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“I don’t need health insurance now. I’m a vampire.” She mocked her pre-existing condition.

“What did you tell your job?” I asked. I had to quit my job.

“I’m still working. I’m remote. They don’t have to know I’m a vampire. I still have to make a living. I don’t have to show up to financially advise my clients. I’ll fly back to Minnesota when I just have to show up to the office in person.”

“Do you want to still work?”

“I do. I’m trying to go on like normal. It helps me take my mind off things. I don’t need that much sleep anymore, so I can do a lot of things now. One good thing about being a vampire, in the woods, I don’t have to choose between the man or the bear. I can kill both of them.” She said with a tone that was matter of fact and big facts all rolled into one. “But right now, the only person I want to kill is Teresa Protenza.”

I never knew Teresa’s last name and here it was Morgan, was locked in with the details.

“We’ll get her.” I promised, surprised by the conviction in my own voice. After what happened with Marisol early this morning, the words felt less like empty reassurance and more like a statement of fact. “Everyone is looking for Teresa. When she sticks her head out, we will chop it off.”

Morgan smiled. “Okay, Griselda Blanco. You out here talking like a real queen pin and your son is already a Chicago gangbanger.”

I couldn’t help it. I busted out laughing. “You know what? I think they put some Coca-Cola in your drink because you got all the jokes tonight.”

“Oh, my God. Can vampires get high? Nah, but in all seriousness. That drugstore bottled bleach blonde psycho vampire bitch got to go.” Morgan raised her glass in a toast. “To the left.”

“To the death.” I raised my water glass, clinking it gently against hers.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHANEL

The silence that followed our toast felt familiar and comfortable. Something fundamental had shifted between Morgan and me since her transformation. Our friendship was deeper now. It was built on experiences that transcended normal human bonds. The weight of my secret pressed against my chest, demanding release.

“I did something this morning.” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “Something I never thought I was capable of.”

Morgan sat her bloody glass down to give me her full attention. Her gaze was more intense than it used to be. It was a side effect of her transformation that I was still adjusting to.

“What happened?” She asked.

I leaned forward, dropping my voice even lower, as though we weren’t alone in the VIP section. “Zand took me to this crematorium that he owns. Marisol was there. She was strapped down, paralyzed by some kind of serum.”

Morgan’s eyes grew large, but she didn’t interrupt me.

“Have you noticed that some of the security guards have weapons? It’s a gun with some kind of serum that immobilizes vampires.”

“Yeah, that Glock that they started wearing?” Morgan knew exactly what I was talking about.

I continued. “Yeah, I thought it was just a regular gun.”

“I did too, but why would they carry a gun when they don’t need them for humans? I didn’t even think about it at first.”

“Me either.” My words were coming faster now. “Harlen shot Marisol with that special gun that paralyzes vampires. Then he took her back to this crematorium.”

“Oh, okay. That’s where he was when he told me he was doing a job for his brother.”

“He told you that?”

“Yeah, he said he would meet me here when he was done. I came here and just waited for him to come back. I was asleep when he finally got back to The Castle. If Harlen took Marisol there. Did he kill her?”

My fingers gripped the stem of my wineglass tightly. The memory of the basement filled my mind, the clinical lighting, the sterile smell, and Marisol’s terrified eyes.

“Harlen didn’t kill her. He just left her there. When I showed up with Zand, he gave me a choice.” I said, meeting Morgan’s gaze steadily. “I pushed the button that sent her into the fire. I watched her burn. I didn’t look away.”

I waited for her reaction. Morgan nodded slowly, and a smile of satisfaction settled on her face. “Good.” She simply said. “She deserved it for what she did to you. For what her brother did to Craig.”