Page 87 of Bent Out of Shade
“True,” he said. “But I take excellent care of my people, and I have eyes and ears everywhere. Anyone thinking to challenge me would have come to my attention already. Now. Where is Sabrina?”
I believed in Zev’s paranoia enough to decide he was right and knocked a power grab for Blood Alley off my list of motives for turning Sabrina. If her sire hadn’t done this to go after Zev or Vincenzo, then why? I drummed my fingers on my thigh. Sabrina had been turned into a vampire on Friday night, before Ryann’s edict on Tuesday. Yes, she now fell under it, but her sire wouldn’t have been worried about repercussions at the time, so why abandon her? What an incredibly stupid and pointless thing to do.
“Sabrina is safe,” I said, answering his question.
Zev stroked his goatee, his eyes on the ceiling. “At Amar’s then.”
I kept my expression impassive. He didn’t get a gold star for figuring it out.
“Regardless, that’s not good enough,” he said. “I want her brought where I can guard her.”
“First, swear a blood oath that you will never compel me, my people, or any member of Miriam’s family.” Tatiana rummaged in her purse for a tissue, then sneezed into it. “When’s the last time you vacuumed this carpet?”
Zev curled his lips at the aspersion cast upon his precious Persian rug, and I glared at my boss. Maybe don’t antagonize the bloodsucking fiend while we’re trying to strike a deal?
“My family includes Jude,” I clarified, back on topic. “Also, you won’t harm any of us either directly or indirectly. Ever.”
“Any second cousins you’d care to include? Sadie’s third-grade teacher, perhaps?” He sounded amused.
“Well, if you’re open to suggestions,” I said.
“I’m not,” he replied flatly. “Nor do I agree to a blood oath. You shall have my word—”
“Like I had your word to never compel me?” Tatiana snorted. “Your promises are worth less than this tissue these days,” she said, stuffing it back in her purse. “When did you become that person?”
“Watch yourself, Tatiana, for I’ve not agreed to anything yet,” he growled.
“Everyone take a breath.” I pushed my chair back, the better to keep them both in view.
Start negotiations for more than I’d settle for—the lawyers had taught me well. Laurent hadn’t wanted Zev’s protection in the first place, and it wasn’t in BatKian’s interests to take out a police officer. That left Jude, Emmett, and Sadie who were vulnerable. I doubted the vampire would go after my best friend, and the golem never went anywhere on his own, so we’d have his back. Our relationships plus our magic would keep us safe, and I’d steer the discussion around to my daughter and me in a moment.
“We all want the same outcome,” I said, “which is to avoid Vincenzo’s wrath and any altercations with the Lonestars.” Before Zev could go all alpha vamp about how he’d take his chances, I threw him a bright smile. “Oh, I’m being so rude. I haven’t even asked how Yoshi’s doing? Am I getting my gift card soon?”
Zev’s eyes narrowed.
That’s right, hot shot. You can’t afford to fight on multiple fronts when you have this vampire disease to contend with. Too bad Vincenzo didn’t seem to have to deal with it, given it had hit other vampire territories, like Dagmar’s in Boston.
“I have yet to hear anything that’s in this for me,” BatKian said.
“How’s this?” I ticked items off my fingers. “You can refuse, you can kill us, you can frame some other vampire for the Lonestars, but it doesn’t change the fact that you can’t get to Sabrina without our cooperation.”
Zev rested his hands on the chair along either side of my head, penning me in. “And should Vincenzo declare war even if it was an unknown vampire who did this simply because it occurred in my territory? Your plan does nothing to address that.”
“Sure it does.” I pressed my hands to my cheeks. “How noble you were to defy the Lonestars on his behalf and let him deal with the vampire who attacked Sabrina.”
Tatiana clucked her tongue. “I told you to leave the theatrics to Sadie.”
Zev stepped away with a dismissive flap of his hands.
“Explain Vincenzo’s choices to him,” I said, ignoring her. “He can rage out and deal with all your crew and the Lonestars, or he gets Sabrina back as well as whomever changed her. The same vamp who’ll take all the blame for Sabrina’s killing spree. Even Vincenzo has to admit that Sabrina as a vampire is better than her imprisonment on Deadman’s Island.”
My boss placed a hand on my shoulder. She now stood next to me, beaming and dabbing at her eyes. “My little girl is all grown up. I’m verklempt.”
I shook my head but gave her a fond smile.
Zev stroked his goatee. “It will be unfortunate when the rogue vampire dies during apprehension and can’t be handed to the Lonestars to make a confession.”
Some of the tension left my body, my shoulders descending a whole quarter inch. “Right? So sad.”
