Page 108 of Inhuman Nature

“Sit there and shut up.” Lawrence’s order held a slight compulsion, so DJ couldn’t fight it. He moved to the edge of the bed, making a show of patience.

Lawrence side-eyed him, but said nothing else until he had his phone at his ear. “Good evening, Lynette. I see your people have been trying to get in touch with me. I’m afraid I’ve been indisposed.”

DJ mouthed a mocking ‘indisposed’ at Lawrence, along with his most judgemental look. Lawrence, to no surprise, ignored him.

DJ didn’t need to have supernatural hearing to catch Lynette’s response, as she screamed it down the phone. “How dare you make such a mockery of our laws? Spin me stories full of bare-faced lies and attack the humans in the city I’m sworn to protect!”

“Oh. Well, I was hoping to do a big reveal after you executed Shaun for his role in the whole thing, but it appears he’s convinced you of his innocence. No matter. Is my pet there?”

DJ went rigid. If Shaun knew what DJ had done…

“Shaun is here. I don’t know what I’ll gain from letting him speak to you, however.”

“It’s more about whathecan gain from speaking tome. I have something of his that I imagine he might want back.”

“Deej?” That wasn’t the voice DJ had been expecting.

“Rake!” he shouted, frantic, trying to grab at the phone before getting batted back by Lawrence.

The next few seconds descended into a farcical display. DJ tried to get at the phone as Rake yelled down it from the other end, and Lawrence attempted to keep the phone outof DJ’s reach whilst holding onto his dignity when being climbed by a chunky six-foot vampire. It didn’t quite work for either of them.

Lawrence muted their side of the call before chucking the phone onto the bed, DJ scrabbling after it. Which, of course, was Lawrence’s intention. He pounced on DJ, holding him down hard. “Stop fighting. Stay quiet and don’t leave the bed,” Lawrence hissed, before taking the phone and standing up.

DJ turned around from where he was lying, watching as Lawrence unmuted. “Rakesh, I’m surprised you survived. You looked rather worse for wear when we left you. Not to worry, though, I’ve been taking excellent care of your boy.”

“If you’ve hurt him—” That time, it wasn’t Rake who spoke.

“Oh, there you are, pet,” Lawrence crooned down the phone to Shaun. “Are you regretting refusing my orders yet?”

“Enough!” Lynette said. “Weston, you will report to the club to face the accusations made against you.”

“No. I come bearing demands.”

“Of course you do,” Lynette said. “And before you bother to tell me what they are, I’m going to let you know I won’t be capitulating to any of them.”

“Hand yourself over, Lynette. Shaun, you too. We’ll have a lovely reunion. Or I kill DJ. It’s that simple.”

There was only silence on the other end of the line. DJ assumed they’d muted, because there was no way Rake and Shaun didn’t have an opinion on Lawrence’s words. DJ himself only felt numb at the threat.

Lawrence looked at DJ triumphantly. “I’ll own this city by sundown tomorrow.”

At DJ’s mutinous glare and unsuccessful attempt at a response, Lawrence granted him one small favour. “You can speak.”

“You’re still of the belief that this isn’t an evil plan?”

Lawrence harrumphed. “I will accept that it is, perhaps, nefarious.”

“That’s just evil with extra syllables.”

Lawrence flounced out of the room like a moody teenager, phone in hand. DJ hoped he might have got away with the marginal freedom of being uncuffed, but Lawrence called back, “Put one of those cuffs on and attach the other to the headboard, or I’ll think of a suitable punishment for you!”

DJ sighed as he did what Lawrence asked. He knew he shouldn’t have projected his thoughts so loudly. Shit. Could Lawrence hear his thoughts? He stared intently at the door.Lawrence is a fucking bastard,he thought, then waited.

Nothing.

DJ tried again.Lawrence should throw himself out of the top-floor window.Still nothing.

Lawrence moved around downstairs, continuing what sounded like a very one-sided conversation over the phone for a few seconds before going quiet.