Chapter 28

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

TALULLA

" A bsolutely not," I say, crossing my arms over my chest. "There's no way I'm calling my father after the stunt he pulled last night."

"Tal, you know he knows a lot of people…" I can't believe Cassandra is truly entertaining this. I know why Set would. He's rational, but he also wasn't at the fundraiser. After their father passed away, Cass became colder, but this? This is absolutely out of character, even for her.

We drove to the Drususes's house right after Set's phone call. And now we're all sitting in their living room like a happy family. Too bad for me that they're all banding together against me. Flynn hasn't taken a side, but I can tell he's clearly thinking about it. Because, in actuality, it is a good idea. My father could find out what happened to the report and find the full one. He knows really powerful people. He has to in the kind of business we're all part of.

"Yeah, so what?"

Flynn answers before one of the witches can even say another word. "Asmo and I could go meet Paolo again and see if he can ask the Caputos."

"What do you mean again ?" I turn to face my vampire. "Do you have something you need to tell me?"

Flynn tilts his head. "We just asked him a few questions a couple of days ago."

"And you didn't tell me. Why?"

"Because there was nothing to say."

"Flynn."

"Why are you angry?"

"Because you terrorized an innocent man and didn't tell me about it."

He snorts. "Oh, I didn't scare him that much."

"He behaved, it's true," Asmodeus says.

"I couldn't make a scene. Asmodeus was wearing new shoes and whined about how he didn't want to get them dirty."

"You're nerve-wracking." I groan. "Why would the Caputos know anything about it?"

"They're the ones who told Paolo to accept your request to fight."

"What?"

"When you were unconscious, he was shocked because he knew you weren't exactly human."

"And you all waited this long to tell me? Are you for real?" I raise my voice, waving my hands in the air, frustration building inside me and creating a knot in my stomach.

"Tal, you were dying, and we were trying to save you. It's not like we wanted to keep this a secret," Cassandra replies, taking Flynn's side.

"So you knew as well."

"I—" She sighs. "Yes, I did."

"Unbelievable," I spit back. "You almost made me think Eric was somehow behind this when there's literally a mobster family involved. Why aren't we on their asses?"

"That reminds me… Set, any progress on that bottle of water?" Flynn asks the other Drusus, completely brushing off my question. Asshole.

"Nothing. But if Monica Lazar is the one procuring the potions, she absolutely knows how to cover her tracks. She also knows we're keeping an eye on her."

"What if we speak to Kaden before I call the person who wants my boyfriend dead?"

The corners of Flynn's mouth lift up, but he says nothing. His hand moves up and down the small of my back, making my toes curl in my shoes.

"It could help us find out who the other person in the car was… What if she made it out alive, and that's why she isn't in the report?"

"She still would be in the report even if she survived… They altered it to cover someone."

"Okay," Flynn starts, "Talulla and I are going to talk to the dog, and you little detectives can call Emil."

"What?" The three witches say in unison.

"You heard me," my vampire says, his smirk getting bigger and bigger.

"But—" Set tries to protest.

"You're not going to force Talulla to talk to him." His tone is cold, protective, and absolutely final. He's showing me that he's on my side and won't force me to do anything I don't want to do. But the thing is… I know it's a good idea, and I know it will give us the answers we need much faster.

I sigh in defeat. "Flynn, it's okay…"

"No, it's not."

"He won't listen if they call. I have to do it," I reply, looking at his icy-gray eyes that are trying to figure out my mind state.

"Flynn, you know better than anyone else here that Emil can get that report." This time, it's Cassandra talking.

"I know he can. That's why I told you to call and not Tal."

I exhale as they continue to argue about who should call who. "I'm gonna do it now and get it over with." I pick up the phone and dial my father's number.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

" Copil ," my father says, his tone distant and formal as usual.

I clear my throat. "Hi, Dad," I say, my voice low, hesitation starting to show as I torture my lower lip. Flynn's hand is on the small of my back in an instant. "We might have a lead on who is behind the murders on campus."

"And you are calling me. Why?"

"Because we need to find a police report," I reply, shifting my weight from one foot to another.

"You are capable of breaking into a police station on your own."

"We did… I mean, Set, Asmodeus, and…"

"And?"

"That's beside the point. The report was altered."

"You are giving me a headache."

"It's for the case, Dad, not for me." Because even if Emil Popescu is trying to teach me some sort of lesson, I know that he can't bring himself to let this go if he has a way to get some glory out of it.

I hear him huff on the other side of the phone for a little longer, and I am ready to hang up, but then he surprises me. "Name."

"Dalton Reyes."

