Page 60 of Born Wicked
Might as well go all in on the dramatics.
I let my own vampiric instinct out for just a few seconds. My eyes instantly change from blue to red and toxins pool in my mouth as I allow my fangs to extend.
“We are exactly what we look like right now,” Elena says, and I don’t have to look at her to know she’s gone full vampire too. “Chicago is full of vampires. And I think it speaks to our credit as the Night Council that you’ve never had a damn clue until right now when we’re sitting right in front of you, telling you straight.”
Teresa is breathing hard, the fear unfiltered in her eyes. She’s backed completely against the far wall.
“So, here’s the truth,” I say as I sit forward, folding my hands on the desk. “I came to Chicago after I became a vampire. I was in the final months of my residency when it happened. Guess who also happens to be a vampire?”
The second Teresa’s eyes flick to meet mine, I know she knows the answer.
“That’s right,” I say with a condescending nod. “Sebastian Vincent. We worked together, he helped me finish my residency, get board certified. Things evolved between us over a few months, and yes, we entered into a relationship, and eventually, we got engaged.”
I hate feeling like I have to explain. Teresa is an outsider, a woman who’s drawn all kinds of incorrect conclusions. I don’t want to tell her anything.
But this is part of being a council member. This isn’t just about me. It’s for the good of the city.
“I loved Sebastian with everything in me,” I say, never once looking away as I stare into Teresa’s terrified eyes. “But Sebastian started getting possessive. Paranoid. I was telling the truth that Sebastian paid his bodyguard to follow me. My every damn move. Sebastian thought he was protecting me. But that’s no way to build a relationship.”
Elena reaches over and takes my hand. She never saw this coming either.
“I took off during our engagement party, and Roman was the one who took me in,” I say. Something in my lower stomach quivers. I can barely stay sitting in my seat. We have the proof now, I can’t stand the thought of Roman sitting in jail one second longer than he has to. “I told you the truth. Roman hated me, and I hated him when I first came to Chicago. So it was a massive surprise that he had so much compassion. He kept me hidden from Sebastian for a week. But there was never anything beyond a new friendship going on between us. But Sebastian didn’t see it that way. There was an altercation after I broke off the engagement. That’s why you found blood from both of them at Roman’s apartment. Sebastian just ran away like a coward after that.”
Teresa and I stare at each other for thirty seconds once I’m done telling the story. She’s had so much arrogance and coldness the entire time I’ve known her. And now she’s just scared. Shocked. Honestly, I expected more from her.
“Any questions?” Elena asks, a coy smile forming on her lips.
“You’re telling me Jerry knew all of this?”
“Oh yes,” Mason answers. “My father clued him in on everything sixteen years ago. He was the one who handled everything in Edward and Miranda Godfrey’s deaths. There’s a reason so few details were ever reported. Edward’s leadership position was passed down to me and my sister.”
Mason places a hand on Elena’s shoulder, and she lays her hand over his. They might be so different. But they’re an ever-united front.
“There’s a few hundred of our kind who live in this city,” I say, and her eyes once more find mine. “So, now you’ll understand why there are some crimes that are simply unexplainable in logical ways. You’ll understand why there will be some situations you’re just going to have to let us handle.”
“And you’re going to keep your mouth shut about it all,” Elena says, her tone darkening with each word. “Because we’ve kept our kind safe here for a long time, and we don’t plan on letting that change. And because, if you talk, if word starts getting out, it isn’t just us you’ll have to deal with. There are others out there in the world, and they’re far more cold-hearted and savage than we are.”
Chills wash over my skin as I remember the stories Jon has told me about the King, about the Royals.
I can’t even imagine if they showed up in Chicago.
“How long has this been going on in Chicago?” Teresa asks, her voice hoarse sounding.
“Our grandfather started Godfrey Enterprises in 1861. He had already been a vampire for seventy years,” Elena says, and she looks very entertained to deliver one bit of shocking news after another. “There were a few others in the city before him. So, more than one-hundred-fifty years.”
This should be comforting to Teresa. There’s been a vampire presence in this city for more than a century, and she’s only just now learning about it. It can’t be that bad if we’ve flown under her nose for this long.
“Now,” I say as I lean back in my seat. “If you don’t have any more immediate questions, we’ll collect Roman De Luca, and we can all get back to our lives.”
There are seven long seconds of consideration. But, finally, Teresa clears her throat. She doesn’t say anything though, just stands. Her movements are jerky and stiff as she walks to the door.
“I’ll have questions I want answered later,” she says. She’s trying to grasp for authority, to regain her control. It’s not working so well for her.
“Of course,” I say with a dip of my head as I get to my feet, and all four of us follow her out into the hall.
“He’s in a facility on the south side. You can follow me there.”
I know there has to be a lot more involved than Teresa walking in and sayinghand him over. Will there be lawyers involved? A judge? Is this all above board?