Page 96 of Burn Falls

“How was it an accident?”

“Miles wouldn’t come with me, and he couldn’t be compelled. I was trying not to make a scene, but he struggled and got cut. I couldn’t resist when blood started to come out. I tried. I really did, but then I attacked him.”

“He couldn’t be compelled?” I asked, though it was more to myself as I was processing what he’d said. Calla couldn’t be compelled either, and she could go in the sun. Was she part vampire? Surely I’d know. Plus, they clearly aged given Miles was in his fifties and Calla hasn’t said anything about her grandmother looking like Benjamin Button in her old age.

“No.”

“Because he’s part vampire?”

He shrugged. “Maybe. I wasn’t expecting it.”

“But they eat human food. They do everything humans do.” I was still arguing the fact that there was no way Miles was part vampire, or Calla for that matter because every trait was human. They even smelled like humans.

“They?”

I said Calla’s name without speaking, but he’d heard.

“Oh, right. The one who scared me off.”

“Why didn’t you come back for her?”

“I’ve been on the run.”

“From Renzo?”

“Yeah. I fucked up, and I couldn’t go back.”

“Does he know where you are?”

“I’m hoping he thinks I left Burn Falls since I’m standing here now.”

Even if that were the case, Calla would still be in danger since she was carrying Renzo’s blood. “So you don’t know what he wanted to do with Miles and his mom?”

He shook his head. “No, but if I had to guess, it probably has something to do with recruiting them to make it a family business.”

“So he’s still running his mob?”

“Of course. The Chicago Outfits may have had legal troubles over the years, but Renzo is still running things. Even has ties in Russia now.”

“Russia?”

I thought of Athan. He’d never said anything about the Outfits being in Russia with him. Why would he not have told me? Maybe he didn’t know. Or was he here helping because he was still with Renzo’s mob? But then I was the one to call him, and he’d been nothing but a loyal friend to me—I think. I wasn’t sure, and I had a lot to worry about now that this vamp was telling me Renzo has ties with Burn Falls and Calla may carry his blood. Of course, the first human in forever I wanted to have a relationship with was linked to my sire. What were the odds?

“After Gambino was released from prison in 2015, he hooked Renzo up with the Russian Mafia.”

“Doing what?”

“Money laundering.”

Of course. Renzo was always about money. After a few moments, I asked, “What do you want from me?”

“I just wanted to warn you that he may be coming.”

“How did you know about me?”

“I didn’t know that you lived here. I went back to the distillery and heard you and Athan talking with the girl. You and Athan are talked about a lot in the coven, so I know about you, and I followed you here.”

“Why were you at the distillery again? Don’t you think you did enough damage?” I hissed.