Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“I take it you saw the news.” I reach down and unbuckle my shoes.
“I’ll let you take this one,” Devon tells me and speeds out of the room.
Antonio’s eyes widen. “He said his name. On live TV.”
“He’s not Voldemort,” I go on, stepping out of my shoes and moving into the kitchen. “We can say his name without anything bad happening.”
“Now’s not the time for jokes, Wren,” Antonio says and I know he’s pissed because he just said my name twice in like thirty seconds.
“Trust me,” I snap. “I know. I know more than anyone that nothing about this is funny. So be mad at me all you want for trying to lighten the mood.”
Antonio’s expression softens. “I’m not mad at you.” He slowly takes in a breath and then heavily exhales. “Poking the bear isn’t the best strategy here.”
“What is?” I ask him, shaking my head back and forth. “And I ask that seriously? The Order isn’t what we think it is. At all. If they knew all along my blood was needed to open the portal, then this has been their plan for nearly thirty years. The demon said the Order’s had control for like fifty years, so it seems to me they’ve been corrupt for some time now. How we normally deal with things isn’t going to work on them.”
Antonio brings his hands to his face and lets out another sigh. Part of me wants to be annoyed with him, but then I remember his whole world got flipped upside down and he quite literally died. Physically, he seems just fine but mentally this has to be a very difficult thing to deal with and it’s not like he can go to a therapist and explain what just happened.
Betrayal trauma is extremely traumatic and this wasn’t just a case of finding out your long-term partner cheated on you. The Order is a lie, Vivian and Marco are pieces of shit, and in less than thirty days, a very powerful demon is going to be set free. I have no idea what it’s like inside Antonio’s head right now and there’s a selfish part of me that wants him to be my big brother, tell me it’ll all be okay, and come up with a plan.
“I know,” he says, lowering his hands. “Starting a war with the Order isn’t the way to do this. For hundreds of years, the Malus family and the Order haven’t had any issues because of the deal that was made. Now…now I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“Have they though?” I start, brows pushing together as I think. “The Order didn’t hunt vampires and they discouraged the hunters in this area too, but getting the demon involved…that’s not leaving the Malus family alone. The fallout of all that created a lot of drama and issues we had to deal with.”
Antonio considers my words, going over to the island counter, leaning against it. My phone rings and I reach into my purse to get it. Leo’s name flashes up on the screen. I instantly snatch it up, but stop myself before I can answer. What the hell am I going to say? Does he even know what happened? If he does, that means he was talking to Marco and Vivian and maybe he can help track them down.
“It’s Leo,” I tell Antonio, and he comes over. We both look at each other and then he nods, telling me to answer.
“Hey,” I say, putting the phone on speaker.
“Wren,” the person on the other line replies. It’s not Leo and I recognize that voice right away.
Ryder.
“I could use your help. Leo is drunk and about to be arrested.”
Chapter
Nine
“What?” I say, though I heard Ryder clearly. I’m looking at Antonio with a what the fuck look on my face that’s he’s mirroring right back.
“We’re at a bar in Hickory and I already got him out of one bar, but with everything going on, he’s not thinking straight.”
“Right,” I say, not sure what “everything” is. We have no idea what they’ve been told or not told. “I’m in Charlotte,” I go on, not sure how I can help.
“I know. We’re east of Hickory.”
Antonio nudges me with his elbow and mouths the word location. I nod.
“Okay, um, send me the address and I’ll meet you.”
“I’ll send now,” Ryder says and I put my phone on mute so I can talk to Antonio.
“We wanted to find a way to talk to Leo,” I say, shaking my head.
“Right,” Antonio goes on. “We have to get him.”
“Should I ask what they think happened?” I hold the phone in front of me, going back to the door to get my shoes. “I would like to know what I’m walking into but I also don’t want to give away too much until we have Leo alone.”