Dark Debt (Chicagoland Vampires 11)

The jacket I’d returned draped over one arm, Ethan offered a hand to help me out of the car. When I joined him on the sidewalk, I put my hands on his face, stretched on tiptoes to reach him, and pressed my lips to his. “Thank you for standing up to my father.”

Ethan wrapped an arm around my waist as shutters began to snap around us, capturing the moment, paparazzi yelling at us to look their way, make eye contact, increase the marketability of their particular photographs.

“Sentinel,” he said quietly, the words only for me, “I will stand for you as long as I am able.” And then he kissed me well and thoroughly. The words had been for me, but the kiss was for the audience.

“You two are making out every time I see you.”

Ethan pulled away, glanced back at Catcher, who’d moved to stand beside us. “That speaks more to your interruptions than our affection.”

Catcher made a vague sound, gestured toward the gate, where my grandfather stood waiting. Jeff must have dropped him off. “Shall we?”

I didn’t especially want to, but big girl panties were made for times like this.

*   *   *

Morgan stood in the middle of the foyer, legs braced like a captain on a ship. His dark, wavy hair was short now, paired with a few nights’ worth of dark stubble that set off his deeply blue eyes. He wore dark jeans over boots, a three-quarter-sleeve Henley in a pale blue he favored, arms crossed defensively over his well-toned chest. Morgan was what I’d call broodingly handsome.

Unfortunately, he also had a disappointing tendency to brood.

He cast a glance at Ethan, then me, then the remains of the dress and scratches on my arms. His eyes flashed, and I wondered if he was bothered I’d been injured—or pissed that I’d fought with his people.

Luc and Lindsey waited nearby, moved forward when we walked into the foyer. I made a line for Lindsey.

“When you have a chance, can you talk to Margot, maybe arrange for drinks, blood, some snacks? It’s been a long night.”

Lindsey arched an eyebrow. “Babe, I know you better than you know yourself. Already put in the order.”

I put a thankful hand on her arm, squeezed. “Thank you. I am starving.”

“You pretty much destroyed that dress.”

“But saved an apparently despicable human from a vampire ninja death, so that’s something.”

“It’s something,” she said quietly, her gaze on Ethan as he stalked toward Morgan. “They were really from Navarre?”

She wouldn’t have doubted the truth of Luc’s report, but she’d have marveled at the involvement of Navarre guards in a mess like this.

“They were,” I confirmed.

“Morgan,” Ethan said, glancing around at the suited Novitiates who lingered in the foyer and parlor to catch a glimpse of the trouble they expected would unfold. “Let’s go to my office.”

“Where are they?”

My grandfather stepped forward, voice quiet but firm. “Your people are in custody. There’s no way around that, considering what happened. Let’s go to Ethan’s office and discuss it.”

Morgan glanced around the foyer as if gauging his move—whether to argue, storm out, or capitulate.

To everyone’s relief, and my surprise, he turned on his heel and walked down the hallway.

“We’ll go with him,” my grandfather said, and he and Catcher fell in step behind Morgan.

“The House is secure?” Ethan asked, his gaze on the men moving into his office.

“It is,” Luc said.

“Let’s keep it that way,” Ethan said. “Grab Malik and join me in the office.”

“Roger that,” Luc said, sending Lindsey back downstairs, then jogging toward Malik’s office, which was just past Ethan’s.