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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ZAND

N atasha and I exited through the back of The Castle into a narrow alley that seemed to tighten as we move deeper into it. Nick stood there guarding the door. Dim lights flickered against brick walls, creating an uneven strobe of illumination that caught the gleam of someone up ahead. She was waiting for me, Teresa. Her arms were folded defiantly. I signaled to Natasha, knowing that Teresa has already spotted us approaching.

Teresa’s silhouette took shape beneath the low beam streetlights, the angles of her body were as sharp and cutting as her demeanor. She never got the hint. She wanted the attention, my attention. I could see her eyes narrow in our direction. She produced a half-smile on her lips like she knew a secret and couldn’t wait to spill it. She didn’t understand that I don’t give a shit.

Natasha followed me at a distance. She was close enough to hear us and close enough to access any threats that could be lingering around us.

“You brought your Russian attack dog,” Teresa called out, her voice echoed like the wicked witch she’d always been, the witch I didn’t notice when I thought I loved her. I ignored the insult. Natasha didn’t take too kindly to insults, but she knew how to keep her cool. She was trained in ways I didn’t even understand.

“Alexander, we have things to discuss.” She said evenly.

Her words hit with the force she intended, but I kept moving closer to her. I sensed Natasha’s steady presence behind me.

“Does your dog know how to sit and stay?” Teresa tilted her head and pretended to look puzzled. Her mockery clawed at my patience.

Teresa waited for a reaction, any hint that she unsettled me or my head of security. We would never give her what she wanted. I will never give her what she craved— me. The woman I once thought was so sweet now smelled like a dying, wilting flower.

“Do your vocal cords work, Zandy?” She taunted.

“You should leave Chicago,” I said as I stood inches from her smug face.

“Still bossy, I see,” Teresa replied and cackled like a hyena. Her laughter was sharp and annoying. “You can’t force me out without starting a war.”

“You sound ridiculous. What war?”

“You’re one vampire. I’m the one with the army.” I glanced back at Natasha, who was stone-faced and ready to pounce.

“You don’t know what I have.”

That was true, but I didn’t care what she was alluding to.

“I’ve warned you so many times.”

“Ha, warned me. Who are you to warn me? I get what I want or there will be trouble. We both know you don’t have the stomach for a real fight.”

“Why would I fight you when I could just as easily kill you? I don’t care about your life. You are the past.”

Teresa rolled her eyes. “If you think I’m the past when I am clearly standing here in the present, you are an idiot.”

“The name calling doesn’t move me. You better leave Chicago. You better leave the state of Illinois. On second thought, you better leave the entire Midwest.”

“Valentine, Valentine, my fucking, Valentine. I have the right to live in any state I choose.” Teresa turned away slightly, feigning disinterest.

“Vampires don’t have rights. It’s laughable that you think so.”

“Semantics.” She smirked. “You always have to be right.”

“I could end you and absolutely no one would care.”

“But you’re not. You have vampire morals.”

“You think you know me so well.”

“I know you better than you know yourself.”

Teresa wasn’t going to make this easy for me. Not that I expected her to.

“This is all about your stupid little nurse. I won’t kill her if you would just forgive me.”

Now it was my time to chuckle. “You fucked my father and my brother. There is no forgiveness.”

“Why must you harp on the past? I did what I did, and you did what you did.”

“You are fucking delusional. I didn’t do anything to you.”

“Maybe, maybe not.” She added. “You don’t scare me. You never did. She is a human, but I, I, would die for you.”

“Good! Go die! Go die far away from me!” I found myself yelling and reeled myself back in.

“Chanel, your precious pediatric nurse will die before I do.”

“Don’t you dare threaten my girl.”

“I just did. What are you going to do?”

“There are so many ways to torture a vampire. I didn’t teach you anything about us.”

“Teach me. We have been separated for five long years. I picked up some things along the way. You’re not the only vampire in the world.”

Our pointed conversation halted when a human couple entered the dark alleyway, laughing. Me, Teresa, and Natasha stood frozen as the couple walked hand in hand toward us.

“Hey, is this where the party is?” The tipsy women asked.

“No, ma’am, it’s inside.” I answered while nodding at her male companion. He wasn’t as jovial as the lady. There was a tinge of fear in his eyes. I wasn’t sure if I was the one that looked menacing or maybe it was Natasha.

“Woo hoo, that’s where I want to be.” The woman proclaimed.

“Have fun!” I said as the couple passed us in the alley.

“Oh my god, you are so fucking hot.” The woman drunkenly declared as her eyes roamed over my body.

“Sorry, mister. She’s ya’ know.” He removed a hand from the lady to mimic drinking from a cup.

“No problem.” I responded in the friendliest voice I had locked inside me.

The man grabbed the woman closely. “Shut the fuck up before you get my ass kicked.” The guy gritted his teeth and whispered in his drunk companion’s ear. But as vampires, I believe we all heard it.

We waited until they turned the corner where the sidewalk led to the front of the building.

“Teresa, this is your last chance. Leave town.”

