This Blood that Bonds Us (This Blood that Binds Us #4)

28. Twenty-Eight

Twenty-Eight

Presley

I finally cashed in a favor. Kimberly’s punishment for her crimes was watching movies with me all day in the living room, and Aaron wasn’t allowed to join.

Romeo and Juliet , the 1996 version, played on Mom’s pitiful TV. We had to use the DVD player, and I’d hit it a few times to make it work. We were lucky she had any movies. Mom said she’d picked that one up at a garage sale because she knew I liked it and it made her think of me. It was my favorite because Leonardo DiCaprio looked like the embodiment of an angel the entire movie—even if I had no idea what he was saying half the time.

“You and Aaron should wear that next Halloween.”

Romeo was starstruck in his suit of armor, staring at Juliet in her angel costume. A turquoise fish tank glowed between them. Aaron’s hair was a perfect match, and Kimberly would look radiant dressed up in white and angel wings.

I regretted the words as soon as they were out of my mouth. My brothers would be back by then. Things could go back to the way they were in Blackheart, and nothing would be different. Right?

My stomach sank as I remembered the intense pain in my chest. Things were already different.

“That’s a good idea. You can help me with my costume.”

I shook my head. “No. It’s bad.”

“What?”

“I shouldn’t plan for things that far ahead. We’ll probably be dead by then.”

“You don’t really think that, do you?” she said with her mouth agape.

I shrugged.

“No. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.” Kimberly hugged me without warning.

“I know.” Maybe that was part of the problem. Everyone wanted to protect me, but what was I doing? Lying in bed and watching old movies was about all I was good for. She moved to block my view of the TV.

“You don’t talk to me anymore,” she said.

“I do.”

“Not like before.”

“I don’t have anything to say.” More like everything I had to say was depressing.

My older brothers were gone and likely being tortured or something terrible by Hell Bitch. Physically, my chest hurt so much I forgot what it was like to feel good, and Kimberly and Aaron were buying into Kilian’s nonsense. I wasn’t entirely sure they weren’t being sucked into a different cult, and even if a miraculous phenomenon happened and Kilian was right and we had some great big ole battle to get my brothers back, how would it end?

We were so fucked.

“You don’t have to talk. I’ve just been worried about you.” Her cheeks were red from the fire.

The alarm bells went off in my head. Kimberly had a lot to worry about. I didn’t like being something else on one of her lists. I’d always imagined having a sister growing up, but it wasn’t like I thought it would be. With brothers, I could cause them pain with little to no remorse, but with Kim . . . I couldn’t stand to see her upset. All that time wishing I had a sister, and it turned out to be harder than having a brother.

“Thanks Kim. I, uh, I’m excited to see the stuff you’re doing with Kilian this weekend.”

I wasn’t. There was a weird protectiveness that came with having a sister too.

“I’m glad you’re coming. I have a good feeling about everything.”

I cringed at the thought of her being around Kilian, but I trusted Aaron’s judgment when keeping her safe. Sometimes, I couldn’t stop imagining Kilian wrapping his boney little fingers around Kimberly’s neck and squeezing the life out of her right before he locked her up to use for his stupid ritual.

Why couldn’t vampirism be a fun random thing that happens sometimes? The fact there were cults and blood ritual things made it objectively less fun.

My phone vibrated.

“What’s that?” Kimberly asked, but her eyes stayed glued to the screen.

“Oh. I have a timer. I have to do something for Mom. I’ll be right back.”

I jetted into my room. Luckily, the wall heater was on in accompaniment with the TV, so she likely couldn’t hear me.

I flipped up my phone and brought it to my ear. “Why are you calling me?”

“Just confirming our location for the meeting.”

“I told you to just text me.”

“Yeah, but I have to be thorough and make sure I’m still talking to you.”

I sighed and picked at the flaking paint on my nightstand. “As opposed to?”

“It’s my job to make sure to give you this stuff. You’re not going to bring anyone else, are you? Because that would be a bad idea.”

“Are you threatening me? Because that won’t have the effect you think it does. I just won’t show up.”

“I have what you need. You’ll show up. And as long as you come alone, you have nothing to worry about.”

“I don’t know. I’m starting to wonder if this is a good idea.”

“Having second thoughts?”

I said nothing. I had no idea what I was doing.

“I asked about your brothers.”

“What? Asked who?”

“I don’t know him. Name’s Henderson. But he knew your brothers.”

He was probably lying, but my body buzzed with the news.

“He said Zach was an asshole, but he’s a good fighter.” It was real. That was my asshole brother, all right. “And that Luke was growing on him. He told me they’re always together. Annoyingly so.”

“Where do you want me to meet?” I asked.

“I have a place in mind. It’s public, don’t worry. I’ll text you the address. I’ll see you on Friday.”

I didn’t know what The Family wanted from me, but they knew where my brothers were. This guy held the key to seeing them again, and soon, I’d know what that was.