. Until Mr. Biggs can hunt down the paper trail of who or what is trying to destroy us, we cannot do anything but bide our time."
"And what of Allister?" Darren shuffled the papers in front of him and then stacked them neatly on the desk. "What are we to do about that problem?"
I growled. "I do not know. I could appeal to the council, but that would only draw their attention in our direction. We do not want them poking their noses around here if we can help it."
Piper being my human servant, was one thing but having a human servant who was also a vampire hunter was unheard of. I had no doubt the council would kill first and ask questions later. If there was anyone to ask questions from left alive.
No, I couldn't get them involved. It was too dangerous. We would simply have to figure it out ourselves.
"Perhaps, we should speak to Vincent," Darren suggested, standing from his chair and rounding the desk. "He seems like a reasonable man. I wouldn't imagine he would want to lose his new toy after he just got her."
I smirked and grabbed Darren by the wrist, pulling him forward. "No," I pressed my lips to his pulse, which jumped beneath my mouth, "I wouldn't think so."
Darren's breathing became heavy as he said, "There has to be some explanation. They wouldn't kill him just because they could."
I lifted my gaze to him. "Wouldn't they? I would think they would use any excuse they could to get rid of us."
"I think-" Darren's words cut off as his gaze jerked to the door as the doorbell went off. Frowning, Darren took a step back, and I released him. "Who could that be?" He moved toward the door, but I called after him as a flood of panic from Piper filled me, followed by the distinct scent of blood.
"Stay here," I ordered him and raced out the door. I made it to the top of the stairs in time to see Piper leaning over the prone form of Jack Biggs. The blood had belonged to him. It seeped out of him and covered the floor in a spreading pool of deep crimson. I swallowed back the hunger that reared at the sight of so much blood as Piper's head lifted, her attention on a fight going on in the living room.
Before I could begin my descent down the stairs, Piper was up off the floor and disappeared into the living room. Allister's voice called out, and he grunted in pain. A familiar voice I couldn't quite place responded in kind, and then Piper was talking to him.
Morpheus.
I saw blinding red and almost rushed into the room to rip the head off the traitorous bastard when the words coming out of his mouth stopped me. "The council! It's the vampire council."
“He’s lying.," Draconius answered, coming from somewhere else. "The council wouldn’t do this. Not so indirectly.”
“Yes, they would. They tipped off the hunters to my club because I helped you find your sire.” Morpheus would say anything to save his own skin but was this truth or a lie?
Piper seemed about as confused as I was when she asked, “What does that have to do with Allister?” That's my girl. Find out what he knows.
“Who do you think is trying to frame him,” Morpheus grunted. “It wasn’t my bartender. He’s not a vampire, but he is capable of being bribed or compelled to point the finger in Allister’s direction.”
I moved further down the stairs but didn't enter the room, staying in the shadows of the doorway. If Piper could keep him talking before he saw me, then we might be able to find out what the hell was going on.
