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“Do you think we can be ready by this time next month?”
Chief Nader nods again. “Yes.”
“Wonderful. Is there anything else I can help with while I’m here?”
Chief Nader blinks hard, clearing his throat. “Uh, no. No. Thanks for coming in. Saved us a lot of work. I’ll let my team know about our findings.”
“Great.”
Michel and I stand, shaking hands with Chief Nader and walking out. Once we’re back on the sidewalk, I nudge Michel with my arm.
“Why did you erase it for Maren but not the chief?”
“Maren doesn’t need to be involved. The chief will be asked about it by Garrett, so I had to influence his thoughts.”
“It’s wild.”
“You’ll learn how to do it over time. It takes a lot of focus, but that’s all. Like what happened with Garrett shitting himself. Just focus.”
“Pretty badass.” I grab his hand. “But now we know Garrett is watching us. We need to be careful.”
“Correct. We’ll have to go out the back door and be even more camouflaged.”
I toss that thought around my head for a moment before asking, “Can’t you feed from me? I mean, I feed from you.”
Michel stops walking. “Of course.” He turns toward me, resting his hands on my shoulders. “But we must venture out eventually. One source is not complete enough.”
I nod as that sinks in. “We have to feed from others.”
“Yes, but what I do is collect and store it. That way I’m not forced to hunt. We’ll refill our stores after the ball. No reason for their blood to go to waste.”
“But we won’t feel like them, right? We won’t hold on to any of them?”
“No. Just the initial taste. That will be unpleasant to relive, but it will be the last time I have to. I’ve replayed the pain and humiliation those men have caused me for over a decade. One last time won’t hurt, and at least I’ll know it’s over then.”
“I can’t wait to celebrate with you.”
Michel leans in and presses a brief kiss to my lips. “I can’t believe how fucking lucky I am.”
“Luck? Nah, Michel. You made all of this happen.”
“I didn’t make you come back. That was luck.”
“I like to call it destiny.”
Michel smiles brightly. “That sounds much better.”
ChapterNineteen
MICHEL
It’s been two months of preparation for the ball and the time is here. Murder night, as Eli has come to call it, and I couldn’t be more pumped up for it. Years of planning my revenge, of wishing I could somehow make my mark, all come to fruition tonight. And Garrett doesn’t have a clue what’s coming.
I wish I could have been present for his expression when he opened the invite. An olive branch, I called it. Let’s bury the past and move forward as the professional men we are. I chuckle. The moron couldn’t wait to accept.
At least he’ll be alone, since his wife left him and moved out of the state a month ago. She’d finally had enough of his embarrassing behavior. Ben and Nial will be in attendance too, and since neither of them are in relationships, they shouldn’t be missed. By morning, three dead bodies will show up far away from Neubrook, and my hands will be clean. At least to anyone looking.
The water shuts off in the bathroom as Eli finishes his shower. He agreed to let me meet with Yves alone so as to avoid having him know more than he needs to. He’s still learning to control his vampire, and his nerves cause visible changes.
