The woman’s lip curled, but she stood aside. “Enter.”

“Good choice,” I said quietly as we passed her. “And I’d start thinking very seriously about a career change.”

We walked inside to find a large and well-appointed suite that smelled of lemons and cinnamon and the coppery tang of blood. That sparked my hunger, and the monster’s interest, but I pushed it down. I’d refuel when this was done.

Vampires were arranged behind Clive, all of them in tailored black. Clive looked me over, took in the bruises. “It appears you’ve been fighting again. How unsurprising.”

“I was attacked in my home by your brother. Levi lay in wait inside my apartment, used his glamour to make us believe he wasn’t there. He’s been stalking me.” I offered the copies of the notes Theo had thought to bring.

Clive’s expression didn’t change; he probably believed he’d hidden his reaction completely. But it was the lack of apparent surprise that did him in. And the nervous glances exchanged by the vampires behind him.

“These weren’t signed by him,” he said and handed them back.

I ignored that. “He fled after attacking me. Your brother is disturbed.” That did it, putting a flash of molten anger in his eyes.

“This is obviously a ruse intended to draw attention from your dangerous behavior.”

I snorted a laugh. “He was lying in wait for me, bound and threatened me, and I’m the one engaging in dangerous behavior?” I tilted my head. “I’m curious, Clive. Did you know he was violent when you sent him to my door? Did you encourage him to communicate with me? To watch me?” My own anger rose, dancing along with the monster’s Great Offense that he didn’t believe me. “To try to kill me in my own apartment because he’s manufactured an imaginary relationship with me?”

“Whatever you’re raving about, you undoubtedly brought it upon yourself. If you’d sworn the oaths you were supposed to swear, had moved into a House, it wouldn’t have happened.”

But I could see in his eyes that he knew exactly who his brother was, what his brother could do.

“He’s tried this before, hasn’t he?” I asked quietly. “Maybe gotten too attached to someone. Hurt someone even though he didn’t mean to do it. Other imaginary relationships?”

“Clive,” whispered the vampire to his left. “If she’s telling the truth—”

“She never tells the truth,” Clive said, shifting the narrative. “My brother’s issues are his own.” But one of the vampires moved quickly into a hallway. Probably to confirm the report, or to get to Nicole before we did.

I glanced at Theo. “It’s interesting, don’t you think, that the so-called Compliance Bureau wants to punish me for saving a life, but when one of their own stalks and attacks me, and tries to kill the crown prince, the rules just don’t apply.”

“You have no proof.”

I held out my wrists again.

“The CPD has evidence,” Theo said. “They’re investigating.”

Clive snorted. But fear had begun to furrow his brows. “Bias,” he spat. “Of course their investigation would be biased toward a Sullivan and a Keene. You get away with everything.”

“We do?” Connor asked and looked at me. “Did you know that? Because I didn’t, and I’d have raised much more hell if I’d known.”

“Same,” I said. “If you choose to believe your brother didn’t just attack me, where is he?” I glanced around, counted. “Because he seems to be the only member of the Bureau who’s not here. Well, him and the other two Bureau members who attacked Connor outside my apartment.”

Clive’s jaw tightened. “If you don’t have a warrant, get out.”

“Okay,” I said, gave Theo and Connor a nod. “Let’s go. We’ll find Levi ourselves, and what happens, happens.”

“Touch him, and you’ll pay.”

I snorted. “How? By making me give up my freedom? You already proposed that deal.”

“Recall you only have”—Clive paused to actually check his watch—“twenty-four hours before your freedom is forfeit.”

“You unmitigated asshole,” Connor said, stepping forward. Connor’s rage was barely checked, his urge to protect nearly pushing him beyond reason.

I put a hand on his chest, felt him vibrating with fury, and his eyes flashed to me. No longer entirely human, they shifted in the light from blue to gold like a wolf in moonlight.

I wished for a moment Connor and I had the same telepathic connection as my parents, could silently communicate in a room of enemies. So I let him see the truth in my eyes. After a moment of tension and magic, he stepped back.

I turned my gaze back to Clive, offered a thin smile. “As to the forty-eight hours,” I said. “You may be confused about our terms. My father agreed I wouldn’t leave Chicago. And I only agreed I would meet you in forty-eight hours. I didn’t commit to doing anything specifically when I got to that meeting.”

