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Harlen leaned back, crossing his arms. “Okay, but just remember that I’ve got your back, no matter what.”

Maybe Harlen had a good idea. I was supposed to give him a job to prove his usefulness. “I think keeping an eye on Morgan might be a good idea for now. If those people are really after Chanel, they might try to use Morgan to get to her.”

He scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Yeah, that makes sense. Consider it done. Who the hell are these people? I need details.”

“Can I trust you with this information?”

“Of course you can. I like Morgan, and I haven’t fancied a human in a very long time. I want her and her friend safe.”

“There is a woman named Marisol Lopez from Minnesota. She is looking for her brother, Alonzo. He is the ex-boyfriend of my Chanel.”

“Why would this Marisol think he’s here?” Harlen asked.

“He was here and now he’s gone for good.”

“Oh.” Harlen knew gone for good meant dead and gone.

I took a moment to gather my thoughts, trying to decide how much more to reveal to Harlen.

“Marisol believes Chanel knows where Alonzo is because he came to Chicago a few weeks ago looking for Chanel. I have proof she’s been here more than once.”

“Here? At the apartment?” He asked.

“Yes. She seems determined to find her brother at any cost.”

Harlen’s expression hardened, his eyes narrowed. “So, this Marisol woman is willing to go to extremes just to track down her brother?”

“Yes, and I’m afraid she might involve others in her search, putting Chanel and those around her in danger.”

Harlen rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “And you think Morgan might be one of those people who could be used against Chanel?”

“It’s a possibility I can’t ignore,” I replied solemnly. “These people are bad people.”

“Who could be badder than a vampire?” Harlen snickered.

“They don’t know what we are and they can never know. I have built a life here and I want to stay here and continue to be a citizen.”

“Why? The weather here sucks.”

“The weather doesn’t matter. We’re dead. We don’t feel the cold.”

“True, but don’t you miss the burning sun and massive palm trees?”

“No, I don’t miss it at all. If you do, you can return to California.” I taunted.

“I can’t leave you now.” Harlen let out a low hoot. “Sounds like you’ve got yourself mixed up in some serious trouble.”

“I wouldn’t call it trouble. I would deem it a pesky inconvenience.”

“To-may-toe, to-ma-toe.”

“I never wanted Chanel to be pulled back into this dangerous world from her past,” I admitted, feeling a weight of responsibility pressing down on me.

“Is there anything else I should know about these people?” Harlen asked, his tone indicating his readiness to assist in any way he could.

I hesitated, debating whether to disclose even more information. Finally, I decided it was necessary for Harlen to have the full picture. “Marisol and Alonzo have ties to a criminal organization that Chanel broke free from. She was a witness to multiple murders, and she fled Minnesota to get away from these people. She is free of Alonzo, but he has dangerous family members.”

“Humans can’t hurt us.”