"The old alpha?" he asks, his voice rising slightly, showing some interest in the case.

"Yes."

"Is that all?"

I bring my thumbnail to my mouth, nibbling it. "And Alina Wagner."

Everyone in the room looks at me with wide eyes. "I will reach out when I have them."

Click.

"Why did you ask for Wagner's wife's report?" Cassandra asks, her eyebrow raised.

"So that we can all stop accusing a man who just wants to mourn his late wife in peace."

We reach the pack house in silence. I've just been looking outside the window while Flynn drives. It's rainy, and even if the temperature in California doesn't really get cold, the fall colors are showing. The weather isn't helping my mood. My conversation with my mother's sperm donor didn't either.

"Are you okay?" Flynn asks as he parks the car in the driveway.

I nod. "Yeah."

His lips brush my temple. "That was a lot to ask from you."

"It was a smart move. I wouldn't have suggested it, but I know it was smart. My father… He knows a lot of powerful people."

"He does."

"I don't think I can face him again."

"You won't have to."

"You can't promise me that. He'll always attempt to get his perfect weapon back."

"Talulla, look at me," Flynn says, holding my face in his hands and forcing me to look at him. "You're not alone in this. I'm not going anywhere, and I'll make sure to always protect you."

"You don't have to protect—"

"It's not that I have to, sweetheart." He kisses the tip of my nose. "I want to protect you."

"I want to do the same for you."

The corners of his mouth lift up. "And you do. Every single day, you keep me alive just by being beside me."

"You're so extra."

He brings a hand to his chest as if I just stabbed him. "I'm just stating facts. Now, let's go. I don't like the dog stench here."

"Are you going to be nice?"

A slight furrow appears between his brows as he stares pointedly at me. "I'm always nice."

"Flynn."

"I'll behave with the dog," he says, exhaling heavily.

"Maybe don't call him that."

"That's what he is."

"A dog who can rip you to shreds."

This makes him laugh. "He can certainly try."

"You're unbelievable."

"Thank you, little hunter. I needed a compliment coming from you."

I shake my head and chuckle as I open the car door, but he's at the passenger side in an instant… Obviously, because I can't even open my own damn door anymore. "I'm capable of opening my own door."

"And I still love opening it for you. Isn't that fascinating?"

I roll my eyes as we get to the entrance, and then I knock three times.

Kaden opens the door, his jaw clenched as his eyes move from me to the vampire beside me. "What do you want?" He has dark circles around his eyes. It's clear he hasn't slept in days.

"We have some developments to talk to you about."

Kaden's eyes widen for a second, and then he lets us in. The house is a total mess, with clothes on the floor and dirty plates everywhere, but I don't comment on the state of the place, because I know it just reflects his mental state right now. And it's not good, which means he is also on edge. Werewolves are probably the moodiest supernatural creatures I know, and we have to be very careful about how we talk because he will be in offensive mode about anything.

"So?" Kaden says, his posture rigid.

"There was someone in the car with your father the night of the accident. Do you know who it could be?" Flynn asks, handing him the picture from the report that shows the purse.

"I… The police never said someone was with him." He sighs. "They said he was alone. Why would they do that?"

"That's because it's not even in the report."

"You got the report and didn't tell me?" The hostility is starting. If we keep calm, everything will be fine.

"We got part of it, and we're telling you right now."

"Talulla."

"We're working on getting the real report. This is why we're here now."

"Fine," Kaden spits. "My dad… He met someone before he passed away."

My eyes widen at the realization. Kaden's father was deeply in love with his late wife, and I'm happy he found a way to move on, but for a wolf… that's so unusual. "He was dating again?"

"He was very vague about it, but… Tal… He said he had found his mate, and you know what happens in those circumstances."

Nothing else matters. They become the centre of your entire world. "You do everything in your power to protect them."

"Yes… He didn't even want us to meet her until he was certain she was safe."

"So you have no idea who this person is?"

"No clue."

"Why didn't you tell me about her before?"

"Because I didn't know she could be involved, and she never cared to contact me or Scott after my father's death…"

I turn to look at Flynn. His chin rests in his hand, and I can tell he's thinking about something. "Why would the police cover up something like this? It makes no sense."

"And are the Caputos involved at this point?"

"The Caputos?" Kaden asks.

"Yeah, they knew I was a hunter when… It's a long story that you don't need to know."

"Talulla, what is happening?" Kaden asks, grabbing my arm.

Flynn intervenes way too quickly. "Do not do that again."

"Or what, bloodsucker?" Oh boy, here we go.

