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

Chapter 25

25

My mouth falls open, but I quickly press my lips together. Terror tightens my throat, fear trying to claw its way to the surface.

Ethan didn’t tell me anything I hadn’t already suspected—he simply confirmed it. But with that confirmation comes guilt. Because, in a roundabout way, Kevin’s death is my fault.

“Oh, I suppose I shouldn’t take all the credit,” Ethan amends, talking about it far too casually. “I paid one of my associates to do it. I like to keep my hands clean whenever possible.”

I’m reeling, but I grasp for calm. “Before or after he sent me the accidental text?”

“What?”

“Did you kill him before or after he sent me the text? Was that Kevin at all, or was it you ?”

“After,” he says. “But believe me, I wanted to end him long before that.”

I swallow, my heart stuttering as it tries to bolt. “He’d been cheating on me for a while, hadn’t he?”

“I didn’t know if I should get involved.” Ethan shakes his head regretfully. “But after he made you cry…”

“That was dust,” I lie. “Just something in my eye.”

“Piper,” he says softly.

“You can’t kill everyone who upsets me!” I snap. “I mean, yeah, Kevin was a cheating pig, but he didn’t deserve to die . And the woman he was with—she didn’t deserve it either.”

“That’s why I didn’t ask you first—you’re so gentle. I knew you’d object, and they earned their fate.”

“He wasn’t a drug dealer, was he?”

Ethan laughs loudly, highly amused at the idea. “Of course not. The man sold baby clothes.”

I’m glad I’m sitting down because I’m a little dizzy. Guilt eats at me, gnawing, scraping, and my stomach squirms. A wave of nausea has me clamping my mouth shut and breathing in deeply through my nose. I reach for my cold glass of ice water, taking a gulp.

“I can order you something more potent if you’d like,” Ethan says ever so helpfully. “Wine? Scotch? Any blood type you prefer, human or animal. The kitchen is well-stocked.”

My fingers tighten on the condensation-drenched glass. “Human?”

He nods, oblivious to my revulsion.

“Where does it come from?”

“Donors, naturally.” He smiles. “I’m not a monster, Piper.”

“I’m not feeling well.” I return the cold glass to the smooth tablecloth. “Can we leave now? I’d like to see Olivia.”

“But we haven’t eaten yet.”

“ Ethan, ” I warn, my composure about to crack.

“Fine, my love.” He sighs, setting his cloth napkin on the table. “We can eat at home when you get hungry.”

We stand, and he steps up next to me, sliding in my recently vacated chair, looking regretful I don’t have a jacket or something he can help me with.

By the time we walk out the front door of the restaurant, a valet has already fetched the Lamborghini. Seeing it brings back memories of last night, and my mind wanders to Noah.

He won’t be happy when Cassian tells him what we’ve done.

“We’ll get rid of him, of course,” Ethan says, and I realize my mind has been wandering, and I haven’t been listening to him.

I whip my head over to give him my full attention. “What?”

The walkway is shaded thanks to the heavy cloud cover, making it possible for Ethan to walk outside.

“Your conservator—or rather, your ex-conservator. He’s made a nuisance of himself, but I’ve taken care of him.”

Cold dread paralyzes me, and I come to a panicked stop. “What do you mean, you’ve taken care of him ?”

Ethan opens the door for me. “The pre-vamp he’s meeting with today—Colin McGary, door-to-door vacuum salesman—is currently locked in a closet, and my associate is waiting for Noah. I send him when people need to disappear.”

“Is he the same man who killed Kevin?” I ask, horrified.

“He is.” Ethan gives me a reassuring smile—like this is good news. “Montgomery won’t be bothering you anymore. And as soon as he’s out of the picture, we’ll move your things to my place. No one else at NIHA will bother us.”

My stomach lurches violently.

If I pull out my phone to warn Noah, Ethan will confiscate it. If I don’t warn him…

“I have to use the restroom,” I blurt out, clutching my stomach. “I’m not feeling well.”

Looking startled, Ethan nods and then turns to one of the brown-haired door guards. “Show Piper to the restroom. Escort her back when she’s finished.”

The man nods, silent.

“I’ll hold your purse for you,” Ethan says, giving me a knowing smile.

