Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“Excuse me?”
“Well, you could simply throw the purse away in order to dispose of the gum. Easily done. I think a more appropriate metaphor would be a large hairy mole or a perhaps an exotic venereal disease. Now those are difficult to get rid of—a much better choice if you wish to insult a person.”
Was he really schooling me on insults right now?
I began mixing my cereal with the beer, and it immediately overflowed with fizzy bubbles, so I set it in the sink with a grumble. “I’m tired, hungry, and in no mood for you right now, so I am going to ask you one last time to leave.” I stepped forward and poked his extremely firm chest. “Because you and me? We aren’t on the same team no more.” I doubted we ever were.
“I suppose you are on Team Charlie Cross now?” He sounded amused, as if the idea were beneath him.
“Yes,” I replied.
“And you also wish to fuck him?” He laughed.
So Stark had been there tonight, listening to every word outside the Rooster. But why hadn’t he fallen for the trap?
“What’s so dang funny?” I snapped.
“You knew I would be keeping an eye on you.”
“And?” I said.
“You put on that display in an attempt to make me jealous. Honestly, I found it amusing.”
So that was why Charlie’s little exhibition failed. Stark hadn’t believed the show. It also explained why Stark was here, in such a good mood after our last altercation. Stark’s manipulative, calculating mind told him I was playing a game in order to win him back.
Interesting. Had I finally found his true Achilles’ heel? Stark believed that everyone acted with ulterior motives instead of just saying what was on their minds. In this case, however, he was partially right. I had been up to something, and the good news? He had no clue what it was.
Stark added, “But, Masie, if you wish to make me jealous, at least choose someone worthy. That fool Charlie is no match for me.”
Shows what you know, Stark. Charlie was out there rounding up the bad vampires to stave off a war, in addition to ensuring the Repurposed People Act would get shot down.
And what was Stark doing? Bupkus.
Sadly, I couldn’t shove any of this in his face. In fact, it would be wiser to lead his calculating mind away from our plans.
“A worthy match?” I said. “You mean like your brother?”
Stark’s smug grin melted off his handsome face. I’d hit a nerve. Good. I didn’t want him focused on why I’d really kissed Charlie.
“Lazlo was a fool and in no way my equal,” he said with a snarl.
“You sure? Because like you, Lazlo only cared about power. He’d lie, steal, and kill to get it. Sound familiar?”
“How dare you speak to me in such a manner? Lazlo kidnapped and tortured you. Whereas I was willing to give up everything to help you.”
Help? Stark got me put away for murder all because he’d been jealous of the time I’d spent with Lazlo. As a freaking prisoner! With my sister!
Now I was triggered.
“No,” I corrected. “You did it for you. All you care about is coming out on top no matter what. You said so yourself.” He would only take a stand against the bill if he gained sufficient support from other powerful vampires. Otherwise, tough noogies, humans!
“It is called living to fight another day.”
“How many days does one man need before he’ll step up? When does he decide that this day is worth fighting for? Because you’ve had five hundred years of days, and here you are, doing nothing but playing politics while the world is about to sink into a pit so dark and bloody, there’ll be nothing left worth livin’ for. Not even for a vampire. Because without free, happy people and our love of sunshine, friends, and family, there’ll be no vineyards, no wine, no festive holiday air fresheners to mask the scent of your putrid antiques. Every tiny thing that makes your shallow life enjoyable will die when you turn us into nothing more than food.”
He narrowed his eyes, but he knew I was right.
I added, “I see you, Montgomery Stark. But do you see me? Do you see what’s really at stake?”
“Twenty-twenty vision, woman.” He turned to leave.
“And don’t even think of making my living room look like a Dateline episode again!” Though, going to prison with a bunch of murderers was probably safer than being out here.
He stopped for a moment, as if contemplating a few final words, but then marched out the door instead.
Maybe he knew there wasn’t much more he could say. I was ready to fight to the death for this world, and he wasn’t.
“In case you’re still listening,” I yelled, “we are over. Done. And there’s nothing you can do about it.” Not even if he pickled me in moonshine. “And stop drugging my family!”