Page 79 of Bound by Vengeance
“Hmm,” Abby murmured, still a little soreVicky had kept Duke’s death from her until today. “And because ofthat, you were trying to help him find Joseph?” Abby asked.
Vicky had heard that question at least fivetimes already.
“Our need for vengeance bound us togetherfor a bit.” Vicky held her hand over her heart in a theatrical wayand batted her lashes at Abby. “Alas, I haven’t been anywhere nearas helpful to him as he was to me.”
Keep your answers shorter!Shescolded herself. Abby was a bloodhound on the scent; more conciseanswers provided a smaller trail.
“What an odd word choice,” Abbymurmured.
“What word is that, vengeance? I dooccasionally read something other than magazines, and I can throwout some big words too, egghead,” Vicky teased.
“No, not vengeance,bound. You couldhave said your need for vengeance brought you together or had youworking together. Instead, you said itboundyoutogether.”
Vicky briefly contemplated sororicide, butno matter how much Abby irritated her, she didn’t know what she’ddo without her twin. She also didn’t know a response that wouldn’tmake her seem defensive or like she was hiding something.
“I may know some bigger words, but sometimesI don’t always put them together correctly,” Vicky said. “Nathanand I were working together for a bit.”
“And you’re still working with him?” Abbyasked. “That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”
“No, we’re not,” Vicky replied. “I’m herebecause I’m going to finish what I started, and I have friends Ineed to make sure stay safe down here.”
“Of course,” Abby murmured. “But I’m sureNathan will appreciate it if we do find something.”
Vicky refrained from replying and diggingherself in deeper.
CHAPTER 35
When Ronan and Declan entered, Nathan noddedto them from the other side of the room. They’d gotten here only ahalf an hour ago with the hunters. He weaved his way in and out ofthe dust-covered tables filling the large restaurant toward thevampires. Behind him, Asher and Logan ushered the hunter refugeesout of the restaurant and out to the patio beyond.
The doors clicked closed when the lasthunter left the room, and Asher and Logan’s steps thudded on thetiled floor as they followed him. Ronan’s gaze went beyond Nathanto Logan, and his jaw clenched. When the door opened behind him,Ronan’s hand shot out to stop Kadence from entering.
“What are you doing?” she demanded.
Ronan didn’t move his hand when she pusheddown on it. Then, she looked beyond Nathan and froze. Saxon openedthe door more, and he, Lucien, and Killean slipped inside frombehind her, but Ronan kept Kadence mostly out of the room.
“Where is Vicky?” Nathan demanded.
Their brows furrowed in confusion over hisquestion, but none of them looked surprised by it.
“We haven’t seen her since earlier,” Kadenceanswered.
Nathan froze. “Itoldher to contactRonan and return to your place.”
“Are you new to women?” Lucien retorted.“Usually when youtellthem to do something, they tend toignore you, or do the exact opposite.”
Nathan contemplated punching the smug lookoff Lucien’s face. Before Vicky, he’d always been even-tempered;since she’d become such a focal point in his life, he wasn’tanywhere near as steady.
His gaze darted to the doorway behindKadence; he stepped forward to go in search of Vicky beforecatching himself.
He couldn’t go after her before making surehis people were safe. She was still at the hotel; she wouldn’tleave there after Ronan’s earlier threat.
Nathan dragged a hand through his hair as heturned his attention to Ronan. “I have to show you something.”
“What is going on?” Ronan inquired, his eyesbecoming redder as his gaze remained riveted on Logan who had movedforward to flank Nathan’s side with Asher.
“Asher, Logan,” Kadence greeted.
“Hey, Trouble,” Asher replied.
