Children of the Fallen: In Cold Blood (BOOK #2)

Chapter 32: Loose Ends

Victoria Brooks- Finley

After the party ended the Fallen entered another impromptu meeting I'm sure to discuss Kendrick's latest nonsense. In his attempt to make Lucien seem inept all he really does is continually hand Lucien ammo against him.

Taking separate cars, Chloe and I eventually arrive at Zade's bar. I'm glad she agreed to coming out here, I have to talk to her and Grayson but I couldn't exactly tell her the reason why with everyone around. Entering Zade's bar he yells out, "Victoria!" and I shoot him a quick smile with a nod of my head towards the back. Jareth sits in the back office on one of the computers, he waves and offers a small smile. They've been- or really Zade's been extra on edge with Ascension being in the city, worried that somehow, some way someone's going to find out they're Celestials. It's a pretty well known bar among vampires so High Royals are bound to show up here and there, although he's been relieved to know most are spending their time in Manhattan.

I walk with Chloe keeping her arm looped around my own and moving quickly. I had to tug her a few times to keep her from running off like one of those children parents have on those backpack leashes. We enter the room and Chloe stills at the sight of Grayson sitting on the couch once the glamours fade. "What is he doing here?" She questions.

"She's in." Grayson says in a weak voice matching his exhausted manner.

"What?"

"I'm in." I say. "Killing Lucien and Kendrick. I'm in." Chloe's face turns white. "That's why I wanted you to come here again tonight."

She whips her head to Grayson. "You told her without consulting me?"

"I'm a big boy who can make his own decisions." He slowly reaches for the whiskey he ordered on the table and pours himself a glass.

"Right and your last big decision turned out so great." She retorts. He smiles sarcastically and raises his glass to her.

"I'm not going to tell anyone. I swear it." I've fantasized about killing him since I was 15. Went through all the different ways I'd do it. All the torture methods he'd used on me that I couldn't wait to return the favor with.

She rubs her eyes and takes an exasperated breath. "I wanted to bring you in just not this early and not at Ascension there's too many eyes but... I didn't know about this place." She motions her hand all around us.

"Well kept secret." I say making my way to the couch. "I have questions, starting with why now?" I know Grayson found Kendrick's dagger a little over two years ago, but why start this now?

"The both of them are idiots and going to get us all killed because they won't pull their heads out of their asses." Grayson states the obvious, slumped into the couch, glass in hand. He looks like he could go to sleep right this second.

"Okay, so... We kill them, then what? There'd be no kings in the north or south. We need leadership, now especially." I question. "Which brings me to my issue," I turn my head to Grayson, "or more so anger inducing concern, is this a power grab for you?"

Grayson holds his hands up showing his palms. "Why does everyone think that?" His face drops with the realization, "Never mind."

"Is it?" I ask again.

"No. Genuinely I think it would be beneficial to us all if they're dead." He says but his eyes don't meet mine as he says it.

"As for leadership, you guys already rule over your territory with generally little input from Lucien." Chloe points out. "You'd just continue doing that with probably a little more land to worry about. Also, with Lucien dead we can let Aurelia out to handle some of the north. Not like any of the other Fallen would oppose it."