Page 139 of Taste of Blood

“You know it?”

“I’ve used it. From what I understand, it was developed to kill vamps. Incinerates them from the inside out. It’s what we’re using in our crossbows to hunt the Python’s men.”

“Why would they create something like that?”

“Obviously as an efficient means to eliminate vamps.”

“And you say you’re using this now? Where did you get it?”

“Fucking Uno. He told me he developed it.” He looks back down at the paper in his hand. “Son of a bitch. Is this fucker playing us?”

“So you’re telling me there’s someone in Dante’s organization who has a drug developed by the company Thalium just purchased? How did he get it?”

“I don’t know but I’m sure as hell going to find out.”

He stands up and looks like he’s going to leave, but I move in front of him, blocking his escape.

“I need to go, Ash.”

“No, wait a minute. It’s late, and you said it yourself, the Black Guild has taken over the Python investigation. What are you going to do?”

“I need to tell Dante. I need to string that snake Uno up in the basement and make him talk.”

“And you will. But not tonight. If the Black Guild is cutting you all out, you need to be smart about how you handle this. I don’t know a lot about them, but I do know this–they have zero tolerance for Clan members disobeying their orders. If they findout you’re investigating this on your own, the punishment could be severe.”

“How severe?”

“Imprisonment or death.”

“Fuck. Dante asked me to stay on this without letting them know.”

Figures. Once again Dante is using Cord without any regard for his wellbeing. Half of me hopes the Black Guild strips him of his power.

“There’s nothing you can do about it tonight.”

“I could at least warn Dante about Uno. He’s got to be working with Thalium.”

“That makes no sense. Why would he give you the drug to use against the Python’s men if he’s working with him?”

“I don’t know. I thought it was odd that Dante brought him in out of the blue. I had heard he was part of a Japanese death squad.”

“Maybe that’s what they were doing with the drug. That would be the equivalent of a military application, right?”

“I guess so. I don’t know a lot about death squads. It’s really an Asian thing.”

He pulls away from me and starts to pace. “None of this makes sense. It’s like the more we learn, the less we know.”

“I think all we do know is Thalium has his own agenda. He’s like some kind of evil genius.”

He snorts. “Some evil genius. I spent the day spying on him.”

“How did you do that?”

“From the roof of the building across the street from his Park Avenue apartment. Other than a visitor in the morning, he did absolutely nothing all day. I’m supposed to go back tomorrow.”

So that’s where he’s been today. I don’t like that Dante has him disobeying a direct order from the Black Guild. What if he was spotted?

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. What if they see you?”