Reborn

Chapter Thirty-one

“I belonged to the Blades.”

The Blades? Della’s gut tightened and the spot where she carried a scar from being knifed started to ache. Chase had belonged to the the Blades. A different gang than the Crimson Blood, but outlaws just the same. She and Steve had gone on a mission to see if this gang were the ones killing humans as initiation. They had been. And she’d gotten knifed during the investigation and could have died if Steve hadn’t gotten her blood.

“You’re rogue,” she said with accusation and scooted a little farther away on the downed tree.

“No, I … joined the group for a reason.”

“What do you mean?”

He exhaled. “If I tell you, do you give me your word that you won’t repeat it? To anyone? That includes Burnett.”

Della decided to be honest. “If it endangers anyone, I can’t keep silent.”

“It doesn’t endanger anyone.” He paused. “I was sent on a mission, looking for someone. I was working undercover for the Vampire Council.”

Now she knew he was up to no good. “The Vampire Council are rogues who oppose the FRU.”

“The council isn’t rogue. They don’t agree with all the FRU rules, but they aren’t the bad guys.”

Then something else dawned on her. Something personal.

“You were going to let the Blades kill me. And they would have—”

“No!” he insisted. “I stopped them from following you and Steve out that night. The fire Steve started just slowed them down.”

Was he telling the truth? It appeared so, but … “Why are you here? Is the Vampire Council trying to bring down the school?”

“No. They see this place as a good thing.”

“Then why are you here?”

He hesitated again. “I’m still looking for someone.”

“Who?”

“That I can’t tell you.”

“If you find this person are you going to cause them harm?” She studied his light green eyes.

“No, I’m trying to help them.”

Honesty rang deep in his voice. “Are they here?”

“I can’t answer that either.” He leaned back.

Suddenly another question hit. “Why are you telling me this?”

His expression changed and something told her he was going to lie.

“The truth. Tell me the truth.”

His hand, resting on his thigh, tightened. “Because chances are, you are going to find out.”

“How?”

He shook his head. “I can’t say any more.” A strand of dark hair swept across his brow and she had a strange urge to brush it away. She folded her hand to resist.

She sighed in frustration. Had she actually given her word she wouldn’t tell Burnett any of this?

She needed more information before deciding if this was something Burnett needed to know. “Why are you trying to get into the FRU?”

“I wasn’t. Burnett actually came to me. He was impressed with my strength and speed, and I thought I might help catch the killer.”

“You thought wrong,” she said. “It’s your fault we’re holding Billy. Billy didn’t do it.”

“It’s not all on me, Della. Think about it. Burnett doesn’t trust me anymore—which means he wouldn’t have held the kid solely on my word if he didn’t believe it himself.”

“So you both are wrong.”

Chase leaned over, and his shoulder almost touched hers. “Okay, if I’m wrong, give me a chance to make it right. Tell me who you think did it. I’ll help look into it.”

She shifted away. His closeness made her edgy. “Why would I tell you anything now?””

He frowned as if offended. “So I tell you the truth and now you don’t trust me?”

“Yeah, you’re just now telling me the truth. You’ve been keeping things from me all along.”

He shook his head. “You’re harsh.”

“I’m honest,” she said. “Something you should have tried in the very beginning.” She stood up from the tree, dusted the flaking tree bark off her butt, and started walking.

“Hey.” Something in his voice had her turning around.

He stood right behind her. So close their breath mingled in the night air. It brought back memories of the kiss.

“Keep running, okay? Once or twice a day.”

What was it with this guy and running? Then again, maybe if she could run/fly as fast as he could, she might be all about it, too. She tilted her head back, realizing his tone and words sounded like parting advice.

“You’re leaving?” she asked.

“I don’t have a choice.” He half smiled. It sparkled in his eyes, but didn’t touch his lips. “I guess I don’t trust you either. You’re going to tell Burnett.”

She hadn’t made that decision yet. “I’m debating. But yes, my loyalty lies with the school.”

He chuckled. “You are honest, aren’t you?”

“You should try it sometime.” Sarcasm sounded in her voice.

“I did try. Just now, and it didn’t work out so well.” He stared at her as a few slow seconds passed. “Don’t worry, I don’t blame you.” He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. She almost swatted his hand, but didn’t.

