An Oath In Blood (Book #3)

Chapter 20: Lost Souls

CORVINA HAWKE

Trish and Lily found nothing at Warren's penthouse. My phone was nowhere to be found neither were any clues as to where it could be. Lily had tried tracking the phone but failed. It was as if it had disappeared from the face of Earth.

"Credit where it is due, Warren did a great job of hiding his tracks from us." Trish shrugged, looking between Lily and me. We were sat in the dining room, treating ourselves to a late dinner. Seb was in his room, catching up with a few missed assignments.

"The man is gorgeous and smart. If he wasn't dead meat, I would have totally considered going out with him." Lily sighed dreamily, scooping the risotto I had made onto a spoon and shoving it in her mouth.

"Don't say that!" Trish's voice dropped in warning as he shot me a glance sideways. I rolled my eyes, knowing what was to come. "Hawke has called dibs on him."

Lily's eyes widened as they focused on me. "Is this true, Vina? I am offended that you didn't tell me." She faked a hurt expression, earning another eye roll from me.

"I haven't called dibs on him. Go for him if you want to but he's a dead man walking." I shrugged, shaking off the image that popped into my head. His hand on my waist, pulling me close to him. His lips so close to mine. His blue eyes darkening as they bore into mine. And the words spoken in the quiet corner of the gala.

No. No. I had entered a silent pact with myself to stay away from Warren Hale. I had sworn to not let him get under my skin. But even when he wasn't around, he somehow managed to do just that.

"You haven't killed him. You had the chance tonight," Lily said as I picked up my half-full plate and pushed away from the table.

"We still haven't found his phone." I reminded her even as my skin crawled with the accusation. They knew that I was putting it off. I had taken on more dangerous victims than Warren Hale and I had finished them without batting an eye.

"We will find it. But will you be able to kill him after that?" She questioned. I paused on my way to the kitchen, my hands shaking, threatening to send the plate crashing to the ground. The shrill ringtone of my phone saved me from giving my friend an answer.

I put the plate back on the dining table and walked toward the living room as I pulled out my phone. My mother's Caller ID flashed across the screen, sending me off my game. My throat grew dry, the ringtone dying in my ears. I should pick up. But my hand was frozen at my side, a ball of anxiety lodging itself in my throat.

Sucking in a sharp breath, I forced myself to accept the call. Before I could think it over, I brought the device to my ear as I spoke. "Mother." The word sounded hollow, holding no emotion, no weight.

"Corvina." Lilith Hawke spoke on the other end of the line, tone as clipped as mine if not more. My anger spiked slightly at the indifference in her voice but I squashed the hurt, the rage deep, deep down until it disappeared.

"To what do I owe this displeasure?" I made my way to the shelf in the living room, lined with weapons. I never entertained people other than Trish and Lily so keeping weapons out in the open wasn't concerning. And my penthouse had enough security to ensure that it wouldn't be broken into.

"Charming as always, I see." Lilith quipped and I could almost see her grey eyes narrowing on me. I hated that my eyes looked like hers, that she had lended me the feature of mine that I loved the most. "I called you to remind you that your father and I will be in the city next month. We expect to see you."

My blood almost froze in my veins. A chill descended over me that sent a shiver down my spine. "Why?" I blurted out before I could stop myself. I didn't want to see them. I didn't want them in my life. If I could help it, they would have no daughter.