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I paced the wood beneath my feet. My mind raced ahead, calculating possibilities, the danger, the need for action. “And?” The question was both impatient and inevitable.

“I couldn’t exactly do anything in a club full of people.”

“Yes, but did you follow her and see where she slept?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I had Morgan with me.”

“What? Why?” His careless actions always affected me.

“I wanted to go inside and blend in with everyone else. I asked Morgan to join me.”

“So, you lost Marisol because you had to bring a human as your sidekick.”

“Morgan isn’t my sidekick.”

“She’s human, and you put her in danger. Natasha sent you there for a reason, not to go on a date.”

“I know. I shouldn’t have called Morgan there, but Marisol didn’t see me. She doesn’t know me at all. I can go back.”

“There’s no guarantee she’s going back there.” I explained, thinking we missed an opportunity to capture Marisol.

“What do you mean? She’s here. Too much time had passed. There’s no way she doesn’t know her brother is dead.” Harlen leaned back on the leather sofa.

“It’s not just her. She’s got backup. Now I have to kill more humans than I imagined.” I stopped pacing and stood still. My brother’s eyes searched mine, looking for assurance or strategy or something I can’t yet give him.

“What’s our move?” Harlen asked.

“Let me think. We need to be smart.”

The loft was too quiet. I felt the pressure of time. This cat-and-mouse game had to be brought to an end.

“Did you tell Natasha about your Marisol sighting?”

“No. I came here directly. I dropped Morgan off, and I wanted to tell you as soon as possible.”

“I’ll make some calls.” I rested my hands on my waist.

“Listen, you don’t have to get your hands dirty. I can handle these humans.” Harlen offered.

“Can you?”

“Yes, of course. This is a problem for you and me. If I get rid of Marisol and her people, it’s safer for my girl, too. If she can’t get to Chanel, she might set her sights on Morgan. All you have to do is give me the okay, and these people are as good as dead.”

“Quietly, I can’t have this blow back on me.”

Harlen stood. “Who do you think you’re talking to? I’ve killed people with zero remorse before we decided to be good vampire citizens.”

I remembered those reckless, impulsive times. “I need Marisol dead as soon as possible. I need at least one of my two problems taken care of.”

“That’s all I needed to hear. Once it’s done, I will let you know.”

“Okay, you only have to kill them. You don’t have to get rid of the bodies. I have a guy that will come and get the bodies and burn them at a crematorium. I want no trace of the Lopez gang.”

“There’s more.” Harlen said, and I instinctively knew his night might’ve been filled with more madness than mine. “I saw Teresa tonight.”