Page 44 of Tempted By Blood

“That’s the biggest crock of shit I’ve ever heard.”

She leveled me with a glare and pulled open the front door.

“Shit,” I said when my gaze fell on the woman staring back at me on the other side, just as shocked to see me as I was her.

Helena whirled around when she saw the expression on my face, her shoulders rigid, undoubtedly in slight shock at the sight of Melina Clark.

The woman’s eyes opened like saucers and she gasped, looking between us twice before bolting down the hall.

Helena in pursuit.

Eighteen

LENI

Melina must have followed me. She knew I’d be too out of my mind to notice.

That bitch.

I rounded the corner just in time to see her sliding into an elevator. I knew I wouldn’t make it, so I raced to the stairwell. Silas’s heavy footfalls were at my heels, catching up the moment I began the descent to the first floor.

“She can’t make it out of this building.”

“Agreed,” he said, taking the lead as we reached the final landing. “North elevators are this way.”

People stared and parted as we raced through the lobby, but being inconspicuous wasn’t an option. Melina couldn’t get away. If she managed to evade us and give the word back to London, Silas and I were as good as dead.

“Bathroom,” I said, pushing open the door. One by one, I kicked open each stall.

Empty.

Silas shook his head as he exited the men’s side. In unison, we moved toward the automatic doors and exited the hotel.

“Melina was in a rideshare this morning. Chances are that’s still the case, and she’s close by waiting unless the driver was still here.” I pulled out the cell phone Santino had supplied. I wasn’t expecting her to answer, but to my surprise, she picked up on the second ring.

“You’re dead, Leni.”

“Are you threatening me?” I asked, aware of her background and recognizing it as street noise.

“You’ve committed treason against The Six. Fraternizing with your mark? I can’t believe you. When my father finds out—”

“It’s not what you think.” I signaled for Silas to head west while I ran up the east side of the street. Melina wasn’t in a car. She was on foot and didn’t have that much of a jump on us, so she had to be close. Out of breath and scared.

Running for her literal life.

Killing Cillian’s only daughter wasn’t something I ever thought I’d be forced to do, but she hadn’t left me another option. It was her life or mine.

And Silas.

The whisper of his name crept into my thoughts, but I swallowed it down. Silas would die anyway.

It had to be.

“Where are you? Let’s talk.”

“No, fuck no. You’re going to kill me, even though you know that will only end badly for you. So, if you have any last words, I suggest you spill them now. I’m hanging up and ringing my father.”

I had to keep her talking. “Mel, wait. What you think you saw—”