“Steve’s a lucky guy.” His fingers lingered on her cheek, and something that looked like regret filled his green gaze.

Before she knew what he intended to do, he kissed her. Not like before. Not a sexy, let’s-get-it-on kind of kiss.

This one was short, sweet. His soft lips on hers ever so briefly.

This one was good-bye.

He turned and left. She watched his wide shoulders disappear between the trees.

She didn’t like him, she told herself. So why was her heart hurting? Why did she want to call him back?

Okay, she liked him. A crazy kind of like. Part admiration, part … she couldn’t define it. But it wasn’t like what she felt for Steve. Maybe she felt sorry for Chase losing his family so young. Or maybe it was how protective he’d been of her at the bar.

Or maybe … Oh, hell, why was she trying to analyze this? He was leaving. He’d barely left a footprint in her life’s path.

Then she realized his recent footprints hadn’t headed toward the fence, but back to the camp. Was he leaving for good, or had he lied hoping to score a kiss?

She wouldn’t put it past him. Damn panty perv!

She checked her phone to see who’d texted her. It was Kevin.

She called him. It rang twice. “Hello,” he answered.

“It’s me, Della.”

“How do you…” His line started going in and out. He must‘ve had poor cell service.

“Call me back.” The line went dead.

Confused about Chase, she turned to leave. Something brushed against her face. She reached up thinking some bird had just crapped on her, but nope. When she pulled her hand back, she saw it was a feather.

She stopped in the middle of the dark woods, feeling the night air grow colder. Looking into the thick line of trees, she searched for a skinny Asian ghost. Turning in a full circle, she studied all the shadows.

No ghost.

Maybe it wasn’t a sign from Chan. She glanced up to the black sky with stars blinking back at her. The moon, two nights away from being full, hung heavy in the sky. Another feather spiraled down in front of her face. It spun in circles—round and round—and landed at her feet.

Chan was still here. Why? Could Chan being here be about Lorraine’s killer? Since they were part of the same gang, it would make sense. “Is that what you want?” she blurted out in the cold wind. “Stop sending dad-blasted feathers and just tell me!”

It was past three in the morning when Della got to her cabin. Even exhausted, she barely slept that night, thinking about Chan, worrying about Billy, and wondering how to go about investigating Phillip Lance. And even though she wished it weren’t true, she thought about Chase. Had he really left? And why the hell did she care?

When the sun finally crept into her bedroom, she longed to pull the covers up and sleep in. Putting her hand over her eyes, she realized her headache was back. Yet having missed the vampire morning ritual too many times, she forced herself out of bed. Forced herself to get dressed. But too tired to even brush her hair, she put it up in a clip. It hung down in a semi-Medusa type of style. What the hell. No one would dare say anything.

She walked up to the clearing where they always met. The blood sat on the tables and all the vamps stood around chattering. The noise had her head hurting more. Chris came toward her—even his footsteps sounded loud. He stopped at her side. “You look like shit.”

Okay, some would dare say something, yet she was too busy glancing around to see if Chase was among the crowd to give Chris crap. She did manage to offer him a halfhearted growl.

The blond vamp laughed. She cut him a pissed-off glare, and he laughed harder, but the humor left his eyes when Burnett landed beside him. No doubt, the camp leader’s expression was more pissed off than hers.

“Let’s take a walk.” Burnett’s tone came with an abundance of grump.

Della waited for Chris to reply, when all of a sudden she realized Burnett wasn’t talking to Chris. Friggin’ hell. What now?

Before they got out of earshot of the other vampires, Della had a good idea of what it was all about. Chase.

“Did you see Chase after you left the office last night?”

Sometimes being right wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

“Yeah.” It was decision time. To tell or not to tell. She wasn’t sure why she felt an ounce of loyalty to the panty perv, but she did. It hung in her chest like an unwanted emotion.

“Did he mention he was leaving Shadow Falls?”

“Sort of,” she said.

“And you didn’t think you should inform me about that?”

“I wasn’t sure if I believed him. I thought I’d find him here this morning.”

The worry line between Burnett’s brows deepened. “Did he say where he was going?”