He thinks my phone is in it. Wanting him to think he’s right, I reluctantly hand it over.

Then I follow the guard back inside, so thankful Ethan didn’t think to check my pockets.

As soon as I escape inside the posh, hushed restroom, I hurry into a stall and take out my phone to text Noah.

Piper: It’s a setup. Your new pre-vamp is locked in a closet, and the guy waiting for you is an assassin who works for Ethan.

After I send the text, I check his location. He’s in New Castle, and it says he’s been there for ten minutes. I wait for him to respond, my leg shaking, but my phone is silent.

Next, I text Cassian.

Piper: Ethan set up Noah. The man posing as his pre-vamp is going to kill him.

Cassian: No problem. I’ll give him a heads-up.

No problem? What is wrong with these vampires?

Cassian: Do you know where Ethan is taking you?

Piper: Back to his place.

Cassian: I’ll see you there.

I emerge from the restroom and give my guard a weak smile. “Sorry about that.”

He merely nods and then walks me back to the door like I’m a young child in need of an escort.

I slide into the passenger seat of the Lamborghini, having a nasty case of déjà vu. Then I glance around, suddenly realizing why the windows are so darkly tinted—it’s not to keep people from seeing in. It’s to block the sunlight.

Too bad I didn’t get the vampire intuition before I got in the car with Ethan the first time.

It takes over thirty minutes to reach Ethan’s property. His home is tucked away in the country, close to Basalt. The house is huge, easily six or seven thousand square feet. There’s a pond out front with a mermaid fountain in the middle—a respectful nod to all our native Colorado mermaids, I’m sure.

The house is built of rectangular tan stones, three stories tall, with layers of balconies and large windows I can see being troublesome for a night-loving vampire. A sprawling patio on the lower level boasts several umbrella tables, lots of loungers, and a turquoise pool—again, an odd choice for a vampire.

The landscape and the hardscape are tastefully done, though a bit on the extravagant side. The property doesn’t whisper wealth—it screams it. Ethan’s home is the picture of Colorado opulence right here in the verdant mountains.

Ethan pulls into the four-car garage. He parks next to three other expensive cars, the names of which I can’t even guess, and waits for the door to close fully before he gets out.

I follow him as he leads me across another patio that’s covered with canvas shade fabric, up the stairs, and into a back entry. He produces a key and opens the door.

I’m surprised he doesn’t have a butler posted at each entrance.

I try not to gawk at the house as we pass through halls and rooms, feeling quite sure I’ve never seen this much hardwood, stone, or deer antler chandeliers in my life. All the curtains are drawn, and the lights are on, making it feel like it should be midnight and not midday.

“When were you infected?” I ask.

“Oh, let’s see,” he says absently, leading me into a large kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel as far as the eyes can see. “It’s been two years now. My first bite was just after New Year’s, and I had my second dose right around the end of March. And then I entered the final stage just before summer.” He chuckles to himself. “That was an adjustment.”

I’m on edge, not liking the casual way he talks about it.

“Do you miss the sun?”

“A little, yes. But the pros far outweigh the cons.”

“You can’t go outside unless it’s overcast or the sun is down, you have to drink blood, you’re on a carnivore diet, and you must take pills to remain sane.” I frown as he pulls a wine bottle from the fridge. “Forgive me, but I’m not sure I agree.”

“I was terminally ill with renal cell cancer.” He pulls two wineglasses from the cabinet. “The doctor gave me three months.”

I cross my arms, not sure how to respond to that.

“A friend of a friend knew a woman who claimed she could give me more time. I looked into it, and I found out she meant a lot more time. Imagine my surprise when I discovered I could pay for immortality.”

“What’s the going rate these days?” I ask morbidly.

He chuckles. “Four million dollars.”

I choke a little. I’ve never even seen that much money.

Ethan gives me a wry look as he swirls the deep red liquid and pours it into the cups. “Don’t worry—I have no intention of charging you.”

“Shouldn’t that be…clotted?” I ask, grimacing at the smooth liquid.

“It’s a blend of cabernet, lion’s blood, and an all-natural, organic blood thinner. It’s far smoother than the synthetic concoction they most likely started you on.”

