“Holy mother of God, is that Santos?” Officer Jensen stared, his brown eyes wide. Of course he would wonder. The way the venom had worked, it was hard to tell that he was the same body as before. “You killed him?”

I walked around to the back of the counter and grabbed the largest garbage bin. “I didn’t have a choice.”

Jensen shook his head. “Yeah, but you killed him. Remo . . . I don’t think he’s going to be happy. I mean, you basically just—”

Tad came up beside me, a broom and dustpan in his hand, with all his clothes intact.

“Wait, how can you shift and keep your clothes, and I end up naked?” I spluttered, unable to keep the question in.

He shrugged. “Luck of the draw, I guess.” Luck indeed.

Tad looked to Jensen, his eyes serious. “How could Remo not be happy? She just offed his main competition for territory. He should be on his knees thanking her.”

I smiled at Tad. Dang it all, to have my brother on my side, to watch him come into his own even while he defended me. That was . . . an amazing feeling. Which with the way the rest of the night had gone was about the only bright spot.

Jensen rolled his eyes heavenward as if he would find the words there. “Ernie, help me out here. You understand power structure better than most.”

Ernie swept in front of me, nodding. “Yeah, I do. Okay, here it is, girlfriend. You just made Remo look weak. You accomplished in five minutes what he’s been trying to do for hundreds of years. And right in front of what I’m guessing are some of the oldest vamps out there. I mean, they may not be right here, but they will be in the area soon. And they will find out about this.”

I noticed neither Ernie nor Tad mentioned what we’d learned, about how Santos had set Remo and me up. Which meant they didn’t want Jensen to know, or maybe they didn’t want Remo to know?

I bent and picked up a large chunk of glass and dropped it into the garbage can with a loud crash. “Well, I guess that’s Remo’s issue, isn’t it? Not like we’re even dating anymore.” The words were hard, but a tiny piece of me hoped . . . if what Lee had said was right, then Remo very well might have been protecting me by cutting me loose.

And if he was protecting me, then maybe, just maybe, he cared for me still. A sudden flash of irritation snapped through me, like the crackle of lightning on a muggy summer’s night.

“What the hell, Remo?” I muttered under my breath, feeling the words spark tears in my eyes. “Push me away to keep me safe? Why wouldn’t you trust me enough to hold me close?”

Why indeed was the question of the hour.

CHAPTER 5

Ernie tugged me and Tad aside while Jensen called things in, listing off the damage by the mob of Firstamentalists. They’d dropped a few masks and several placards, along with one of their pamphlets. Jensen figured that would be enough to get a restraining order against the group.

“Listen”—Ernie kept his voice low—“I don’t think we should be telling anyone else what we learned from the vampire. It will give you the upper hand if people think you and Remo really are at odds.”

Tad nodded. “I agree. I mean, it sounds like maybe he broke up with you, and had Dahlia break up with me because he was trying to protect us all.”

Ernie nodded. “Love will make you do stupid things.”

I glared at him. “I thought you said Remo didn’t really love me?” Then there was the whole question of if Remo really cared; if he did, he should have been fighting for me, trusting me to be at his side.

Which he obviously didn’t. So maybe he didn’t respect me the way I’d thought. That only sparked my irritation with him further.

“Look . . . Dahlia is here.” Ernie swept upward to the ceiling, neatly avoiding my question.

She was out of breath as though she’d been running, which is saying something for a vampire. “Is it true?” She slid to a stop, her eyes immediately going to where Santos still lay sprawled on the floor. Her jaw dropped, and she spluttered, “Holy shit, Alena, did you do it?” Almost like she didn’t quite believe it.

I nodded. “Yeah, I didn’t have much choice. And like always, Remo was nowhere to be found to deal with his problem.”

“Whoa, bitter much?” Dahlia said.

I forced a glare at her, struggling to find the right words. “Remo didn’t have the . . . the balls . . . to stick with me. Even though I know he wanted to. Just because he wants things to look right. I took him home, Dahlia. I took him to meet my parents, who already hate everything Super Duper, and he dropped me at the first sign that someone he was trying to impress might not like what I am. That’s a real . . . dick move.” The words spilled out of me in a jumble of hurt and truth.

I was breathing hard, and I forced myself to slow my racing heart. “And then he goes and makes you break it off with Tad.”

Her eyes flashed. “That’s partly why I’m here. Tad . . .” She reached over, took his hand, and yanked him to her. She planted a kiss on him and then pulled back just as suddenly. “I’m not going anywhere. Screw Remo and screw the vampire council. I don’t need anyone but you.”

He grinned. “Really?”

“Really. We’ll go somewhere else. Anywhere else is better than being without you.”

Ernie clapped and whistled. “Now that is how love is done.”

I took a few steps back from them, giving them space.