Page 70 of Night Prey
Derek rubs his face. “Well… that was a waste of time.”
“It wasn’t a waste of time to me.” I don’t elaborate.
What I learned isn’t anyone’s business but my own. Sure, Enya was present, but she must have known the truth of why my mother abandoned me long before tonight. I understand now, but it doesn’t make it less painful.
Twenty-Seven
VAUGHN
Sophie doesn’t say much on the ride to her apartment, but she lets me hold her, and Derek doesn’t make a peep. Not that he’d keep me away from her.
I don’t know what I expected to find at her place, but it definitely isn’t the scene we walk in on—Igor, Dean, and Connor in the living room, drinking tea, chilling out, and listening to BTS’s “… Like Animals” while Tish sings along, swaying from side to side on the coffee table. It’s the most bizarre situation I’ve ever witnessed. Maybe we’ve crossed into an alternate reality.
“Whatta…,” I blurt out.
They all stare at us standing by the front door and freeze for a second before Igor and Dean jump to their feet. Connor remains on the couch, unbothered by our presence. He leans back, resting his arms on the back of the couch.
“Miss Sophie, what happened to you?” The Russian comes closer, concern shining in his eyes as he zeroes in on her swollen nose.
“Mother Dearest happened.”
Igor winces. “Queen Tatiana did that to you?”
“Yeah.”
He glowers at me. “Because of this deadbeat, wasn’t it?”
I open my mouth to defend myself, but Derek speaks before I can. “Vaughn had nothing to do with it.” He looks at Dean. “I take it you’ve dealt with your differences?”
“We’ve reached an agreement,” Dean grumbles, eyeballing Igor as if he still thinks he’s the enemy.
“After you guys destroyed half the block,” Tish chimes in. “I’m surprised no one called the cops.”
Connor snorts. “The cops know not to get involved in our affairs.”
“Where’s Mauricio?” I ask, remembering the king’s familiar was supposed to have a meeting with Dean.
“He left half an hour ago.” Connor gets up from the couch. “Now that you’re back, we should go.”
“Finally,” Tish says.
Dean clasps my shoulder none too gently. I guess I’m still in the doghouse with him. “Come on, Vaughn. We’ll give you a ride.”
Hell. I was planning to stay, but judging by the looks I’m getting from Dean, Connor, and Igor, I don’t think it’s in the cards for me. Still, I glance at Sophie. She’s the one who decides. “I’ll stay if you want me to.”
She looks at our company, then back at me. “I’ll be okay. You should go home and rest.”
Disappointment rushes through me, but then Sophie leans in and kisses me on the cheek, waking radioactive insects in my belly. I don’t even care that we have all these witnesses as I beam from ear to ear. “You should rest too, sweetheart. I’ll call you later.”
“You don’t have my phone number.”
I pull my cell out. “Let’s fix that.”
Dean and Igor groan, but Connor chuckles. Despite his amusement, he’s still one scary dude, so I exchange detailswith Sophie quickly before Dean decides to yank me out of her apartment by the back of my collar.
Derek is the first to exit, and if it weren’t for Dean nudging me out the door, I would have been the last one to leave. My companions don’t say a word down the stairs, but once we’re on the street, Connor breaks the silence.
“You’re one lucky motherfucker.”
