Page 73 of Patrick’s Seduction

“Not directly.” She walked toward the sitting area and put Ross back on his feet. “Go find the Legos.”

The little boy ran to a cupboard and opened the lowest drawer from which he pulled a huge box with Legos.

“There!” Ross said triumphantly. He sat down on the floor and started to play.

Isabelle finally turned back to her. “All families with small children have been asked to report to HQ. The others should be arriving soon too.”

“Oh. Why is that?”

“Because of the werewolf threat.” She gave her a quick smile. “Once Patrick and Virginia are back, they’ll all be getting ready to fight the Gallaghers should they not give Cameron up to be executed for his crimes.”

Executed. The word sounded so final. Yet Isabelle spoke as if this was nothing new. And maybe it wasn’t new in her world.

“I doubt his father will give him up.”

“It’s to be expected. They’ll fight back, so we’re taking precautions: the human blood-bonded mates and underage children of all Scanguards employees have to stay at HQ so they can be properly protected, and can’t be used as bargaining chips by the Gallaghers.”

Fallon let out a breath of air. “All because of me. I’m so sorry.”

Isabelle put a hand on her forearm. “It’s not your fault. It’s Cameron’s. And even if he hadn’t terrorized and turned you, he would still have to be taken out. We can’t have a killer in the city. It’s too dangerous for everybody, humans and supernatural beings alike. That’s what the city pays us for: to keep the streets safe.”

“The city knows about this? Is that because Anita is married to a vampire?”

“No, that’s not the reason. The current chief of police has known about our existence for several decades, and he’s kept our secret for just as long. There are only a few select police officers who know about us, and they send cases that involve vampires or other supernatural creatures to us to handle. We have a contract with the city. We patrol the streets at night.”

“That must be so dangerous.”

“It is. But we’re all well-trained.”

“Patrick said you work as a bodyguard too. Do you still do that?” She gestured to Ross. “I mean with having a little one now?”

“I do, though I don’t work full-time anymore. This little boy needs a lot of supervision.” Isabelle ran her eyes over Ross, who was building a castle with his Legos.

“He showed his fangs earlier,” Fallon said. “Isn’t that gonna be a problem when he goes to school?”

“By then, he’ll understand that he can’t give away what he is. He doesn’t go to preschool or kindergarten because of it. Scanguards has a little informal preschool in the building where all hybrid children can play together and learn the basics so that they’re ready for first grade.”

The more she learned about Scanguards and the vampires who ran the company, the more normal it all sounded. They lived like normal families, or almost, because surely the fact that pure-blooded vampires like Patrick’s father, Samson, couldn’t be outside during daylight meant that their daily schedules were upside down. Night was day, and day was night.

“You okay?” Isabelle asked softly.

Fallon nodded quickly. “Yes. It’s just… well, there’s so much that’s happened in the last few days, and I’m still trying to adjust.”

But what she really thought she kept to herself. She didn’t want to voice it. All the vampires and vampire hybrids she’d met so far appeared so civilized. She, a werewolf, was the odd one out: she didn’t feel civilized. She dreaded the coming night and the rising of the moon, because it meant she wouldn’t be in control of herself. And she hated that feeling. She hated being ruled by the beast inside her. And to think that this could be her future if they didn’t succeed in bringing down Cameron. Could she really live like this?

37

William Gallagher who stood in front of the fireplace suddenly whirled his head toward the door, clearly having heard the sound of the creaking hardwood floor. He stared directly at Patrick, who didn’t dare move. The man with him looked over his shoulder too, and Patrick recognized him instantly. It was Cameron.

“I won’t do it!” Cameron said with a raised voice, picking up his conversation with his father.

The older Gallagher glared back at him, the sound from the door clearly forgotten. “You listen to me now, you ungrateful little pup!”

He underscored his superiority as the Alpha by jabbing his son in the chest.

“It was one thing killing those stupid hikers out here in Marin where I can do damage control. Do you have any idea how many palms I had to grease, and how many favors to call in to take the heat off you?”

Cameron opened his mouth, but his father continued without pause. “I can’t fake your death twice! I had to find a homeless man who wouldn’t be missed so I could blow him up in your car. I can’t keep doing that! Don’t you get that?”