I glanced over at Natasha, catching the gleam of her eyes. She’s ready for anything. Her loyalty to me was absolute. As much as Natasha loved women intimately, she also loved having one as an opponent.

Teresa looked between us with a mocking smile tugging at her thin lips.

“I’m not afraid of your pit bull. You have a whole security team now.” Teresa looked down the alley at Nick, standing at the side door in the distance. “Why aren’t you man enough to talk to me alone?”

“I’m not a man. I’m a vampire. You seem to forget I gave you a new life. I brought you into my world and I can take the life I gave just as swiftly.”

“Well, you’re not vampire enough.” She teased.

The insult didn’t work. I was more than vampire enough. I had already had a one-on-one conversation with her. I was tired of talking.

“This isn’t a negotiation. There are no terms.”

“Then why does it feel like you’re begging me to leave town?” She asked, turning her back on me and taking a few steps. She wanted me to follow. I kept a safe distance between us. I didn’t trust her.

Teresa was too calm. She was up to something. So, I called her out. Maybe she would show her hand.

“You’re planning something.” I stated. “What is it?”

She stopped and spun around to face me. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

I pressed my hands into fists, then released my fingers to dangle at my sides. “You should return to Los Angeles. I don’t want to involve Gillian.”

The mention of my father’s name registered in her eyes and made her jaw clench. “He’s your father, not mine. Fuck him and fuck California. I’m not afraid of Gillian. Zand, I came from you.”

A take a long breath out. I couldn’t let her see how much I was fighting to keep control. “There’s nothing here for you.”

Teresa gave me a look that sliced through the chilly night air. “We’ll see about that.”

We’ve reached the end of the alley. A siren wailed in the distance. I knew the sounds of the city well. This time, it was an ambulance. I turned to her once again. This time my words were measured and final.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Teresa shrugged. Her confidence was unshaken. “Warnings aren’t worth much from someone who can’t back them up.”

She was so wrong. Teresa didn’t understand the lengths I’d gone to in order to protect Chanel. She didn’t know I’d already killed one person who dared threaten my Chanel. Lonzo was floating in Lake Michigan because he harmed the woman I loved. Teresa didn’t know I was on track to kill Marisol for stalking the human I vowed to protect.

I look backed at Natasha. She was right. I was going to have to take Teresa out myself or give the order to Natasha. We had delivered the message, even if Teresa refused to hear it. I felt it now. I was going to have to let Natasha kill my ex. Taking lives, human, or vampire lives wasn’t my way of life, but in this instance, I was going to have to get rid of all the threats. I wanted things to go back to normal.

Although I didn’t see any prying eyes around to witness our feud. I couldn’t kill her now with so many humans walking the streets. They tended to appear from out of nowhere sometimes. I couldn’t kill Teresa this close to my place of business. The city was riddled with video cameras, some residential and some posted by law enforcement.

“This could all be over if you would dump the nurse and let me take my place by your side.” Teresa stared at me with eyes dark and calculating. “Does your Chanel Taylor know you’re out here with me?”

I didn’t respond at first. I had to gather myself and answer her with a steady tone. “I will never be with you. You must know that you disgust me.” I could see in her face that she felt the weight of my hateful words.

Teresa looked at me with defiance. “That’s too bad. I don’t have anything to lose. If you are willing to risk your little human’s life, then so be it.”

My clenched jaw felt like it could shatter. I inhale. “There’s nothing to risk. Accept your life if you don’t remove yourself from mine.”

“Do it then! Kill me!” She dared.

I was tired of repeating myself. But it seemed I owed her at least one more warning before I plotted and planned her final death.

“I warned you.” I said to her, knowing I was speaking to deaf ears.

“You used to be more fun,” she said, moving around me like a shark smelling blood. “Or have you forgotten?”

“I haven’t forgotten,” I said, turning to follow her movements. “If I wasn’t fun, you would’ve been dead a long time ago. I remember every moment of our past, every betrayal, every lie and every deceitful minute.”

“That was the past. You have to get over it.”

“I don’t have to do anything.”

“It’s like I said. You’re not man enough to do what it takes.”

Her words sunk deep. “What you want is a war,” I tell her. “And I won’t give it to you.”

“I just want you to be honest,” she said, feigning innocence. “If that’s still possible.”

“Honest about what?” I asked.

“Chicago isn’t big enough for me and the nurse?” Teresa smiled like she had already won.

“It won’t be if you stay,” I said. “Think about what happened last time.”

She moved to stand right in front of me. Too close. She loved pushing the limits. “I have,” she said. “Maybe it’s your turn to remember.”

I stared at her, refusing to back down. The muffled bass of The Castle thrummed like a distant heartbeat.

“There’s nothing left for you here.” I tell her again. “You have to know that.”

She takes her time, letting the silence grow before answering. “If you’re so sure, then why are you so scared? Make a move.”

I hold my breath, willing myself not to react. “You’re the one who’s scared,” I said. “Of being alone. Of being nothing.”

Natasha remained behind me, solid and sure. I took strength in it; in knowing I’m not alone in this fight. “Your cat and mouse games are boring. Your time is up.”

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.