“No.”

“What did he say?”

It was a direct question and one she felt obligated to answer. “He told me where we met. He was part of the Blades gang when Steve and I went undercover.” When Burnett didn’t say anything, she decided it was time to drop the bomb. “He said he works for the Vampire Council.”

“I already knew that,” Burnett said.

Della stared up at him and threw his words right back at him. “And you didn’t think you should’ve informed me about that?”

“That’s different,” he said.

“Yeah. The difference being, you expect me to be completely forthcoming with you, while you do just the opposite.”

His scowl deepened. “But since you weren’t forthcoming with me, your argument doesn’t amount to a hill of beans.” He ran a hand over his face.

“If he was gone, I’d planned on telling you.”

“Which was too late to do anything,” he seethed.

Della couldn’t argue with that. “How did he leave without setting off the alarm?”

“He didn’t. He called in the middle of the night and said he had to go see an old friend who was in trouble. I believed him. But … considering my suspicions, I had someone follow him.”

“So you didn’t lose him. What’s the issue?” Della asked.

“He got away.”

“He’s fast,” Della said.

Burnett nodded. “When I went to his cabin this morning, his stuff was all gone.” Burnett hesitated. “Did he say anything else?”

“Only that he was looking for someone,” she told him.

“Who?”

“He wouldn’t say,” Della exhaled. “But considering he left, I’m assuming he didn’t find him or her here.”

“Then why stay as long as he did? And why agree to help work this case?”

“I asked that. He said you’re the one who suggested it. And since he was good at what he did, he thought he’d help find a killer. So maybe that was why he stayed.”

“Do you believe him, or do you think he had some ulterior motive for being here?”

She mentally chewed on the question for a couple of seconds. “I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I think I believe him.” She rubbed her temple, which still throbbed. Not sharp shooting pains, but just enough of a dull ache to make her take notice.

When she looked up, Burnett stared at her. “What?” she asked.

“Chris is right, you don’t look well. Are you feeling okay?”

She grinned. “Chris said I looked like shit.”

Burnett arched an eyebrow. “Holiday is on to me about my language. She said too many of the students are cursing, especially the vampires. She says I’m a bad influence on them.” He cut her a direct look as if accusing her of having a potty mouth.

“Well, damn!” Della grinned, finding it funny that the badass vampire got called out for his language. When he didn’t respond to her humor, she sobered. “I’ll watch what I say when I’m around her so you won’t get in trouble.” She paused. “How is she doing?”

“Like you. She looks tired, worn out. But she has a reason. You … I’m not so sure.”

“I’m not pregnant, if that’s what you’re asking.”

He looked appalled. “I wasn’t asking.”

“It was a late night,” Della said. “I’ll be fine.” She dropped her hand from her temple. Out of the blue, an image of Billy filled her head. “I’d bet I’m doing better than Billy.”

“I’d have to agree with you on that. The DNA came back on the hair.”

“And?” Della asked, wanting to rub it in a little that she’d been right. She deserved that. Then she’d tell him about Phillip Lance.

“It’s a match,” Burnett said. “They’ve officially arrested him about five this morning.”

“No!” Doubt reared its head in her chest. “He didn’t … I still don’t—”

“He’s guilty, Della. I know you didn’t want to believe that.” He rested his hand on her shoulder. “And if it makes you feel any better, we’ll go easy on him because … fresh turns don’t always have control. But he’ll spend some time in jail, and hopefully in the next few years we’ll have him rehabilitated.”

“But I have another—”

“It’s a done deal. The report came back positive. I’m supposed to go and finalize the paperwork and set up sentencing. Now go get some breakfast, and if you’re still tired, skip your first classes and take a nap.”

“You don’t understand,” Della demanded. “I tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t listen. I think I’ve found another suspect.”

“You are the one not listening,” he said. The DNA is a match.” He frowned but with empathy. “In this job, second to seeing the victims, the hardest thing is sometimes arresting the guilty—especially the fresh turns. It hurts like hell … heck … to realize that sometimes good people can do terrible things.”

Della swallowed and tried to accept it, but that stupid voice started chanting again in her head, and it came in rhythm with the throb in her temple.

Innocent. Innocent. Innocent.