Page 11 of New Nebraska Heat

Wow. Even I, having suffered so much from unwanted touch, had been lavished with my real parents’ hugs, been able to play games with kids without fear, held hands with and kissed a boy when I was fourteen.

“And I’ve searched for a cure,” he continued. “Never found one.”

“I’m sorry to hear, all of it.” I wished I could say or do more. I respected him so much for what he’d done with Midas and now learning this, and seeing what a good guy he seemed to be and a close friend of Hunter’s. My heart ached for him, and I absentmindedly rubbed a hand over my chest.

Bryce’s eyes followed my hand. “Your compassion means more than I can say. I don’t usually like sympathy. But I promised honesty. And it has been tough and sometimes—” His voice cracked with emotion.

Hunter chimed in. “Take a deep breath. It’s been one of thosenights.” They gave each other a long look then Hunter turned to me. “So, if you’re ready, it’s your turn to talk about tough things. Bryce mentioned a vampire?”

It was my turn. And while I hadn’t shared personal things with anyone in years—seven long years—Bryce had been open with me and deserved the same. And more than that, Hunter had already earned my trust and deserved to know what had just happened in his club. “There was someone in the audience,” I spoke quickly. “Someone who hurt me very badly in the past.” I tried to get the words out faster, so I wouldn’t feel their weight, but my eyes blurred with tears.

Hunter’s hand tightened into a fist on his desk and he leaned forward in his chair. “And who would thissomeonebe?” he growled, but I could tell his anger wasn’t directed at me.

“He was… one of the worst. Of the ones that… hurt me.” I struggled to admit the feeding den details.

Hunter’s face was calm, but a vein pulsed in his muscular neck. “One of the worst that hurt you? Who were the others?”

Bryce’s attention was also focused on me, though he sat quietly, waiting for my answer.

“All vamps.”

Neither looked surprised by my answer.

“I’m sorry, Bryce,” I said softly.

He jerked back. “Why?”

“I never finished high school or went to college. Like I led on. I was sold to a feeding den when I was fifteen. By my foster parents. They betrayed me.” My legs shook and I shuffled over to perch on the desk.

Bryce made a move to get up, maybe instinctively wanting to help me, then took a deep breath and settled back down.

“My grandma was almost ninety. In a care home with early-stage dementia. I had nobody but her. After my parents died in a car crash.” My chin trembled. “So, I went to foster parents, theones that sold me. I had no idea when we drove across the border to New Nebraska why we were here. They told the border patrol it was just a day trip to visit a vamp friend.” I paused, waiting to see their reaction. They didn’t show any signs of judgement. Though Hunter looked almost as pale as Bryce had before. “I was used for seven years in the feeding den.”

“Seven years!?” Hunter’s eyes went wild. “And you said this guy was the worst?”

I nodded, my tears finally spilling over. I sniffed and wiped at my face as Bryce leaned over for a box of tissues on the side table by the couch. He nudged it across the floor to me.

I reached down, plucked out two and dabbed at my eyes. “Conrad. He gave me this mark on my neck.”

Hunter stood, both hands clenched into fists now. He eased them as he spoke to me. “You know this feeding den location? Or this Conrad guy’s last name?”

“No. Neither.”

Hunter pulled out his phone, and swiped and tapped as he spoke to me. “We’ll start by asking Franco and the guys if they know this vamp. At the very least, we have him on camera tonight and I’ll make sure everyone’s seen his photo and knows he’s blacklisted. Forever. But if they see him, to have Franco or Stratos grab this Conrad Fuckface by his scrawny neck and hold him till the cops come.”

I nodded. “Thanks, Hunter.”

“I’m going to dig on this guy too,” Bryce said. “If he doesn’t show his face again, maybe we’ll still find enough out to hand it over to the police, and nail his slimy ass.”

“God, I can only hope. Thank you so much. Both of you.” My worries about Conrad were slowly easing.

“But in the meantime, it’s possible this bastard might try to hurt you again, right?” Bryce asked.

I pressed the soft tissues to my eyes. “Yeah. He said, um, well he said ‘until next time’ before he left.”

“Then you’re staying at my place.” Hunter said it like he was talking about the weather. Not like it was about me moving in with my boss.

“Uh, what now?” I slipped off the desk.