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He didn’t fully trust the police to hold the other vampire securely enough, especially the Long Island police. Nick decided to call Acharya himself, ask for NYPD back up. He would just tell the chief what he needed in terms of men and equipment make sure the other vamp didn’t get away. When he tried to reach Gertrude, however, to have the A.I. put in the call for him, Nick realized he’d knocked his headset off somehow.

He’d likely done it when he chucked the spear, or maybe when he was driving it through the vampire’s chest and into the door.

He glanced around on the floor and saw it lying in a coil on the rug.

Too far away for him to reach it with a foot, unfortunately.

He needed to just wait.

Morley would call.

Morley would bring someone here.

Even as Nick thought it, he strained for the sound of the car starting.

He heard voices then, and realized someone was shouting. Several voices were shouting out in the driveway outside the house. Nick picked out Morley’s, then realized he recognized the voices of the two cops shouting back at him.

A sick feeling hit Nick’s gut.

When he looked at his doppelganger, the other vampire was smiling.

“Those piece of shit idiots,” Nick growled. “Rick and Rob. You venomed them, didn’t you? They’ve been working for you all this time.”

The utter indifference in the other Nick’s eyes enraged him.

The other Nick shrugged, his scarlet eyes still unapologetic.

“It turns out I venomed the wrong humans,” he said. “I suppose I should have done your police chief. Or your two friends.” He shrugged again, his voice nearly bored. “I really didn’t expect anyone to work so hard to keep a vampire out of prison. Your humans are surprisingly loyal to you… even that St. Maarten woman. But I suppose that makes sense. This is your world. You are one of them.”

Nick scowled.

Killing this asshole was sounding better and better.

He continued to listen to the argument downstairs.

He couldn’t make out the words, but he hoped Morley was heading for his car, and would be out of there damned soon. He hoped Morley managed to sidestep those assholes.

Of course, if Nick killed his doppelganger, it would be over.

He should just kill him.

He was stalling, though.

Why was he fucking stalling?

For some reason, Nick hesitated on killing him, even now.

His reasons didn’t even feel like moral reasons. They definitely didn’t feel like a fear of legal repercussions. Nick was positive the I.S.F. and NYPD wouldn’t give two shits if Nick killed this child-murdering, cop-turning asshole. Especially now.

Especially with Morley’s word to back him up.

Especially after what this prick had done to Damon.

Nick had a slew of reasons he could give to rationalize to the chief and anyone else who asked why he’d kill the other vamp instead of restraining him for some kind of legal remedy. Nick didn’t (technically) have any vampire restraint tools. He didn’t have any of those organic binders they normally used. He’d lost his headset, so he couldn’t even call for help. He couldn’t contact Acharya, or the Long Island PD, or even St. Maarten.

Anyway, vampire life was cheap.

Even Midnights were allowed to kill other vamps.