17
Bronywyn
The harsh truth of Tarnley’s words settles around me as I look from Deissy to the dead vampires. “They did this because of us? Our relationship?”
He nods. “According to that fucker, they did.”
The hesitant way he’s watching me, I can tell he’s waiting for me to crumble… For the fact that they are targeting those around us because of their own prejudices to make me second-guess our relationship. “Fuck him. Fuck all of them. Our relationship has nothing to do with any of them.”
Tarnley’s shoulders relax. “I agree.”
“They’re dead now, so problem solved.”
“For now, it is,” he agrees. “But there will always be more. They’ll never leave us alone, Bronywyn. Not as long as we’re together.”
“We’re not separating because of these assholes.”
He steps over the bodies and grips both of my arms. Narrowing his eyes on my face, he shakes his head. “Never. There is no world where we are not together, Bronywyn. We just need to be more careful.”
Tears fill my eyes. “So we hide away? Like we’re ashamed?”
He opens his mouth to respond, but the half-dozen vehicles that pull into the lot cut him off. “I’m going to go talk to Brad.”
Shoving my pain back down, I nod. “I’ll stay with Deissy in case she wakes up. I don’t want her to be alone.”
“Thanks.” Tarnley leans forward and presses a kiss to my forehead before blurring away and out into the lot. From here, I can’t hear them talking, but as cleaners flood the tiny golf course, I can imagine what it is they’re discussing.
Kneeling beside Deissy, I brush the multi-colored hair out of her face and fight the urge to cry.
To scream.
One fucking night. I wanted one fucking night of peace, and instead, I got war. Minutes pass as I sit here, staring at the human woman who had her entire life turned upside down tonight. Even if Fearghas can erase her memory of what happened, she still lost a friend—a man who was in her life and is now gone.
“Hey.”
I glance up and into Rainey’s dark gaze. Lips flattened into a tight line, she looks completely beat down. “How many dead?” I ask while her expression leads me to believe we’ve got more than one human.
“Five. Two couples and the one behind the snack bar. The others were on the outskirts of the course.”
“Fucking bastards.” A sob breaks free, and I cover my mouth with the back of my hand. I’ve never been weak, but despite everything I’ve seen, death is still not something I’m overly accustomed to. Not like the hardened detective in front of me.
And even she looks like she’s struggling with what happened.
“It wasn’t yours or Tarnley’s fault,” Rainey says softly as she leans back against the door. “This the reason I brought a beat cop to a crime scene?”
As if on cue, a man calls out, “Deissy!”
“In here!” I yell back and straighten as a red-haired man rushes in. The second he sees her, he slides to his knees and gathers her into his arms.
“Deissy? Baby? Wake up.” He strokes her forehead then looks up at me, helpless anguish written all over his face. “Is she going to be okay?”
“She is. I gave her something to calm her nerves, and it made her sleepy.”
He nods, gently stroking her cheek. “You’re a doctor, then?”
I look to Rainey.
“Something like that,” she replies, the half-truth rolling easily off her tongue.