"Or I'll rip your arm off." This is exactly what I was trying to avoid.

"Okay, both of you, stop. No one is ripping any arm off."

"He's the one instigating," the werewolf says, pointing at my vampire.

"Kaden, shut the hell up."

Flynn chuckles. "Yeah, what she said."

"You too, buddy. You're both acting like toddlers."

Flynn's nostrils flare at my quick comeback, but he remains silent. Thank god. "Any idea of who this mate could be?" I ask Kaden.

"No idea, but I know she was definitely living in Palo Alto."

"You never thought of following your dad?"

"Why would I have? I had no reason to doubt him, and he needed time. I didn't want to push him to make me meet anyone."

"You weren't even a bit curious?"

"Of course I was, but aside from her smell, I know nothing else."

"Her smell?"

"Yeah, my father always had a distinctive smell after spending time with her. You have one too, and it's all over your vampire."

"I do?"

"Strawberries and roses," Flynn and Kaden say in unison.

"Okay, well, let's pretend that didn't creep me out. What did your father smell like when he was with her?"

"Wildflowers and… like a library?"

"A library?"

"Yeah, like old books."

"Well, that doesn't really tell us anything."

But Flynn's eyes are wide now. He has someone in mind. "Let's go," he tells me before adding, "We just need to wait for your father to give us the report, and we will have our confirmation."

"You're not going to tell me who you're thinking of?"

He shakes his head. "Not without being sure about it."

"Flynn…"

"I… You're not gonna like it."

I groan. "If my father doesn't get back to us before tomorrow evening, you're telling me either way."

My vampire agrees, his stare softening as his eyes meet mine.

Kaden's eyes roll. "Okay, well, you two can leave if you're done questioning me."

"Jealous, dog?"

"Flynn."

"Get the fuck out, bloodsucker."

Flynn smirks at him. "Always a pleasure talking to you, Kaden Reyes."

"Whatever," he says before turning to me. "Keep me posted, Tal."

"I will," I say, approaching the entrance before going in for a hug. Flynn growls from behind me, but I don't give a shit. Kaden is my friend, and Flynn needs to learn to deal with these things.

"I can't believe you're actually with one of them." And there it is, the friendship moment is completely shattered.

"I can't believe she lowered her standards that one singular night." As I said, toddlers. Two freaking adults acting like toddlers.

"Oh, believe me, she enjoyed every second of it. I can literally still hear her moa—"

My head snaps back in Kaden's direction. "Do you want to get punched in the face?"

The wolf shrugs his shoulders. "I'm not scared of him."

"You should be scared of me," I say, pushing him back inside his house. "This pissed-off version of you better fuck off soon because if you continue like this, you're gonna get hurt."

"Are you seriously defending him?"

"You don't talk about my fucking body or whatever happened between us, you asshole."

"It wouldn't have happened if he wasn't here."

I raise one eyebrow as I cross my arms over my chest. "Get used to it, K. He's staying."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. As long as he doesn't start killing people…"

"He won't."

"Unless they ask for it," Flynn adds, and I roll my eyes at his threat.

"Flynn…"

"If someone threatens you, what do you want me to do? Sit and watch?"

"I—"

"I told you I will always protect you. He's lucky he can still play the grief card, but next time, he won't be that lucky."

"Let's go. I'm tired of you two filling the room with testosterone."

We get to the car, and as soon as we're inside, Flynn breaks the silence.

"I'm gonna have to punish you for calling me a toddler. You know that, right?"

"I should be the one punishing you for falling for his taunts."

"Oh, I know he just wanted to piss me off. He still likes you and can't comprehend what you could possibly see in me."

"There was no need to play the alpha hole."

"I'm sorry."

"I—" I stop in my tracks. My mouth shut. "You're apologizing?"

"You had a long day and were forced to talk to your father, and then your friend and I just added to it. So yes, I'm apologizing."

My eyes widen at his acknowledgment. I think that I was expecting him to just brush it off and for me to have to live with the anger for a while, but he apologized. "Thank you."

"What can I do to make it up to you?"

"I'm okay, fangs."

"Anything you want."

"You can take me home, give me some food, and put me to bed. I've got a long school day tomorrow."

"Yeah?"

I nod. "I have a meeting for my dissertation. I have to present what I want to work on for the remainder of the year."

"You're nervous."

"A little… It's a big decision for me," I say, my eyes lowering, staring at my shoes.

"You'll rule the world, little hunter. You can do anything."

"Yeah, fine, you can also go down on me."

He chuckles and then pulls out of the driveway. "You can sit on my face all night if you want."

"Now, that's an interesting proposition."