Red began to creep up Clive’s neck, color his cheeks. “Bitch,” he spat, the word venomous.

“I’ll admit it’s a very technical argument, but vampire deals run that way.” I smiled. “And since I’ve just voluntarily come to your hotel room, and I’m communicating with you and your”—I cast a glance to the other AAM vampires, who now had uncertainty in their eyes—“team, I’ve fulfilled my agreement to meet you, if a little earlier than we’d planned. So, long story short, I’ve met the terms of our contract and have no other obligations to you.”

Clive lunged. Two of his vampires grabbed his arms.

Behind me, Connor growled. “Please,” he said softly. “Please make a move so I can finish you here and now.”

“You have to be careful when negotiating,” I told Clive. “Can’t be ruled by your emotions, or you’ll make mistakes. I learned that one from my father. And before you spout off,” I said when he opened his mouth again, “recall that your brother has killed a member of the AAM.”

The other vampires were moving nervously now.

“I imagine Nicole takes a pretty dim view of that, and the Canon probably describes very specific penalties. Unlike the Bureau, which hasn’t even been codified, has it? It’s just an idea. A proposal, and one that can be ended at Nicole’s whim.”

“I will destroy you.”

“You won’t, actually. I’m not sure if I mentioned this, but the roadblocks you put up between us and Nicole are toppling as we speak. She’s going to know about the lines you’ve crossed, and the lines your brother completely obliterated. And I’m pretty sure any regulatory violation I committed by saving Carlie is going to be a mere drop in a very large bucket.

“So here’s what’s going to happen,” I said. “You can tell me where your brother is, and the CPD can pick him up and deliver him to Nicole and tell her what’s gone on here, and see how she wants to handle it. Or you can lie and delay and, like I said, maybe we find him first. It’s up to you.”

“I wish he’d never heard of Cadogan House,” Clive said, freeing his arms and standing straight again.

“We all wish that for you, Clive. Where is he?”

“I don’t fucking know where he is.” He straightened his sleeves, grasping for dignity. “He’s supposed to be here.”

I could feel the truth of that, and I nodded. “Okay, then.”

There were footsteps behind us. Gwen stood in the doorway, cops arrayed behind her. She stepped forward, holding up her screen in one hand, badge in the other. “Detective Gwen Robinson,” she said. “I have duly authorized warrants for the arrest of Clive, for the arrest of Levi, to question you, and to search any rooms reserved or paid for by the AAM.”

“I did nothing,” Clive said, attempting to lunge again. But cops moved in, replacing the vampires who’d held him.

“Oh, I guess I forgot to mention,” I said. “You assaulted a guard at Cadogan House, and he’s going to press charges. Rules matter, after all.”

He was cursing when I glanced at Gwen. “Have fun in here.”

“Oh, we will,” she said with a thin smile. “It’s going to be a fun night.”

TWENTY

That was neatly done,” Theo said, when we made it down to the lobby again.

“I’ll be honest—it felt good. Really good. But it’s not over.” I rolled my shoulder, trying to spin out some of the residual ache. “I know the CPD won’t be able to hold Clive long. And while he’ll probably back off investigating me because of his brother, Levi is still out there and the AAM proper thinks I broke the rules. I’ve still got to fix that.”

“How?” Theo asked, concern lacing his voice.

“I’m not entirely sure. I want to talk to my parents.”

“I’ll take you,” Connor said.

“I’m going to go back up and help the CPD,” Theo said. “Stay in touch.”

I nodded my agreement and, when he’d disappeared behind gilded elevator doors, looked up at Connor. “Can we refuel first? I fought and lost some blood—”

“And argued with assholes,” Connor added.

“And argued with assholes, and I could use some coffee. And a muffin. And possibly a scone or seven.”

“You assured me you didn’t have your mother’s appetite.”

I smiled. “My mother would have ordered three of each and growled if you got too close to the bag. If you don’t enjoy the adventure of a hungry vampire, I can leave you home next time.”

He laughed. “At least you admit your being hungry is an adventure.”

“Vampiric hunger is a strategic choice.” I narrowed my gaze. “Much like you flashing your shifter eyes in a room full of vampires.”