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Her callous laughter bit into the night. “We’ll see.” She taunted.

I closed my eyes for the briefest second, pushing away the bad memories that I shared with Teresa. I pictured Chanel, my real future, what truly mattered. Teresa watched me, taking pleasure in the conflict she created.

“Don’t pretend you’re not enjoying this. You have two women that want you. I know you too well.”

But she doesn’t know me at all. Not anymore. “Then you know you can’t win,” I said, feeling the truth of it with everything that I love—Chanel.

“We’ll see.”

We have walked the length of the alley, only to end up back at the private entrance where Nick was standing firm.

The doorway comes into view, and with it, an unwanted surprise. Harlen. I stop short. So does Teresa. So does everything. It’s a suspended moment, all frozen with anticipation. Teresa is the first to move. She stepped forward with a breezy familiarity.

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” she called out, her smile her only weapon. It didn’t work. Harlen’s immediate response cut through her pretense.

“I bet you didn’t.” He snapped. His voice ricocheted off the walls.

Teresa kept up the act. But she was surprised to see him here. “Always such a pleasure, Harlen.” She stopped just short of the entrance, standing at an angle, her head cocked like she was amused by all of this. But I knew she was more confused and upset.

Harlen stepped forward. “Why are you here? Haven’t you ruined enough lives?” He said, his focus so intense I almost expected to see scorch marks where his gaze hit her.

Teresa acted unfazed. “I could say the same of you,” she retorted. “So what? Are you two brothers again?”

I could hear the hurt in her voice. I’d forgiven him, but I hadn’t forgiven her.

“Harlen will always be my brother.” I boasted. But it was true. I had known him far too long, and I knew his flaws. He never pretended to be a great vampire. Teresa was the one I cherished and believed would never betray me.

“I heard you’re terrorizing Chicago now.” Harlen said. “Need me to send you on your way again. Just like I did in LA.”

Did Harlen run her out of Cali? This was the first I was hearing about it, and now I was intrigued.

The space between them was a live wire. They had a history that I didn’t know about. I never thought about what happened after I was gone.

“You never ran me from anywhere. I left because I was bored with you.”

“You don’t belong here.”

“You can’t tell me where I belong.”

“This is my brother’s city.” Harlen proclaimed.

“Your brother’s city.” She smirked. I was sure she didn’t know what to say or how to say it. Seeing me and Harlen together had to be jarring for her.

“You two deserve each other.” She chimed.

She looked at me. There was a challenge in her eyes, and something else. A hint of fear.

“Guess I’ll be seeing you both,” she said, leaving it open, leaving it dangerous.

We stood there, Teresa, Harlen, Natasha and me. I should’ve seen this coming. I should’ve known how this would play out. Our shared history made this inevitable, with all of us back where we started.

We waited, none of us willing to be the first to leave. It’s an impasse. A stalemate. A question of who will break first. Teresa shifted her stance, preparing for the next move. I knew her too well. It’s a game she won’t win. Not this time.

Harlen stood guard at the door, making it clear whose side he’s on. I nodded to Natasha. She nodded back, ready as ever. We stayed a little longer, letting Teresa feel the weight of my presence, my refusal to back down. Then I turned. We headed back inside The Castle, leaving her there and hoping the next time I saw her she will be no more.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHANEL