Chapter 9
Chapter
Nine
“I’m waiting for you to tell me you’re joking,” I say when I’m greeted by silence. “Devon was alive. Very much so. And Ryder shot him.”
“But he’s a vampire now, isn’t he?” Leo asks, tipping his head to his side. “Or did he die?”
I close my eyes, opening my mouth and having to force the words out.
“Xavier said he was going to turn him. I haven’t seen him yet.
” I open my eyes and rake my fingers through my hair.
“Even if he’s a vampire now, it doesn’t change that he was a human when he was shot.
There was a whole ambulance ride and surgery and everything. ”
“No, not on paper.” Antonio glances at Leo again as he’s talking. “We checked it out, thinking the Order had something to do with it, but it wasn’t them. They’re not that fast.”
“What are you talking about?”
“On paper, Devon Malus died in a boating accident on this day ten years ago. There is no record of the 911 call, the ambulance dispatch, or that he was ever a patient at the hospital.”
I lean back, chills going down my spine.
I knew Xavier had power beyond vampire strength and the ability to hold people spellbound.
And I knew he had connections; that he paid people off to work for him or turn a blind eye.
But realizing he’s that connected, is in that deep with whoever it is who can make someone disappear in less than twenty-four hours…
it’s impressive and terrifying at the same time.
And it’s making me realize that running away isn’t going to keep my brothers safe. If Xavier can make Devon disappear, he can make anyone disappear.
“Ryder shouldn’t have shot him,” Antonio says. “Even when we thought he was a vampire, I told him not to shoot.”
“You did?”
Antonio looks at me incredulously. “He could have hit you. And messing with the Malus family is a death wish.”
I tip my head. “Wait, you’re telling me you had no idea what Larissa was up to?”
“We weren’t aware of what she was doing until she was already doing it,” Leo says, brows pushing together. “It was fucking stupid. We weren’t just going to save you—”
“And let’s be honest,” Antonio interrupts. “You’ve never needed saving.”
“I do tend to save your asses more than you’ve ever saved mine,” I chide modestly. It’s the truth.
“We were going to stop Larissa. You got there first.” Leo shakes his head. “That blonde vampire…is she…is she okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine,” I tell him, knowing he’s not concerned for Mabel’s wellbeing as much as his own. “Mabel isn’t going to hurt anyone. Not all vampires are evil. Just like not all people are.”
“But a lot of people are,” Antonio says softly.
“There are more evil people than there are evil vampires,” I counter, expecting him to come back with there are more people than vampires but he just shakes his head.
“I know,” I agree with his unspoken words.
“This is a mess. Larissa, Dale, and Randall kidnapped Mabel. Ryder shot Devon. Whatever peace treaty the Order had with the Malus family is most likely broken.”
“Technically, Xavier broke it first when he killed Gavin and Buck,” Antonio starts and even Leo gives him a shut the fuck up look.
“Because they shot him,” Leo says before I do, surprising me. Though, maybe it shouldn’t. Leo’s faith in the Order has been wavering. Silence falls over us, and I know we’re all thinking the same thing.
“Where is Larissa?” I ask, my heart starting to speed up. As much as I think she’s an obstinate bitch, I don’t want her to die. Suffer a bit, yes, but in order to do that, she needs to stick around.
“I don’t know,” Antonio replies. “Mom and Dad were pretty upset. I think they’re taking her to the HQ in Chicago.”
“Oh, wow,” I say back. There are a few buildings deemed as “headquarters” for the Order, with one being in Chicago and another on the East Coast, supposedly formed right along with the colonies back in the 1700s.
As long as there has been organized religion, there’s been the Order, exerting force and control, masked as heroism.
“I know this is a lot to ask,” Antonio starts, “but you’re the only one with a hand in each pot.”
“You want me to talk to Xavier? Convince him to spare Larissa’s life?” Both my brothers stare at me, waiting for me to go on. “I already asked him not to go after her. And the others.” I pause, not telling them I made no such promise for Theo or Ezekiel.
“And you think he’ll listen?” Leo asks.
“Xavier gave me his word. He doesn’t break it.
” I shake my head. “But like we established, this is a huge fucking mess. Twice in one night, a member of the Malus family was attacked by a hunter. The whole point of this messed up contract between them and the Order was to keep the peace between everyone. Buck fired the first shot—literally. And if I’ve learned anything about the Malus family, it’s that they don’t take threats lightly.
” I bite my lip, wishing I could open up more and tell them everything.
But that trust has been fractured and I just don’t know if I can trust them.
“Mabel is okay. Devon…I don’t know yet,” I go on.
“But he’s not dead, like human-dead,” Leo says, shaking his head at the absurdity of his own words. “Don’t they, uh, prefer vampires over humans anyway?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I press. “He was shot by a hunter and they will want the Order to pay with blood.” Inhaling slowly, I look out the window.
I can only get Xavier to agree to so much before he’ll tell me I’m being unreasonable, I’m sure.
I was standing right there, next to Devon.
I could have been killed. Xavier ripped the heart out of a vampire for less of a crime.
“The guy who ran out into traffic,” I start, changing the subject. My gut is telling me I can trust my brothers—at least when it comes to this. “I think he was fighting off demonic possession.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. He was definitely possessed, and I think he knew I was a witch.” My brows furrow as I think back. “I didn’t even have a chance to save him.”
“It’s not your fault,” Antonio tells me.
“I know. Before Devon got shot, he was going to tell me something. We’ve been looking into the overdoses, like you told me to.”
“They’re increasing at an alarming rate,” Antonio says.
“They are, but the cause of death isn’t actually from drugs. I’m telling you, do some digging or at least look over the files I’ve been able to get.”
“Wait, what?” Leo asks, looking from Antonio to me. He doesn’t know?
“Supposedly, there’s a new supplier,” Antonio explains. “The Order is worried about a drug war in the city, and they were given information that led them to believe that vampires were bringing in the drugs.”
“But they’re not,” I tell them. “It wouldn’t make sense. Vampires don’t want to drink blood from anyone intoxicated.” I wince as soon as I say it, knowing it doesn’t sound good. “And I asked Xavier.”
“And you trust him to tell you the truth?” Antonio raises his eyebrows.
“I do. He has no reason to lie to me about this.” I tap the screen on my phone, checking the time. “These people aren’t dying from overdoses,” I tell Leo. “Demons are burning through their bodies.”
“That…that doesn’t make any sense,” Leo replies.
“I know. It doesn’t. Which is the point. Something is going on. And Devon…” I trail off, unsure again how much is safe to share. “Devon discovered something and I think the Order is involved.”
“With the drugs or the demons?” Antonio asks.
“I don’t know. Maybe both. Look into it as much as you can,” I tell them. “But be careful. The drugs are being laced with carfentanil and that was what was used on Mabel.”
“Whoa, back up a second,” Leo says. “Carfentanil is like a horse-tranq.”
“More like an elephant,” I tell him. “So yes, it’s effective on vampires. But come on, this isn’t a coincidence.”
“It’s not seeming like one,” Antonio says and I feel so much fucking relief that he’s seeing things logically.
“It’s not, and I can’t help but feel like something bigger is going on here.”
“What are you going to do about it?” Leo asks.
“Figure it out. And then stop it,” I promise. “But I don’t know if I can do it alone.” I look from Antonio to Leo and lean back. “If something is going on that links this new drug problem to demons, it’s an issue for everyone.”
“You’re not wrong,” Antonio agrees.
“And I thought gators on meth in Florida were bad,” Leo quips. “Demons on drugs…yeah, I think that’s worse.”
“So,” I start. “Will you help me?”