Blood and Buttercups (A Vampire’s Guide to Gardening #1)

Chapter 24

24

“Are you all right over there?” Cassian asks when he notices my distress.

I look up. “You. You left at the same time.”

“I have an exceptional sense of smell and above-average hearing, but I can’t read minds. Care to elaborate further?”

“You left with Olivia last night.” I squeeze my phone in my grasp and then lower my voice. “Did you take her to Ethan?”

Cassian frowns. “Olivia and I parted as soon as we left the house. She was talking to Max when I pulled out.”

I eye him, calling my brother. He answers almost immediately.

“Did you talk to her?” he demands.

“Ethan has her.”

Max is quiet for several seconds, and then his voice goes hard. “Ethan…your stalker? ”

“Did Cassian leave before you last night?”

“He did.” His voice sounds absent, like he’s panicking a little.

“Was he around when you were making plans to meet at the coffee shop this morning?”

“No, I don’t think so. Piper, we have to call the police.”

My vampire babysitter leans against the counter, wearing a look of practiced patience.

“The police won’t do anything, and NIHA is pretending the situation doesn’t exist,” I say.

“We have to do something!” Max exclaims.

“We are.”

“What?”

I eye Cassian. “We’re going to go after her ourselves. Get over here, and we’ll figure out a plan.”

As soon as I hang up, Cassian says, “I take it that’s what your cryptic questioning was about? Ethan has Olivia?”

“Do you still want to go after him?”

“I do, but you know Noah won’t approve of you playing hunter, don’t you?”

I do know that, and that’s why, despite a heck of a lot of reservations, I say, “Then maybe we won’t tell Noah.”

Cassian lifts his brows. “Let me read Ethan’s text.”

I hand him my phone and watch as he scrolls back to read all the messages. I shift forward nervously when he begins to type, reaching for my phone. “What are you saying?”

He angles away, not letting me take it. “I’m asking where he wants to meet.”

“I am more than capable of sending a text.”

“I’m aware.”

Cassian barely hits send before there’s a reply.

“What did he say?” I demand, trying to snatch my phone again, irritated he won’t give it to me and that he’s so annoyingly tall.

The vampire scans it, and then he finally hands me the cell. “He wants to meet you at his restaurant—and he’s requested you come alone.” Crossing his arms, he leans against the counter, reminding me of a human version of a panther. “Rather cliché of him, if you ask me.”

“I’ll go.”

“And what will you do once you’re in there?” He waits for me to give him an answer, looking a lot like a smug teacher who called on a clueless student in class and is amused by her stammering.

“I…don’t know.” I huff out a breath that ruffles my bangs. “Stake him, I guess?”

He laughs at the idea.

“I stabbed him with a pencil the night he infected me,” I argue.

“A pencil and a stake are two very different things.”

“Fine, what would you do?”

“You wouldn’t like my methods.”

“Tell me anyway.”

“I’d set fire to his building and smoke him out.”

“That’s arson. ”

He shrugs. “I said you wouldn’t like it.”

“You can’t just go starting fires in the middle of town! Besides, the restaurant was part of a larger building. You’d put countless lives at risk.”

“I doubt he’ll bring Olivia to the restaurant anyway. I wish we knew his home address.” He pauses, thinking. “I have an idea. Go ahead and meet him. Max and I will follow you when you leave the restaurant and take care of the rest.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Save your friend, ensure Ethan gets the punishment he deserves, and maybe even return Noah to his job.” He raises his eyebrows, awfully proud of himself, especially considering he hasn’t done anything yet.

“Has anyone ever told you you’re a bit cocky?”

He laughs. “It’s come up once or twice.”

“You really think this will work?”

“I’m positive.”

“What about Noah?”

“I’ll call him as I’m tailing you. Don’t worry. The plan is solid—indestructible even.”

“That’s what they said about the Titanic, and that didn’t go so well.”

His face becomes solemn, and he stares into space. “I was on the Titanic…”

“Were you really?”

“No.” He starts walking toward the living room. “Let’s go.”

I realize as I’m walking over the fancy bridge outside the restaurant that I’m putting a lot of faith in a vampire.

How do I even know Cassian’s been taking his meds?

He said he had a plan, and I blindly believed him. But it’s too late to question it now. Two large men stand outside the restaurant like sentries, their eyes on me. One has coppery brown hair, and the other’s is light brown.

Both are wearing headsets.

Were they friends with the thug Noah killed? If so, they’re not going to like me much.

“Hello, Miss Edwards,” the one with the reddish hair says when I reach them, his voice deep and monotone.

Since this is the furthest thing from a date, I didn’t dress up today. So I tremble in my sneakers.

“I’m here to see Ethan,” I say stupidly. When they don’t so much as blink, I add, “Mr. Brennan? He’s expecting me…”

Contemplating me with the impassive expression of a Buckingham Palace guard, the one with the short brown hair lifts his hand to his ear. “Miss Edwards has arrived.”

This is weird as heck.

I feel very alone standing out here. Cassian said he and Max would follow, but I didn’t see them the entire drive over, and I checked my rearview mirror constantly. He’s either really good at trailing people, or the vampire got distracted.

“I’ll escort her inside.” The guard lowers his hand and opens the door for me, gesturing me forward.