Speaking of my prescription, I’m due for my dose, but I’m not drinking that.

“Where’s Olivia?” I ask.

With a vexed expression crossing his face, he walks to an intercom and hits a button. A moment later, a man answers, “Yes, Mr. Brennan? How may I help you?”

“Miss Edwards would like to see her friend now. Is she available?”

“Olivia returned to her room about twenty minutes ago. Would you like me to have Marietta fetch her?”

“Yes, please.”

Ethan turns back to me and lifts a questioning hand. “There. Better?”

“You’re going to let her go,” I say. “That was part of the deal.”

“Yes.” He sighs—like I’m being difficult. “Though it’s not as if being here has been a hardship for her.”

I don’t answer, instead choosing to wait in nervous silence until a maid enters the kitchen. Olivia is behind her, looking frazzled but physically okay.

When she sees me, she lets out a gasp of relief and hurries forward, hugging me hard as she whispers, “I’m so sorry, Piper.”

“It’s not your fault.” I pull back, my eyes zeroing in on her neck. “Are you all right?”

Her gaze cuts to Ethan, who merely leans against the kitchen island and sips his spiked blood. “I’m fine.”

“He didn’t bite you, did he?” I scan her arms, but they look all right as well.

“I’m not in the business of offering handouts to just anyone,” Ethan says wryly.

Olivia casts a dark look at the vampire. “He didn’t bite me, no.”

“Shall we move to the living room?” Ethan asks pleasantly. “I have game systems and every streaming service imaginable. When the sun goes down, we can move to the pool. I thought I might grill tonight.”

This is so freaking weird. I just can’t.

“Put together a charcuterie board for us,” Ethan says to the maid who brought Olivia. “Don’t forget we have a pre-vamp and a human here this evening.”

“Yes, sir.” The dour woman is already moving toward the fridge. She wears a gray dress and a white apron, and I suspect she’s not a maid but a housekeeper.

I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who actually employed one.

“I like to keep a selection of foods on hand for work colleagues,” Ethan says as he leads us into the living room. “Olives, pickles, a few vegetables and fruits.”

“That’s hospitable of you.” I try not to roll my eyes. “Do your colleagues know you’re a vampire?”

“No. They believe I’ve developed a severe sun allergy.”

Olivia looks at me while we walk, widening her eyes when our gazes meet. She’s obviously hoping I have a plan to get us out of here, but I am planless. All our hope rests on a two-hundred-year-old vampire, my probably livid ex-conservator, and my clueless brother.

We enter the living room. It’s gorgeous, naturally, with several overstuffed white fabric couches, mounds of throw pillows, and a few knitted blankets strategically draped around to give the space a cozy feel. There’s a stone fireplace, too, but it’s not cool enough for a fire.

Ethan’s television is massive. I couldn’t even guess the size, but it’s the largest I’ve ever seen.

“Do you think he’s compensating?” Olivia whispers so quietly I almost can’t make out the words.

I nearly bark out a laugh, but I manage to swallow it back.

“Make yourselves comfortable,” Ethan says. “If there’s anything you?—”

He’s cut off by a shrill electronic shriek. Dozens of alarms throughout the house join in the cacophony, the noise nearly deafening.

“Fire!” someone yells. “In the master bedroom!”

When Cassian said he had an idea, I thought he meant he had a new plan—not the one he first came up with.

“Put it out!” Ethan yells, running out of the room.

Olivia and I look at each other when we realize we’re alone.

“Let’s go,” I whisper urgently, already heading in the opposite direction of the chaos.

Olivia follows, accidentally knocking a ceramic bowl of pinecones onto the floor. Luckily, the rug keeps the bowl from breaking, and the fire alarms cover up the noise.

“Sorry.” She grimaces, leaning down to clean up the mess.

“What are you doing!” I exclaim, tugging on her arm. “Leave it—we need to get out of here.”

She follows, realizing I’m right. We escape the living room and end up in the front foyer. The clouds must be breaking. Daylight streams in through the opaque glass on either side of the door, beckoning us forward, promising if we can escape into its warm glow, we’ll be safe.

I yank the door open…and smack right into the chest of a massive guard.