They Rise at Dusk (Book #1) ✔️

Chapter 39: Reap What You Sow

It's been a while since my vampire reflexes worked properly, but this night, pumped up on Cherry's blood and adrenaline, I jumped away from Dorian with supernatural speed. Finding myself glued against the dark wall, I glanced to the velvet door.

The very pregnant Lucia stood at the entrance in her bright pink silk nightgown, her hands crossed high on her chest above the belly, and an angry frown on her face. Sudden warmth overwhelmed me when I saw she looked slightly better than the last time I saw her, but then I remembered she caught me in an underground club on drugs, about to kiss my worst enemy. My heart sank into my gut when I noticed Jax standing behind her.

"What the flying fuck are you two doing?" Lucia asked, her eyebrow forming an exaggerated arch.

Behind her, Jax stared at me, but I couldn't read his expression. There was no sadness or even surprise, just sternness, distance.

"In our defence," Dorian said, and in comparison to Lucia and Jax, he looked high as a kite, "There's an orgy in the next room."

"What?" I raised my voice.

Dorian looked at me, "Where did you think Cherry disappeared to?"

"Are you two... high?" Lucia asked.

Oh, God, this looked bad. This looked very, very bad.

"No!" I shouted. "It's fine. We're fine."

"Actually, I'm pretty fucked up." Dorian murmured.

"Jesus Christ." Jax let out a slightly manic laugh. "I cannot believe I came here, I knew I should have gone alone."

Sudden alarm went off in my head, "Wait, what?"

If he was here... something happened. He wasn't here for me, or because he so suddenly got over my vampirism. He was here for a reason.

"Remember that girl I told you about? The one your kind wanted to kill but we rescued her?"

The way he spoke sent a shiver down my spine. But I remembered. The girl Jax's boss Jimmy found in the hospital. The one my kind didn't take care of.

"What is he talking about?" Dorian seemed partially interested, but still heavily drugged.

"Someone didn't take care of their business." I explained. "Jax's boss Jimmy found the girl alive, and hid her from us."

Understanding flashed across his face.

"Well, Jimmy threw her right back on the streets quietly." Jax's voice gained bitterness, disgust. "And then he had her followed. When your guys came to kill her, he had them followed. It led him straight to Anton Zaleria."

"Anton?" Both Dorian and I said at the same time.

Jax sighed, "He's your brother, isn't he?"

"Sloppy fucking bastard." Dorian grunted. "They're going to attack him, aren't they?"

My head snapped towards Dorian, then back to Jax.

"They're going to his place right now." Jax said. "Jimmy and his crew."

"Oh, fuck." I realised what was about to happen, and looked at Dorian again. "Edmond is there, these poor fuckers are going to get themselves killed."

"My thoughts exactly." Jax cut in. "I came to ask for help. Jimmy won't listen to me, he thinks he can handle Edmond on his own, but I'm not so sure."

Dorian and I exchanged a glance. I saw it in his eyes – he just wanted to sleep. He wanted to shut the door in Jax's face, take my hand, and lead me back to his bedroom. The one only I was allowed in. But the drug has been gradually leaving my system, and I knew Jax just saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life.