The lights are dim, and water gently cascades down the water feature along the wall. Light instrumental music plays, just loud enough to hear, soft enough it’s not jarring. Unlike last time, all the tables I can see are empty.

The guard deposits me with a hostess. Feeling edgy, I check my back pocket, making sure my phone is still there. I’m not going to risk leaving it somewhere this time.

“I’ll take you to your table,” the hostess says. “Mr. Brennan is waiting.”

I swallow as I follow her, my eyes on her fitted black dress and heels. It’s absurd considering the situation, but I feel a little silly in my jean shorts and tank top. Would I feel more confident if I’d dressed up? Less out of my element and more like I know what I’m doing? Fancy armor and all that.

But then we turn the corner, and my clothes don’t matter anymore.

Ethan sits at the table we were at before, facing the entrance. His blond hair is smoothed back in a tidy tail, and he wears a red polo shirt like he’s going to go golfing after this. Nothing about him is intimidating, but I still remember the sting of his fangs.

Save Ethan, the restaurant is completely empty.

I swallow a lump in my throat. A cold, slimy knot coils in my stomach as the hostess leads me to him, and adrenaline spikes my veins. I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to face him again, especially alone. All I want to do is run.

But I can’t because who knows what he’ll do to Olivia if I try to dart. And besides, I wouldn’t get very far with the thugs guarding the door.

“Hello, Piper,” Ethan says smoothly, his lips tipping in a genuine smile that now strikes me as incredibly creepy. “It’s been too long.”

I take the seat across from him, clasping my hands in my lap so he won’t see the way they shake. “Where’s Olivia?”

“Olivia is fine. She seemed tense, so I arranged for a spa day.” His smile grows as his eyes move across my face. “I feel like a man lost in the desert, and you are the oasis. Just looking at you has quenched my thirst. Such a sight for sore eyes. I’ve missed you, Piper.”

“Olivia is at a spa?” I rack my brain, trying to think of all the ones in the area.

“In my home.” He smiles benevolently. “I have a masseuse on staff.”

You don’t have to be a mind reader to decipher his expression. It says, “ Become my vampire girlfriend and live your undead life with me, and you can enjoy spa days, too. ”

Before we left, Cassian warned me not to agitate Ethan. I’m supposed to treat him with caution and act like I’m glad to be here.

I didn’t realize it was going to be this difficult.

“That sounds nice,” I force myself to say.

Ethan’s eyes light with satisfaction. “I’d hoped you’d like it.” He then turns his attention to the silent server that appeared a few seconds ago and waits near the wall. He snaps twice, crime boss style, and then looks back at me. “Would you like the salmon again? Though I expect you might enjoy a steak now?”

“I’ve gone back to a plant-based diet now that I’m on the prescription.”

Ethan looks flummoxed. “Your doctor explained that final stage vampires are carnivores, right? I’m afraid you’re going to have to get over your aversion to meat.”

I want to throw my water in his face and storm out, but that’s not an option.

“I’d like to ease into the transition slowly.” I try to look meek and pliable. “I was hoping you might understand.”

The vampire’s expression softens, and he reaches across the table for my hand. I would like to swat him back, but I let him touch me, pretending it doesn’t make my skin crawl.

But then something catches my attention. His skin isn’t cold tonight. We’re now the same temperature, and he feels normal.

“I owe you an apology,” Ethan says.

My eyes are fixed on our hands. The fact that we’re the same now is freaking me out. “You do?”

“I didn’t mean to begin the turning process like that, Piper. It’s just that our date was going so well, and I got ahead of myself.”

I force myself to look at him. “Okay.”

“I understand why you pulled away, why you’ve kept me at arm’s length. I imagine you feel like you were?—”

“Violently attacked?” I lift my brows, unable to remain perfectly pleasant.

Ethan winces, and his hand twitches over mine. Regret shadows his face, and he searches my eyes. “Vampirism…it’s a gift. But you weren’t prepared, and I forced myself on you. More than anything, I want to try again—I want to start fresh.”

“So, you decided to kidnap my best friend?”

His eyes widen like he’s genuinely shocked. “I didn’t kidnap her. I invited her.”

“Did you send your thugs with the invitation?” I lean forward, narrowing my eyes. “Because it might have seemed like, to Olivia, she didn’t have a choice but to go with them.”

Ethan’s jaw flexes, and I realize maybe I should back off a little. He still has Olivia, after all, and I’m not exactly in the best position either.

“I’m sorry.” I soften my tone and lower my eyes to the table, knowing I won’t be able to lie if I’m looking right at him. “I believe you had good intentions, but I’m still angry with you. I’m trying to understand.”

“Oh, my heart.” He squeezes my hand. “Just say you’ll forgive me eventually?”

I look back up, hoping I’m a better actress than I suspect I am. “I’ll try—but only if you include me in your decisions. Don’t bite me again without discussing it with me first, and please know, I’m still adjusting and not anywhere near ready to move to the second stage.” I draw in a deep breath. “And don’t invite my friends to your house without their permission again.”

“Of course.” Ethan nods, amiable. “That’s more than reasonable.”

“And there’s something else that’s been bothering me.” I pull my hand back, my palms growing clammy as I try to form the question in a way that won’t anger the unstable vampire. “It’s about Kevin—my ex-boyfriend. Did you have something to do with his death?”

“Yes,” he says solemnly, sitting back in his chair. “I killed him.”