“I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
“Because your city sucks,” Colin told his brother. “You’re low on blood and you catch humans and make them serve you.”
Yikes.
Sounded like I’d dodged a bullet by living in the city I lived in.
“That’s not true,” Norman said.
“It’s true.”
“A merger would be good for both of us.”
“It would only be good for you.”
“Don’t act like you aren’t running out of blood,” Norman said. “I know your hospital is in trouble.”
Colin and I both stilled, staring at Norman. How could he know that? Over the past few months, there had been attacks against humans. People had gone missing, as well. There was a general sense of anxiety that filled the city. Nobody knew what was happening, really, or whether it was something we needed to worry about.
Still, there had been shortages of blood. People were still donating, but only what was required. More and more humans were choosing not to give additional donations of blood, and this was beginning to be a problem. As far as I knew, no vampire had starved, but it could potentially happen if we didn’t get everything under control again.
“Excuse me?” Colin said. He wasn’t going to give his brother the satisfaction of acknowledging that he was right. Norman didn’t seem to be bothered by this. That was perhaps the strangest thing about watching the vampire duo interact. One cast shade and the other one just cast it right back.
“Tell me how your hospitals are run,” Norman said, changing the subject. He leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. He didn’t seem tense, yet he was adding physical distance between himself and his brother.
Colin looked to me. He raised an eyebrow. Neither one of us was entirely comfortable with this quick change-of-subject, but Colin seemed like he was going to let me handle the strange question.
“Each citizen is required to give blood once a week,” I told Norman. “Local vampires and companies are allowed to place orders for blood, which are then filled. If someone orders too much blood or places an order on short notice, it might not be filled.”
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning if you walk into the hospital and try to tell me you need eighteen bags of blood, I might not be able to make it happen.”
There were multiple hospitals and blood donation centers, but I worked at the biggest one. It was the primary hospital where patients sought care, and it was the best place to donate blood. The team members at my hospital worked their asses off to make sure everyone was comfortable and that we were able to distribute as much blood as possible.
“So, you work at the hospital,” he commented.
Shit.
Well, there went my “I’m an advisor” cover. I’d tried.
“I’m a consultant,” I finally said.
“For my brother and for the hospital.”
“Something like that.”
“Well,” he said. “Sounds like a conflict of interest.”
“The hospital isn’t in trouble,” Colin lied, but Norman wasn’t about to accept that at all.
“Lies.”
“Look,” Colin slammed his hands on the table. Apparently, all of his patience was now gone. “I said I didn’t want to merge. That is enough. I do not need to justify myself to you, and I certainly don’t need to take shit from a vampire like you.” He spat the words out, glaring at his brother. Norman seemed unconcerned with Colin’s sudden decision to shout. I had the sinking feeling that Norman had been hoping Colin would lose control. He had goaded him, and he’d gotten a rise out of Colin.