“I told you both I was confused. I told you both I need time. Neither of you will just leave me alone. Just give me some damn space.”
“I think that will be a little easier for me to do now,” Hale grumbles while walking away and stomping his anger into the ground.
“I think I actually agree with him for a change,” Brazen huffs, and his eyes cut away before he abandons me too.
Perfect.
“Araya Crush, please report. Araya Crush, please report,” a loud speaker bellows.
Report where? I just fucking got here.
I walk through the main building, and I see Clay speaking with the two men who are beyond pissed at me. I almost hold my breath as I deliberately keep my eyes on him and off my hybrid and full blood.
“Where am I supposed to report?” I gripe.
“To me. I need you to coach up an interrogation on a woman we have in custody. Hale and Brazen will take lead on this interrogation, but I want your expertise on the other side of the glass.”
“Okay. Is this one of the leads we sent you from our many interrogations?” I muse.
“It is. If I’m right, this full blood woman is in the middle of this somehow.”
“Why would a full blood be in the middle of a hybrid conspiracy?”
“The benefits of receiving the blood possibly,” he answers.
I nod as we all head into the room, and I stare at the pretty face behind the glass as her lack of concern for her predicament shows in her bored face. I toss my bag to the corner, and then I take a seat as I study her. There’s something in her eyes I’ve seen before - it’s desire, and it’s carnal.
Wendy enters the room with the woman to leave a file across from her on the table and to leave the scent of her human blood lingering as we always do when a full blood is present. But she’s not affected by the blood in the vein. She’s not the least bit concerned or provoked by it.
“Damn. She’s unfazed by Wendy’s blood,” Hale mumbles to reiterate the thoughts in my mind.
I watch the full blood woman stare at Wendy for a fraction of a second too long, and something clicks.
“She looked at Wendy before she walked out, maybe she’s just hiding it,” Brazen says as he starts to strategize with Hale.
“Maybe. I’ll see if I can work it out of her,” Hale murmurs.
“No. I’ll go. I understand the craving more than you, and I’ll push her buttons if they’re there,” Brazen objects, and then he walks out before Hale can offer a rebuttal.
“Just let me know when I’m supposed to help,” I grouse.
Hale ignores me, and Clay returns to the room just as Brazen walks in with the full blood woman. I try not to show my fumes that have to be exuding from me like radioactive flares as I stare into the room.
“So, you don’t seem to be too rattled by the human who was just in here. Is that because you don’t want to show us your weakness?” Brazen asks softly.
Wrong. You don’t start off asking about a weakness, you figure it out then exploit it. Sheesh.
She laughs at his attempt to interrogate her, and then she leans back while the cuffs strapping her down rattle.
“I’m not affected by her blood, and you don’t have to be either if you want to swap to the winning side,” she taunts, and then her laughter continues.
“I don’t suppose you could tell me where to find your side. I might be interested in a swap.”
Pathetic. Too eager to give in.
“Is he wearing an earpiece?” I grumble.
“He should be,” Clay answers, and my eyes barely glance at Hale who is avoiding all contact with me.
